U.S. expresses deep concern over recent arrests in Aceh<\/p>\n
Agencies, Washington\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The United States has expressed deep concern over the recent
\narrests of non-violent activists in Indonesia's rebellious region
\nof Aceh and the treatment of a leading campaigner.<\/p>\n
"This is the latest in a series of actions apparently intended
\nto intimidate independent observers who would be in a position to
\nmonitor and report on serious human rights abuses in Aceh," the
\nU.S. State Department said in a statement on Saturday as quoted
\nby Reuters.<\/p>\n
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa and
\nDirector for North and Central American Affairs Dino Djalal could
\nnot be reached for comment on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Last year, Indonesia rejected accusations it had clamped down
\non freedom of expression and on the foreign media in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The U.S. State Department said it was concerned about reports
\npolice had beat up Muhammad Nazar, head of the Aceh Referendum
\nInformation Center, during a Feb. 19 interrogation.<\/p>\n
His wife and his lawyer had not been allowed to see Nazar, the
\ndepartment said.<\/p>\n
"We continue to believe that the Aceh conflict is not amenable
\nto solution by use of military force, including the imposition of
\nmartial law," it said.<\/p>\n
"We urge the Indonesian government to handle cases involving
\ncivil society activists with the utmost respect for their legal
\nrights."<\/p>\n
Starting May 19 last year, the Indonesian government declared
\nmartial law in Aceh in an attempt to crush rebels in the
\nresource-rich province.<\/p>\n
Many students and human rights activists were detained a week
\nafter the martial law implementation. Journalists covering the
\nwar have also been subject to police questioning over reports of
\nhuman rights abuses by the Indonesian Military.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nazar, head of the Aceh Referendum Information
\nCenter, was sentenced to five years' jail in July last year for
\n"displaying hostility" to the government through his campaign for
\na referendum on self-determination in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Local activists and the United States have denounced the
\nsentence, saying that the verdict was a threat to democracy and
\nfreedom of expression.<\/p>\n
The United States "regrets" the five-year prison sentence
\nagainst Nazar, a State Department spokesman said.<\/p>\n
"This is the latest in a series of convictions and prison
\nsentences for peaceful expression of antigovernment views in
\nIndonesia," spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement as
\nquoted by Agence France-Presse.<\/p>\n
Noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis and former member of the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights Asmara Nababan said voicing a
\ndissenting opinion in a peaceful manner was not a crime.<\/p>\n
In October last year, the Banda Aceh District Court sentenced
\nthree negotiators of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), including
\nchief negotiator Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba, and women activist Cut Nur
\nAsikin, to jail terms of between 11 years and 15 years.<\/p>\n
The court convicted Sofyan and his colleagues, Amni Ahmad
\nMarzuki and Muhammad Usman Lampo Awe, to 15 years, 13 years and
\n12 years respectively for treason and terrorism.<\/p>",
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