Category: Berita Media

Five years since the Asean Intergovernmental Human Rights Commission (AICHR) was formed, purportedly as a huge step forward in addressing human rights violations in the region, it appears that its raison d’être has been all but forgotten.

Civil societies from across the 10 South East Asian countries in the recent Asean Civil Society Conference (also known as the Asean People’s Forum) tore the commission into shreds, calling it essentially ‘castrated’ by its weak secretariat, ineffective terms of reference (TOR) and deafening silence on some of the most severe human rights violations in recent times.

The AICHR, which is the human rights body formed within the Asean member states, is for the “promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the peoples of Asean”. It was first established in 2009.

The AICHR’s weaknesses were thrown into stark relief in a report by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia), titled “Four years on and still treading water: a report on the performance of Asean human rights mechanisms in 2013”.

In the report, civil societies stated that the most disappointing record of the AICHR is its total silence on key violations in the region, such as the disappearance of prominent Laotian activist Sombath Somphone, who was abducted on Dec 15, 2012. The Laotian government had denied involvement in his disappearance, despite international pressure for open and transparent investigation in the matter. “AICHR did not issue any public response to urgent calls from CSOs and Asean dialogue partners to highlight his disappearance,” the report stated.

The commission also stayed its tongue when urged by the Makassar Legal Aid Institute to issue a call to the Indonesian government last year over the violent religious prosecution of the minority Islamic Ahmadiyya community in South Sulawesi, the report criticised.

More recently, the AICHR did not issue any statement over the string of arrests and interrogations of Malaysians under the Sedition Act, although international human rights bodies, including four rapporteurs from the UN Human Rights Council, had criticised the use of the colonial-era Act.
AICHR has also not issued any public statement regarding the sluggish investigation by the Philippines government into the deadly Ampatuan massacre in 2009, where 57 people – including 31 journalists – were murdered and their bodies dumped in shallow graves, in what is believed to be a politically-motivated hit. Till today, no one has been charged or held responsible for the murders.

During a press conference for the launch of the report here in Petaling Jaya last week, representatives of civil societies appeared angered by a seemingly uncaring human rights body. International Federation for Human Rights secretary-general and permanent delegate to the Asean Debbie Stothard (pic) said the lack of an independent secretariat and weak terms of reference had essentially “castrated” the AICHR. “The AICHR is basically a global laughingstock,” she said.

AICHR currently does not operate an independent secretariat but is supported by the Asean Secretariat, more specifically by the director-general of the political security community of Asean and its team. Civil societies blame the veil of “non-interference” and “sovereignty” among member states which has led to the ineffectiveness of this body. Stothard said that while non-interference was accepted across all regional intergovernmental organisations, the purpose of it was military in nature.

“Non-interference is to ensure that nations do not set up missiles in each others’ lands. It was not meant to deflect the responsibility of member states to protect the integrity of human rights,” she said. She questioned the double standard when it came to using the term “non-interference”. “When it is interference for the sake of economic benefit, it is fine; but not for human rights violations – why the double standard?” she added.

Executive director of Suaram Yap Swee Seng said the representatives of member states to the AICHR remained problematic, especially Malaysia’s representative. The Malaysian representative to the AICHR is Umno lawyer Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah – a choice which was met with resistance by civil society organisations (CSOs) here because his appointment was not transparent and was done without consulting CSOs.

“AICHR is probably the worst human rights commission I have ever come across, with no mandate and no power to investigate human rights violations,” he said. Yap added that any nation which had failed to protect its people could not legitimately claim non-interference.

“Non-interference or otherwise, legitimacy of this argument goes out the window because other nations feel the effects of these human rights violations. “When the Burmese government failed to protect the Rohingya community from religious prosecution, thousands fled to seek asylum in Malaysia – so how can we say we cannot interfere?” he said.

Malaysia is, after 10 years, coming full circle from the time it established the Asean People’s Forum in 2005 when it last chaired the Asean. A decade later, how much claim can Malaysia stake on its contributions to protecting human rights across the region? How much credit can our government take for any sort of progress made, as a region, towards a vibrant democracy? The answer could be none at all, unless Malaysia takes it upon itself, as chair of Asean next year, to transform the AICHR.

