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Resolution on Indonesia, notably the case of Hosea Yeimo and Ismael Alua and the Governor of Jakarta

2017/2506(RSP)

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Indonesia, notably the case of Hosea Yeimo and Ismael Alua and the Governor of Jakarta.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, Greens/EFA and EFDD groups.

On 19 December 2016, Hosea Yeimo and Ismael Alua, two Papuan political activists, were detained and charged with ‘rebellion’ under the Indonesian Criminal Code, following peaceful political activities.

Although they were released on bail on 11 January 2017, legal proceedings of the case continue and if convicted, they can face up to life imprisonment.

The Governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama is standing trial, accused by some religious groups of insulting Islam.

Concerned about the growing intolerance in Indonesia towards ethnic, religious and sexual minorities, Parliament strongly condemned all acts of violence, harassment and intimidation against minorities, as well as impunity for such acts, and condemned the increased abuse of existing regulations in order to discriminate, prosecute and imprison members of religious minorities, traditional religions, and ethnic and sexual minorities.

Noting the efforts of Indonesia to sustain its democracy and respect human rights, Parliament welcomed the continued European Union – Indonesia Human Rights Dialogue, established in 2010 and recalled that improving the human rights situation in Indonesia is a priority of the EU-Indonesia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

The Indonesian authorities are called upon to:

  • consider dropping the charges against Hosea Yeimo, Ismael Alua and other prisoners of conscience against whom charges have been brought for peacefully exercising their right of freedom of expression;
  • implement immediate and effective measures to ensure the safety and security of peaceful political activists exercising their rights;
  • repeal certain Articles of the country’s Criminal Code to remove the blasphemy provisions in the current draft Bill of Revision of the Criminal Code, the Electronic Information and Transactions Law and the rebellion laws;
  • bring all laws into conformity with Indonesia’s obligations under international human rights law, specifically on freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion, equality before the law, freedom from discrimination, and the right to expression and public assembly;
  • protect Indonesia’s tradition of religious tolerance and pluralism by investigating, arresting and prosecuting individuals or groups who discriminate or commit acts of violence against religious communities;
  • refrain from further restricting the rights of LGBTI people.

Whilst regretting the resumption of the death penalty, Parliament called on the authorities to establish a moratorium on all executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty. It called on the Delegation of the EU to Indonesia to follow the legal proceedings against Hosea Yeimo and Ismael Alua.