TORONTO, Nov. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - The Law Society of Upper Canada is gravely concerned about the investigation and intimidation of lawyer Gustaf Kawer in Indonesia.
Mr. Kawer is a prominent human rights lawyer in the Indonesian province of Papua. He has worked on many cases dealing with workers' rights, land ownership, and socio-political rights. For example, in 2013, he defended five persons facing treason charges in a case involving the issue of freedom to express political opinion, during which he was threatened with prosecution.
It should be noted that Mr. Kawer and his colleague were third on the Jury's shortlist for the international Lawyers for Lawyers Award in 2013.
Reports indicate that Mr. Kawer was representing a client in a land dispute against the government and had applied to the court to postpone a hearing scheduled for 12 June 2014. The court denied Mr. Kawer's request for a postponement, following which he protested on the basis of partiality, since the judge had previously granted three postponements requested by the government. The court asked Mr. Kawer to leave the courtroom if he disagreed, which he did. The court reportedly proceeded in the absence of Mr. Kawer and his client.
It is reported that on 22 August 2014, Mr. Kawer received a witness summons relating to a case of coercion and rebelliousness under Articles 211 and 212 of the Indonesian Penal Code. The summons contained no information about the suspect. Several days later, Mr. Kawer learned that he was the suspect of the investigation. This was confirmed through communications with the officer in charge, as well as a second summons, dated 25 August 2014, sent to the Indonesian Bar Association (PERADI). The summons demanded Mr. Kawyer's presence for an interrogation at Papua Regional Police headquarters on 1 Sept 2014.
On 27 August 2014, the chairperson of PERADI reportedly communicated to authorities that, in accordance with protocol, Mr. Kawer would not appear until PERADI carried out its own investigation of the case. A summons related to the work of a lawyer must be directed to PERADI. The results of PERADI's investigation would be communicated to the authorities.
On 17 September 2014, a police person attempted to serve a third summons upon Mr. Kawer, even though PERADI had not contacted authorities with results of their investigation into his case.
The officer who attempted to serve the third summons tried to do so upon Mr. Kawer's wife. Mr. Kawer was not present at his address at that time. Reports indicate that he stayed away from home for an undetermined period of time due to the fear of possible arrest. If Mr. Kawer is prosecuted and found guilty, he could face up to four years in prison.
The Law Society is concerned that Papua Regional Police are failing to adhere to established Indonesian law in respect to investigating the conduct of lawyers, and that the charges under which Mr. Kawer is being investigated are unsubstantiated.
The Indonesian Law on Advocates No. 18/2003 establishes that a lawyer shall not be subject to criminal or civil action in relation to the performance in good faith of his or her professional duties in defending a client in court. The Law Society understands that this provision was recently reaffirmed by the Constitutional Court of Indonesia in its Judgement No. 26/PUU-XI/2013.
In addition, Article 12(2) of the United Nations' Declaration on human rights defenders calls upon states to "take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration."
The Law Society asks that you also consider Principles 16, 20 and 28 of the United Nations' Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. Principle 16 states:
Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economics or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.
Principle 20 states:
Lawyers shall enjoy civil and penal immunity for relevant statements made in good faith or oral pleadings or in their professional appearances before a court, tribunal or other legal or administrative authority.
Principle 28 states:
Disciplinary proceedings against lawyers shall be brought before an impartial disciplinary committee established by the legal profession, before an independent statutory authority, or before a court, and shall be subject to an independent judicial review.
The Law Society urges the government of Indonesia to:
*The Law Society of Upper Canada is the governing body for more than 47,000 lawyers and 6,000 paralegals in the province of Ontario, Canada. The Treasurer is the head of the Law Society.
The mandate of the Law Society is to govern the legal profession in the public interest by upholding the independence, integrity and honour of the legal profession for the purpose of advancing the cause of justice and the rule of law.
SOURCE The Law Society of Upper Canada
For further information: For more information, please contact Lisa Hall at 416-947-7625 or lhall@lsuc.on.ca.; The Law Society of Upper Canada, Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M5H 2N6
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