Police raid clinic, collect samples in abortion probe

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police temporarily closed a privately owned clinic on Jl. Kramat VI and detained its seven employees yesterday for questioning in connection with alleged abortion practices.

The police took samples of fresh blood found on the clinic's bathroom floor and confiscated plastic bags containing blood clots.

Three admission books were also located and police believe they will help identify patients who allegedly underwent abortions at the clinic.

The police acted after dozens of local residents gathered in front of the clinic. The angry group, consisting mostly of housewives, was convinced that the clinic -- owned and run by obstetrician and gynecologist Indrawati Dardiri -- performed abortions.

The protesters pulled out the clinic's signboard and threw it into a nearby river.

Some of them placed a large handwritten sign, saying "Indrawati Dardiri a baby butcher" on the clinic's fence.

The protest ended peacefully shortly after police officers broke into the clinic and found evidence which allegedly confirmed the residents' long-held suspicions.

But residents said the police action was a long time coming.

"Months before the discovery of the 11 aborted fetuses and babies in Warakas, North Jakarta, late last month, we had sent a letter of protest to the local subdistrict's administration office and neighborhood chiefs about the alleged abortion practices at this clinic," a resident, Zen Mohammad, said.

In the letter dated Jan. 13, 1997, the local residents urged authorities to immediately close the clinic, he said.

"We've been disturbed and felt uncomfortable with the clinic's activities and the 'scalpers', who help the clinic find patients."

Melly Hasan, another protester, said the abortion touts even tried to offer abortion services to the residents and their guests.

"They just asked any passersby, yelling: 'abortion mbak (sister), abortion bu (Mrs.)'," she said.

"They even offered the service to one of my neighbor's daughters and her friends, who just arrived home from school."

Melly said that some men in Army uniforms were often seen hanging out in front of the clinic during the evening.

"I also sometimes saw military policemen dropping by at night," she said. "They were just sitting on the porch and some were sitting in a nearby food stall."

Melly said she never saw a pregnant woman go inside the clinic.

"Most of the clinic's patients were young women, who normally came in the late hours."

Other residents supported Melly and Zen's observations.

For instance, Gabby, who lived next to clinic, admitted that she often heard women's screams and smelled strange odors emanating from the clinic.

"We've complained at least three times to the related officials here and staged a protest once but never received a single response," she said. (04)