Dythia Novianty, Yaumal Asri Adi Hutasuhut – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has revealed that there was alleged forced disappearances that occurred during the demonstrations that took place on August 25-31.
Based on the reports they received through coordination posts (posko) which were opened on September 1, 44 people were reported missing. However, 41 have been found while three others who are students are still missing as of September 12.
From the dozens of reports, Kontras identified 33 people who were victims of alleged enforced disappearances.
Kontras Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya Saputra explained that even though the victims had been found and their whereabouts are now known, during the period they were hidden their fate and whereabouts was consistent with the practice of enforced disappearance.
"In this case, the victims specifically experienced short-term enforced disappearances", Saputra said at the Kontras offices in Jakarta on Saturday September 13.
The identification of alleged enforced disappearances refers to the findings and complaints experienced by the victims while they were declared missing.
Some of them were found in police custody in incommunicado, which means that communication and access to the outside world, such as family and those closest to them, were blocked.
They were also denied access to the legal representation of their choice. In other words, Saputra said, the police had concealed the fate and whereabouts of those detained.
"This causes the victims to be outside the reach of legal protection, which occurs in the form of torture, arbitrary detention and unfair and non-transparent legal processes", said Saputra.
Kontras views these elements as constitutive parts of enforced disappearances.
"As stated in the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED), which was signed by Indonesia on September 27, 2010", explained Saputra.
A number of victims who were found admitted to suffering violence by the police while they were declared missing.
Many of those who returned suffered injuries, such as those experienced by one of the victims named Didik.
After being reported missing, Didik was reportedly detained by the Jakarta Metro Jaya Regional Police. Upon his release, he was found to have sustained several injuries due to alleged police violence.
Some of the injuries included a puncture wound to the head, a wound on the forehead, a wound on the temple, wounds on his right and left knees, and his back which had many wounds.
Based on these allegations of enforced disappearance, Kontras is urging the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to conduct an investigation and monitoring.
Meanwhile, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) is required to provide protection to witnesses and victims because some of the victims suffered trauma and had difficulty covering medical costs.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "KontraS Temukan Dugaan Penghilangan Paksa pada Aksi Unjuk Rasa 25-31 Agustus!".]