Missing activists' kin fail to identify remains<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Relatives of five missing political activists
\nflocked to the morgue of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital
\nyesterday, but left convinced none of the three decomposed bodies
\nfound in the Thousands Islands recently were their loved ones.<\/p>\n
\"I was sure from the beginning that none of the remains were
\nmy son's,\" said Mrs. Siahaan, mother of missing activist Ucok
\nMunandar Siahaan, after examining the male remains in the Central
\nJakarta hospital's autopsy room.<\/p>\n
Forensic expert Herkutanto, who heads the team examining the
\nremains, had warned the group to refrain from touching the
\nbodies, clothes or personal items laid next to them.<\/p>\n
But Mrs. Siahaan laid her hands gently on the clothing.<\/p>\n
\"I touched them but I did not feel any sensation between me
\nand the clothes. I knew they must not be him,\" she told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Similar doubts were expressed by relatives of Noval Alkatiri,
\nYidin Muhidin, Herman Hendrawan and Hendra Hambalie.<\/p>\n
Nurhasanah smiled broadly and insisted her son Yidin was not
\namong the corpses.<\/p>\n
\"He never had underwear and a T-shirt like that,\" she said,
\npointing to the torn clothes on display near the remains.<\/p>\n
Epo, Herman's brother, said one of the bodies almost matched
\nhis brother's physical type.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, he was convinced it was not Herman, who was
\nmistakenly sighted in the Philippines last week.<\/p>\n
Feeling<\/p>\n
\"I have this feeling that it's not him,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Erie Alkatiri said none of the corpses' teeth matched those of
\nher brother Noval.<\/p>\n
\"He has small and discolored teeth. He liked to smoke. But his
\nteeth were even.\"<\/p>\n
The families said they lived in emotional limbo since the
\ndisappearances.<\/p>\n
\"I always follow every news item on the finding of human
\nremains,\" Mrs. Siahaan said.<\/p>\n
\"But so far, I have been sure none of them was my son's.\"<\/p>\n
The remains were exhumed Tuesday from a makeshift grave in the
\nisland group off the Jakarta Bay.<\/p>\n
Pieces of clothes wrapped parts of the remains, reportedly
\ndiscovered by locals on May 17. The tattered garments included
\npants, underwear and T-shirts.<\/p>\n
Also found in the grave were two wallets, one of them
\ncontaining a name card, three wristwatches, a small harmonica and
\ntoys.<\/p>\n
The five activists are among at least 12 male political
\nactivists reported missing since April last year.<\/p>\n
Nine others have already resurfaced, and related harrowing
\ntales of their abduction and torture by members of the military.<\/p>\n
Ucok, Yidin and Hendra were reported missing on May 14, when
\nmassive rioting blanketed the capital.<\/p>\n
Forensic expert Budi Sampurna, a senior member of the team,
\nsaid the blood types of the bodies would be revealed next week.<\/p>\n
Families of the missing activists had submitted photos, vital
\nstatistics and distinguishing marks.<\/p>\n
\"But we still need the information of their dental order, if
\navailable,\" he said. (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/missing-activists-kin-fail-to-identify-remains-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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