On September 11, the Indonesian army in Aceh announced that it had taken into custody two foreigners — Lesley McCulloch, an Australian academic of British citizenship, and Joy-Lee Sadler, a US nurse — and their Acehnese interpreter, Fitra bin Amin.

They were arrested in south Aceh, allegedly in possession of information about the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

The Aceh Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence (Kontras Aceh) is campaigning for their release.

The army has refused to allow access by lawyers and Sadler's son. Kontras Aceh informed Green Left Weekly that, in a phone call to his mother, Dante Sadler was told that she had been beaten. She is also sick and has been denied medical facilities.

US and British consular officials were on their way to meet McCulloch and Sadler, who are expected to be deported. Grave fears are held for Fitra bin Amin's safety.

Kontras Aceh is urging solidarity actions outside Indonesian government offices abroad. Protest letters to the Indonesian government should be sent via Kontras Aceh <kontrasaceh@yahoo.co.uk>.

From Green Left Weekly, September 18, 2002.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page. 

Tools

• Bookmark This Page
• Print This Page