Muhammad Atqa, Jakarta – Earlier today the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (Komite Pembebasan Napol/Tapol) submitted a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) over violence perpetrated against their activists in three different cites, Denpasar (Bali), Yogyakarta (Central Java) and Kupang (West Timor).

The complaint was submitted by the general chairperson of the People’s Democratic Party (PRD), Yusuf Lakaseng, the general chairperson of the National Student League for Democracy (LMND), Iwan Dwi Laksono, and a number of other activists. The Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners is made up of the PRD, LMND and the People’s Lawyers Union (SPR).

After accepting the complaint, Komnas HAM civil and political sub-commission member Syamsuddin promised to investigate the case. Syamsuddin then asked the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners to include signed affidavits from the victims involved.

In the complaint by the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners it states that the most recent act of violence occurred in Denpasar on Tuesday October 5 when demonstrators from the United Opposition Front (BOB) were holding an action rejecting militarism.

Prior to this a similar incident occurred in Yogyakarta on October 1 against LMND activists who were holding an action rejecting the commercialisation of education and militarism. The violence was perpetrated by thugs who admitted they were from the Indonesian Anti-Communist Front and occurred as demonstrators were heading towards the headquarters of the Yogyakarta military command which was the target of the demonstration.

Another incident occurred at the Unwira campus in Kupang. The violence occurred in the middle of the night when four LMND members who had just finished attending a graduation ceremony were beaten up by police officers. The motive for the attack is unclear but is believed to be linked with the four students’ activities as members of LMND. (gtp)

[Translated by James Balowski.]