E/CN.4/2001/66 page 115 undertake a mission to the country first made in 1993 and consistently reiterated in writing and in visits to the Permanent Mission in Geneva (the most recent of the latter in November 2000), he deems it appropriate to share with the Commission his assessment of the situation on the basis of information reaching him over the years. 583. While the size and diversity of the country make it difficult to characterize the intensity of the problems all over, it certainly appears that there is a tradition of police brutality and arbitrariness in much of the country, the degree of brutality frequently being sufficiently unrestrained to amount to torture, often with fatal consequences. The brutality is sometimes linked with corruption and extortion and is often deployed in the service of local vested interests, be they economic or official. The use of excessive and indeed unprovoked and unjustified forces is common, especially in response to protests demanding rights. The persecution of those pursuing complaints against the police is a not infrequent phenomenon. In areas characterized by armed resistance, the security forces seem notably prone to resort to extreme and often lethal violence, even if individual abuses not carried out as part of organized military operations may be sanctioned. In general, while not absolute, the level of impunity among police and security forces seems sufficiently substantial as to conduce a general sense among such officials that their excesses, especially those committed in the line of duty, will at least be tolerated, if not encouraged. 584. The Special Rapporteur is aware that a mission could lead to the acquisition of information that could modify the above assessment. He regrets that he has not been given the opportunity to have access to such first-hand information. Indonesia 585. By letter dated 10 October 2000, the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information on the following individual cases. 586. Hardianto, a student from Aceh and humanitarian volunteer worker, was reportedly slapped on his ears and hit and kicked 11 times by a member of the Mobile Brigade of Regiment III Jakarta at the Rasian refugee camp in north Kluet in south Aceh on 16 July 2000. 587. Faisal Umri Bustami Meuraksa was reportedly detained at Nusa by military personnel on 18 January 2000. On 20 January 2000, he was reportedly found dead near the Subulusalam River, bearing signs of torture such as a scar on his foot, four bullet wounds in his chest and his right eye had been gauged out. It is believed that he had been suspected of being a member of the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka) (GAM). 588. Ruslan and Saifullah were reportedly slapped on the face and kicked in the back and chest by members of the Mobile Brigade of Regiment III Jakarta in Seubadeh village on 4 July 2000. 589. Mukhtaruddin, a 17-year-old student and humanitarian volunteer worker was reportedly chased and subsequently slapped twice, kicked four times on his chest and six times on his back by members of the Mobile Brigade of Regiment III Jakarta at the Rasian refugee camp on 16 July 2000.