Foreigners and local interpreter detained in Aceh

BY IGGY KIM

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.

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From GLW issue 509