Case number 12/2016: Indonesia

JUDGMENT AND ETHICAL CONCLUSION

Dear Prosecutor, Executive Secretary and Jury Members of the International Buddhist Ethics Committee (IBEC) and Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights (BTHR), with respect to the case denounced by the World Association of Buddhism (WBA) against the Government of Indonesia and its President Joko Widodo, through the present, on March 3, 2016, it is put on record that the Case 12 of the Buddhist Tribunal concludes to analyze the violation of Human Rights and Environmental Rights by the government of Indonesia and its President responsible, the latter being undoubtedly complicit in the crimes committed by the previous governments of the past that have produced human and ecological catastrophes in Indonesia.

After the enormous amount of evidence presented and certified as valid it has proceeded with the vote of six members of the Jury, by confirming that all of them sentenced the Government of Indonesia as “Responsible” for the serious crimes of ECODIDE, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, SOCIAL OPPRESSION, GENOCIDE, ETHNIC CLEANSING, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND CRIMES AGAINST PEACE. Since these actions breach the ethical precepts of Buddhism and the international regulations on International Law, it was considered that the Indonesian government has completely violated the Human Rights of millions of human beings, being also a perversion the way how it is destroying nature, which is the source of life, health and harmony of all beings.

Although the investigation of the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights started from the fact of Animal Rights violations in Indonesia, after an arduous analysis of the evidences it was found that this government has not only committed extremely harmful Ecocides against the Rights of Mother Earth, but also this same self-destructive attitude of the government of Indonesia is manifested in its relation to Human Rights, since the investigation has demonstrated that this government has produced violent and unpunished deeds of genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, reaching to exterminate millions of human beings. Although some events date back to the XX century, the current government of Indonesia has never promoted an adequate compensation to victims of the past, as even many of these events currently continue to be developed. In this sense, much of the young population of Indonesia does not know that these aberrant acts have existed in history, as there has been a governmental concealment of Truth.

Therefore, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights dictates that the Spirituality created by Master Siddharta Gautama, as a Path of Commitment to the Human Right to Truth, must sentence the Government of Indonesia and its President Joko Widodo as Ecocidal and Genocidal, violating the International Law, which is why it is requested that this government not only stop immediately its destructive behavior toward life but also initiates a process of repairing damages committed toward its own people and to its neighboring peoples. Definitively, every genuine country project must include Truth and Reconciliation, by learning from history to stop repeating errors.

The Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights formally recognizes that Indonesia has committed crimes against world peace, both because of its damage to the environment and due to its terrible crimes against civilian populations and defenseless people. In this regard, it is put on record that these facts have been perpetrated under the direct and indirect complicity of the international community, which has failed to prevent and stop such massacres. However, although these events have been ignored by the formal channels of International Law, our Buddhist Tribunal recognizes and appreciates that in 1981 in the city of Lisbon another revolutionary juridical institution called “Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal” (PPT), which it is an Ethical Tribunal of Consciousness, has denounced and sentenced some of the violations of Human Rights committed by Indonesia, as the invasion and occupation of East Timor with the Complicity of the United States, committing an international crime against peace and self-determination of a independent people.

On the other hand, by being essentially an ethical and tribal juridical system, the Buddhist Law always seeks health and Liberation of all beings, struggling peacefully against the injustices committed by individuals and nations. This means that the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights is engaged with Universal Justice, denouncing the evils of the world and offering spiritual solutions as a form of ethical and non-punitive juridical wisdom, promoting the Conciliation and Learning at all times. Thus, the Buddhist Law or Dharmic law is a millennial tribal system to solve problems through the power of mediation and reconciliation, always honoring the Truth that is the Spirit and Purpose of Justice. In fact, Buddhism is the first people that has worked in defense of the Human Right to World Peace, which is interrelated with environmental harmony.

The Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights has planetary jurisdiction, since doing good, avoid evil and purifying the mind are spiritual actions that cannot be limited by state demarcations or government controls, reason why the mission of the Salvation of the world involves the establishment of a special jurisdiction of an ethical and spiritual nature. In addition, because the contemporary civilization is regulated by monetary interests, the Human Rights and the International Law are often disrespected, by existing trials only for losing countries but never being carried out trials to countries victorious of military conflicts. This situation of transnational impunity makes Buddhism exerts its position as an Ethical and Spiritual Tribe, by teaching the remedies to Cure the peoples’ sufferings. Thus, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights practices the Buddhist Tribal Law that dates back to the Vinaya Code with an age of 2600 years, characterized by being a system of solidarity and reconciliation, so that the objective of this spiritual juridical system is to defend Peace of all beings and not only the protection of the life of the Buddhist peoples.

Although denouncing and condemning the acts of evil committed by individuals, companies and governments involves dealing with threats, attacks and censures against the essential freedom of Buddhist Spirituality, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights maintains a perennial commitment to the Truth and True Justice by clarifying that the traditional legal model, based on prison sentences or financial penalties, is undoubtedly a system that does not protect Peace and Interexistence. On this basis, the ethical judgment made to the government of Indonesia is a juridical procedure with international legitimacy because it is protected in both the Tribal Law and in the obligation of every individual and group in defending Human Rights.

Therefore, faced with the government of Indonesia and its President Joko Widodo, who have committed criminal behavior against humanity and environment, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights judges their Responsibility for ECODIDE, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, SOCIAL OPPRESSION, GENOCIDE, ETHNIC CLEANSING, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND CRIMES AGAINST PEACE, claiming for a ceasing and immediate reparation of the genocidal and ecocidal operations. It is recommended that Indonesia also initiates a process of recognition of its past, by transmitting public information to all its people about the massacres that happened, at the same time it must be recognized the Right to Truth and Reparation that have all the millions of victims and their corresponding families. In conclusion, the Buddhist Spirituality states that, in order to become a healthy and advanced nation, Indonesia should not become obsessed with material and industrial growth, as its main desire should be Reconciliation, Liberation and Awakening of its people, simultaneously bringing friendship and cooperation to its neighboring countries. Only the commitment to these values will build a better world, while the concealment of Truth will lead to self-destruction.

Following the Way of the Master Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights has proceeded against the Government of Indonesia for oppressive, genocidal and ecocidal behaviors, both toward its own people and toward its neighboring peoples, which is clearly a complete violation of the Buddhist Ethics, the Human Rights and the Rights of Mother Earth.

Cordially, with a spirit of reconciliation (maitri),

Buddhist Master Maitreya

Spiritual Guide and President of the International Buddhist Ethics Committee (IBEC) and Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights (BTHR)