It's the wrong Herman: Consul-general<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian consul-general in the southern
\nPhilippines' city of Davao, Asmadi Arbi, has dismissed an earlier
\nclaim by the Armed Forces (ABRI) that Herman Hendrawan, one the
\nmissing activists, has been found and was sheltering in his
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Asmadi said the man who appeared at his door and claimed to be
\nHerman Hendrawan insisted that he was not the Herman Hendrawan
\nnow being sought by rights activists and the military alike.
\nAsmadi said he was convinced of this after he received a
\nphotograph of the missing activist from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"They're different. Stories can be made up and incidents can
\nbe engineered, but I'm sure he's not the missing Herman
\nHendrawan, I can guarantee you that,\" Asmadi told The Jakarta
\nPost by phone.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old Herman in Davao claimed he was a student at
\nthe private Siliwangi University in Tasikmalaya, West Java,
\nbefore he moved to Parahiyangan University in Bandung.<\/p>\n
The missing Herman Hendrawan was a student at Surabaya's
\nAirlangga University, Munir, the head of the Commission for
\nMissing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said.<\/p>\n
ABRI spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif, who announced the
\n\"reappearance\" of Herman on Friday, was not available for comment
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Asmadi said the Herman in Davao also objected strongly to
\n\"exaggerated media reports\" on the \"coincidence.\"<\/p>\n
\"He doesn't want to be bothered. He told me that he is just an
\nordinary person, not someone important,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asmadi regretted that the report about the \"Davao Herman\"
\nwhich he sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and copied to
\nthe Armed Forces was released to the press. The report detailed
\nthe Davao Herman Hendrawan's story and requested help to confirm
\nhis identity, Asmadi said.<\/p>\n
The Herman in Davao reportedly told Asmadi that his family in
\nTasikmalaya knew of his whereabouts and understood the purpose of
\nhis overseas travel.<\/p>\n
\"He told me that he wanted to wander around after what he had
\ngone through,\" Asmadi said.<\/p>\n
The Davao Herman claims that he was kidnapped in Jakarta in
\nMarch. He said his experience had been similar to that reported
\nby activists who have gone public with their kidnap ordeals, but
\nadded that he was released immediately after being interrogated,
\nAsmadi said.<\/p>\n
The Herman in Davao also admitted that he knew the missing
\nHerman Hendrawan and Pius Lustrilanang, another kidnapping victim
\nwho has reappeared.<\/p>\n
Asmadi concluded that he was not the Herman Hendrawan who
\nKontras are looking for but did have the same name.<\/p>\n
\"They happen to have the same name, just as there are many
\npeople with the name Soeharto,\" Asmadi said. (emf\/edt\/imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/its-the-wrong-herman-consul-general-1447893297",
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