Prosecutors seek nine months for foreigners in Aceh<\/p>\n
Nani Farida
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nBanda Aceh<\/p>\n
Prosecutors in Aceh demanded on Thursday a nine-month jail
\nterm for a Scottish researcher and an American nurse on charges
\nof visa violations after soldiers found them carrying pictures
\nand documents related to the separatist group Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM).<\/p>\n
British researcher Lesley McCulloch and American retired nurse
\nJoy Ernestine Sadler entered Indonesia using tourist visas but
\nwere engaged in research and medical activities instead, said
\nJamilah, who heads the team of local prosecutors.<\/p>\n
Judging from their activities and belongings when soldiers
\npicked them up in the district of Kluet Selatan, South Aceh, on
\nSept. 11, he said the two women had broken the 1992 immigration
\nlaw.<\/p>\n
\"We demand the defendants be charged with nine months in
\njail,\" Jamilah said.<\/p>\n
The two women were tried separately.<\/p>\n
He added the jail term took into account the three months both
\nhad already spent in police detention since they were arrested on
\nSept 11. The maximum penalty for a visa violation is five years.<\/p>\n
During the three-hour court hearing, Sadler said she regretted
\nnot being able to spend Christmas with her family. McCulloch,
\nduring a separate hearing, was reticent and stared at the ground.<\/p>\n
Jamilah said that based on their own statements, the two women
\nvisited the village of Manggamat in South Aceh on activities that
\nwere not of a touristic nature.<\/p>\n
Sadler treated locals for skin irritation and asthma, while
\nMcCulloch took photographs of villagers and GAM activities,
\nJamilah said.<\/p>\n
He said prosecutors had returned the camera and laptop they
\nhad used as evidence, but retained the photographs and documents
\nrelated to GAM.<\/p>\n
Soldiers found, in the women's possession, photographs of
\nMcCulloch and GAM's exiled rebel leader Hassan Tiro, GAM
\nactivities and a torture room, as well as maps showing the
\nlocations of Indonesian military (TNI) and National Police posts
\nacross the restive province.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors had initially sought espionage charges against
\nthem, but they would have had no case under such charges since
\nIndonesia revoked the 1963 subversion law in 1999.<\/p>\n
Both women denied links with GAM or possessing separatist
\ndocuments, and claimed they had been sexually harassed by
\nsoldiers.<\/p>\n
Their lawyer Rufriadi rejected charges that the two had
\nviolated their visas. \"Lesley and Joy did plan to visit several
\ntourist spots; and the immigration office never told them which
\nplaces they must not visit,\" he said in the rebuttal.<\/p>\n
He added that the defendants were taken by an armed group to
\nan area where they were told to record the surrounding activities
\nas well as treat sick locals. \"It's not possible to say no under
\nthese circumstances,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Although claiming to be in relative good health, Sadler claims
\nshe is HIV positive and has been on a hunger strike since Nov.
\n27.<\/p>\n
\"I just drink water, but don't eat. I am tired of crying and I
\npray to God; I feel safe now. I hope the trial will be over
\nsoon,\" she was quoted as saying by AFP.<\/p>\n
However, Johnson Panjaitan, another legal representative of
\nthe two defendants, said that Sadler's condition was
\ndeteriorating.<\/p>\n
\"I feel great but the process is taking a long time,\"
\nMcCulloch said. She said was she confident that authorities would
\nnot imprison her and deport her, as there was not enough evidence
\nagainst her and Sadler.<\/p>\n
The next hearing will be held on Dec. 23, when the prosecutors
\nwill respond to the defense's rebuttal.<\/p>\n
McCulloch said earlier she believed her arrest had more to do
\nwith her critical articles on TNI's role in the war in Aceh.<\/p>\n
GAM has been fighting for an independent state since 1976 and,
\nat the time McCulloch and Sadler were arrested, was still at war
\nwith TNI. Fighting has subdued after both sides signed a truce
\nagreement on Dec. 9.<\/p>\n
Over 10,000 people have died in the conflict, mostly
\ncivilians. Rights activists have charged both government and GAM
\ntroops of human rights violations.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prosecutors-seek-nine-months-for-foreigners-in-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}