Honorary council to probe Prabowo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former Army Special Force (Kopassus) commanders
\nLt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto and Maj. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono will
\nbe questioned by an Officers Honorary Council investigating the
\nalleged involvement of members of the unit in the abduction of
\npolitical activists.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces Commander Gen.
\nWiranto revealed that Col. Chairawan, commander of Kopassus Group
\nIV which deals with intelligence operations, will also be
\nsummoned before the council.<\/p>\n
Ten Kopassus soldiers ranking below colonel will soon face a
\nmilitary tribunal for their alleged involvement in the
\nabductions.<\/p>\n
Wiranto told a media briefing that the three high-ranking
\nofficers \"are suspected of violating the Officers' Code of
\nConduct,\" while the ten soldiers have been charged with direct
\ninvolvement in the kidnappings.<\/p>\n
Last month Prabowo said he was prepared to take responsibility
\nfor the abduction of political activists if there was proof that
\nhis troops were involved.<\/p>\n
Wiranto, who opened the briefing with a public apology for the
\nArmed Forces' (ABRI) failure to prevent the widespread rioting
\nand rapes here last May, did not rule out the possibility of
\nbringing the three officers before a tribunal if new evidence
\nemerged.<\/p>\n
Wiranto dismissed speculation that the council had been
\nestablished as a means by which to quash Prabowo, whom many have
\ndescribed as Wiranto's arch political rival.<\/p>\n
\"The process is free from any political motives. Do not make
\nany allegations or spread rumors that will prevent ABRI from
\ncarrying out its duty,\" he said. \"Differences of opinions inside
\nABRI are only natural but they will not break the forces or
\naffect ABRI's strong unity.\"<\/p>\n
He did not give any timetable for the interrogation or the
\ntrial.<\/p>\n
The seven member honorary council is led by Army Chief of
\nStaff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo. His deputy is ABRI Chief of
\nGeneral Affairs Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi.<\/p>\n
Other members of the council are Inspector-general of the
\nMinistry of Defense and Security Lt. Gen. Jusuf Kartanegara, ABRI
\nChief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono, Governor of the National Resilience Institute
\n(Lemhanas) Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar, Chief of the Army's Strategic
\nReserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago and
\nCommandant-general of the Armed Forces Academy Vice Adm. Achmad
\nSutjipto.<\/p>\n
Prabowo, former president Soeharto's son-in-law, commanded
\nKopassus for more than two years before he was appointed
\ncommander of Kostrad and replaced by Muchdi last March.<\/p>\n
Prabowo was removed from Kostrad one day after Soeharto
\nannounced his resignation on May 21 and appointed chief of the
\nArmed Forces Staff and Command School in Bandung.<\/p>\n
Muchdi was also removed from Kopassus last May. He was
\nreplaced by Maj. Gen. Syahrir M.S.<\/p>\n
Subagyo confirmed yesterday that the three officers have been
\nremoved from their current positions.<\/p>\n
Separately, Munir from the Commission for Missing Persons and
\nVictims of Violence (Kontras) said the three officers should be
\ncourt martialled immediately.<\/p>\n
The leader of the non-governmental organization which has been
\nactively searching for the missing activists told a media
\nconference: \"We believe that they knew and gave the order for the
\nabductions.\"<\/p>\n
He said the military authorities had failed to maintain the
\nprinciple of equality before the law.<\/p>\n
\"Wiranto told me during our meeting last week that the three
\nofficers cannot be brought before a court martial because they
\nare 'honorary citizens',\" he revealed.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Moslem leader Amien Rais urged Prabowo to tell the
\nhonorary council nothing but the truth.<\/p>\n
\"I hope that Prabowo will reveal all the facts (behind the
\nabductions). There should not even be one word omitted,\" Amien
\nsaid as quoted by Antara after addressing a gathering of the
\nInternational Executive Circle yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Prabowo must be held responsible for the kidnappings.
\nHowever, there are other people who must also shoulder the
\nblame,\" he said. He did not mention any names, but he agreed when
\nreporters cited former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
A similar military board was set up in 1992 to investigate the
\ninvolvement of high ranking officers in the shooting of civilians
\nin Dili, East Timor. None of the officers involved were court
\nmartialled but some were transferred or removed from their duties
\nafter the investigation. (imn\/byg)<\/p>",
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