Activists abducted by organized group<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights said
\nyesterday that student and political activists who went missing
\nrecently were abducted by a well-organized group.<\/p>\n
\"They did not disappear voluntarily,\" the commission said in a
\nstatement commenting on a string of disappearances of people
\nknown to be very critical of the government.<\/p>\n
Nine of the 14 people who were reported missing have
\nresurfaced in the last two weeks. Only one, Pius Lustrilanang,
\nhas gone public with an account of his experiences, including
\ntorture, at the hands of an unknown group.<\/p>\n
Pius flew to the Netherlands on Monday, saying that his
\nabductors had threatened to kill him if he spoke out about what
\nhad happened.<\/p>\n
The other eight activists who have returned home all refused
\nto speak publicly, although one or two are believed to have
\nspoken to the commission on the condition that details were not
\ndisclosed to the public.<\/p>\n
The five activists still reported as missing are Sonny, Yani
\nAvri, Suyat, Herman Hendrawan and Bimo Petrus.<\/p>\n
\"These forced disappearances are a terrible abuse of human
\nrights,\" the commission said, invoking the Criminal Code, the
\nInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the
\nDeclaration for People against Forced Disappearance.<\/p>\n
\"Given that the victims were taken beyond the reach of legal
\nprotection, the actions amounted to a violation of human values.<\/p>\n
\"They caused suffering on the part of the victims and their
\nfamilies, spread fear among society and tarnished the image of
\nthe nation.<\/p>\n
\"In principle, a forced disappearance is a violation of civil
\nrights and freedom, and a comprehensive and total denial of the
\nnorms and order of civilized politics.\"<\/p>\n
The commission \"condemns these forced disappearances,\" it
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The commission held a meeting at its office to discuss the
\nissue yesterday, after which the statement was read out by deputy
\nchairman Marzuki Darusman. He was accompanied by commission
\nmembers Miriam Budiardjo, Albert Hasibuan, B.N. Marbun,
\nClementino dos Reis Amaral, Djoko Soegianto and Soegiri.<\/p>\n
\"Based on the accounts of those who have returned, we can
\nconclude that the abductions were carried out by a well
\norganized\" group, it said.<\/p>\n
\"There is now a growing perception among the public that there
\nis a possibility that the state security apparatus was involved.\"<\/p>\n
The commission questioned the attitude of the Armed Forces
\n(ABRI), and particularly that of the National Police, saying that
\nthey had \"failed to instill confidence in the public that they
\nintended to fulfill their political and legal responsibilities,
\nor convey the gravity of the problem and take the actions
\nnecessary to calm public fears.\"<\/p>\n
The statement noted that ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto, who is
\nalso Minister of Defense and Security, had clarified that there
\nwas never any order to abduct people issued by the military, and
\nthat ABRI would strive to find those who were still missing.<\/p>\n
The commission said: \"His statement should be backed by a
\nguarantee for the safety of those who have returned and spoken
\nout about their experience.\"<\/p>\n
The commission issued a series of recommendations which
\nincluded:<\/p>\n
* Calling on ABRI and the government to immediately take
\ncoordinated and firm actions to investigate the disappearances.
\nThose responsible should be prosecuted.<\/p>\n
* Proposing the establishment of a national commission of
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
* Calling on the government to rehabilitate and compensate the
\nvictims of abductions to restore their integrity.<\/p>\n
* Calling on the government and the House of Representatives
\nto quickly ratify the convention against torture and other cruel,
\ninhuman and degrading acts.<\/p>\n
* Calling on members of the public who possess information
\nabout the disappearances to voluntarily come forward. The human
\nrights commission will treat them in confidentiality if
\nnecessary.<\/p>\n
Earlier, one of the abducted activists, Haryanto Taslam,
\nvisited the commission's office, but refused to disclose details
\nof his ordeal.<\/p>\n
The deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) under Megawati Soekarnoputri's leadership maintained
\nthat his silence was out of concern for the others still listing
\nas missing.<\/p>\n
Haryanto disappeared in Jakarta on March 9 and reappeared on
\nApril 19 in Surabaya, his home town.<\/p>\n
He was only willing to state yesterday that his disappearance
\nhad to do with political activities undertaken in his capacity as
\nPDI deputy secretary-general.<\/p>\n
\"I have a moral obligation to those who were abducted and
\nwhose whereabouts are still unclear,\" Haryanto said.<\/p>\n
\"I think members of the commission are intelligent enough to
\ninterpret my response of 'no comment',\" he added.<\/p>\n
\"It is true that I cannot give a lengthy explanation, although
\nI know that you want to hear an honest and clear account.\"<\/p>\n
Haryanto said he believed that extensive media coverage of the
\nabductions would help to enlighten the public about what really
\nhappened.<\/p>\n
The disappearances were also discussed at the monthly meeting
\nof cabinet ministers under the charge of Coordinating Minister
\nfor Political and Security Affairs Gen. Feisal Tanjung.<\/p>\n
Chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Body Lt. Gen.
\n(ret.) Moetojib, who took part in the meeting, said the
\ngovernment was considering establishing a fact-finding team to
\nverify accounts given by the returnees.<\/p>\n
\"All parties, including the government, should get a clear
\ninsight into the veracity of the cases before drawing any
\nconclusions and deciding on further action,\" he told reporters
\nafter the meeting.<\/p>\n
Moetojib said Pius' account given to the commission Monday was
\nonly one of many reports which needed further investigation and
\nclarification.<\/p>\n
\"Pius' account is only one side of the story,\" he said.
\n(byg\/imn)<\/p>",
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