Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) in Indonesia and the Indonesian Solidarity (IS) in Australia

Jakarta, Tuesday, August 31, 2010 - HRWG and IS have expressed concern over the incident of the Indonesian fishermen currently held in detention Centre in Darwin without trial on suspicion of people smuggling. This detention centre holds about 500 people including around 150 Indonesian fishermen. Australian media reported that the Indonesian fisherman set fire to the detention centre.

This incident must be viewed in context, where Indonesian fishermen are impoverished traditional fishermen their position is the victim of people smuggling syndicate. Those fishermen face people smuggling charges that carry mandatory jail terms of up to 20 years, while most of the operators in Indonesia are still free. IS and HRWG urge the Australian and Indonesian governments to follow the investigation of ABC TV Four Corner titled 'Smugglers’ Paradise' broadcasted on August 2, 2010. There is clear evidence of corrupt Indonesian military, police, and high ranking Indonesian immigration involved with people smuggling.

Therefore, in response to Darwin’s detention centre we urge the Australian government to form an independent fact-finding team to investigate this incident, and to examine the economic-social background of Indonesian fishermen currently in Australian jail or detention centre. Finding the root of this problem and find a solution that is far more humane, as Indonesia is the largest single recipient of Australian development assistance, yet these people are almost left out.

In addition, we urge the Indonesian government, especially the Department of Foreign Affairs to make maximum efforts to deliver legal assistance in accordance with the mandate of Law. 37/1999 on foreign relations.

The Australian government must ensure that the legal process must be humane, in accordance with the standards of international human rights law, especially the ICCPR and CAT, which have already been ratified by the Australian government.  

For more information, contact:

Rafendi Djamin (Executive Director HRWG)

(+6281311442159)

Eko Waluyo (Indonesian Solidarity Australia)

(+61416809107)