Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia from 3 to 6 September 2024 should be a momentum to urge Indonesia to stop gross human rights violations and provide redress for past atrocities or injustices resulting from socially and environmentally unfriendly development policies, such as those in Papua and Rempang, Amnesty International Indonesia said today.
“The messages of peace, love, and dialogue that Pope Francis always conveys are highly relevant to a world facing division and intolerance. This visit is crucial to reaffirming every nation’s obligation to uphold the values of human dignity and social justice,” said Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia.
“Pope Francis is scheduled to meet with the President and other key officials. This is an opportunity to urge Indonesia to fulfil its commitments in the field of human rights, including providing a remedy for past gross human rights violations and protecting communities, including Indigenous Peoples, from misguided economic policies.”
“This visit also provides an important platform to advocate for an end to repressive policies in response to protests and demonstrations, call for peace in Papua, and prevent discriminatory practices against religious minority groups. The assassination of human rights activist Munir, which marks 20 years since his death, also needs attention.”
Indonesia is currently an active member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), but it has yet to implement several key recommendations related to stopping gross human rights violations resulting from development policies and protecting religious minority groups from attacks on their freedom to practice their beliefs and establish places of worship.
Amnesty International Indonesia has recorded several unresolved cases of gross human rights violations, including the 1965/66 mass killings, the 1984 Tanjung Priok incident, the 1989 Lampung incident, the July 27, 1996 attack, the 1997/98 abduction and forced disappearance of activists, the Trisakti, Semanggi I, and Semanggi II shootings, the May 1998 riots, the Munir case, and extrajudicial killings in Papua.
Amnesty has also recorded at least 123 cases of intolerance between January 2021 and July 2024, including the rejection, closure, or destruction of places of worship and physical attacks. The perpetrators are suspected to come from various backgrounds, including government officials, residents, and civil society organizations.
On 30 June 2024, a village head, along with a group of people, stopped a Sunday service at a Pentecostal church in Sidoarjo, East Java. They argued that the church did not have a building permit (IMB). According to the local pastor, the church building was registered as a prayer house on December 7, 2023, and obtaining an IMB is not easy as it takes two years. However, the village head insisted on the IMB requirement.
To build a place of worship, the 2006 Joint Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Home Affairs requires the approval of at least 60 local residents, endorsement by the village head, and a written recommendation from the Department of Religious Affairs and the Forum for Religious Harmony. This process has the potential for conflict in areas where minority religious communities face rejection from the local community.
On 5 May 2024, a group of people led by a neighbourhood head attacked a number of Catholic students who were holding a Rosary Prayer event at a house in South Tangerang. They forced the participants to worship in a church instead of at home.
On 2 July 2024, the Garut Regency government in West Java sealed off a place of worship for Ahmadiyah Muslims. Indonesia continues to record cases of restrictions on the rights and freedoms of religious communities.
Amnesty International hopes that Pope Francis’ visit will highlight these issues to ensure the protection of religious freedom in Indonesia.
“The Pope’s visit plays a crucial role in encouraging Indonesia to end intolerance and discrimination against all minority groups. Religious freedom is a right protected by Indonesia’s constitution,” said Usman Hamid.
“This guarantee must be effectively enforced through laws and regulations that are in line with international human rights standards.”
Amnesty also hopes that Pope Francis’s visit to Indonesia will draw attention to the implementation of National Strategic Projects (PSN), which are often carried out using coercive approaches without meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples. Many large-scale infrastructure projects under the PSN have had serious impacts on the lives of Indigenous Peoples, whose rights to land, culture, and the protection of Indigenous scientific knowledge are frequently neglected.
Many Indigenous Peoples still do not have their land rights recognized by the government, making them vulnerable to agrarian conflicts and often becoming victims of development projects, as has happened in Rempang, Wadas, and Mandalika.
Meanwhile, Indigenous Peoples who speak out critically against the government in defending their rights in agrarian conflicts often face attacks. Amnesty International Indonesia recorded at least eight cases of attacks against Indigenous Peoples from January 2019 to March 2024, with at least 84 victims, including criminalization, intimidation, and physical violence.
“Pope Francis, who is known for his commitment to social justice, environmental preservation, and the protection of Indigenous rights, is expected to voice his concerns over these violations during his visit to Indonesia,” said Usman.
Call to End Human Rights Violations in Papua
Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia is also expected to highlight the situation in Papua, where conflict continues, and the rights of Indigenous Papuans and other civilians are under constant threat.
“Papua, which has experienced violence for decades, must be addressed. The escalation of violence, militarization, and suppression of dissent in Papua has resulted in many civilian casualties, displacement, and a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention,” said Usman.
Civilians in Papua, including Indigenous Peoples, have suffered due to large-scale military operations resulting in extrajudicial killings by state and non-state armed groups, torture, internal displacement, and other violations.
From 3 February 2018 to 20 August 2024, Amnesty recorded 132 cases of extrajudicial killings resulting in at least 242 civilian deaths. Some of these cases were carried out by security forces (83 cases with 135 victims), while others were by pro-independence armed groups (49 cases with 107 victims).
In addition to local civilians, victims also included a New Zealand helicopter pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, who was killed while transporting four civilians in Alama District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, on 5 August 2024. It is still unclear who was responsible for the killing, prompting Amnesty to call for a full investigation.
Another New Zealand citizen, Phillip Mehrtens, has been held hostage since 7 February 2023, by a faction of the pro-independence armed group in Papua. Between January 2019 and February 2024, there were at least 17 cases of torture involving 50 victims, allegedly committed by security personnel and state officials in Papua.
“Therefore, Pope Francis must also emphasize the importance of peaceful dialogue and resolutions that respect human rights and the aspirations of the Papuan people,” said Usman. (*)