Aceh inmates flee prison to save their lives

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The government said on Tuesday hundreds of inmates serving time in prisons in tsunami-ravaged Aceh had fled prison to save their lives during the disaster, which killed thousands of people.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin said the situation was a force majeure as everyone ran for their lives when tidal waves swept the province on Sunday.

"They ran away to save their own lives. It is allowable in such a situation," Hamid told reporters during a visit to the National Police Headquarters.

He was responding to reports that at least 204 inmates escaped from a prison in Pidie, which was among the areas hardest hit by the disaster.

Hamid said he was not sure how many inmates or prisoners had escaped, but pleaded for them to return voluntarily once the prisons had been renovated.

"If they turn themselves in, we will give them a sentence remission," Hamid said.

Those who were locked in their cells when the disaster struck were killed, including former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebel group negotiator Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba and women activist Cut Nur Asikin who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for treason. They were serving their sentences at the Aceh Police detention center in Banda Aceh, one of Aceh towns most affected by the disaster.

"Most of those under police detention in Banda Aceh have perished, including Teungku Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba and Cut Nur Asikin. There are some survivors, but we don't know at this point where and how they are as obviously they are not staying put to be re-arrested or killed," a GAM leader said.

Aceh Police were not available for comment.

Director General of Penitentiary Services Marjaman told The Jakarta Post he had not received any reports on how many prisons were damaged and how many inmates or prisoners fled during the disaster.

"The communication line has not been restored yet, so we haven't received any reports," Marjaman said.

There are 20 prisons across the province, each of which has around 2,900 prisoners.

"All I heard was that Sigli prison is badly damaged and the prisoners have escaped from it," Marjaman said.

He added he heard that prisons in Bireuen and Meulaboh were also severely damaged. However, he did not know whether the inmates had escaped or not.

"The prison walls collapsed but the town is still isolated so we don't know exactly what happened there," Marjaman said of the prison in Meulaboh.

He will leave for Aceh immediately to check the condition of the prisons.