House supports probe into disappearances<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives urged the state
\nsecurity apparatus yesterday to \"seriously investigate\" the
\nabduction of student and political activists.<\/p>\n
The legislative body also said the investigators should be
\nunpartisan in their inquiry.<\/p>\n
\"The security apparatus should seriously investigate the
\nabductions of the student and political activists,\" House Speaker
\nHarmoko said while addressing the plenary opening session of the
\nHouse commissions' hearings.<\/p>\n
\"Such seriousness can be expected to restore the confidence of
\nthe people and the countries involved in helping Indonesia settle
\nits economic crisis,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He asked the security apparatus to conduct a thorough
\ninvestigation into the case.<\/p>\n
\"Equal legal treatment against any legal violation is
\nimportant because Indonesia is a state based on law,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces (ABRI) headquarters has set up a team to
\ninvestigate the cases of the missing persons and determine
\nwhether any members of the military were involved in the
\ndisappearances.<\/p>\n
The team includes the chief of the military police, the
\nassistant for security and social order and the Armed Forces
\nassistant for intelligence.<\/p>\n
ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto has repeatedly insisted that there
\nhas never been any instruction or policy in the Armed Forces to
\nabduct people.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the Armed Forces' team of investigators, Harmoko
\nsuggested that they not work alone but cooperate with other
\ninstitutions and the public.<\/p>\n
\"If anybody or any institution, including the House and the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights, have information on the
\nabduction of the activists, they should report it to the team,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The rights commission said Thursday that the abductions were
\ncarried out by an organized group and acknowledged that there was
\na growing opinion among the public that there was a possibility
\nthe state security apparatus was involved.<\/p>\n
Nine of the 14 people who were reported missing have
\nresurfaced in the last three 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
A lawyer representing Pius, Hendardi, said yesterday that the
\nteam of investigators should immediately begin their duties as
\nthere is enough evidence to carry out an investigation into the
\ncase.<\/p>\n
\"Several of the abducted activists have testified before the
\nrights commission and the Legal Aid Institute,\" he said, \"The
\ninvestigation should start immediately.\"<\/p>\n
He said that the security apparatus should not be concerned
\nabout Pius' overseas travel as it was within his rights to go
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
\"Pius has not been accused of any criminal charges,\" Hendardi
\nsaid, \"He is free to visit any places he wants to go.\"<\/p>\n
\"His overseas travel should not be used to switch the issue of
\nabducted activists into a case of Pius' nationalism,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Pius flew to the Netherlands last week, citing that his
\nabductors had threatened to kill him if he spoke out about his
\nabduction. (imn)<\/p>",
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