Student Allegedly Forcibly Taken After Protest, West Sumatra Prosecutor's Office Claims It Was an Invitation for Discussion
A student of the State Islamic University (UIN) Imam Bonjol Padang is alleged to have been forcibly picked up by the West Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati) on Sunday (12/7).
The alleged incident is thought to be a follow-up to a demonstration by the youth organisation (OKP) the Indonesian Muslim Students’ Association (SEMMI) for the Sumatra region on Friday (10/7).
The student taken to the Kejati Sumbar office was named Fadil Ramadhan. He was part of SEMMI Sumbar, which staged the action at the Prosecutor’s Office last Friday.
“I was taken to the Kejati Sumbar office under duress. My parents, the neighbourhood unit head (RT) and the village head (Lurah) were also taken along,” Fadil told CNNIndonesia.com on Monday (13/7) afternoon.
He recounted that at around 2pm Western Indonesia Time, three or four men dressed like thugs came to his house along with the RT head and the Lurah of his place of residence.
“They were looking for me and wanted to take me to the Prosecutor’s Office. They said it was a courtesy visit. I initially refused and coordinated with the SEMMI Chairman General about what steps to take. The Chairman said I did not need to go. But because my parents were already in their car, I had no choice but to go with them. I was afraid something would happen to my parents,” he said.
At the Prosecutor’s Office, Fadil said he was met by the Head of the West Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office, Dedie Tri Haryadi.
“I felt intimidated from the moment the Chief Prosecutor arrived. I was forced to admit that I was the perpetrator of the damage to the prosecutor’s office fence during the demonstration, to confess that I was paid to protest, and to write a statement letter and record a video containing an apology,” he said.
He said he was only able to leave the prosecutor’s office between half past nine and half past ten at night. “We only got back home at around 10pm,” he said.
He is still in shock and feels threatened. “I am afraid to leave the house in case I am being watched, because they already know where I live. It is a personal anxiety. My parents are also still in shock and unwell,” Fadil explained.
The Kejati Sumbar’s explanation
The West Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office has given an explanation regarding the alleged forcible pick-up of the UIN Imam Bonjol Padang student. The Head of Intelligence at Kejati Sumbar, Agustinus Hanung Wydiatmaka, denied that the pick-up was forced.
According to him, Fadil was merely invited to come to the Kejati Sumbar for a discussion.
“In connection with the circulating news about the allegation that a student was forcibly taken by the West Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office in relation to last Friday’s demonstration, we wish to inform you that this information is not true. What happened was that on Sunday, 12 July, we invited the student named FR for a discussion about the aims and objectives of their action,” Agustinus Hanung Wydiatmaka told reporters.
Hanung explained that Fadil was questioned about the demonstration staged by the youth organisation (OKP) the Indonesian Muslim Students’ Association (SEMMI) for the Sumatra region at the Kejati Sumbar on Friday (10/7).
“We invited him for a discussion regarding their aims and objectives in staging the demonstration,” he said.
Hanung said that during the action, there had been no opportunity for dialogue between the protesters and the Kejati Sumbar.
“Yesterday we did not have a chance to hold a dialogue. They came to give speeches, and when we invited them to talk, that did not happen. That is why we invited one of the orators to find out the aims and objectives of the action,” he insisted.
Hanung also said that when Fadil came to the Kejati Sumbar, he was accompanied by his parents as well as the local RT head and village head.
“We invited him for a discussion in order to understand the aims and objectives of the action,” he repeated.