LM Report 1999

Report   Executive Summary   Translated Country Reports   Print

INDONESIA

Mine Ban Policy

Indonesia signed the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997, but it has yet to ratify. Indonesia was slow to embrace the Ottawa Process. It attended the treaty preparatory meetings, but did not endorse the pro-ban treaty Brussels Declaration in June 1997, and participated in the treaty negotiations in Oslo only as an observer. It did however vote for the pro-ban U.N. General Assembly resolutions in 1996 and 1997.

At the treaty signing in Ottawa, Minister of Defense Edi Sudradjat said that Indonesia did not decide until 17 November 1997 “to join the majority of the international community” in signing the ban treaty, “after thoroughly examining the technical aspects of antipersonnel landmines, including its humanitarian effects particularly to civilians.” He noted that “Indonesia hopes that eventually all major countries which traditionally produce, use and export, as well as mine-infested countries will join as parties to the Convention to ensure the universal adherence and effective implementations.”^[1]

Indonesian Major General Ferry Tinggogoy, who is on the Army Staff, but also a member of Parliament, has said that Indonesia has no substantive problems with ratifying the Mine Ban Treaty and expects to do so before very long. There are only administrative obstacles due to the great number of draft bills concerning the reformation process.^[2]

Indonesia has not signed the Convention on Conventional Weapons. Indonesia is a member of the Conference on Disarmament, but has not been a strong supporter or opponent of efforts to negotiate a comprehensive mine ban, or a transfer ban, in the CD.

Production, Transfer, Stockpiling

According to Indonesian officials, Indonesia has never produced antipersonnel mines.^[3] There is no evidence or allegation to the contrary. Indonesia is not believed to have ever exported antipersonnel landmines. Indonesia previously imported AP mines in limited number from foreign countries, including Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.^[4] The United States shipped 102 M-18A1 Claymore mines to Indonesia in 1986.^[5] According to officials, antipersonnel mines are used only in military training programs for engineers, not for operational purposes.^[6]

Indonesia stockpiles antipersonnel mines in a limited number. The number, types, and location are still military secrets. General Ferry Tinggogoy indicated Indonesia will destroy most of its antipersonnel mines in the future as they are not useful for mlitary defense, but will retain some APMs for military training programs.^[7]

Use

The Indonesian government maintains that it has not laid mines to defend its borders, nor used antipersonnel mines in internal combat.^[8] This claim appears to be substantiated by Indonesian soldiers, rebel fighters, and political opponents.

Simon is a political activist from Irian Jaya (West Papua) who was imprisoned from 1982-1990, with 70 other prisoners, many of whom were involved in armed struggle against government troops. None were aware of any use of antipersonnel mines.^[9] Mujikar, formerly with the Marine Corps, was involved in combat operations in West Papua 1962-1964 and 1973-1974, on the Malaysian border (North Borneo) 1965-1972, and in East Timor 1976-1978, but says that antipersonnel landmines were never used by government or rebel forces.^[10] Xanana Gusmao, a noted East Timor leader, stated in an interview that neither Indonesian soldiers nor East Timor fighters ever used antipersonnel landmines.^[11]

But Simon of Irian Jaya claimed that landmines were planted around Abepura prison between 1983-1984, and that one of his fellow inmates, Sianipar, was injured by a mine.^[12] Major General Ferry Tinggogoy insisted that landmines were never used in that fashion.^[13]

Mine Action Funding

Indonesia has contributed US$40,000 to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Clearance, with funds earmarked for the demining effort in Cambodia.^[14]

Transparency

It should be noted that numerous Indonesian military officers and political officials refused to give interviews or provide information to Landmine Monitor researchers.

^[1] Statement by H.E. Mr. Edi Sudradjat, Minister for Defense and Security of the Republic of Indonesia, Ottawa, Canada, 4 December 1997.

^[2] Landmine Monitor interview with Major General Ferry Tinggogoy, Jakarta, 23 February 1999.

^[3] Ibid.

^[4] Ibid.

^[5] U.S. Army, Armament, Munitions, and Chemical Command (USAMCCOM), Letter to Human Rights Watch, 25 August 1993, and attached statistical tables, provided under the Freedom of Information Act. (no page number).

^[6] Landmine Monitor interview with Major General Ferry Tinggogoy, Jakarta, 23 February 1999.

^[7] Ibid.

^[8] Ibid.

^[9] Landmine Monitor interview with Simon, 12 February 1999.

^[10] Landmine Monitor interview with Mujikar, 15 February 1999.

^[11] Landmine Monitor, Bonar Tigor Naepospos interview with Xanana Gusmao, 17 February 1999.

^[12] Landmine Monitor interview with Simon, 12 February 1999.

^[13] Landmine Monitor interview with Ferry Tinggogoy, 23 February 1999.

^[14] Statement by H.E. Mr. Edi Sudradjat, Minister for Defense and Security of the Republic of Indonesia, Ottawa, Canada, 4 December 1997; “Assistance in Mine Clearance: Report of the Secretary-General,” U.N. General Assembly A/53/496, 14 October 1998, p. 29.

<COOK ISLANDS | MALAYSIA>