Human rights welcome Wiranto's admission cautiously<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Human rights groups have welcomed cautiously
\nMinister of Defense and Security Affairs\/Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto's admission that some members of the
\nmilitary were involved in the abductions of political activists.<\/p>\n
The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence
\n(Kontras) and the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights
\nAssociation (PBHI) said in separate statements yesterday that it
\nwas a sign of ABRI's good will to investigate the case
\nthoroughly.<\/p>\n
The groups, however, warned that Wiranto's statement would
\nmean nothing if it were not followed up by a public disclosure on
\nthe mastermind behind the abductions.<\/p>\n
Kontras said that at least 14 political activists are still
\nmissing.<\/p>\n
Referring to Wiranto's statement, Kontras said it believed
\nthat ABRI has already identified the mastermind, the political
\nmotives and places which were used to imprison the activists.
\nThey, therefore, urged immediate action to save those still
\nmissing.<\/p>\n
In a statement signed by coordinator Munir and deputy chairman
\nDadang Trisasongko, Kontras said the revelation was important not
\nonly for the supremacy of law, but also for ABRI's reputation.<\/p>\n
"Amid an escalation of people's legal and political awareness,
\nit is about time that ABRI frankly and openly reveals (everything
\nbehind) the matter," Kontras added.<\/p>\n
Kontras also said that ABRI should brush aside their
\ninvolvement as a mere violation of procedures.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile PBHI said that Wiranto could not be absolved from
\nresponsibility just by saying that the abductions were
\nperpetrated by "individuals" within ABRI.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said that several personnel who were allegedly
\ninvolved in the kidnapping acted beyond their authority. Wiranto
\nhowever did not name the soldiers or disclose their rank or unit.<\/p>\n
Wiranto also said that ABRI's investigators have visited
\nplaces which were said to have been used to imprison the
\nactivists.<\/p>\n
"A statement that it was a violation of procedures should not
\nclose the investigation into the likely possibility that the
\nabductions were well-planned and based on a certain political
\nmotive," PBHI said in the statement signed by its executive
\ndirector Hendardi.<\/p>\n
National Military Police Chief Maj. Gen. Syamsu Djalal denied
\nyesterday Kontras' accusation that members of his force were
\ninvolved in the abduction of student activist Mugianto in March.<\/p>\n
Kontras last week said its own investigation pointed to the
\ninvolvement of the Duren Sawit military subdistrict, the East
\nJakarta military district, the Jakarta Military Command, the
\nJakarta Police, the National Police and members of the Military
\nPolice.<\/p>\n
Mugianto, along with Aan Rusdianto and Nezar Patria, were
\nabducted from their Klender apartment in East Jakarta on March 12
\nby unidentified men before being handed over to the Jakarta
\nPolice three days later.<\/p>\n
The three were released earlier this month. (byg)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/human-rights-welcome-wirantos-admission-cautiously-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }