A/HRC/7/45
page 5
Indeed, it is important to note that this mandate limits reporting to cases in which individuals
have faced reprisals for having cooperated with representatives of United Nations human rights
bodies; this includes treaty bodies and special procedures. A substantial amount of information
covering a larger number of States was collected concerning reprisals against individuals having
cooperated with human rights components of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, or
with the Office of the High Commissioner field presences. However as these types of reprisals
are not covered in the resolutions creating this mandate, these cases will not be reflected in the
present report.
B. Summary of cases
6.
The following paragraphs cover a variety of situations in which persons have been
intimidated or suffered reprisals for having cooperated with United Nations human rights bodies,
for having availed themselves of international procedures, for having provided legal assistance
for this purpose, and/or as relatives of victims of human rights violations.
1. Fiji
7.
Information was received that the Fiji Human Rights Commission was compiling a report
on individuals who had made complaints to United Nations mechanisms following the military
coup of December 2006. This information was publicly confirmed by the Ombudsman and
Chairperson of the Fiji Human Rights Commission. Following the events of December 2006,
several communications were sent to special procedures by the civil society in Fiji. Based on
these communications and other information, several urgent appeals concerning the events of
December 2006 were sent to the Government of Fiji by the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur on violence
against women, its causes and consequences, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Rapporteur on
torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
2. Indonesia
8.
On 11 July 2007, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of
human rights defenders sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Indonesia in relation to the
situation of Frederika Korain, Reverend Perinus Kogoya and Barthol Yomen, members of the
Peace and Justice Commission for the Diocese of Jayapura (SKP Jayapura), Yan Christian
Warinussy, Director of Institute of Research, Analysis and Development of Legal Aid (LP3BH)
of Manokwari - West Irian Jaya, and Albert Rumbekwan, Head of the National Commission on
Human Rights in West Papua province (“Komnas HAM”). According to the information
received, on 8 June 2007, Ms. Korain, Reverend Kogoya, and Mr. Yomen flew back to Jayapura
after attending a public hearing with the Special Representative in Jakarta on 7 June. After
leaving the airport, their vehicle was followed and subsequently hit by a car with a police licence
plate in Ifar. The driver of the police car introduced himself as a commander of intelligence in
the Military Regional Command of Trikora. He apologized and said that it was an accident,
before driving away. The police, who witnessed the entire incident, allowed him to leave the
scene without being questioned. It was alleged that this incident was not accidental, but was
perpetrated by an intelligence official who monitored the Special Representative’s visit to
West Papua, with the direct purpose of intimidating the occupants of the car.
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