Aceh authorities deny torture reports

Aceh authorities deny torture reports

BANDA ACEH, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam: Aceh civil emergency
administrator Insp. Gen. Bahrumsyah Kasman has questioned the
recent Human Rights Watch reports detailing the systematic abuse
of Free Aceh Movement prisoners.

"They have just created a story which has not been verified
yet," Bahrumsyah, who is also Aceh police chief, said on
Thursday.

Bahrumsyah said police were ready to investigate the alleged
violence against prisoners, provided the rights group formally
asked them to do so. He said police would not give foreign
observers or rights groups access to the province.

"It's totally wrong to interview prisoners who would just say
bad things about security authorities," he said. -- JP