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. (14)