BenarNews staff
2023.12.08

Washington

The U.S. State Department named two Indonesians – including a candidate for the House of Representatives in next year’s election – among its international list of “perpetrators of human rights abuses” on Friday.

The list, released to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Dec. 10, named Hartomo, a former military officer who is seeking office in the Feb. 14 election, and Terbit Rencana Perangin-Angin, a former regent of Langkat in North Sumatra province.

Hartomo, who goes by one name, “is being designated for his involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely extrajudicial killing,” the State Department said.

He held the highest rank, lieutenant colonel, of a group of soldiers accused of killing Theys Eluay, chairman of the Papua Presidium Council, in November 2001, according to media reports.

Human Rights Watch reported that the soldiers were convicted in 2003, but Hartomo was later promoted to head up the nation’s military intelligence agency. https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/01/26/us-should-not-be-rehabilitating-indonesias-abusive-special-forces

A member of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party, Hartomo is seeking to represent Central Java in the legislature.

Lt. Col. Hartomo (left), Capt. Rionardo, 1st Sgt. Asrisal and Pvt. Achmad Zulfahmi hear the indictment against them at the Surabaya Military Court in Indonesia, Jan. 3, 2003. [AFP]

Terbit Rencana “is being designated for his involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely the forced labor of boys and men,” the news release said.

In May 2022, 10 soldiers were named as suspects in the alleged torture deaths of at least six people who had been kept in two cage-like rooms in Terbit Rencana’s house in North Sumatra province. https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/indonesian/cage-probe-05232022151449.html

The iron-barred rooms were discovered four months earlier when the Corruption Eradication Agency searched the house and found 27 people inside the cells. Terbit Rencana, who was arrested at that time, said his residence housed drug addicts who were undergoing rehabilitation.

Police said 656 people had been held in the two cages since 2010.

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Indonesia excerpt  from  https://www.state.gov/promoting-accountability-in-support-of-the-75th-anniversary-of-the-universal-declaration-of-human-rights/

Promoting Accountability in Support of the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
FACT SHEET

OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON

DECEMBER 8, 2023

On Human Rights Day and the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Department of State, in coordination with the Departments of the Treasury and Homeland Security, is taking actions to promote accountability for perpetrators of human rights abuses.  State is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on four individuals pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Annual Appropriations Act, 11 individuals pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, designating one People’s Republic of China (PRC) individual pursuant to the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act (UHRPA), and designating two ISIS-DRC leaders pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. On Human Rights Day and the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Department of State, in coordination with the Departments of the Treasury and Homeland Security, is taking actions to promote accountability for perpetrators of human rights abuses.  State is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on four individuals pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Annual Appropriations Act, 11 individuals pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, designating one People’s Republic of China (PRC) individual pursuant to the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act (UHRPA), and designating two ISIS-DRC leaders pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended.  Treasury is designating 20 individuals pursuant to E.O. 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, as well as E.O. 13667, E.O. 13413 as amended by E.O. 13671, and E.O. 13664.  These actions also implement the Presidential Memorandum on Promoting Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.  Homeland Security is also adding three PRC-based companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act (UFLPA) Entity list.

….

Indonesia

State is designating two individuals pursuant to Section 7031(c).

Terbit Rencana Pergangin-Angin, Former Regent of Langkat, Indonesia. He is being designated for his involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely the forced labor of boys and men.

Hartomo, Former Official of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. He is being designated for his involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely extrajudicial killing.

———————– — etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan Support ETAN. Donate now: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/etan009 John M. Miller etan@igc.orgCoordinator, East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)PO Box 1663, NY, NY 10035-1663 USAPhone: (917)690-4391 www.etan.orgTwitter/Instagram: @etan009 Send a blank e-mail message to info@etan.org to for information on other ETAN electronic resources on East Timor and Indonesia etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan