Summary
On 28 March 1998, student activist Andi
Arief was abducted by two armed men in Lampung, South
Sumatra, Indonesia. Andi is the National Chairman of the
Student in Solidarity Democracy (SMID) as well as
spokesman of the outlawed People's Democratic Party (PRD).
He has been on the wanted list by the Indonesia military
since July 1996 for holding demonstrations and other pro-democracy
activities. Family members and other activists claimed
that Andi was taken away by the authorities. Some media
reports further claimed that Andi has been held
incommunicado since his arrest.
In the search for Andi, three other student activists
named Nezar, Aan and Mugiyono were arrested on 13 March
1998 by the Jakarta military officers. These three
persons were later transferred to the Jakarta police
headquarters on 15 March and were allowed to meet with
their lawyers. Media reports which include sources from
lawyers of the activists, family members and local press
accounts claimed that the three persons were repeatedly
tortured with electric shocks after their arrest to
extract information as to the whereabouts of Andi and
other leaders of PRD. As of 1 April 1998, the whereabouts
of Andi Arief remained unknown and the three persons
arrested on 13 March remained in detention.
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| Action Requested Please write polite letters to the
Indonesian government expressing your concern on the
disappearance of Andi Arief and the reported torture of
Nezar, Aan and Mugiyono. In your letters ask for:
an immediate and impartial
investigation into the reported torture of the
three student activists, Nezar, Aan and Mugiyono
and that those responsible be brought to justice;
the assurance that no detainees
will be subjected to any form of mental or
physical ill-treatment.
| Send letters and faxes to: |
| President Suharto, Government Offices,
Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Istana Negara,
Indonesia. EMAIL: hanafix@indo.net.id
FAX: 622-1-345 0517 (via Ministry of Foreign
Affairs)
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| c.c. Copy to: |
- Chief of Police for Jakarta, Kapolda
Jakarta Raya, Markas besar Kepolisian
Jaya, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Diplomatic representatives Indonesia
accredited to your country.
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Sample
Letter
We write with great concern
about the abduction of student activist Andi
Arief at gun point by two armed men on 28 March
1998. Family members and Andi's sympathizers
claim that he was in fact arrested by the
authorities. It is also alarming tot hear the
reports that before Andi's disappearance, three
other persons Nezar, Aan and Mugiyono were
arrested on 13 March and reportedly tortured to
extract information of the whereabouts of Andi
and other leaders of the People's Democratic
Party.
We are aware of the fact that Andi has been on
the wanted list by the military, and in the case
of Nezar, Aan and Mugiyono, they are charged with
subversion, for their participation in the
People's Democratic Party and their alleged
involvement in the riots that broke out in
Jakarta on 27 July 1996. We strongly believe in
the fundamental right of Andi Aarief, Nezar, Aan
and Mugiyono to freely express their political
views. We sincerely urge your government to fully
protect and respect the rights and dignity of the
people.
In the meantime, we demand an immediate and
impartial investigation into the reported torture
of Nezar, Aan and Mugiyono and that those
responsible be brought to justice. We also hope
your government will take measures to ensure that
no detainees will be subjected to any form of
mental or physical ill-treatment. |
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Background
Andi Arief was active in "anti-government"
activities among students since 1993. On Saturday 27 July
1996, riots broke out in Jakarta alongside a violent
clash between two factions of the Indonesia Democratic
Party. The Indonesia armed forces (ABRI) concluded that
the riots were masterminded by a third party calling
itself the People's Democratic Party (PRD). After the
"Grey Saturday" as the government and media
often refer to the riots on 27 July 1996, the PRD was
outlawed by the government. And Andi Arief and other
leaders of PRD were then put on the wanted list by the
military. Since September 1996, Andi and other PRD
leaders have been escaping capture by the Indonesian
military intelligence.
On 28 March 1998, Andi Arief was abducted by two armed
men in the daytime at 10:320 a.m. in the city of Lampung,
South Sumatra, Indonesia. He was taken away at gun-point
from his brother's shop. The two armed men were in plain
clothes and could not be identified. Andi's family and
sympathizers believed that Andi was in fact "kidnapped"
by the police authorities. Andi's brothers reported the
abduction to the Lampung police and the latter denied
that Andi was taken away by them. On 31 March, Andi's
parents and their neighbors received telephone calls from
some stranger threatening that Andi would be killed and
his body dumped on the beach nearby. However, the
whereabouts of Andi remained unknown to date. Meanwhile
the three student activists, Nezar, Aan and Mugiyono who
are also leaders in PRD were charged by the Jakarta
military with subversion, illegal political activity and
participation in an outlawed organization.
In the recent two months, it was reported that hundreds
of students and activists were arrested for taking part
in marches, rallies, demonstrations or other kinds of
activities in opposition to the re-appointment of
President Suharto and the critical economic crisis in the
country. Also, it is reported that several political
Human rights groups claimed that the Suharto Government
has decided on a major crackdown to target the PTD
activists and other opponents. They claimed that "kidnapping
operations" by the military and police forces have
been underway. Indonesia Daily News Online reported that
the number of the military intelligence in plain clothes
has increased in two week's time since student
demonstrations started to burst out in mid-March. Many
students who took part in these demonstrations reported
that they were under surveillance by the military
intelligence and are threatened with illegal arrest,
detention and prosecution.
"Grey Saturday", 27 July 1996
On and around 27 July 1996, the Soerjadi faction of the
Indonesia Democratic Party (PDI) attempted to take over
the PDI headquarters from Megawati Soekaronputri's
faction. Violence broke out resulting in deaths and
casualties. According to reports of human rights groups
and local press accounts, over 200 people were arrested
and 124 people sent to prison in connection with "Grey
Saturday". Megawati has long been openly critical of
the authorities. Some sectors in the community continued
to believe that the attack on the PDI headquarters was
organized by the government/security forces in order to
remove Megawati from the leadership of the PDI, and that
the security forces were responsible for setting off the
riots. By and large, the events of "Grey Saturday",
the cause of and responsibility for it are still shrouded
in mystery.
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