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Academics demand protection for British woman held in Indonesia

1 October 2002

Nearly 100 academics have today joined in calling on British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, to express grave concern to the Indonesian Government about the treatment of their academic colleague, Dr Lesley McCulloch, following her arrest, along with a retired American nurse, Joy Lee Sadler, on 11 September in South Aceh, Indonesia.

The letter points out that Dr McCulloch has at times been denied proper access to consular officials and legal assistance and contact with her family.  She has alleged that she was abused by the army, threatened by a knife, deprived of sleep, denied medical assistance and sexually harassed.

Dr McCulloch has been charged with visa infringements. It is of even greater concern, the letter states, that she may face charges relating to alleged links with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) or similar serious offences.  Dr McCulloch has denied all the allegations against her.

The letter is signed by a wide range of 96 academics from universities across the UK and overseas. They point out that Dr McCulloch is a respected observer of the human rights situation in Aceh and the conflict there.  Her commentaries have been widely published by the media in Southeast Asia.     

The joint letter states: "It is our view that Dr McCulloch's rights can be protected only if she is released from detention.  Until that happens, we urge you to ensure that she does not suffer further ill treatment…and that her rights as a detainee are fully protected."

The academics are alarmed at the Indonesian Government's attempt to isolate Aceh and prevent information reaching the outside world. They highlight the Government's use of military means to address a conflict which ultimately can be solved only by political means.

"In this situation," they say, "it is apparent that the authorities wish to make an example of Dr McCulloch…The police have stated that she and her colleague are being 'taught a lesson' to warn foreigners against visiting Aceh.  This is an alarming development.   The dire security situation in Aceh has led to a serious reduction in the flow of information from the province at a time when up to 2,000 people, the vast majority civilians, are being killed each year."

The academics also call on the Foreign Secretary "to impress upon the Indonesian Government that suppression of independent analysis of the situation in Aceh and the intimidation and persecution of visitors is wholly unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the international community".

ENDS

The text of the academics' letter is available at http://tapol.gn.apc.org/let021002.htm

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