INDONESIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Indonesia is a multiparty ...

INDONESIA 23
The Alliance of Independent Journalists reported no problems for the media in
obtaining unclassified public documents from the government.
Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and
Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights
A number of domestic human rights organizations generally operated without
government restriction throughout the country, investigating and publishing their
findings on human rights cases as well as advocating for improvements to the
government’s human rights performance. The government met with local NGOs,
responded to their inquiries, and took some actions in response to NGO concerns.
However, some government officials, particularly in Papua and Aceh, subjected
the organizations to monitoring, harassment, and interference as well as threats and
intimidation. Activists said intelligence officers followed them, took their pictures
surreptitiously, and sometimes questioned their friends and family members
regarding their whereabouts and activities.
Human rights and anticorruption activists reported receiving threatening messages
and other intimidation from unknown sources.
The government generally viewed outside investigations or foreign criticism of its
human rights record as interference in its internal affairs. The security forces and
intelligence agencies tended to regard with suspicion foreign human rights
organizations, particularly those operating in conflict areas, and restricted their
movement in these areas. Government monitoring of foreigners occurred in
conflict areas. Some domestic human rights organizations expressed concern
about the possible negative consequences of contacting foreigners. In one case, the
government subjected a foreign researcher for an international human rights
organization to “forced repatriation.” She was conducting research into religious
intolerance in Madura when local authorities detained her.
Government Human Rights Bodies: A number of independent governmentaffiliated
bodies addressed human rights problems, including the National
Ombudsman, the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas
Perempuan), and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
The public generally trusted Komnas HAM, Komnas Perempuan, and the
Ombudsman, but government cooperation with their recommendations was not
mandatory and not usual.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011
United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor