VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN / DISAPPEARANCE OF WIVES OF GAM LEADERS

October 1, 2003 – (OMCT Appeal) The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Indonesia.

Brief description of the situation:

OMCT has been informed by a reliable source about the disappearance of Ms. Cut Rostina Ismail, the wife of a commander of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), Mr. Teungku Ishak Daud. The information received indicates that the Indonesian military is responsible for these disappearances.

On September 21, 2003, the wife of GAM officer Teungku Ishak Daud, Cut Rostina Ismail, and her two children, a 2 year old boy and a 9 month old baby, were arrested in their house. Military operation spokesman Lt. Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki admitted on
Tuesday, that the military arrested Cut Rostina Ismail but claimed that she had been released on Monday, and she and the children were brought to her parents-in-laws house in the village of Tepian Jaring Kuala. According to the spokesman the military had earlier
received information that her husband, was present at the house.

However, according to Teungku Ishak Daud, he is not aware of the whereabouts of his wife and children.

The information received indicates that the arrest of wives of the leaders of GAM has been a systematic tactic of the Indonesian military in an effort to obtain information about the rebel group.

OMCT is deeply concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Cut Rostina Ismail and her two children and calls upon the government of Indonesia to locate and release her and the children immediately in the absence of valid charges against them.
OMCT is also gravely concerned that wives and children are being used as tools to get to rebel leaders and firmly condemns such military practices.

To read more about the actions requested by OMCT, visit: http://www.omct.org/displaydocument.asp?DocType=Appeal&Index=3645&Language=EN