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Seven arrested in Aceh

Source
Amnesty International - March 13, 1997

Names: Hassan Hamid, 40; Mohammad Daud Abubakar; Ismail Syahputra; Raman Palu; Nijar Kandang; Tengku Affan; Inur Marlia (f).

Six men and one woman, arrested in connection with alleged involvement in armed separatist activity in Aceh, north Sumatra, are currently being held incommunicado in military custody where they are at risk of torture or ill-treatment. Torture of political detainees is common in Indonesia, particularly during the early stages of detention when military officials frequently conduct interrogations without the presence of independent lawyers.

Five men, Hassan Hamid, Mohammad Daud Abubakar, Ismail Syahputra, Raman Palu and Nijar Kandang are all believed to have been arrested about two weeks ago although the precise date of their arrest is not known. Hassan Hamid and Mohammad Daud Abubakar were apparently arrested in the town of Lhokseumawe, while the three other men were believed to have been arrested in nearby districts. The men are believed to have been arrested in connection with an alleged attempt by armed separatists to sabotage a gas pipe near Lhokseumawe.

Two other people, Tengku Affan and Inur Marlia, were arrested on 12 March. On 13 March, the Indonesian military was reported as saying that two people, a man and woman, were arrested in Samalanga sub-district following the discovery of semi-automatic rifles and ammunition in their house. Amnesty International believes that these are the same two people.

All seven are believed to be currently detained at KOREM 011, Resort Military Command in Lhokseumawe, where they are being denied access to independent legal representation. There are reports that they may be facing subversion charges.

Background information

Serious human rights violations including, torture, 'disappearances' and extrajudicial executions, occurred during the security forces quelling of the armed separatist Free Aceh Movement (Aceh Merdeka) from the late 1980s to 1993. Recent military reports that Aceh Merdeka are again planning attacks give rise to concerns that there may be a resurgence of grave human rights violations committed by the security forces in the context of military operations. Independent human rights monitoring is restricted in Aceh and foreign journalists are believed to be being currently denied access to the area.

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