OPINION: Torture, police and legal reform, democratization
The Jakarta Post. On Nov. 15, 2003, the National Commission on Human Rights (KOMNAS HAM) announced its preliminary findings about human rights abuses by the TNI and National Police in Papua. On the same day, cases of torture and judicial killings by the police in Maluku were also reported. Torture cases have been "public secrets" for many years. Torture cases with differing gravity can be found in almost all police stations or military posts in areas of conflict all over Indonesia. Let us clarify what torture means. Article 1 of the International Conventions Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) states that torture is "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person" by state apparatus (police, military and others). The purpose can be to obtain information or confession or to punish that person (or a third person). The person may have committed or have b