The ASEAN SOGIE Caucus calls for immediate investigation of the violent attacks during the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) memorial in Tugu, Yogyakarta last Thursday, 20 November 2014, and the recurring violence and intolerance towards minorities in Yogyakarta.

Further, the ASC also calls for the protection of the human rights defenders in Yogyakarta from possible reprisals from non-state actors, including the assailants. In a media release released by the organizers, the assailants had identified and targeted some attendees at the memorial. In addition, similar attacks have occurred before towards religious minorities who have had held similar events. We are concerned that the lack of protection from the state will further exacerbate personal security, safety and well-being of the human rights defenders and others in Yogyakarta. As such, the authorities, namely the police must conduct impartial and speedy investigation to ensure the assailants are held accountable.

The ASC is also extremely concerned with the growing religious extremism in the region, and the use of religion to instigate and justify violence towards minorities. Before the memorial commenced, calls to attack the memorial were made by 3 mosques in the nearby area. The ASC strongly condemns the acts of intolerance and violence by the assailants, and exploitation of religion and religious institutions to instigate hate and violence towards minorities who merely exercised their freedom to assemble to peacefully commemorate the lives of transgender persons lost due to violence.

We call the ASEAN member states to take meaningful measures to address the growing religious extremism in the region.

Such acts of violence further demonstrate the dire need to introduce meaningful measures and protection for LGBTIQ persons and human rights defenders in ASEAN member states. Consequently, ASEAN member states must create enabling environment for LGBTIQ persons to live with dignity and take meaningful steps to promote tolerance, respect and equality for all people regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

Background:

On November 20, 2014, the Jaringan Perempuan Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Women Network) organized a Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) memorial in Tugu, Yogyakarta to commemorate the lives of transgender persons lost due to hate crime and violence. The event that began at 8pm went on peacefully until disrupted by the 3 strangers who claimed to be police officers. The strangers violently dispersed the attendees and attacked 6 attendees. AL, an attendee, was pulled by his hair, kicked, pushed and hit on his with a bamboo stick. MUS, identified as the group leader by the assailants, and his friend who tried to escape with his motorcycle physically attacked by the assailants with bamboo sticks. BER, another participant, was also physically attacked by the assailants. According to the sources, announcements were made at the Diponegoro Mosque, Taqim Mosque and Mujahidin Mosque to instigate violence towards the attendees. Similar attacks have occurred in the past against, including one against Sapta Dharma in 2012. While the attacks were reported to the Police and NHRI (Komnas HAM), no actions have been taken thus far.