At least 11 activists still missing: Reports<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Ten out of at least 21 people reported missing
\nhave returned, but the whereabouts of the rest are still unknown,
\nreports said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Those accounted for were eight students who went missing
\nfollowing a clash between protesters and security personnel in
\nYogyakarta last week, another student and a lawyer from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) said that among
\nthose still missing were Herman Hendrawan, 27, a student at
\nAirlangga University in Surabaya; Andi Arief, 27, a student at
\nthe University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta and an activist
\nin the outlawed People's Democratic Party (PRD); and Haryanto
\nTaslam, a loyal supporter of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted
\nleader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
Also unaccounted for are Faisol Rezha, 24, and Rahardjo Waluyo
\nDjati, 28, both of UGM.<\/p>\n
Herman, Faisol, and Rahardjo have been missing since March 12,
\nwhen they were known to be in Jakarta, and Andi was allegedly
\nabducted from his home in Bandarlampung on March 28, YLBHI said
\nin a letter sent to National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Haryanto Taslam disappeared on March 2, it also said.<\/p>\n
"Pius Lustrilanang and Desmond J. Mahesa were missing for two
\nmonths, but returned to their respective homes last Friday", the
\nletter, signed by YLBHI Chairman Bambang Widjojanto and Deputy
\nChairman Munir, said.<\/p>\n
Copies of the letter were sent to Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical Affairs and Security Feisal Tanjung, Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto, Chairman of the National Commission on
\nHuman Rights Munawir Sjadzali, Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen.
\nHamami Nata, and families of the missing people.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, Iwan Satriawan, a lawyer for the Students
\nAdvocacy Team, told Bambang Soeharto, Djoko Sugianto, and
\nSyamsuddin from the National Commission on Human Rights that six
\npeople were still missing. They are a student and five street
\nsingers involved in last Friday's rally at UGM which resulted in
\na clash with security personnel.<\/p>\n
He said seven students reported missing on Monday have
\nreturned, but Alfan D. from Sunan Kalijaga Islamic Institute and
\nfive street singers were still unaccounted for.<\/p>\n
The students and their lawyers were accompanied yesterday by
\nGadjah Mada Rector Ichlasul Amal and the father of one of the
\nmissing street singers.<\/p>\n
The human rights commission will meet Yogyakarta Police Chief
\nCol. Bani Siswoyo today to establish the police version of
\nevents.<\/p>\n
Prohibit<\/p>\n
Despite last weeks violence, Ichlasul Amal said yesterday he
\nwould not prohibit students from staging demonstrations on the
\ncampus grounds.<\/p>\n
"I can't forbid them because they are just voicing concern
\nabout what they witness in society," he said.<\/p>\n
Ichlasul also called on security officers not to "cross the
\npsychological boundary line and enter the campus," as it might
\nprovoke the demonstrators.<\/p>\n
However, Ichlasul said students should control their emotions
\nand not be provoked into violence.<\/p>\n
The most violent student demonstrations have taken place at
\nthe University of Lampung in Bandarlampung and in Yogyakarta.
\nAntara, quoting Iberahim Bastari, a lawyer from Bandar Lampung
\nLegal Aid Institute, said the National Commission on Human Rights
\nwould send Albert Hasibuan and Soegiri to investigate the March
\n19 incident in which dozens of students and at least five police
\nofficers were injured.<\/p>\n
More violence was reported at student rallies in Surabaya, the
\ncapital of East Java, yesterday. At least 18 students were
\ninjured in two separate clashes between students and security
\nofficers.<\/p>\n
The first incident took place at Dr. Sutomo University when
\n200 protesting students tried to march off the campus and onto
\nthe street. A scuffle with security personnel broke out. One
\nstudent was injured and a police officer suffered a bruised arm.<\/p>\n
In reaction to the first incident, 2,000 students from 13
\nuniversities gathered at Airlangga University and began throwing
\nstones at riot police guarding the compound.<\/p>\n
A scuffle broke out when police fired tear-gas to disperse the
\nangry crowd as they tried to march off the campus. The melee
\ncalmed down after Rector Paruhito appeared and soothed the
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, two separate demonstrations were also staged by
\nstudents in Semarang, Central Java, at Soegiyopranoto Catholic
\nUniversity and PGRI Teachers Training Institute.<\/p>\n
Both protests called for the government to lower the price of
\nbasic essentials and carry out sweeping economic and political
\nreforms. (23\/44\/nur\/har\/aan)<\/p>",
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