Kontras to report missing persons cases to UN body<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The independent Commission for Missing Persons
\nand Victims of Violence (Kontras) will report the recent spate of
\nkidnappings of political activists to the Geneva-based United
\nNation (UN) Rights Commission in September.<\/p>\n
Kontras' coordinator Munir said here yesterday that Kontras
\nhad been invited by the UN rights commission to confirm reports
\nof missing persons and the military's alleged use of violence.<\/p>\n
\"Kontras is scheduled to attend five meetings between
\nSeptember and November in which we will report openly the latest
\ndevelopments in these cases,\" Munir told journalists at the
\nIndonesian Legal Aid Office in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Munir said Kontras would attend meetings of the Working Group
\non Arbitrary Detention, the Committee Against Torture, and the
\nhuman rights subcommission.<\/p>\n
He also reiterated yesterday that the Armed Forces should
\nimmediately follow up on its recent admission that several of its
\nmembers were involved in the kidnappings by disclosing who
\nmasterminded these flagrant violations of human rights.<\/p>\n
\"If the investigators procrastinate or there are delays in
\nrevealing the results, the international community will come to
\ndoubt the Armed Forces commitment to solving the cases
\nsatisfactorily,\" Munir said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense and Security Affairs\/Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto confirmed last week that some members of
\nthe military were involved in the abduction of political
\nactivists.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces Spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif said on
\nThursday that the National Military Police had questioned 40
\nmembers of the Armed Forces for their alleged involvement in the
\nabductions.<\/p>\n
Human rights groups believe that the Armed Forces knows who
\nwas behind the abductions, why this person arranged for them to
\ntake place, and where the captives were held.<\/p>\n
\"If by next week there has been no further progress in the
\ninvestigation then we will take further steps,\" Munir warned
\nwithout elaborating. (byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kontras-to-report-missing-persons-cases-to-un-body-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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