Penulis: Pauline Wong
Sumber berita: theheatonline.asia

A civil servant, identified as Fadhli Rahim, 33, has been detained and brought on trial for criticizing Gowa regent Ichsan Yasin through social media Line.

The staff of Gowa Tourism agency who has been detained in Makassar penitentiary since Dec. 24, reportedly accused the regent of receiving fees from investors through Line conversation group among his high school alumni on May 6.

On the first trial at the Sungguminasa District Court Gowa, last week, prosecutors charged the defendant with the Law 11/2008 on Information and Electronics Transaction, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in jail and a maximum fine of Rp 1 billion (US$8,000).

In the second trial on Wednesday, Fadhli’s lawyers from the Makassar Legal Aid Institute rejected the charge, saying that it’s against the 1945 State Constitution that guaranteed freedom of opinion and expressions.

Fadhli’s mother Rukmini said she and her son asked for an apology for the regent who is also the younger brother of South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo.

The 53-year-old woman who is an English teacher at Sungguminasa State Senior High School, said she had to work at a high school in the suburb area that needed 3.5 hours to reach it. “I don’t know why I was transferred. I have been teaching here for 29 years.”

Sumber : thejakartapost.com

Victims and activists across the country commemorated Human Rights Day, which falls on Dec. 10 annually, on Wednesday in diverse ways, urging the government to seriously handle rights violations.

In Semarang, Central Java, activists organized a testimony forum presenting victims of violations of human rights.

Coordinator of the activity, Kastoni, said that 632 women in Central Java had been victims of violence during 2014, 14 of whom did not survive.

“Central Java has been ranked as the province with the third-highest number of cases of violence against women,” said Kastoni, quoting a report from the Anti-Violence against Women National Commission.

Kastoni said that of the 14 victims, three died because of domestic violence, seven because of state violence, two died from rapes, one died as a migrant worker and another died in relation to prostitution.

Maemunah, one of the victims who gave testimony on the violence she experienced, said her husband had never approved of her using contraception so she finally had five children. Yet, her husband never financially supported the family.

When she finally filed for divorce at the religious court, the court ruled in favor of her husband. “The judges apparently ignored all the witnesses I presented, including my neighbors and own children,” Maemunah told the forum.

Other testimonies were revealed by Eko Sutikno, 74, a victim of the Sept. 30, 1965 tragedy, who had been imprisoned for years in different prisons across the country without trial.

The activists and victims demanded the state be more serious in dealing with past human rights violations by involving the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the Attorney General’s Office, the President and House of Representatives to come up with a national reconciliation program, especially for the Sept. 30, 1965 tragedy.

In Bandung, West Java, Human Rights Day was marked with the screening of Joshua Oppenheimer’s Senyap (The Lock of Silence) and a body exploration performance performed by five youths. They reminded people of many unsolved cases of violations of human rights.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi, university students, lawyers and law activists celebrated Human Rights Day by staging sporadic rallies in a number of spots, as well as theatrical performances.

They demanded President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo be serious in guaranteeing security to the people and act firmly against security and government officials to make sure that no violations against human rights were committed.

The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) in Makassar noted 11 cases of violence in the province during 2014, seven of which were shootings of people, including student protesters. The four others were persecution of people, including journalists.

Penulis: Suherdjoko dan Arya Dipa
Kontributor: Andi Hajramurni
Sumber berita: thejakartapost.com

Makassar, Eksepsi Online – Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Makassar kembali akan menyelenggarakan Karya Latihan Bantuan Hukum (KALABAHU) VI sebagai tahapan perekrutan volunter di LBH Makassar. Uniknya kurangnya aktivis perempuan di Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Makassar membuat KALABAHU VI ini mengutamakan keterwakilan perempuan dalam penyeleksian peserta.

Dalam Sosialisasi KALABAHU VI di Ruang Harifin Tumpa Fakultas Hukum Unhas pada Kamis (18/12), Aulia Susantri selaku pembicara mengungkapkan bahwa hanya ada tiga orang perempuan yang aktif di LBH Makassar. “Padahal banyak kasus kekerasan di daerah yang butuh pendampingan dari advokat perempuan,” tambahnya.

