Arifin Asydhad, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the Achenese Women's Democratic Organisation (ORPAD), Reihan Diany, has been detained by the Aceh Besar district police since Sunday. The detention of the Achenese woman activist is considered to be an irrational act. Police are therefore being called on to release her.

Reihan was arrested along with six other ORPAD activist by police on Tuesday. They were arrested while holding a demonstration around the theme of "Overthrow the Mega-Hamza [President Megawati Sukarno Putri-Vice-President Hamza Haz] government and replace it with a government of the poor people.

The arrested activists were Diany, Nova Rahayu, Azizah, Gustriana, Ira Wellya, Yusmanidar, and Nuraida. The majority of them are students.

In a press release received by Detikcom, the Nusantara Civil Society Alliance called for the seven activist to be released. The alliance is made up of a number of non-government organisations including the Information Center for an Aceh Referendum (SIRA), the People's Solidarity Movement for Aceh (Segara), Achenese Peoples Democratic Resistance Front (FPDRA) and the People's Forum (FR).

The alliance said that the arrest of the seven ORPAD activists was an irrational act which showed the anxiety of the authorities. They therefore called for Reihan to be released. "Release Reihan immediately from the unclean political detentions of Megawati", read the alliance' demand.

The demand for Reihan's release was also made because there was information that Reihan is suffering a stomach ulcer and has low blood pressure. Therefore if Reihan continues to be detained her health could futher deteriorate.

[Translated by James Balowski.]