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Police refusing to cooperate in alleged torture deaths: Komnas HAM

Source
Jakarta Globe - January 27, 2012

West Sumatra Police are refusing to supply human rights investigators with the autopsy reports of two teenage brothers who were allegedly tortured to death in custody.

Ali Ahmad, the head of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in West Sumatra, said it was unlikely police would meet today's deadline. "The police are refusing to provide them because there was no official letter from Komnas HAM," Ali told the Jakarta Globe on Friday.

Earlier this week, Komnas HAM told the media that they were waiting for documents from the police to complete their investigation on the death of 14-year old Faisal and 17-year old Budri M. Zen.

After a four-day investigation, Johny Nelson Simanjuntak from the national Komnas HAM indicated that the brothers were tortured from the first day they were arrested by Sijunjung Police.

Faisal was arrested on Dec. 21 for stealing from a charity box at a mosque. Busri was arrested five days later for motorcycle theft. A week later the police told their family that the boys had committed suicide by hanging.

"It was clear in the meeting [with West Sumatra police] that they have to abide by Johny's request," Ali continued, adding that the police's reluctance only added to the commission's suspicions.

Aside from autopsy report, Komnas HAM also demanded proof that West Sumatera police had conducted training on Child Protection to their officers, and the brothers' previous criminal records.

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