Actress suffers from fever in cell

JAKARTA (JP): Actress and playwright Ratna Sarumpaet, currently detained at the Jakarta Police Headquarters on charges of holding an illegal political meeting, is sick, her lawyer said yesterday.

Ratna, who was arrested with seven other people in a North Jakarta hotel on March 10, has a fever, Johnson Panjaitan said.

"The police should let her relatives take her out for medical treatment," Johnson told The Jakarta Post.

Ratna has rejected the authorities' advice to go to the Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, because she considers the conditions there bad, Johnson said.

Prison conditions where Ratna shares a cell with other alleged criminals are unhealthy, he said. Ratna's face is swollen and looks reddish; she complained her illness had worsened after taking medication from the detention center's doctor.

"The psychological pressure has also made it difficult for Ratna to sleep," the lawyer said.

Last week, the police turned down her lawyers' request that she be put under house arrest. Her relatives plan another appeal.

"The request is urgent given Ratna's condition," Johnson said. "We urge the police to seriously consider our appeal for house arrest.

"We also appeal that her case and that of other detainees' be referred to the prosecutors soon," he added.

Ratna is being detained with Jul Taher, Nandang Wirakusumah, Ging Ginandjar and Alexius Surya Tjahaya Tomu. Three others who were arrested include Ratna's daughter Fathom Saulina, who has been released from detention on her father's request. (anr)