Police raid clinic, collect samples in abortion probe
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)