INDONESIA/ACEH: Human rights activist, Sukardi, 30, killed

31 January 2000, Sukardi, 30, of Yayasan Rumpun Bambu Indonesia (YRBI), was abducted, tortured and killed in Tapak Tuan, South Aceh. Sukardi was a volunteer with local environmentalist group YRBI [Bamboo Thicket Institute]. 
The security forces are alleged to be involved in the killing of Sukardi. 

Human rights activists in Aceh are often kidnapped, tortured, disappeared or killed allegedly often by the security forces. 

Sukardi body was found on the following day, ten meters from the Nasional Meulaboh Street, Tapaktuan, South-Aceh. It is suspected that Sukardi was kidnapped somewhere between Simpang Tarok Meuligo and the YRBI office. 

Between Simpang Tarok-Meuligo and YRBI office, a distance of about 1 Km, there is a football pitch, a school, padi field, homes, a vacated Koramil barracks [military] and a Polsek office where a Brimob unit [Police Uint] are stationed, and Blang Geulinggang Village. 

Sukardi’s body was covered in bruises, gunshot wounds and his face swollen.His right hand was broken, and body was whipped exposing the flesh. He had been shot on 
his chest and both thighs were also filled with bullet ‘holes’ – shot from behind. 

A magazine published by the Aceh Police Information Department, Machdum 
Sakti, and some bullets printed with PIN 556 were also found by his body. 
His motorcycle, a Honda Astrea, was missing. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: 

3 February 2000, AHRC UA issued an appeal that Humanitarian workers and activist who are assistings victims of the on going arms conflict are often not welcome by both the armed rebels and the Indonesian military. Humanitarian 
workers and activist themeselves have become victims to violences, intimidation, torture and sappearances. 

According to reliable sources, in January 2000, there were 115 torture cases, 21 summary executions, 33 arbitrary arrests, 7 people ‘disappeared,’ and 416 homes and shops razed. The victims were mostly unarmed civilians. 

Since the downfall of Suharto, last year, thousands of Acehnese victims who had suffered in silence the abuses by the Indonesian military have began to be more visible. The documentation of the violations by the victims, supported by investigations from NGOs and the Indonesian Human Rights Commission revealed the serious abuses and brutalies committed by the military. The ABRI [armed forces] was forced to apologise and pull out its troops from Aceh. 

The Indonesian army’s territorial structure reaches down to the village, thus the military keeps a close watch on every level of society. This is effectively used in daerah rawan or ‘trouble-spots’ like Aceh. Ending the dwifungsi challenges the emphasis on the security approach which lies at the root of all the repression – mass arrests, torture, unjust trials and conviction and the many massacres that occurred during Suharto’s New Order. 

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: 

AHRC calls on human rights groups to pressure Indonesia to protect humanitarian workers and human rights activist in Aceh. We also request for close monitoring and assistance to prevent the abuse of the Indoensian military against the people of Aceh. This worsening situation requires 
international attention and pressure should be exerted by the world community to prevent the military from continuing the atrocities against the ordinary villagers and human rights 
activists. 

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