Abduction probe powerless: Kontras<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Human rights activists say National Military
\nPolice investigating the abduction of political activists were
\n\"powerless\" and that the 11 members of the Army's Special Force
\n(Kopassus) suspected of the crime were still on the loose.<\/p>\n
The independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of
\nViolence (Kontras) said on Friday it had \"strong indications the
\n11 Kopassus member (involved in the abductions) were not being
\ndetained (by the National Military Police).\"<\/p>\n
Kontras' coordinator Munir explained the group's opinion after
\nattending a closed meeting with members of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
National Military Police Chief Maj. Gen. Syamsu Djalal has
\nrepeatedly said the 11 Kopassus members were being held at
\nNational Military Police headquarters in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Rights commission deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman, however,
\ntold The Jakarta Post on Friday it was \"possible\" the Kopassus
\npersonnel were not detained by the Military Police.<\/p>\n
\"A military source told me they could stay 'outside' as long
\nas there is a guarantee that the suspects will not flee (abroad)
\nand destroy the evidence,\" Marzuki said, adding the court-martial
\nof the 11 Kopassus members will begin on Nov. 3.<\/p>\n
Munir said on Wednesday that five of the nine activists who
\nresurfaced after being abducted had seen a number of their
\nabductors on the streets recently.<\/p>\n
BBC radio reported on Thursday that Syamsu had dismissed the
\nallegation, saying it was \"nonsense\".<\/p>\n
The Military Police has so far rejected appeals from human
\nrights groups demanding access to the unnamed 11 Kopassus members
\nsaying they could only meet the suspects at the court-martial.<\/p>\n
Separately, Antara reported on Friday that Kopassus chief Maj.
\nGen. Syahrir M.S. called on the media to ask Syamsu himself
\nwhether it was true the 11 Kopassus members were not in the
\nMilitary Police's custody.<\/p>\n
Syahrir, however, asserted that the 11 Kopassus members have
\nbeen handed over to the Military Police and were now in their
\ncustody.<\/p>\n
Munir reiterated his protest against the Military's plan to
\nsubmit the dossiers of the 11 Kopassus members to the court-
\nmartial next Wednesday since it has yet to locate 14 other
\nactivists still missing.<\/p>\n
Munir said it was likely they would be prosecuted only for
\ntheir involvement in the abductions of the nine activists who
\nhave resurfaced.<\/p>\n
\"It is also likely they will not be charged with torture since
\nthe Military Police has never carried out medical examination on
\nthe nine activists who have returned,\" Munir said, adding that
\nmarks from physical torture are still found on the activists'
\nbodies.<\/p>\n
Munir has argued that no military tribunal should be held
\nuntil all of the missing activists reappear because it would not
\nbe legally feasible to bring the officers to another trial for
\nthe same case should evidence be found later on.<\/p>\n
Kontras estimates that at least 24 activists went missing
\nbeginning in April last year. One was found dead last May. The
\nnine who resurfaced related harrowing tales of physical and
\nmental torture.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces announced the alleged involvement of Kopassus
\nmembers in the abductions of political activists in July.<\/p>\n
Reconciliation<\/p>\n
Later in the day, the National Commission on Human Rights met
\nwith President B.J. Habibie but failed to reach an agreement on
\nthe name and mission of a planned national reconciliation body.<\/p>\n
They only agreed to set up a working group to discuss the
\ndifferences and find a possible compromise in 90 days.<\/p>\n
\"There is an objection in the term 'national reconciliation'.
\nPak Habibie prefers 'forum for national consolidation',\" Minister
\nof Justice Muladi said after the meeting at the State Guest
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
Muladi said the government has insisted that the commission
\nnot only focus on human rights problems but also on development,
\nsocial and economic problems and security and defense affairs.<\/p>\n
\"We still have some differences with the government. The
\ngovernment wants comprehensive reforms, but we want to start with
\nconcrete steps,\" said Marzuki. (byg\/prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abduction-probe-powerless-kontras-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}