Returned activist vows to testify at YLBHI office<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Activist and lawyer Desmond J. Mahesa, who was
\nreleased after being abducted by an unknown group, is in Jakarta
\nand has vowed to reveal all today.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Nusantara Legal Aid Foundation, who turned
\nup April 3 after being missing for two months, said he would
\ndeliver his testimony at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation
\n(YLBHI) office here.<\/p>\n
\"I will tell the truth... For me, it's part of amar ma'ruf
\nnahi mungkar,\" he said, referring to the Koranic verse which
\nmeans one should pursue good and fight against evil.<\/p>\n
He was accompanied yesterday by, among others, lawyers from
\nthe Banjarmasin branch of the Indonesian Bar Association (Ikadin
\nBanjarmasin), YLBHI, and the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human
\nRights Association (PBHI).<\/p>\n
Desmond said he wished to testify because he felt his privacy
\n\"had been violated\" since he was sent back to his hometown of
\nBanjarmasin, South Kalimantan, last month by his abductors.<\/p>\n
He claimed that unidentified men continuously pestered his
\nfriends and family.<\/p>\n
\"My uncle was approached (by some men), I met my friends and
\n(their) mothers were approached, they never come directly to
\nme... but I felt insecure back in my hometown.<\/p>\n
\"So I have come here to clarify this matter... with the
\nsupport of my colleagues here,\" he said, referring to the legal
\naid organizations assisting him.<\/p>\n
One of his lawyer-friends, Dadang Trisuroso, added: \"Desmond's
\nbeing here (to testify) is part of his responsibility to the
\npublic who have so far given attention to his disappearance.\"<\/p>\n
Desmond's testimony today will become the second open
\ntestimony after another returned activist, Pius Lustrilanang,
\nwent public with his ordeal over a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n
Another returned activist, Haryanto Taslam of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) loyal to ousted PDI leader Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, has decided not to talk about his abduction.<\/p>\n
The three activists were among over a dozen activists who the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights says were \"forcibly abducted\"
\nby a well-organized group.<\/p>\n
The commission has also noted that there exists a public
\nperception that members of the Armed Forces may have been
\ninvolved.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces, however, has refuted the allegations and has
\nvowed to investigate the matter by forming a special team that
\nwould report directly to the Minister of Defense\/Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/returned-activist-vows-to-testify-at-ylbhi-office-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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