Mystery remains over string of activist disappearances<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): \"I am in danger\" were reportedly the last words
\nuttered by Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) politician Haryanto
\nTaslam before disappearing a month ago.<\/p>\n
Mangara Siahaan, a PDI deputy chief loyal to ousted leader
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, claimed he had a brief conversation with
\nHaryanto on the afternoon of March 9.<\/p>\n
Members of the PDI executive board under Megawati, speaking to
\nthe media Friday, did not dismiss the possibility of personal
\nreasons behind the disappearances of their colleagues, but
\nimplied political factors were more likely.<\/p>\n
\"We believe that his disappearance is related to his political
\nactivities, although we do not rule out other possibilities,\"
\nsaid Alexander Litaay, PDI secretary-general under Megawati.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot say who is responsible for Haryanto's
\ndisappearance, but believe that ABRI (the Armed Forces) can help
\nfind them (Haryanto and others missing),\" he added.<\/p>\n
On March 7, Haryanto checked into a three-star hotel in East
\nJakarta for personal reasons. The next day he returned to his
\nhouse in Jakarta to pick up his car and then returned to the
\nhotel.<\/p>\n
\"He had to stay in the hotel because he wanted to meet with
\nsomeone,\" Litaay said without elaborating.<\/p>\n
According to Alex, Haryanto's last contact with his friends
\nwas on the afternoon of March 9.<\/p>\n
Haryanto, 44, has not been seen or heard from since.<\/p>\n
The mystery over his whereabouts has been fueled by a string
\nof unsolved disappearances of vocal non-government critics and
\nactivists.<\/p>\n
The Foundation of the Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) lists 11
\nmissing.<\/p>\n
They include Pius Lustrilanang, 29, the secretary of Siaga --
\nan association which supports government critics, including
\nMegawati and Amien Rais. His friends say he has been missing
\nsince Feb. 3, one day after being visited by military
\nintelligence officers.<\/p>\n
Others who have allegedly disappeared include Andi Arief,
\nFeisal Rezha, Rahardjo Waluyo Djati and Nezar Patri, all from
\nGadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Andi, chairman of Indonesian Student Solidarity for Democracy
\n(SMID), a group affiliated with the banned People's Democratic
\nParty, was reportedly abducted from his brother's house in
\nLampung last month.<\/p>\n
Litaay said Megawati, who was ousted as PDI chief by Soerjadi
\nat a government-backed congress in 1996, would give her full
\nsupport to families of the missing people.<\/p>\n
Litaay urged the government and the Armed Forces to do their
\nfullest in locating the missing people.<\/p>\n
He said Megawati herself along with family members of the
\nmissing would officially file missing persons reports with the
\npolice on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Last week, Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. A. Wahab
\nMokodongan categorically denied allegations that the military was
\nbehind the disappearance of the activists. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mystery-remains-over-string-of-activist-disappearances-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}