REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA: Dozens killed on the streets in police crackdown ahead of Asian Game

22 Aug 2018

[International Secretariat]

Region: REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

Topic:

Between January and August this year, at least 77 people have been gunned down across the country. Many of these killings occurred during police operations explicitly devised to prepare the cities for hosting the multi-sport event, which takes place from 18 August to 2 September.

“These shocking figures reveal a clear pattern of unnecessary and excessive use of force by the police, and a constant veil of impunity that taints public security institutions. The hosting of an international sporting event must not come at the price of abandoning human rights.

The killings peaked from 3-12 July, when 11 people in greater Jakarta and 3 people in South Sumatra were shot dead. In Jakarta a further 41 people were shot in the legs, while more than 700 of 5,000 people arrested were charged with a criminal offence.

Shortly before the operation, high ranking police officials publicly announced that their personnel would take “firm actions”, including shooting on-sight anyone who resisted arrest or attacked police officers.

The police justified the killings in Jakarta amid growing public concern about increasing incidents of violent crimes being committed by people carrying sharp weapons or guns who use motorbikes to rob and attack people. The overall number of people killed in Indonesia’s streets accused of having committed petty crimes this year represents a 64% increase on the same period for 2017.

“The police are clearly exercising a ‘shoot first and ask questions later’ policy. The National Commission on Human Rights and National Police Commission must promptly launch a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into the killings and bring everyone suspected of criminal responsibility before justice.

Amnesty International is also calling on the Indonesian authorities, as well as national and international sports governing bodies, to take all appropriate measures to ensure that human rights violations do not take place as a consequence of hosting the Asian Games, and that staging this major sporting event does not contribute to exacerbating existing abuses.

Under international human rights law, Indonesia is legally obliged to respect and protect everyone’s right to life at all times, and has a duty to carry out prompt, thorough and effective investigations into suspected violations of the right to life.

17 August 2018
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE