M. Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – Tubagus Noviarwan, an Indoglobal Mandiri University student in the South Sumatra city of Palembang, who died as a result of mistreatment by police adds one more name to the list violence committed by security personnel. The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) recorded 180 cases of violence by security personal in Indonesia over the last year.

“There were 180 cases of violence committed by police in 2007 and 2008. In Palembang itself seven cases were recorded, and this has now grown by one with the death of Noviarwan”, said Komnas HAM commissioner Nur Kholis.

This was conveyed by Kholis when he received the family of Noviarwan, who were accompanied by the Palembang Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) and the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, at his office on Jl. Latuharhari in the Central Jakarta area of Menteng on Friday February 22.

According to Kholis most of the cases of violence in 2007 and 2008 were committed by police followed by Indonesian military (TNI) personnel who were involved in 18 cases. A breakdown indicates that 12 cases were committed by army officers, four cases involved navy personnel and airforce officers committed two.

LBH Palembang operational head Yopie Bharata said that there were at least 67 instances of violence committed by security personnel in his area. Police officers, local government officials, employees and rogue members of the TNI were the main perpetrators of violence.

“The types of violations ranged from the right to life as defined by Law on Human Rights, freedom from torture, offensive treatment or punishments, the right to a fair trial, freedom of expression and the right to feel safe,” said Bharata (zal/nvt)

[Translated by James Balowski.]