U.S. expresses deep concern over recent arrests in Aceh
U.S. expresses deep concern over recent arrests in Aceh
Agencies, Washington/Jakarta
The United States has expressed deep concern over the recent
arrests of non-violent activists in Indonesia's rebellious region
of Aceh and the treatment of a leading campaigner.
"This is the latest in a series of actions apparently intended
to intimidate independent observers who would be in a position to
monitor and report on serious human rights abuses in Aceh," the
U.S. State Department said in a statement on Saturday as quoted
by Reuters.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa and
Director for North and Central American Affairs Dino Djalal could
not be reached for comment on Sunday.
Last year, Indonesia rejected accusations it had clamped down
on freedom of expression and on the foreign media in Aceh.
The U.S. State Department said it was concerned about reports
police had beat up Muhammad Nazar, head of the Aceh Referendum
Information Center, during a Feb. 19 interrogation.
His wife and his lawyer had not been allowed to see Nazar, the
department said.
"We continue to believe that the Aceh conflict is not amenable
to solution by use of military force, including the imposition of
martial law," it said.
"We urge the Indonesian government to handle cases involving
civil society activists with the utmost respect for their legal
rights."
Starting May 19 last year, the Indonesian government declared
martial law in Aceh in an attempt to crush rebels in the
resource-rich province.
Many students and human rights activists were detained a week
after the martial law implementation. Journalists covering the
war have also been subject to police questioning over reports of
human rights abuses by the Indonesian Military.
Muhammad Nazar, head of the Aceh Referendum Information
Center, was sentenced to five years' jail in July last year for
"displaying hostility" to the government through his campaign for
a referendum on self-determination in Aceh.
Local activists and the United States have denounced the
sentence, saying that the verdict was a threat to democracy and
freedom of expression.
The United States "regrets" the five-year prison sentence
against Nazar, a State Department spokesman said.
"This is the latest in a series of convictions and prison
sentences for peaceful expression of antigovernment views in
Indonesia," spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement as
quoted by Agence France-Presse.
Noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis and former member of the
National Commission on Human Rights Asmara Nababan said voicing a
dissenting opinion in a peaceful manner was not a crime.
In October last year, the Banda Aceh District Court sentenced
three negotiators of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), including
chief negotiator Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba, and women activist Cut Nur
Asikin, to jail terms of between 11 years and 15 years.
The court convicted Sofyan and his colleagues, Amni Ahmad
Marzuki and Muhammad Usman Lampo Awe, to 15 years, 13 years and
12 years respectively for treason and terrorism.