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