Three allegedly tortured during interrogation

Three allegedly tortured during interrogation

JAKARTA (JP): A team of lawyers representing three youths
detained for alleged involvement in the July 27 riots claimed
yesterday their clients were tortured during interrogation at the
Armed Forces Intelligence Agency.

"Three of our clients told us they were physically and
mentally tortured by unidentified agents at the agency," Dwiyanto
Prihartono, executive secretary of the Team of Lawyers to Defend
Indonesia's Justice, told the National Commission on Human
Rights.

Ken Budha Kusumandaru and Garda Sembiring claimed they were
beaten all over, while Putut Ariantoko said he was electrocuted
with a small device the size of a cigarette box at the Agency on
Aug 12, Dwiyanto told the commission.

Spokesman for the General Attorney's Office Suhartoyo told The
Jakarta Post separately yesterday he knew nothing about the
alleged torture of the political detainees.

"I know only that they are being treated well while in our
care," Suhartoyo said.

Spokesman for the Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Amir Syarifudin
refused to comment on the lawyers' claim.

Thirteen activists were detained for alleged involvement in
the incident. Two of those, Wignyo bin Mardi and Benny Sumardi,
were released on bail on Aug. 30.

The political suspects were arrested for their alleged links
to the small, leftist little-known student organization, the
Democratic People's Party (PRD), which the government has accused
of inciting the riots.

The riots erupted after supporters of a government-backed
faction of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) forcibly took
over the party's headquarters, which were controlled by
supporters of deposed chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The 11 suspects are being detained at the General Attorney's
Office and the South Jakarta District Prosecutor's Office.

Noted human rights advocate Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara
questioned the continuing detention of the PRD activists since
the commission's findings on the July 27 incident mentions
nothing about the PRD's involvement with the riots.

"Does this mean that the commission is countering the
government's allegations?" Abdul Hakim said.

The commission promised to check the lawyers' claim with the
Armed Forces Intelligence Agency and the Attorney General's
Office.

At least four PRD leaders, including Budiman Sudjatmiko, are
facing charges of subversion, which carries a maximum penalty of
death. Under the subversion law, suspects can be held for up to a
year without trial.

The team of lawyers said they expect the investigation will be
completed by Dec. 9. Suhartoyo said he expects it will be
completed this month but he refused give a date.

Parents of the detainees told the commission they were
troubled by the government's premature accusations that their
children's activities were communist.

"In Indonesia, being labeled a communist is the worst of all,"
said Veronica Sembiring, who was detained for five days at the
Bogor police precinct by police officers hunting her son, Garda
Sembiring.

The lawyers also claimed that authorities barred relatives and
doctors from visiting the detainees.

Viktor da Costa, reportedly had to be sent to a hospital on
Nov. 11 for typhus. His request to see the doctor two weeks
earlier had been turned down.

The assembly of lawyers and detainees' parents were met by
commission deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman and commission
members Asmara Nababan, Clementino Dos Reis Amaral and Soegiri.
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