Public Statement - The Law Society of Upper Canada expresses grave concerns about the maltreatment of lawyer Alldo Fellix Januardy in Indonesia

TORONTO, May 27, 2016 /CNW/ - The Law Society of Upper Canada expresses grave concerns about the maltreatment of lawyer Alldo Fellix Januardy in Indonesia.

The Law Society has received reports that on 12 January 2016 Alldo Fellix Januardy was attacked by members of the Civil Service Police Unit and the Sub-District Head of Tebet, resulting in several wounds to his face. The alleged attack occurred during a forced eviction in Bukit Duri, Tebet, South Jakarta. According to reports, Alldo Fellix Januardy was attempting to persuade police to wait until the Administrative District Court had ruled on the legality of the eviction order when he was attacked.

The Law Society is deeply concerned that the maltreatment of Alldo Fellix Januardy by the police appears to relate solely to his legitimate actions as a lawyer.

The Law Society of Upper Canada wrote to His Excellency Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, urging the government of Indonesia to comply with Articles 16 and 23 of the United Nations' Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. 

Article 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, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.

Moreover, Article 23 states:

Lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly. In particular, they shall have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights and to join or form local, national or international organizations and attend their meetings, without suffering professional restrictions by reason of their lawful action or their membership in a lawful organization.

The Law Society urges the government of Indonesia to:

1. conduct a fair, impartial and independent investigation into the attack on Alldo Fellix Januardy in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply to them civil, penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
2. ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments;
3. guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Alldo Fellix Januardy.

*The Law Society of Upper Canada is the governing body for more than 49,000 lawyers and 7,900 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

please contact Susan Tonkin, Communications Advisor - Media Relations, at 416-947-7605 or [email protected]; The Law Society of Upper Canada, Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M5H 2N6, lsuc.on.ca | lawsocietygazette.ca, Follow us on Twitter @LawsocietyLSUC