AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL : URGENT ACTION 
PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 21/19/00 

UA 75/00 
Possible "Disappearance" / Fear for Safety / Fear of Torture or Ill-treatment 
30 March 2000 

INDONESIA Mukhtar Abdullah, 35 

Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Mukhtar Abdullah, who was reportedly taken into detention and tortured by the Indonesian National Army, Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI), before being returned to his home and abducted again by them later the same day. According to reports received by Amnesty International, Mukhtar Abdullah was initially taken from his home in Jambo Reuhat village, Idie Rayeuk Sub-district, East Aceh, in the early hours of 19 March 2000 by six armed men in military uniform. 

His abduction occurred during the course of a military operation in the area, ostensibly aimed at rounding up members of the armed opposition group, the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka, GAM). When he was returned home eight hours later, he was badly bruised and his clothes were covered in blood. 

Later that day the security force personnel returned to his home, saying they were looking for weapons. They reportedly took him away with them again. His current whereabouts are not known. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION 

The human rights situation in Aceh continues to deteriorate with unconfirmed reports that 179 people have been killed there this year in the context of military and police counter-insurgency operations against GAM. Dozens have also been arrested as part of "sweeping operations" by the security forces to capture members of GAM. 

In recent weeks there have been worrying signs of increased harassment, intimidation, arrests and other violations against human rights defenders and humanitarian workers. 

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in Bahasa Indonesia or your own language: 

* expressing concern that Mukhtar Abdullah was reportedly abducted from his home in Jambo Reuhat village, Idie Rayeuk sub-district, East Aceh, on 19 March 2000 by members of the TNI; 

* asking the authorities to establish and make public his whereabouts; - urging them to provide guarantees for his safety including ensuring that he be given immediate access to his family, lawyers and medical professionals; 

* calling on the authorities to launch an immediate and impartial investigation into allegations that he was tortured in security force custody on 19 March 2000 and may require urgent medical attention; 

*- urging them to clarify whether he has been arrested and, if so, asking that he be charged with a recognizably criminal offence or released immediately; 

* calling on the authorities to issue immediate instructions to the security forces to halt all arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and ill-treatment, "disappearances" and unlawful killings in Aceh. 

APPEALS TO: 

Major General Affandi 
Military Commander for Aceh 
Pangdam I/Bukit Barisan 
Markas Besar KODAM I 
Medan 
Sumatra Utara 
Indonesia 
Salutation: Dear Commander 

Dr Juwono Sudarsono 
Minister of Defence and Security 
(Menteri Pertahanan dan Keamanan) 
Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No. 13-14 
Jakarta Pusat 10110 
Indonesia 
Telegrams: Menteri Pertahanan dan Keamanan, Jakarta, Indonesia 
Faxes: + 62 21 381 4535 / 384 5178 
Salutation: Dear Minister 

COPIES TO: 

Mr Hasballah M. Saad 
State Minister for Human Rights Affairs 
Jl Kuningan Timur M 2/5 
Jakarta 12950 
Indonesia 
Faxes: +62 21 525 0075 / 525 0139 

and to diplomatic representatives of Indonesia accredited to your country. 

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 8 May 2000.