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.