Student Allegedly Forcibly Taken After Protest, West Sumatra Prosecutor's Office Claims It Was an Invitation for Discussion

A student from the State Islamic University (UIN) Imam Bonjol Padang was allegedly forcibly picked up by the West Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Sumbar) on Sunday (12/7). The incident is believed to be linked to a protest by the Youth Organisation of the Indonesian Muslim Students Union (SEMMI) for the Sumatra region on Friday (10/7). The student, named Fadil Ramadhan, is a member of SEMMI Sumbar, which staged the protest at the prosecutor’s office last Friday. “I was taken to the Kejati (Sumbar) office under duress. My parents, the head of the neighbourhood unit, and the village head were also taken along,” Fadil told CNNIndonesia.com on Monday (13/7) afternoon. He recounted that around 2 p.m. WIB, three or four plainclothes individuals arrived at his home accompanied by the local neighbourhood and village heads. “They were looking for me and intended to take me to the prosecutor’s office. They said it was for a friendly gathering. I initially refused and coordinated with the General Chairman (of SEMMI) on what steps to take. The chairman told me not to go. But because my parents were already in their car, I was forced to go along. I was afraid something might happen to my parents,” he said. At the Kejati office, Fadil claimed he was brought before the Head of the West Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office, Dedie Tri Haryadi. “I felt intimidated from the moment the High Prosecutor arrived. I was forced to admit to being the perpetrator of damage to the prosecutor’s office fence during the protest, to admit I was paid to protest, to make a written statement, and to record a video containing an apology,” he said. He stated he was only able to leave the prosecutor’s office between 8.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. “We only arrived back home around 10 p.m.,” he said. He is currently still in shock and feels threatened. “I am afraid to leave the house in case I am being watched, because they already know where my house is. It’s a personal anxiety. My parents are also still in shock and unwell,” Fadil explained. The West Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office has provided an explanation regarding the alleged forced pickup. The Assistant for Intelligence at Kejati Sumbar, Agustinus Hanung Wydiatmaka, denied any forced pickup took place. He stated that Fadil was simply invited to the Kejati Sumbar office for a discussion. “In connection with the circulating news about the issue of a student being forcibly taken by the West Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office related to the protest on Friday, we inform you that this information is incorrect. What happened was, on Sunday, 12 July 2020, the student with the initials FR was invited to discuss the intent and purpose of their action,” Agustinus Hanung Wydiatmaka told reporters. Hanung explained that Fadil was asked for information regarding the protest carried out by the SEMMI organisation at the Kejati Sumbar on Friday (10/7). “We invited him to discuss the intent and purpose of their protest,” he said. Hanung stated that during the protest, there was no opportunity for dialogue between the demonstrators and the prosecutor’s office. “Yesterday we did not have a chance to hold a dialogue. They came to make speeches, and when we invited them to talk, it did not happen. Therefore, we invited one of the speakers to understand the intent and purpose of the action,” he asserted. Hanung also noted that when he came to the Kejati Sumbar office, Fadil was accompanied by his parents, the head of the neighbourhood unit, and the village head. “We invited him to discuss to understand the intent and purpose of the action,” he said.