Lebih lanjut menurut pengakuan Aulia, perempuan harus memiliki motivasi besar untuk mendampingi kaumnya, karena ada kasus-kasus yang memang harusnya ditangani oleh perempuan. “Contoh kecil saja, korban perempuan dalam kasus kekerasan seksual. Tidak mungkin laki-laki yang mewawancara, walaupun ada tapi tidak akan mendalam. Jadi kita sangat butuh perempuan,” ungkap anggota divisi perlindungan hak perempuan dan anak di LBH Makassar ini.

Kendati demikian Aulia mengungkapkan partisipasi perempuan dalam advokasi yang dilakukan di LBH Makassar tersebut tidak akan dipaksakan untuk memenuhi kuota keterwakilan perempuan. Mereka yang terlibat harus tetap memiliki kapasitas agar mampu mendampingi kasus-kasus yang ada.

Terkait kurangnya partisipasi perempuan kerja-kerja advokasi yang dilakukan LBH, menurut Aulia faktor budaya masih menjadi penghambat nomor satu. Selain itu, dari pribadi perempuan sendiri yang kurang yakin terhadap kemampuannya.“Saya berharap setidaknya setelah KALABAHU VI ini jumlah perempuan di LBH Makassar bisa lebih banyak, seimbang dengan jumlah laki-laki,” harap Aulia. (Ish)

Sumber berita: eksepsionline.com

MAKASSAR – Korban warga sipil yang mengalami kekerasan oknum aparat mendominasi pengaduan ke Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Makassar selama 2014. Fakta itu menjadi anomali dalam penegakan hukum dan hak asasi manusia (HAM) di Sulawesi Selatan.

LBH Makassar mencatat 52 orang menjadi korban kekerasan aparat, enam orang di antaranya meninggal dunia, 11 luka tembak, 14 dianiaya (termasuk delapan jurnalis, tiga mahasiswa, dua orang warga), dan sisanya ditakut-takuti melalui teror.

“Melihat lebih jauh soal audit senjata dan peluru, jangan-jangan memang ada kesalahan prosedur dari aparat, sehingga terlalu banyak berkeliaran peluru di Makassar,” tanggap Abdul Aziz, Direktur LBH Makassar, Jumat (26/12/2014).

Aziz mengemukakan, banyak perkara yang ditangani LBH Makassar tidak jelas penyelesaiannya, terutama yang melibatkan institusi penegak hukum.

Selain itu, tercatat 25 kasus berupa konflik agraria dan sumberdaya alam yang bertebaran dalam sebelas kabupaten/kota se-Sulsel tanpa keadilan bagi petani, nelayan, dan warga miskin kota.

Selebihnya, 17 perkara dihadapi LBH Makassar terdiri 15 kasus buruh, satu kasus penggusuran, dan satu perkara kepegawaian. Berikutnya, terdapat 13 kasus kekerasan terhadap anak dan dua perkara kekerasan atas perempuan.

Secara akumulatif, perkara yang ditangani LBH Makassar sebanyak 242 kasus dengan pengadu 2.560 orang. Aziz menguraikan, pihaknya memberi layanan berbentuk konsultasi 47 kasus, litigasi 106 kasus, dan nonlitigasi 47 kasus.

“Tingginya pengaduan menjadi potret masih lemahnya penegakan hukum dan HAM. Masih terjadinya pembatasan kebebasan warga sipil dan pelanggaran hak Ekosob melanggengkan kondisi kemiskinan struktural,” pungkas Aziz. (ful)

Laporan: Arpan Rachman
Sumber berita: news.okezone.com

Makassar, Seruu.com – Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Makassar mengeluarkan rilis terkait kinerjanya sepanjang tahun 2014. Dalam catatan tersebut, sebanyak 2.560 kasus aduan dari masyarakat masuk ke LBH Makassar.

Menurut Direktur LBH Makassar, Abdul Azis, mengatakan, jumlah pencari keadilan tahun ini mengalami peningkatan dibanding tahun lalu. Ribuan kasus itu ia sebut sebagai aduan pencari keadilan.

Dari aduan lebih dari dua ribu itu, kemudian diurai dalam berbagi kelompok. “Kita bagi dalam bentuk konsultasi, litigasi, non litigasi dan khusus bidang sipil dan politik dimana mereka menjadi korban kekerasan,” kata Abdul Aziz, dalam rilisnya, Kamis, (25/12/2014).

