Three allegedly tortured during interrogation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A team of lawyers representing three youths
\ndetained for alleged involvement in the July 27 riots claimed
\nyesterday their clients were tortured during interrogation at the
\nArmed Forces Intelligence Agency.<\/p>\n
\"Three of our clients told us they were physically and
\nmentally tortured by unidentified agents at the agency,\" Dwiyanto
\nPrihartono, executive secretary of the Team of Lawyers to Defend
\nIndonesia's Justice, told the National Commission on Human
\nRights.<\/p>\n
Ken Budha Kusumandaru and Garda Sembiring claimed they were
\nbeaten all over, while Putut Ariantoko said he was electrocuted
\nwith a small device the size of a cigarette box at the Agency on
\nAug 12, Dwiyanto told the commission.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the General Attorney's Office Suhartoyo told The
\nJakarta Post separately yesterday he knew nothing about the
\nalleged torture of the political detainees.<\/p>\n
\"I know only that they are being treated well while in our
\ncare,\" Suhartoyo said.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Amir Syarifudin
\nrefused to comment on the lawyers' claim.<\/p>\n
Thirteen activists were detained for alleged involvement in
\nthe incident. Two of those, Wignyo bin Mardi and Benny Sumardi,
\nwere released on bail on Aug. 30.<\/p>\n
The political suspects were arrested for their alleged links
\nto the small, leftist little-known student organization, the
\nDemocratic People's Party (PRD), which the government has accused
\nof inciting the riots.<\/p>\n
The riots erupted after supporters of a government-backed
\nfaction of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) forcibly took
\nover the party's headquarters, which were controlled by
\nsupporters of deposed chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
The 11 suspects are being detained at the General Attorney's
\nOffice and the South Jakarta District Prosecutor's Office.<\/p>\n
Noted human rights advocate Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara
\nquestioned the continuing detention of the PRD activists since
\nthe commission's findings on the July 27 incident mentions
\nnothing about the PRD's involvement with the riots.<\/p>\n
\"Does this mean that the commission is countering the
\ngovernment's allegations?\" Abdul Hakim said.<\/p>\n
The commission promised to check the lawyers' claim with the
\nArmed Forces Intelligence Agency and the Attorney General's
\nOffice.<\/p>\n
At least four PRD leaders, including Budiman Sudjatmiko, are
\nfacing charges of subversion, which carries a maximum penalty of
\ndeath. Under the subversion law, suspects can be held for up to a
\nyear without trial.<\/p>\n
The team of lawyers said they expect the investigation will be
\ncompleted by Dec. 9. Suhartoyo said he expects it will be
\ncompleted this month but he refused give a date.<\/p>\n
Parents of the detainees told the commission they were
\ntroubled by the government's premature accusations that their
\nchildren's activities were communist.<\/p>\n
\"In Indonesia, being labeled a communist is the worst of all,\"
\nsaid Veronica Sembiring, who was detained for five days at the
\nBogor police precinct by police officers hunting her son, Garda
\nSembiring.<\/p>\n
The lawyers also claimed that authorities barred relatives and
\ndoctors from visiting the detainees.<\/p>\n
Viktor da Costa, reportedly had to be sent to a hospital on
\nNov. 11 for typhus. His request to see the doctor two weeks
\nearlier had been turned down.<\/p>\n
The assembly of lawyers and detainees' parents were met by
\ncommission deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman and commission
\nmembers Asmara Nababan, Clementino Dos Reis Amaral and Soegiri.
\n(14)<\/p>",
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