[This is an abridged translation of a chronology written by Coen Husein Pontoh, chair of the PRD affiliated National Peasants Union (STN), who along with Dita Indah Sari (Chairperson, Center for Labour Struggle, PPBI) and M Sholeh (Surabaya Branch of Students Solidarity for Indonesian Democracy, SMID) were interned together in the Madaeng prison in Surabaya, East Java.]
Kalisosok, Block E4 - June 18
Between around 7-8pm, pounding began on the cell doors of Block F3. This became louder and louder and was accompanied by shouting. The prisoners of Block F3 could be seen striking the door made from thick iron sheeting with a padlock
Not satisfied with using the padlock, the occupants of Block F3 then used parts of their beds to pound on the second layer of the door. Their shouting became more and more rowdy. Not long afterwards, a night guard called Amirudin entered and approached F3 and the atmosphere calmed down. But after he left, the occupants of Block F3, the isolation cells and other cell blocks again began pounding the door even more violently.
Suddenly, the lights in F3 were extinguished, intentionally extinguished. Then in a threatening tone, they ordered all the lights in the block extinguished. Because we were afraid, we extinguished the lights. The atmosphere changed, becoming very tense and those of us in Block F5 thought "Why aren't the prison guards taking action against them [the one's rioting]?" Then from F3 a shout was heard: "Door three broken down 3X". Apparently it was a second level door that was broken down because the front door was still intact.
The children prisoners then broke down the front wall and crawled through while we in Cell F5 stayed close to the wall to avoid the stones being thrown. After they go out they ran to the isolation block and other cells and these then became their target. After both were broken into, they began breaking into other cells including mine, F5 and Sholeh's, F7. After breaking down the cell walls, they threatened that if the occupants did not leave the cell would be set fire to. By now all of the lights had been extinguished.
At that time, around 10pm, all of the occupants of Block F had each left their rooms. The atmosphere was very tense, there were those who had covered their heads, just like ninjas, others who shouted as if they were giving a command to attack Blocks A, B, C, D and E. I quickly searched for Sholeh and with him stood watching the drama. I was able to talk briefly with Sholeh about what had cause it, but neither of us really knew. But we were aware that we were in a very difficult position, if we became involved we would be accused of being the organisers and if not, would become the enemies of the furious prisoners. In the end we decided to join the rank but not touch anything.
As we were standing in front of the door to Block F, we heard Hamim, a prisoner who helped in the mosque say "Friends, leave here quickly, the registration room is on fire!" Hearing this Sholeh and I went out quickly and stood in front of the mosque. Meanwhile, all of the lights in the prison, except for the mosque and Block D began to shatter as the fire in registration spread. The fire continued to spread so we went into the mosque which Sholeh thought would be a safe place. The fire grew spreading to the legal aid office, the work room and part of block F. Watching the fire spread, I was very concerned about my books and prison diary which I had been recording for almost 12 months since I was jailed.
While we were in the mosque, there was a shout to attack block D, the section for women prisons and we quickly ran to block D to help Dita. There were already many people there but because the door to the women's section had recently been repaired they were having difficulty breaking in. Then the kitchen located alongside the women's" section caught fire. When the door to Dita cell was broken down I pulled her out quickly and took her to the mosque. By then tear gas had been fired into the prison and all of use had sore eyes and were coughing. This was around 12 midnight.
After returning to the mosque, we did not leave except to urinate. From the mosque we could see the flames spreading while windows shattered from the heat. The visitors room also caught firearms the mosque light was extinguished. That night heavy rain fell continuously but the prisoners continued to try to break through the main gate of the prison. But the attempt failed as troops outside repeatedly fired warning shots and tear gas.
Although the mosque was the safest place, a number of people dressed like ninjas caring sharp objects came in asking "Were are those Chinese?" Apparently they were taking the opportunity to attack the Chinese prisoners. A Chinese friend of mine, Budi was one of the victims. Meanwhile other ninjas were busy searching for other enemies. Suddenly a prisoner called Abdul Ajis said "Tomorrow morning everyone must confront the police. If you don't join in it means they are a traitor and will be killed".
