Immigration detains my husband

My husband has been detained at the detention facility of immigration office in Kalideres, West Jakarta, since June 15, 1998, and since Oct. 20, 1999, has been kept in a cell at the same facility. So far two officers from the immigration office in Jl. Rasuna Said have come twice to the facility (Nov. 3, 1999, and Nov. 22, 1999,) and met with my husband. They stated that my husband was not guilty of overstaying in the country. They looked into my husband's case upon his request since it hadn't yet been researched by immigration officers from Jl. Rasuna Said.

My husband was detained by immigration officers in Yogyakarta on June 12, 1998. He was then sent to Jakarta and put into the detention facility with no questions asked. My concern is why my husband is still being detained in a cell at the detention facility when he is has not overstayed, and why his legal status will not be restated with seven weeks on his visa (as the two Immigration officers have already said to him).

On Nov. 22, 1999, I was asked to come to the immigration office on Jl. Rasuna Said to meet one of the officers who is in charge of the "Wasdakim" section. To my surprise, he wanted to arrange my husband's status with some conditions, something I think is unlawful for my husband has been declared as not overstaying. I refused those conditions. What my husband has requested is to be released from the cell and to be given his legal status back, and he has requested in writing to the government and immigration officials to state clearly that he will not be blacklisted, deported and that he will no longer be harassed, now or in the future.

YOGALO NOVI KRISNAWATI

Depok, West Java