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PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 21/19/99 11 March 1999

Further information on EXTRA 17/99 (ASA 21/07/99, 9 February 1999) - Risk of torture or ill-treatment/Possible "disappearance"/extrajudicial execution

INDONESIA

Jamaluddin / Nurdin, 18 ] Irwansyahbin Usman, 22 ] Hasbi Saleh, 35 ] Irwanbin Matsyah, 24 ] Killed Jailani Muhammad, 22 ] Karimuddin Ibrahim, 20 ] Syaiful Bahri bin Yusuf, 22 ]

Samsul Qohar, 28 ] Al Gamar, 27 ] M Dahlan, 25 ] Injured M Amin, 30 ] Mustafa, 10 ]

24 others: possibly "disappeared"

The seven men named above are now known to have died when soldiers opened fire on people making their way home from a meeting outside a military base (Koramil) at Idi Cut in East Aceh on 3 February 1999. According to a local non-governmental organisation 24 people remain unaccounted for, though Amnesty International has not been able to verify this.

Walidin Usman, 25, and Zamzami, 23, who were previously feared to have "disappeared", have now returned home. At least five others were injured during the incident.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

According to reports, a crowd of people were making their way home from a meeting, which witnesses say was connected with Aceh Merdeka (Free Aceh), a separatist movement. They were first pelted with stones from the direction of the military post at Idi Cut. At around 1.00 am, shots were fired indiscriminately into the crowd, again from the direction of the military post.

Eyewitnesses have said that those killed or injured were thrown into military trucks and taken away by members of Linud 100 (an air force unit). An estimated 58 people were taken to East Aceh police headquarters in Langsa and released on 5 February.

Witnesses apparently later saw military personnel putting the injured into sacks weighed down with stones and throwing into the river at Arakundo bridge. The bodies of Irwansyahbin Usman, Hasbi Saleh, Irwanbin Matsyah, Jailani Muhammad, Karimuddin Ibrahim and Syaiful Bahri bin Yusuf were found in the Arakundo river between 3 and 5 February 1999.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters in English, Indonesian or in your own language:

- urging the authorities to clarify the whereabouts of an estimated 24 people unaccounted for after the incident outside the military base at Idi Cut on 3 February 1999;

- asking the authorities to undertake an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident and to ensure that fully qualified investigators, including forensic experts, are given access to investigate the killings.

APPEALS TO: (Time difference = GMT + 7 hrs / BST + 6 hrs)

MILITARY COMMANDER REGION I/BUKIT BARISAN (covers North & West Sumatra and Aceh) Major General Abdul Rahman Gaffar Pangdam I/Bukit Barisan Markas Besar KODAM I Medan Sumatra Utara Indonesia

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: Embassy of Indonesia, 38 Grosvenor Square, London W1X 9AD. Fax: 0171 491 4993

AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING:

President Jusuf Habibie Presiden RI Istana Negara Jl. Veteran Jakarta Pusat Indonesia Fax: + 62 21 526 8726 / 380 5511 / 345 7782 Telex: 44283 BIGRA IA; 44469 DEPLU IA Telegram: President Habibie, Jakarta, Indonesia

Gen. Wiranto Menteri Pertahanan dan Keamanan Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No.13-14 Jakarta 10110 Indonesia Fax: + 62 21 381 4535

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please do not send appeals after 22 April 1999.

If you have any queries about this Urgent Action or about + + the UA scheme in general, please contact: + + Ray Mitchell / Becky Hess + + Amnesty International UK Section + + 99 - 119 Rosebery Avenue + + London EC1R 4RE email: ua@amnesty.org.uk

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