Jailed priest denied medical care

Jailed priest denied medical care

PALU, Central Sulawesi: A convicted cleric, Rinaldy Damanik,
coordinator of the Central Sulawesi Christian Church Crisis
Center, has reportedly been prevented from receiving medical
treatment in Jakarta for his kidney disease.

He is currently being treated at the Balai Keselamatan
Hospital in Palu, which suffers a lack of operating equipment.

Doctors there recommended Damanik, jailed for three years for
arms possession, be referred to Cikini Hospital in Jakarta for
surgery, but the local justice and human rights office has
apparently declined to issue him a permit. --JP