JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Human rights activist Surya Anta Ginting revealed his experience of living in the Salemba Detention Center, where he was detained while involved in a treason case.
In the story that he revealed through his Twitter account @Suryaanta, Sunday (07/12/2020), Surya revealed a number of problems that occurred in jail.
Surya said, on the first day he entered a shelter in the Salemba Detention Center, he was held by other detainees in the amount of Rp. 1 million, while his colleague was forced to Rp. 3 million.
“Finally, the five of us paid Rp. 500,000 because after the other detainees learned that we were activists, not the children of officials, “Solar wrote in a photo he uploaded inside tweet-New.
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Surya said, he and four of his colleagues lived with about 420 inmate others in the holding room or mapenaling period for one month.
In another photo uploaded by Surya, it appears that the conditions of the prisoners who slept on the loose and coincide with each other were so crowded in the mapenaling space.
“Prisoners of sleep are like boiled fish lined up, not infrequently so that they can sleep, the body sleeps on its side, “Surya said.
He revealed, the facilities available were improvised. There are only two toilets and one television unit.
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Prisoners must also store water to quench their thirst.
“There is only one TV in the shelter barracks. If anyone dares change the channel, it will be crowded. These bottles hold water for drinking. But the water feels like something is sticky. The prisoners got a sore throat, “Surya said deeply tweetwhich shows a picture of a pile of used mineral water bottles.
He added, fights between detention in the holding barracks were a common thing. In fact, fights are often triggered by trivial things.
“I was so over capacity, the prisoners fought trivial problems: didn’t get yams, ketchup sandals, spilled coffee, side dishes eaten by his friends etc., “Surya wrote.
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Surya Anta also revealed the existence of sales practices meth which was done openly by the inmates.
“From the second floor the adverts advertise their merchandise on the new prisoners, shouting: ‘sabu sabu sabu who wants to eat on the night of the week’, “Surya said.
Room “pharmacy” and “ticket” room
After one month living in a shelter, Surya et al were moved to Blok J Room 18 under pressure from other activists.
However, not a few prisoners who must live in the halls due to lack of money and support. He mentioned, social classes are so real in prison.
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“Many prisoners and inmates sleep in the hallway because they do not have money to ‘ticket’ room and pay weekly room fees, “Surya said.
Surya Anta continued, the cell he was in was apparently a “pharmacy” room or methamphetamine location. That room, said Surya, was also one of the nicest rooms in the past.
“The clerk knows about this. Wonder why we were placed in room J18 which has a pharmacy of methamphetamine, “Surya said.
Surya said, life in prison does not make all the needs borne by the state. Because, rice, side dishes, and water provided in small amounts so they must cook and buy side dishes themselves.
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“We also buy water ourselves. Also buy a gallon. If there is electricity damage, pay with your own money. Other prisoners pay room money and pay weekly money. We didn’t pay because the prison was worried about the public pressure on us, “Surya said.
To be able to survive due to the high cost of living in prison, the prisoners also have to carry out various jobs, for example pickpockets to electronic services.
He added, economic activity is indeed going on as usual in prisons, ranging from buying and selling and cellphone service, money transfers, food stalls, buying and selling perfume, to the drug business.
It is known, Surya Anta was sentenced to 9 months in prison by a judge of the Central Jakarta District Court in a treason case.
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Besides Surya, five other Papuan activists were also found guilty, namely Ariana Eleopere, Dano Anes Tabuni, Charles Kossay, Ambrose Mulait, and Issay Wenda.
The six activists were considered treason for raising the Morning Star flag during a demonstration in front of the State Palace on August 28, 2019.
Head of Public Relations and Protocol Section of the Directorate General of Corrections Rika Aprianti said, his party was searching for information conveyed by Surya.
“We are currently searching for this information. What is certain is that we, especially the entire Penitentiary, continue to strive to provide the best coaching services for all residents,” Rika told Kompas.com, Monday (07/13/2020).
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