Lebih dari itu, juga terdapat kasus struktural, tanah dan lingkungan, buruh dan kaum miskin kota, serta hak anak dan perempuan. Dalam catatan itu, juga, tambah Aziz, sebanyak 52 orang menjadi korban kekerasan aparat, dimana 6 meninggal dunia, 11 orang luka tembak, dan selebihnya mengalami kekerasan.

Terkait dengan itu, Azis menilai, negara saat ini belum bisa memegang mandat penegakan hukum.”Kami merasa kecewa dengan penegak hukum, karena penanganannya selama ini belum berpihak kepada rakyat,” ujar Aziz.

Makanya itu, LBH berharap, tahun depan hukum betul-betul bisa menjadi payung dan membawa keadilan bagi semua pihak. Apalagi, kata Azis, tahun depan merupakan tahun pemerintahan Jokowi-JK. (HSB)

Sumber berita: city.seruu.com

Pernyataan YLBHI

Kepolisian kembali menunjukkan arogansi dan represifnya dalam menghadapi warga sipil sehingga mengakibatkan 6 (enam) warga menderita luka. Bahkan pihak kepolisian resor Jakarta Timur juga melakukan penangkapan secara sewenang-wenang terhadap Hendra Supriatna, advokat LBH Jakarta.

Persoalan tersebut berawal dari penolakan warga atas pengukuran tanah yang dilakukan Badan Pertanahan Nasional (BPN) di Jalan Pemuda RT 2 dan RT 3, Rawamangun, Jakarta Timur. Pengukuran dilakukan berdasarkan pengaduan seorang yang bernama Wiliam Silitonga yang mengklaim memiliki sertifikat. Padahal di lahan yang sama sudah ada penghuninya sejak bertahun-tahun.

Secara norma hukum, keterlibatan pihak kepolisian dalam hal ini perlu dipertanyakan kepentingannya, karena persoalan tanah merupakan kaitannya dengan hukum keperdataan yang tidak ada sangkut pautnya dengan pihak kepolisian. Sehingga hal yang wajar jika ada penolakan dari warga dalam pengukuran tersebut, karena pihak BPN memaksakan kehendaknya hingga berujung pada bentrokan.

Hal yang lebih memprihatinkan yakni tindakan kepolisian yang melakukan penangkapan terhadap seorang advokat LBH Jakarta, karena tindakan ini merupakan tindakan yang merendahkan profesi advokat. Pihak kepolisian pastinya mengetahui jika seorang advokat itu bebas dalam menjalankan tugas profesinya untuk membela perkara yang menjadi tanggung jawabnya, sebagaimana di sebutkan dalam pasal 15 UU Nomor 18 Tahun 2003 Tentang Advokat. Lebih dari itu, mestinya bukan penangkapan yang diperlakukan kepada Hendra Supriatna, tetapi jaminan perlindungan hukum, keamanan dan keselamatan, karena Hendra Supriatna dalam hal ini menjalankan tugas pemberian bantuan hukum, hal tersebut tertuang sebagaimana dalam pasal 9 UU No. 16 Tahun 2011 Tentang Bantuan Hukum.

Atas hal demikian, YLBHI beserta 15 kantor cabangnya termasuk LBH Jakarta mengecam tindakan kesewenang-wenangan Kepolisian Resor Jakarta Timur atas penangkapan terhadap Hendra Supriatna. YLBHI juga menghimbau pihak Kepolisian Republik Indonesia dan Polda Metro Jaya segera memberikan pemahaman kepada jajarannya di Polres Jakarta Timur untuk lebih memahami UU No. 18 Tahun 2003 Tentang Advokat dan UU No. 16 Tahun 2011 Tentang Bantuan Hukum, sehingga pihak Polres Jakarta Timur lebih memahami peranan Advokat dan peranan pemberi bantuan hukum.

Jakarta, 17 Desember 2014

Yayasan LBH Indonesia

LBH Banda Aceh-LBH Medan-LBH Padang-LBH Pekanbaru-LBH Palembang-LBH Bandar Lampung-LBH Jakarta-LBH Bandung-LBH Semarang-LBH Yogyakarta-LBH Surabaya-LBH Bali-LBH Manado-LBH Makassar-LBH Papua

Sumber berita: baranews.co