Tag: Indonesia

Southeast Asia
Indonesia anarchists

Police raid Java ‘anarcho-syndicalists’

Belarusian prisonersBelarusian prisoner of conscience and opposition politician Mikalai Statkevich was released from imprisonment weeks after suffering a stroke. Following his release, Amnesty International reiterated the need for justice for victims of human rights violations in Belarus. Statkevich, imprisoned for his role in the 2020 post-electoral protests, was one of 52 Belarusian prisoners released in September following a deal with the US. Upon their release, Belarusian authorities attempted to deport the 52 former prisoners. While they were being brought to the Lithuanian border, Statkevich forced his way out of the bus, declaring, "I will keep fighting." Statkevich was then detained again and transported to a penal colony. The stroke precipitated his release, but Amnesty stressed that being released due to failing health does not constitute justice. The Belarusian Human Rights Centre Viasna reports that 1,142 political prisoners remain incarcerated in Belarus. (Image: Monument to Belarusian political prisoners in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Source: Паўлюк Шапецька via Wikimedia Commons)

Planet Watch
Chile protester

Podcast: world revolution in 2020?

SyriaUN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned that repression of freedom of expression across the Middle East has deepened significantly since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran commenced at the end of February. In Iran, approximately 2,345 people have been arrested on charges related to national security. Many of these, as well as more arbitrarily arrested during the January protests, are being held in harsh conditions and incommunicado detention. The state has also cut internet access to prevent external sharing of information. Three protestors were publicly hanged in March after being convicted of "waging war against God" based on "confessions" obtained under torture. Many more are at imminent risk of execution. But hundreds of arbitrary arrests for online anti-war dissent have also taken place in the Gulf states that Iran has been targeting with missile strikes, with Türk warning of a "sharp securitization of civic space across the region." (Image: Pixabay)

Southeast Asia
Indonesia anarchists

Indonesia: inauguration amid revolt, repression

Belarusian prisonersBelarusian prisoner of conscience and opposition politician Mikalai Statkevich was released from imprisonment weeks after suffering a stroke. Following his release, Amnesty International reiterated the need for justice for victims of human rights violations in Belarus. Statkevich, imprisoned for his role in the 2020 post-electoral protests, was one of 52 Belarusian prisoners released in September following a deal with the US. Upon their release, Belarusian authorities attempted to deport the 52 former prisoners. While they were being brought to the Lithuanian border, Statkevich forced his way out of the bus, declaring, "I will keep fighting." Statkevich was then detained again and transported to a penal colony. The stroke precipitated his release, but Amnesty stressed that being released due to failing health does not constitute justice. The Belarusian Human Rights Centre Viasna reports that 1,142 political prisoners remain incarcerated in Belarus. (Image: Monument to Belarusian political prisoners in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Source: Паўлюк Шапецька via Wikimedia Commons)

Oceania

West Papua rights lawyer faces imprisonment

antifaPresident Donald Trump signed an executive order designating Antifa a "domestic terrorist organization." The order calls Antifa a "militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government." Asserting a pattern of political violence, the order instructs executive agencies to "investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any and all illegal operations" of Antifa and related persons. A fact sheet from the Trump administration describes examples of political violence which it attributes to Antifa, including assaults against Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. (Photo: Antifa confronting far-right rally in Portsmouth, UK. Credit: Tim Sheerman-Chase via Wikimedia Commons)

Oceania

Net silence in strife-torn West Papua

Central African RepublicThe International Criminal Court (ICC) convicted two Anti-Balaka militia leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Central African Republic between 2013 and 2014. The pair were sentenced to 12 and 15 years in prison. The ICC found that the two led a campaign of violence targeting Muslim civilians in retaliation for months of looting and violence carried out by the Muslim-led Séléka rebel coalition, which had seized power in 2013. The convictions include charges of murder, intentionally attacking civilian populations, forcible transfer, torture and other inhumane acts, and persecution. (Map via Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection)

Oceania

West Papua independence forces unite

SfaxMore than 600 asylum seekers and migrants have gone missing after being intercepted by the Tunisian Coastguard in the Mediterranean Sea. The group was picked up while trying to make it to Europe last month, along with 18 dead bodies, and hasn't been heard from since. Monitoring groups suspect they were dumped in Tunisia's desert border regions with Libya and Algeria—a common practice. The EU has supported Tunisia in recent years to crack down on migration, even as reports of abuse have multiplied. (Map: Google)

Oceania

Solomon Islands: ‘irreversible’ oil spill disaster

Rennell IslandThe Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Rick Hou is threatening to "blacklist" the companies involved in a 100-ton oil-spill near a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "The impact on the marine life and the coral is already massive with much of it irreversible," he said. The bulk carrier MV Solomon Trader ran aground a month ago off Rennell Island, while loading bauxite ore in a cyclone. Because of the storm, it took salvage crews several days before they could reach the stricken craft. Compounding the damage, Indonesian-owned Bintan Mining, which chartered the vessel, continued to operate as the oil flowed into the sea, with other ships maneuvering around the wreckage, churning up the oil. Rennell Island, known locally as Mugaba, is home to some 1,840 people, who overwhelmingly rely on fishing for their livelihood. The World Heritage Site covers the world's largest coral atoll. (Photo via Radio Australia)

Southeast Asia

Indonesia approves draconian anti-terrorism bill

KopaskaThe Indonesian Parliament unanimously approved a new anti-terrorism law that will allow the military to directly participate in operations against militant groups. The legislation comes following a slew of suicide bombings in Surabaya by individuals supposedly tied to the Islamic State. President Joko Widodo stated that involvement of the Indonesian National Army in counter-terrorism is necessary in addressing the crisis faced by the nation. A related measure also gives police the power to detain suspects for 21 days without charge. (Photo: Indonesian Navy Special Forces Kopaska)

Southeast Asia

Indonesia unleashes ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy

IndonesiaIndonesian President Joko Widodo, following in the bloody footsteps of the Philippines' Rodrigo Duterte, has issued a "shoot-on-sight" policy for drug suspects. The hardline policy comes amid a sudden media blitz about the drug "state of emergency" in the archipelago nation.

Watching the Shadows

Appeals court: military judge biased in 9-11 case

9-11A federal appeals court in Washington DC ruled  that the military judge hearing the case against the 9-11 defendants should have recused himself for making comments that revealed his bias in the matter. The case against the accused conspirators is still pending nearly a decade after it opened, beset by a long string of controversies and irregularities.