Subject: AI EX089/99 INDONESIA Arbitrary detention
Date: 16 Jul 99 18:52:56 -0400
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PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 21/63/99 16 July 1999
EXTRA 89/99 Arbitrary detention / Fear for safety / Fear of torture or ill-treatment
INDONESIA Abdullah Adanan Abdullah, 28 Ansari Juned, 19 Bahri Insya, 22 Bakhtiar
Razali, 17 Helmi Zulkifli, 17 Junaidi Ismail, 32 M Amin, 30 Marzuki Syamsuddin, 21 M
Husen, 35 Muslidar Sabirin, 17 Mustafa Hasyem, 23 Nazir M Diah, 38 Nurdin Ibrahim, 23
Ramli Amin, 35 Rasyidan Yusof Alias Si Yem, 28 Razali, 18 Si Bit A Rani, 18 Si Yan Lem
Badai, 38 Zainuddin Syafii, 17
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of the 20 people named above who were
arrested by the Indonesian National Army (TNI) on 9 July 1999. In many cases suspects
linked to opposition groups who are arrested and detained by the TNI are tortured and
ill-treated.
They are believed to have been arrested on the basis of claims from the TNI that the
armed opposition group, Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM), Free Aceh Movement, uses the area
around the plantation where the arrests took place in Teunom Sub-district, West Aceh
District, Aceh province, northern Sumatra, as a training ground. Local residents however
claim that the group are manual labourers who had gone to the plantation to look for work.
All 20 are now believed to be detained at the District Military Command (Kodim) in West
Aceh. Human rights lawyers claim that a local government official attempted to meet with
them but was refused access. Human rights lawyers have also not been given access to the
group.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Serious human rights violations, including "disappearances" and unlawful
killings, have increased since the end of 1998 in the course of TNI counter-insurgency
operations against the armed separatist group, GAM. In February 1999 at least seven people
were unlawfully killed by the TNI who fired on a march in Idi Cut, East Aceh. On 3 May,
human rights monitors claimed that at least 40 people were killed in Krueng Geukueh,
Dewantara Sub-District, Aceh Utara District, when the TNI fired on a demonstration. GAM
have also been accused of committing human rights abuses.
Dozens of people have been arrested in recent months on suspicion of links to GAM.
Suspects detained by the TNI are often denied access to lawyers of their choice and are at
risk of torture or ill-treatment. Under Indonesia's Code of Criminal Procedures, only the
police - and not the TNI - have the authority to arrest, detain and investigate suspects.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in Bahasa
Indonesia or English or your own language:
- urging the authorities to take measures to ensure that the 20 people named above are
not at risk of torture or ill-treatment and that they are given immediate and on-going
access to lawyers of their choice and to their families (you can mention some of the names
listed);
- urging the authorities to clarify the precise charges against the group and release
them if they are not to be immediately charged with a recognizably criminal offence;
- urging the authorities, if they are to be charged with a recognizably criminal
offence, to ensure that they are handed over by the TNI to the police, in accordance with
Indonesia's Code of Criminal Procedures.
APPEALS TO (Time difference = GMT + 7 hrs / BST + 6 hrs) (if you are unable to obtain a
fax tone for General Wiranto please try later):
Minister of Defence and Security:
Gen. Wiranto [Salutation: Dear Minister] Menteri Pertahanan dan Keamanan Jl. Medan
Merdeka Barat No.13-14 Jakarta 10110 Indonesia Telegrams: General Wiranto, Jakarta,
Indonesia Faxes: + 62 21 381 4535 / 384 5178
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: Embassy of Indonesia, 38 Grosvenor Square,
London W1X 9AD. Fax: 0171 491 4993
AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING:
Military Commander Region I/bukit Barisan: (covers North & West Sumatra and Aceh)
Major General Abdul Rahman Gaffar Pangdam I/Bukit Barisan Markas Besar KODAM I Medan
Sumatra Utara Indonesia
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please do not send appeals after 13 August 1999.
If you have any queries about this Urgent Action or about + + the UA scheme in
general, please contact: + + Ray Mitchell / Becky Hess + + Amnesty International UK
Section + + 99 - 119 Rosebery Avenue + + London EC1R 4RE email: ua@amnesty.org.uk
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