Press Statement Response to the News Release by the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders on 20 September 2021
2. The fact that the Government of Indonesia has carried out the Court’s order to take Mr Yeimo to receive treatment at a hospital since 30 August 2021, attests to the Government of Indonesia’s seriousness in ensuring the health and wellbeing of Mr. Yeimo.
3. The response of the Government of Indonesia has also disproved the mischaracterization of Mr. Yeimo’s imprisonment which has been erronously -and biasedly- conveyed by the Special Rapporteur, as a result of his “peaceful involvement in anti-racism and self-determination protests in 2019”, despite numerous witness testimonies and video recordings attesting to the contrary.
4. Indonesia’s Constitution guarantees the protection of human rights and equality before the law for all Indonesians, regardless of their background. This protection extends to everyone, including to human rights defenders. In this connection, the mere self-identification by someone as being a human rights defender, does not and should never,render such a person immune from prosecution, when he or she is accused to be in violation of the law.
5. The news release by the Special Rapporteur was published even with fact the Government of Indonesia has provided a comprehensive response to the Special Rapporteur’s Joint Communication of 30 June 2021, which addresses the same issues contained in the news release. Notwithstanding the challenges in coordinating the response due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this response was compiled through an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation and wassubmitted in a timely manner, within the 60 day time limit.
6. This reflects the Government of Indonesia’s commitment and seriousness in engaging in constructive cooperation with the Special Procedures Mandate Holders.
7. Attached to the Government of Indonesia’s response to the aforementioned SPMH Joint Communication, was an Annex containing supporting evidence addressing most, if not all, of the main allegations brought against Indonesia. The supporting evidence, including documents and photo evidence, which disproved, among others, the allegation that Mr. Victor Yeimo has been denied medical care and that “the Indonesian authorities have restricted his access to medical care”. The response includes details of routine medical examinations since his arrest on 9 May 2021.
8. The Special Rapporteur’s decision to use a “megaphone approach” even though already being granted the opportunity for dialogue and genuine cooperation by the relevant State, damages existing cooperation. All of this, seemingly just for the sake of personal gains through media exposure.
9. In conclusion, the Government of Indonesia deeply regrets the publication of the news release of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, which nullifies the Government of Indonesia’s efforts to protect the human rights of all Indonesian citizen, as well as undermined the Government’s genuine intention to have a constructive dialogue with Special Procedures Mandate Holders to discuss all issues of mutual concern.
Geneva, 20 September 2021
