Indonesian soldiers’ alleged killing of an Acehnese man triggers painful memories of military abuses
- The alleged murder of the man has triggered painful memories in Aceh of Indonesia’s past violent crackdown in the province among local residents
- Activists are calling for the soldiers to be tried in a civilian court and an end to abuses by Indonesian uniformed personnel
The death of an Acehnese man who was allegedly kidnapped and tortured by three Indonesian soldiers has sparked calls for them to be tried in a civilian court, as the case triggers painful memories of past military abuses among locals in the western province.
Imam Masykur, 25, a cosmetics seller from Bireuen town in Aceh province, disappeared on August 12 after he was allegedly snatched outside his shop in Tangerang, near Jakarta, by three Indonesian Army soldiers who have since been arrested.
According to the police, the soldiers supposedly extorted from Imam after they suspected him of selling illegal medicine.
In a statement to local media, Imam’s mother Fauziah said her son had called her at her home in Aceh on August 12 and asked her to send 50 million rupiah (US$3,300) to secure his release. “He said: ‘Mum, please send the money, I can’t stand the torture any more.”
The alleged perpetrators also sent her a video that showed Imam being tortured, and threatened to kill him if she did not send the money, according to Fauziah.
When she rang her son, the perpetrators picked up the call, and she told them she would try to find the money but urged them not to torture her son.
Fauziah said she told the soldiers, who did not identify themselves as soldiers: “We are people who don’t have much, don’t ask for 50 million rupiah, I don’t even have 1,000 rupiah (6 US cents) in my wallet.”
