INDONESIA: Two foreigners and one local interpreter detained and harassed by the police in Aceh

Two foreigners and one local interpreter detained and harassed by the police in Aceh

INDONESIA: Basic human rights denied; illegal arrest, detention and denial of rights to access to legal aid and medical treatment

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The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that two foreigners and one Acehnese interpreter have been arrested and detained in charge of possession of information about the Acehnese independence movement by the Indonesian police in the South Aceh District on Sept. 10, 2002.

According to the information we have received, the detainees are:

– Ms. Lesley McCulloch, a permanent Australian resident of British citizenship and a lecturer at the University of Tasmania in Australia;

– Ms. Joy-Lee Ernesting Sadler (passport No. P 200681420), a retired nurse from the United States; and

– Ms. Fitra bin Amin, an Acehnese interpreter.

On Sept. 4, 2002, they went to the South Aceh area to research the poor situation there and to give medical treatment to the villagers who do not have access to medical treatment even though they have been injured because of the fighting between the Indonesian military (TNI) and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

For several days, they were detained and denied any visits by their lawyers, families and embassies. However, the local human rights organisation was informed that they were in the Polres Aceh Selatan. The police have denied what took place though and do not want to discuss this case as a detention case.

DAILY DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT

– Sept. 10, 2002

The three people were stopped by the army at the checkpoint in the Keude Reundeng area and were told to open their bags, which they refused to do and then asked to call their embassies. Instead, they were threatened and assaulted by army personnel – the commander of the post and another man. Afterwards they were taken to the police station at the subdistrict in Kandung and kept there overnight.

– Sept. 11, 2002

Although Joy and Fitrah were very sick, proper medical treatment was denied them, and instead, interrogations took place for the next four days at the Tapaktuan police station. Because of the lengthy interrogation sessions, they suffered from sleep deprivation. The police then forced them to sign a statement that contained false information, which Joy and Lesley refused to do. Until this moment, they were denied access to their embassies. Because Lesley is a vegetarian, she had no food for four days.

KONTRAS ACEH, a local human rights organisation, tried to gain access to them but was not permitted. After several attempts to negotiate an agreement between the police and KONTRAS ACEH, Joy’s son, Dante Lee Leave-Martin, was allowed to speak with her mother on Sept. 14.

– Sept. 15, 2002

The three people left for Banda Ache in a police truck. During the journey, Lesley was sexually harassed by the police inside the truck by D. Ekap, a second sergeant. The three people stayed overnight in the police section at Subussalam Subdistrict.

– Sept. 16, 2002

The police truck arrived in Medan in the evening. The three detainees again wanted to call their embassies but were again refused permission. Having only been provided with a little food, and none for Lesley, another interrogation session began until 2 a.m. even though Joy and Fitrah were confirmed to be ill by a doctor. Afterwards, they were again pressured to sign a statement. Fitrah and Lesley signed, but Joy refused.

– Sept. 17, 2002

The officers from the U.S. and U.K. embassies arrived in Medan in speak with them, but they were refused permission to speak to the detainees. However, the embassy officials and their lawyers informed KONTRAS ACEH that Joy and Lesley were charged with violating the conditions of their visa and that the charge was backdated to Sept. 11.

– Sept. 18, 2002 – Present

More interrogation and intimidation took place to them. Joy suffers from severe angina so a test was arranged at a hospital by her embassy. Joy was allowed to call only once to her embassy to secure more medicine.

Meanwhile, Lesley suffers from a recurring disc problem in her backbone. She was taken to the hospital and given medicine. The doctor said that her medical problem is due to her living conditions and lack of exercise in prison and must me improved. She is now using a stick to walk.

On Oct. 1, the prosecutor issued a letter to extend the detention for Lesley. Therefore, her detention might be extended for a maximum of another 40 days.

To attain legal advocacy for Lesley and Joy, three lawyers came to Aceh from Jakarta on Oct. 3 but were informed that their cases were already given to the prosecutor. Two more lawyers will come to join them.
 

SUGGESTED ACTION

Please send your appeal to the president, minister of law and human rights and the national chief of police of Indonesia.
 

 

 

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