1. Anti Eviction and
Poverty Campaign

2. Democratic Burma
Campaign

3. Human Right and
Peace Campaign

4. Free Board

1. Anti Eviction
    and Poverty Campaign

Dear Friends, 

Below is a report by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the recent attacks by armed militias on peoples organizations and NGOs in Jakarta, including our colleague Wardah Hafidz.  This is very alarming and all who work for human rights (economic, social, political, civil and cultural) should do something before the armed militias and their military backers run wild again as what happened in East Timor.

Enclosed also is a copy of the letter being sent by Philippine NGOs to President Megawati that you may find useful.

                                                                      More Information

 April 5, 2002

Her Excellency Megawati Sukarnoputri

President, Republic of Indonesia

Presidential Palace, Jakarta

Istana Negara, Indonesia

Fax +62 21 345 7782

Dear President Megawati,

 We were saddened to hear of an attack in our NGO brothers and sisters in Jakarta March 13 and March 28.

 This is the news we received:

   The Urban Poor Consortium (UPC), led by Wardah Hafidz was attacked by a group of Betawi people at 10:15am in an attempt to stop them protesting against Governor Sutiyoso¡¯s mishandling of the flood crisis. The group wielded daggers and swords, physically threatened Wardah, and chased the protestors away. Then Around 400 men from a group called Forum Betawi Rempug (United Betawi Forum), a Jakarta  militia, armed with dagger, stone and wood attacked the urban poor group in front of the office of the National Commission of Human Rights in Jakarta last Thursday, 28 March 2002.  
   
    Around 50 people from the urban poor group, women, children, and men, were injured, 20 of which injured badly. Around 5 children from age 5 - 12 and many women were  bleeding on their heads, trampled on, hit by stones, and stabbed. One becak driver got 16 stiches on his head, another one had to undergo a surgery from having blood clot on the back of his head. A lawyer of LBH APIK was injured on her head and was bleeding very badly. Six of the UPC activists were injured. Wardah Hafidz was choked and thrown to the ground, was about to be hit by a piece of wood when a becak driver saved her and he was hit twice instead. The sound system and get set that belong to the upc, a van, and the glass windows of the Commission office shattered. Many women lost their jewelry, wallet and money.

   Around 400 hundred urban poor people, men, women and children, organised a peaceful dialog with the National Commission on Human Rights, National Commission on Women's Rights and National Commission on Children Rights on that day. The purpose of the dialog was to find ways to urge the Jakarta government to respect the court decision that they have to stop the violence against the urban poor of Jakarta. When the dialog was over and they were about to leave, the militia arrived in 9 minibuses, three open trucks and one van. They shouted that they looked for Wardah Hafidz, and immediately after assaulted the urban poor group. The group is the same militia group that attacked the UPC demonstration last 13 March 2002.

   This comes after months of conflict between the NGOs and Governor Sutiyoso, and since the protest march was also directed at the Governor, it leads us to believe the attack on the march was orchestrated by the government.

   We have had our own share of violence against NGOs and poor people in the past. It only leads to hatred and fear of government.

   We ask you to use your powers to stop such violence against peaceful protestors, and to halt the unnecessary demolition of poor people¡¯s homes and means of work, such as, vendors, stalls and the becak drivers.

 Thank you for paying attention to our message. May you be blessed by Allah.

 Very sincerely,

Name & Organization

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SEND LETTERS TO:

Governor Sutiyoso
Gedung Balaikota,
21st Floor, Jl. Medan Merdeka
Selatan No. 8-9, Jakarta 10110
INDONESIA
PH: (62-21) 344-7005 or 345-6058
FAX: (62-21) 384-8653
SALUTATION: Dear Governor Sutiyoso

Mrs. Megawati Sukarnoputri
President, Republic of Indonesia
Presidential Palace, Jakarta
Istana Negara, Indonesia.
Fax: (62 21) 345 7782
SALUTATION: Your Excellency

Marsillam Simandjuntak, SH
Attorney General of Indonesia
Attorney General's Office
Jakarta, INDONESIA
FAX: (62 21) 720 8557
SALUTATION: Dear Attorney General

Mr. Ihza Mahendra YUSRIL
Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Uahi Utoyo Usman S.H., Menteri Kehkiman,
JI. H.R. Rosuna Said Kav. 6-7,
Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Fax: 62-21- 525 3095
SALUTATION: Dear Minister

Gen. Surojo Bimantoro
National Chief of Police
Jl. Trunojoyo
No. 3 Kebayoran Baru
Jakart Selatan
Indonesia
Tel: +(6221) 721 8001
Fax: +(6221) 720 7277
SALUTATION: Dear Gen. Bimantoro

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  SEND COPIES OF THE LETTER TO

Ms. Wardah Hafidz
Coordinator
Urban Poor Consortium - Konsorsium Kemiskinan Kota
Billy Moon Blok H-I/7 Jakarta 13450, Phone: 62 - 21 - 8642915,86902407
Fax: 62.21.86902408; Urban Poor Website: http://www.urbanpoor.or.id/
E-mail : upc@centrin.net.id

Mr. Asmara Nababan
Secretary General
Komnas HAM (National Commission for Human Rights)
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4B Menteng
Jakarta Pusat INDONESIA
FAX: (62 21) 392 5227
EMAIL: info@komnas.go.id
SALUTATION: Dear Mr. Nababan

Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders
c/o OHCHR-UNOG, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: (41 22) 917 9006
webadmin.hchr@unog.ch
PLEASE MARK: ATT - SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR HINA JILANI

LOCOA : Leaders and Organizers of Community Organization in Asia
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