Sunariyah, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has condemned the arbitrary arrest and detention of activists in Aceh. Speaking on Tuesday February 24, the coordinator of Kontras’ working division, Mukti Makaram, said that this action clearly threatens civil freedoms, in particular those who have a critical position towards the government’s policies.

Kontras suspects that the arrests which were made on February 23 are linked with a criticism which was made by Acehnese student organisations against the performance of the Aceh emergency military command. Those arrested by law enforcement officers are Herlina (23), Safruddin (20) and  Mursida (21). The three are students from the Arraniry State Institute of Islamic Studies. The other activist who has been arrested is Nova Rahayu (20), a student at Syah Kuala Aceh.

According to Mukti, they still do not yet know the actual reason for the arrests. They also do not yet know the whereabouts of the activists, because although those responsible have confirmed the arrests they have refused to provide any information whatsoever. “They’re throwing the ball around but don’t want to admit it”, said Makaram.

Kontras views this incident as an effective method to stifle the political freedoms of the Acehnese people with a pattern of arrests starting to be carried out again. Kontras also sees this as the start of attempts to control public life in the lead up to the general elections. “With these kind of methods the security forces are not only creating an increasingly undemocratic situation in Aceh, but are also creating an atmosphere of terror amongst the public”, he said.

[Translated by James Balowski.]