Complaint against human rights defender Haris Azhar put on hold
On 10 August 2016, the defamation complaint filed against human rights defender Mr Haris Azhar by the National Police, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the National Armed Forces (TNI) was put on hold while an independent police team investigate the alleged involvement of security officials in drug trafficking.
Haris Azhar is a human rights defender and coordinator of KontraS (Commission for the Disappeared Victims of Violence, a non governmental organisation that promotes political awareness of State accountability and seeks justice and truth for human rights abuses. KontraS also protects minorities and human rights defenders, carries out judicial accountability of civil liberties and advocacy in post conflict areas in Indonesia. On 28 July 2016, Haris Azhar published an article on Facebook which detailed corrupt activities of Indonesian police officials, including the acceptance of bribes from an international drug trafficking network.
On 10 August 2016, the defamation complaint filed against human rights defender Mr Haris Azhar by the National Police, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the National Armed Forces (TNI) was put on hold while an independent police team investigate the alleged involvement of security officials in drug trafficking.
On 28 July 2016, Haris Azhar published an article on Facebook which alleged corrupt activities of police officials, including the acceptance of bribes from an international drug trafficking network. Haris Azhar initially sent the information to the President’s Office in an attempt to obtain a swift response from the Government, however, he claims the authorities did not follow up on his request.
On 2 August 2016, three government agencies, the BNN, the TNI, and the National Police, filed a joint defamation complaint against Haris Azhar under the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions Law. This law prohibits any person from distributing, transmitting, or making any electronic information accessible which includes “contents of affronts and/or defamation”. If convicted, the human rights defender could face up to six years in prison and a one billion Rupiah fine (€68,700).
On 5 August, KontraS established the Independent Emergency Post for Dismantling Apparatus Involvement on Drug Smuggling, in order to collect statements which would provide evidence for the accusations made in the article written by Haris Azhar. It is reported that at least 27 statements from the general public confirming police corruption have been collected.
Following public pressure, on 10 August 2016, the National Police announced that they have set up an independent team to investigate the alleged involvement of security officials in drug trafficking. In spite of the announcement, it is reported that the BNN, the TNI and the National Police are continuing their own investigation, and Haris Azhar may still face charges of defamation.
Front Line Defenders is concerned at the investigation against Haris Azhar and the potential charges against him.
