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VI. RECOMMENDATIONS

To the government of the Republic of Indonesia:

      · Immediately and unconditionally release all persons detained or imprisoned for the peaceful expression of their political views.
      · Drop any outstanding charges against individuals awaiting trial for their non-violent political activities.
      · Make a public commitment to ensuring that there will be no further arrests of individuals engaged in the peaceful expression of their beliefs.
      · Propose the repeal of articles 134, 136, and 137 criminalizing insulting the president or vice-president and anyone who "disseminates, demonstrates openly or puts up a writing or portrait containing an insult against the president or vice-president" and articles 154, 155, and 156 criminalizing "public expression of feelings of hostility, hatred or contempt toward the government" and prohibiting "the expression of such feelings or views through the public media."
      · Repeal any regulations or decrees that have been used to detain or imprison people for the peaceful expression of their political views.
      · Act immediately upon the commitment in the five-year National Action Plan on Human Rights to sign and ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which would provide further legal guarantees for the protection of freedom of expression in Indonesia.

To Indonesia's People's Representative Assembly (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR):

      · Repeal articles 134, 136, and 137 criminalizing insulting the president or vice-president and anyone who "disseminates, demonstrates openly or puts up a writing or portrait containing an insult against the president or vice-president" and articles 154, 155, and 156 criminalizing "public expression of feelings of hostility, hatred or contempt toward the government" and prohibiting "the expression of such feelings or views through the public media."
      · Pass legislation nullifying any regulations or decrees that have been used to detain or imprison people for the peaceful expression of their political views.
      · Urge the government to sign and then ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which would provide further legal guarantees for the protection of freedom of expression in Indonesia.

To the Indonesian judiciary:

      · Throw out all prosecutions for the peaceful expression of political views on the grounds that they are inconsistent with international law and norms.

To International Donors and Governments with close bilateral ties to Indonesia:

      · Raise concerns about regressive policies curtailing free expression in meetings with President Megawati and government officials.
      · Regularly monitor trials and meet with defendants.
      · Support comprehensive training for all members of the judiciary in international human rights standards and applicable international law.
      · Support comprehensive training for all members of the police force in international human rights standards and applicable international law.

To the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:

      · Ensure that the invited Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression is allowed unhindered access to all political prisoners across Indonesia.
      · Include in any Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) technical assistance program to Indonesia comprehensive training for members of the judiciary and police force in international human rights standards and applicable human rights law.

Human Rights Watch
Asia Division

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world.

We stand with victims and activists to bring offenders to justice, to prevent discrimination, to uphold
political freedom and to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime.

We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable.

We challenge governments and those holding power to end abusive practices and respect international
human rights law.

We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all.

The staff includes Kenneth Roth, executive director; Michele Alexander, development director; Rory Mungoven, advocacy director; Carroll Bogert, communications director; Barbara Guglielmo, finance director; Lotte Leicht, Brussels office director; Steve Crawshaw, London office director; Patrick Minges, publications director; Maria Pignataro Nielsen, human resources director; Iain Levine, program director; Wilder Tayler, legal and policy director; and Joanna Weschler, United Nations representative. Jonathan Fanton is the chair of the board. Robert L. Bernstein is the founding chair.

Its Asia division was established in 1985 to monitor and promote the observance of internationally recognized human rights in Asia. Brad Adams is Executive Director; Smita Narula, Sara Colm and Mickey Spiegel are Senior Researchers; Meg Davis, Ali Hasan, and Charmain Mohamed are researchers; Ami Evangelista and Liz Weiss are associates. Joanne Leedom-Ackerman is Chairperson of the advisory committee.

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