M. Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – As many as five student, youth and women’s activists in Aceh have disappeared since February 16. Aceh Papua Solidarity (Solidaritas Aceh Papua, SAP) suspects that they have been arrested by the TNI (armed forces) or police. They are demanding that the TNI admit responsibly for the disappearance of the five activists.

The demand was made by SAP spokesperson, Thamrin Ananda and the coordinator of the Mardhika Women’s Working Group (Kelompok Kerja Perempuan Mardhika, KKPM), Dita Indah Sari, at the offices of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) in Jakarta on Tuesday February 24.

The five activists who have disappeared included three activists from the Lingke Association of University and High-School Students (Mahasiswa dan Pelajar Lingke, IMPEL) from Central Aceh and two activists from the Women’s Organisation for a Democratic Aceh (Organisasi Perempuan Aceh Demokratik, Orpad).

The three IMPEL activists are Iwan Irama Putra, Harlina and Mas Rizal while the Orpad activists have been identified as Nursida and Nova Rahayu.

According to Ananda, they were abducted by officers from the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Lingke during a series of arrests between February 16 and 23 in violation of correct legal procedures. “[They were arrested] without an arrest warrant or specific charges”, said Ananda.

The security forces explained Ananda, have denied arresting the five activist so SAP has not been able to provide advocacy for them. “So up until now their whereabouts are still unknown. We therefore call on the law enforcement agencies in question to inform [us] of their whereabouts”, said Ananda. (iy)

[Translated by James Balowski.]