Afghan man beaten in Indonesian centre

THE Australian government is seeking clarification from Indonesia about the apparent fatal beating and torture of an Afghan asylum-seeker.

THE Australian government is seeking clarification from Indonesia about the apparent fatal beating and torture of an Afghan asylum-seeker at a West Borneo detention centre.

Taqi Nequyee, aged 28, was found dead in an isolation cell at Pontianak immigration detention centre on Tuesday morning.

His death was "most likely caused by officers", Ageng Pribadi, head of the centre, told The Australian yesterday

Mr Nequyee had been held in the isolation cell with two other detainees since they were recaptured on Sunday after an escape the previous day, Mr Ageng said.

The dead man was registered as an asylum-seeker with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, which is "seriously troubled by the turn of events", according to a statement issued last night.

He had applied for refugee status but had been in custody since at least early November for breaching travel restrictions imposed on asylum-seekers.

While asylum-seeker deaths in Indonesian custody are highly unusual, escapees are commonly beaten when they are recaptured.

"I was told by the human rights groups over there that it's an open secret that if anybody was caught running away, they put them in solitary and beat them," said Australian refugee advocate Pamela Curr, of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.

Mr Nequyee's body showed evidence of severe beating and torture and he was manacled at the wrists.

"We're aware of the reports and they are concerning," a spokesman for Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said. "We are in close contact with our Indonesian counterparts."

Referring to the opposition's policy of returning seaworthy asylum boats from Australian waters to Indonesia, he added: "We're not the ones (with) a policy of returning asylum-seekers to Indonesia without protection."

The opposition's immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison, slammed the minister for his spokesman's comments. "I think it's a disgraceful and distasteful politicisation of what is a very serious and disturbing event."

He said Mr Bowen should discipline the spokesman for his "irresponsible remark".

No suspects had been named in the death by last night and Mr Ageng said police were being kept informed while the Immigration Department completed an internal investigation.

Two inmates who were in the cell where Mr Nequyee died remained in hospital yesterday with unspecified injuries.

Six detainees broke out of the centre early on Sunday. Mr Nequyee and two others were arrested the following day and placed in an isolation cell where Mr Ageng said there was an incident about 1am on Tuesday.

"They fought against the guards, so it seems they were trying to run away again."

The UNHCR called on Indonesian authorities for a "swift and thorough investigation".