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AAN RUSDIANTO'S TESTIMONY

My name is Aan Rusdianto and I am now 24 years old.

I was abducted on the same day with Nezar Patria, my close friend, who has just given his testimony about his recent abduction. I will therefore recount my personal experiences as well as give some additional data about the kidnappers and the detention site.

On Friday night, March 13, 1998, Nezar and I were brought to an unknown place with our hands cuffed together. After reaching the destination, we got out of the car and our cuffs were removed. They had me sit on a folded chair, then tied me to it. We were the interrogated under duress: who I am, what my activities are and where Andi Arief is. I was shocked by an electric device, kicked and slapped each time I failed to give them favourable answers. At that moment all I could give as an answer was "I am Aan Rusdianto, I lived in Semarang and I am a member of SMID (The Indonesian Students Solidarity for Democracy). I don't know where Andi Arief is."

I kept wondering about what was going to happen next and lived in fear for my life for two days and two nights.

On the first night, they made us sit on the chair for 30 minutes, then lie on a folded bed. With our hands and feet tied up with an iron-cuff and a plastic rope - we were brought to a large air-conditioned room where we were interrogated with the same questions. Although the officers pointed a long rifle at us (electrocuted us, even on our penises) and did other violations, they still failed to force us - and Mugiyanto (who was interrogated two hours later) to provide them with favourable responses.

On the second day, they removed one of our cuffs and allowed us to go to the restroom accompanied by two guards. That kind treatment and the quiet air-conditioned room (there was no more interrogation at the time) could not soothe me nor stop me from thinking about Pius, Desmond and what was about to happen next.

Every morning and afternoon, I heard the sound of heavy steps and some people singing with the firm voices, sometimes in a cannon. Several times I also heard an airplane fly low over the building.

There was once a time when we were asked to line up to have the room cleaned and tidied; maybe one of the high-ranking officers planned to pay a visit.

We had some discussions with the officers on duty about various political matters including East-Timor and Aceh; from these discussion I drew a conclusion that they knew about Aceh and East-Timor very well. We also discussed the economic crisis and the government's effort to cope.

On Sunday (March 15, 1998) morning, we were brought out separately. There were three cars, one of which was grey Kijang with the license number B 1907 YH which accommodated Mugiyanto and Nezar. Not so long afterward we got out of the cars and were brought to a 2 X 3 meters room with the words "Pabung Marinir" inscribed on the door. There we had to make our written testimonies. When I went to the restroom, I saw two officers on duty wearing green trousers and green t-shirt with the picture of Gajah Mada's head on their backs. Neithers in his place nor in Polda Metro jaya's office (Jakarta District Police) were any violations committed.

Three hours afterward, we were brought to Polda and were interogated.