Indonesia - sexual violence by the security forces

Index Number: ASA 21/047/2004
Date Published: 8 December 2004
Categories: Asia And The Pacific, Indonesia

This campaign leaflet illustrates the violence against women in the province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. Thousands have been unlawfully killed, tortured or arbitrarily detained by the security forces during their 28-year conflict with the armed pro-independence group, the Free Aceh Movement. Many women have been made destitute and thousands of men have been unlawfully killed, have 'disappeared' or have fled the region, leaving wives to face economic hardship.There is also a long-established pattern of rape and crimes of sexual violence against women. A few allegations have been investigated but, following prosecutions before military tribunals, the longest sentence handed down has been 3½ years for rape.