[Nasional-e] [Nasional] Fwd: McCulloch and Sadler - The Rt Hon. Jack Straw - Arief
Budiman - 1
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nasional-e@polarhome.com
Fri Nov 29 00:36:01 2002
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Dear Mr. Straw,
We write to add our voices to those expressing deep concern over the treatment
by the Indonesian authorities of Lesley McCulloch and Joy Lee Sadler, who have
been detained in Aceh since 10 September on allegations of visa violations.
Dr. McCulloch and Ms. Sadler have alleged that during their custody they have
been beaten, threatened with death, forced to witness torture, and sexually
molested.
They have been subjected to lengthy interrogations and deprived of sleep and of
exercise. The harshness of their treatment, as well as the length of their
detention, is unprecedented in the Indonesian context; most visitors accused by
the Indonesian authorities of visa violations have been speedily deported.
Dr. McCulloch and Ms. Sadler's trial on visa violation charges finally began,
after ten weeks of detention, on 25 November. Today, the prosecutor has been
granted a three-week suspension of the trial, until 19 December, to permit the
prosecution to prepare its case. Ms. Sadler, who is HIV-positive and who is
badly ill from the effects of beatings suffered in September, has announced that
she is going on hunger strike until both women are freed.
The unusual treatment meted out to the two women is directly attributable to
military animosity towards Dr. McCulloch. Dr. McCulloch's work, which has
focused on military business activities in Indonesia as a whole and Aceh in
particular, has relentlessly exposed the Indonesian military's human rights
abuses and corrupt or illegal business practices (the very issues that have led
the British government to suspend its military assistance to Indonesia). Many
Indonesian officials appear to be treating Dr. McCulloch as guilty until proven
innocent, with military and government figures branding her in press statements
as a liar and a subversive element. The chances of the two women receiving a
fair trial-if, indeed, a trial is ever permitted to continue-appear small.
Indeed, it may be to keep impartial observers from attending the trial that
proceedings have been suspended: the Indonesian Minister of Defense, Matori
Abdul Djalil, has said that starting 9 December, the military will cut off the
province of Aceh from all land, sea and air communication if the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) refuses to sign a peace agreement by that date (Jakarta Post, 26
November).
We ask you to urge the Indonesian government to finish its judicial proceedings
without further delay and to deport Ms. Sadler and Dr. McCulloch as soon as
possible, and certainly before any steps are taken to seal off the province.
Yours sincerely,
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Datum: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 09:25:11 +1100
Von: Arief Budiman <ariefb@unimelb.edu.au>
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Rekan2,
Ada yang mau membantu mengirimkan fax?
AB
>Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 17:59:00 +0800
>From: Natasha Hamilton-Hart <seahhne@nus.edu.sg>
>Subject: McCulloch and Sadler
>X-Sender: seahhne@artstf.ex.nus.edu.sg
>To: jsiegel@compuserve.com, siraisi@kyoto-u.ac.jp, smitha@apcss.org,
> emmerson@stanford.edu, a.budiman@unimelb.edu.au, aridir@nus.edu.sg,
> seasp@nus.edu.sg, arijfw@nus.edu.sg, soccf@nus.edu.sg,
> socroxan@nus.edu.sg
>Cc: SEMICJAC@cityu.edu.hk, wynneoz@yahoo.com.au
>Status:
>
>Dear Colleagues,
>
>I am writing in the hope that passing on these letters about a
>fellow Indonesianist is not too much of an intrusion. Lesley
>McCulloch, a specialist on the Indonesian military's business
>activities, has been in detention in Aceh since mid- September. Her
>trial, and that of an American nurse, Joy Lee Sadler, opened this
>week but has been adjourned. This delay could make their situation
>significantly worse.
>
>The attached documents are specimen letters adressed to the US
>Secretary of State, the the British Secretary of State for Foreign
>and Commonwealth Affairs, the British Undersecretary for Foreign and
>Commonwealth Affairs (who has been dealing with this case) and the
>UN Human Rights Commissioner. They sketch out the grounds for
>concern and ask the addressees to take up the matter.
>
>Given the threat to seal the province on 9 December, the need for
>international pressure has become rather urgent; getting fax
>machines in action may make a difference.
>
>If you would like to do something, specimen faxes are attached (fax
>numbers are in the documents). If you are in a position to enlist
>the support of your academic department or institution, or to
>advertise the situation through internet discussion groups, emailing
>lists or other forums, that would greatly help in getting word out.
>
>
>Please forgive the collective email, especially if it not something
>you wish to take up. I'm afraid that in this case my concern about a
>friend might have overtaken propriety. However, I think this is
>clearly an attempt to deter other researchers working on 'sensitive'
>issues in Indonesia, and is therefore a case that many scholars
>could have concerns about.
>
>Yours,
>Natasha
>
>Natasha Hamilton-Hart
>Southeast Asian Studies Programme
>AS3 #06-16
>Arts Link
>National University of Singapore
>Singapore 117570
>Phone: +65 6874 7934
>Fax: +65 6777 6608
>
>
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