Aceh inmates flee prison to save their lives

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.