At around 3am someone who had been shot in the arm entered the mosque. They said they had tried to escape, others said that along with several others they had wanted to surrender but it was believed they were trying to escape. The situation became even more tense, the sound of shooting continued to be heard.
Approaching 6am, a prisoner called Khudori, went to the front gate and surrendered. He was followed by Abah Mahfud. Both were accepted so the women prisoners were gathered together and taken out of the prison. Sholeh and I quickly left the mosque for Block F but could not enter because the air was too hot. Finally there someone using a loud speaker ordered all of the prisoners to enter block A. Sholeh and I chose to go into Block B. The authorities, police and army already had the situation under control.
While in Block B, all of the inmates of Block F were ordered out which they did. In front of Block B there were ranks of armed troops from the Mobile Brigade (Brimob). After leaving all the prisoners were ordered to form in to two ranks and to hold on the prisoner in front of us. Sholeh and I were then called out and put with the other prisoners. We were ordered to squat and walk like ducks past the Brimob ranks ready with batons. In front of me was Abah Mahfud and behind, Sholeh. As we were walking like ducks, my arm was hit by a rotan stick, the left and right sides of my stomach kicked until I was almost unconscious, and my hair pulled. According to Sholeh, nothing happened to him. Apparently the one who was hitting me already knew me because he asked "Where are your sunglasses" which I had taken off and put in my pocket.
Then we were ordered to squat in front of the prison guards. There, Sholeh and I were interrogated by Lieutenant Budi Utomo from Kodam (1) Brawijaya and a number of other plain clothed officers. Utomo is intelligence officer from Bakorstanasda (2) who was the most zealous in chasing and arresting our comrades in Surabaya after the July 27 riots in Jakarta. According to Utomo, since the PRD activists came to the jail, there were frequent riots. While he interrogated us, the "criminal" prisoners were beaten viciously. They were kicked, punched, beaten with sticks and helmets, in the stomach, chest and head. They beat them just like wild animals. After Utomo had finished interrogating us, a soldier arrived who then kicked me in the jaw and Sholeh on both sides of his chest. Even now, as I write this chronology, the left side of my jaw and left side still hurts.
We were locked up again, release and then interrogated specifically about the riot. Sholeh and I were not involved in any way in the riots and did not know the cause of the riots, but although we denied it, we were accused of being the brains behind it. During the interrogation, all of the prisoners were ordered from the block and ordered to walk squatting. Sholeh and I were handcuffed and as we walked once again my head was struck by a rotan stick and I was kicked in the back. We were then ordered into a waiting truck. We were ordered to sit on the floor with those not handcuffed placing their hands on their heads. The journey lasted around half-an-hour.
We were ordered out one by one. As each prisoner got out, a "bag-big-bug" sound was heard while someone asked "Where is Ajis, were is Ajis?" Sholeh and I were the last to get out. My heart pounded and I was very frightened, imagining what might happen to us. As it was our turn to get out, I could see the rotan sticks being held by the police. As I got out they began striking by back repeatedly. On the ground, the blows were so many they could not be counted, and I got the worst of it. It was not just by back that was hit repeatedly, but also my face. My nose hurt terribly, drops of blood poured from it, my lips were swollen, my eyes blue and bruised, my cheek broken. By the time I wrote this chronology my lips are back to normal and the bleeding has stopped. But my nose still hurts and my cheeks are beginning to heal. Sholeh has bruises on his back and his knees are hurt. His wounds are still not better and wounds like that usually take a long time to heal.
Oh, yeah, beginning last Friday, intensive investigations have been carried out by police. A number of people have been accused, while Sholeh and I have only just been questioned. Apparently they have not found any evidence that we were involved in the riot. And to our comrades and lawyers we state that "WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THOSE BRUTAL AND ANARCHISTIC RIOTS".
One Struggle, One Change - Democracy or Death
All of you, until we meet again, Coen and Sholeh
Notes:
1. Kodam: Komando Daerah Militer, Regional Military Command
2. Bakorstanasda: Badan Koordinasi Stabilitas Nasional Daerah, Territorial Body for the Coordination of National Stability
[Translated by James Balowski]