Security approach excessive

Security approach excessive

From Media Indonesia

On Feb. 23, several women belonging to a group called the
Voice of Concerned Mothers (SIP) launched a peaceful
demonstration to express their concern about the economic and
political crisis having a negative impact on future generations.

The protesters consisted of intellectuals, professionals,
employees and housewives. The peaceful protest at the Hotel
Indonesia traffic circle was accompanied by the distribution
elsewhere of milk for infants, children and pregnant women. The
protest was closely watched by armed security personnel. They
rounded up three protesters: Karlina Leksono, Gadis Arivia and
Wilasih Noviana. They were interrogated in a marathon session
that continued into the early hours of Feb. 24.

With regard to the arrests and unreasonable interrogation of
the three women for their humanitarian action, Women's Solidarity
hereby states its deep concern.

We protest the security approach; it was excessive and in
violation of human rights. We appeal to the National Commission
on Human Rights to:

1. Strongly protest the methods of security approach practiced
by the police in the arrest and interrogation of the three women.
The methods are in violation of Article 28 of the 1945
Constitution and the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights,
especially with regard to freedom of association, expression and
organization.

2. Stop these methods of interrogation (marathon session with
intimidation by the investigators) because they are in violation
of human rights and can be categorized as forms of mistreatment.

TATI KRISNAWATY

SIP Chairwoman

Jakarta