American to start hunger strike in quarantine

American to start hunger strike in quarantine

JAKARTA (JP): A 51-year-old American quarantined by the
authorities for allegedly misusing his visa and possessing
pornographic photographs will start a hunger strike to protest
the unclear process of his arrest.

In a letter made available to The Jakarta Post over the
weekend, Jack Gilbert West denied the accusations and urgently
asked the U.S. embassy for financial aid so he could leave the
small quarantine cell for the States immediately.

"If the U.S. government won't loan me the funds to go home,
then they can ship my corpse home," said West in the two-page,
typewritten letter he wrote from the Immigration's Quarantine at
Kalideres, West Jakarta, where he has been detained since Feb. 4.

West said with the publication of his letter he would start
his hunger strike.

According to a statement released by the Immigration Office on
Feb. 5, West, holding American passport number Z 7546919, was
apprehended by a team of on-patrol Army personnel on Jan. 31
while walking around the National Monument park in Central
Jakarta.

West was detained after the officers found photos in his
possession of naked women and couples having sex, said Zaiman
Nurmatias, director for control and law enforcement on
immigration affairs.

"Among the pictures were those of Balinese women," said Zaiman
in the statement. "All the pictures were shot by West himself,"
said Zaiman.

He believed the photos, packed in several albums, would have
been sold by West to porn publication agencies overseas.

While under police interrogation, West admitted to having
worked as an English teacher without proper documentation, said
Zaiman.

However, he said, the suspect refused to sign the transcript
of his admissions during questioning.

Deportation

West was issued a visa last year by the Indonesian Embassy in
Singapore for a social and cultural visit only, said Zaiman.

Besides misusing his visa, the American had harassed and
humiliated the Indonesian women, said Zaiman.

"West will be deported shortly after his ticket is ready," he
said.

Zaiman's remarks contradicted West's.

West could not be reached, but in his letter, West said he had
no idea why he was being detained.

He said was not apprehended in the National Monument park but
at his house on Jl. Tiang No. 8 in Kampung Ambon in Rawamangun,
East Jakarta on the same date.

He was taken to the local police station after refusing the
demand of a group of people, led by an Army officer. The group
raided his home at midnight for unknown reasons and later asked
for a Rp 5 million (US$2,080) bribe.

The four-member group, he said, consisted of a member of Army
intelligence, the neighborhood chief, a local merchant and a gate
keeper, explained West.

"They kicked in the door, ransacked the house and stole many
things including cameras, books, a phone card, condoms, pocket
knives, films, photos, an undetermined amount of cash and
assorted other items," he said.

"In the process of this robbery, they terrorized my children,
my six-year-old son and my five-year-old daughter and frightened
my Indonesian wife," added West.

According to West, he was out at the time getting food
prepared for the Ramadhan fasting month morning meal. West said
he and his family were Moslems.

Shortly after he returned, the military official grabbed him
and demanded a Rp 5 million bribe, West said.

"When I told him I didn't have it, he punched me in the
mouth," he said.

The official then lowered the amount to Rp 500,000.

"When I told him that I didn't have it, he hit me in the
stomach and ripped the back of my shirt," said West.

Burning flag

Only at the police station West realized he was being detained
for having photos he categorized as "slightly offensive
pictures".

West said he refused to sign the papers relating to the
questioning because he wasn't sure what it was because it was
written in Indonesian.

He said his passport and visa were both valid.

Even though he had problems with the American government, West
said he still hoped the embassy could do something to get him out
of isolation in that place.

West said his poor relations with the U.S. government were due
to past political differences but a reliable source told the Post
Saturday West had once burned the American flag in Singapore a
few years ago.

West said he had no idea what the Indonesian authorities want
to do to him.

"Unofficially, the embassy has been informed that Indonesia
wants to expel me all the way back to the U.S. at my expense,"
said West.

He said he wanted to get away from the quarantine center as
soon as possible due to the bad condition of the cell, the
absolute minimum amount of food given out and the impossibility
of making contact with friends and relatives.

West said he was with six other foreigners in the small cell,
with no mattresses to sleep on.

When asked for comment, U.S. press attache Craig Stromme said:
"What I can say is that our consular officer has visited and
rendered appropriate assistance to West."

Stromme said he guaranteed the embassy would treat West the
same as any other American citizen. (bsr)