Police raid clinic, collect samples in abortion probe<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police temporarily closed a
\nprivately owned clinic on Jl. Kramat VI and detained its seven
\nemployees yesterday for questioning in connection with alleged
\nabortion practices.<\/p>\n
The police took samples of fresh blood found on the clinic's
\nbathroom floor and confiscated plastic bags containing blood
\nclots.<\/p>\n
Three admission books were also located and police believe
\nthey will help identify patients who allegedly underwent
\nabortions at the clinic.<\/p>\n
The police acted after dozens of local residents gathered in
\nfront of the clinic. The angry group, consisting mostly of
\nhousewives, was convinced that the clinic -- owned and run by
\nobstetrician and gynecologist Indrawati Dardiri -- performed
\nabortions.<\/p>\n
The protesters pulled out the clinic's signboard and threw it
\ninto a nearby river.<\/p>\n
Some of them placed a large handwritten sign, saying
\n\"Indrawati Dardiri a baby butcher\" on the clinic's fence.<\/p>\n
The protest ended peacefully shortly after police officers
\nbroke into the clinic and found evidence which allegedly
\nconfirmed the residents' long-held suspicions.<\/p>\n
But residents said the police action was a long time coming.<\/p>\n
\"Months before the discovery of the 11 aborted fetuses and
\nbabies in Warakas, North Jakarta, late last month, we had sent a
\nletter of protest to the local subdistrict's administration
\noffice and neighborhood chiefs about the alleged abortion
\npractices at this clinic,\" a resident, Zen Mohammad, said.<\/p>\n
In the letter dated Jan. 13, 1997, the local residents urged
\nauthorities to immediately close the clinic, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We've been disturbed and felt uncomfortable with the clinic's
\nactivities and the 'scalpers', who help the clinic find
\npatients.\"<\/p>\n
Melly Hasan, another protester, said the abortion touts even
\ntried to offer abortion services to the residents and their
\nguests.<\/p>\n
\"They just asked any passersby, yelling: 'abortion mbak
\n(sister), abortion bu (Mrs.)',\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"They even offered the service to one of my neighbor's
\ndaughters and her friends, who just arrived home from
\nschool.\"<\/p>\n
Melly said that some men in Army uniforms were often seen
\nhanging out in front of the clinic during the evening.<\/p>\n
\"I also sometimes saw military policemen dropping by at
\nnight,\" she said. \"They were just sitting on the porch and some
\nwere sitting in a nearby food stall.\"<\/p>\n
Melly said she never saw a pregnant woman go inside the
\nclinic.<\/p>\n
\"Most of the clinic's patients were young women, who normally
\ncame in the late hours.\"<\/p>\n
Other residents supported Melly and Zen's observations.<\/p>\n
For instance, Gabby, who lived next to clinic, admitted that
\nshe often heard women's screams and smelled strange odors
\nemanating from the clinic.<\/p>\n
\"We've complained at least three times to the related
\nofficials here and staged a protest once but never received a
\nsingle response,\" she said. (04)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-raid-clinic-collect-samples-in-abortion-probe-1447893297",
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