Tanjung denies role in kidnapping of activists<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret.) Feisal Tanjung has denied any
\ninvolvement in a spate of abductions and torture of political
\nactivists, which occurred when he was the Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nchief and were allegedly committed by members of the military.<\/p>\n
Feisal, currently coordinating minister of political affairs
\nand security, told reporters after attending a plenary session at
\nthe House of Representatives that he first learned about the
\nkidnappings only after he became a coordinating minister.<\/p>\n
But Feisal, who was ABRI chief for the period 1993\/1998, did
\nnot clarify whether he meant his appointment to the position
\nduring former president Soeharto's short-lived seventh
\npresidential term or his retention of the post under President
\nB.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
Feisal said that in his current capacity he had asked Minister
\nof Defense\/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto to take action to
\nsolve the case.<\/p>\n
\"I told him this should be handled immediately, because he is
\nthe one with the authority now,\" Feisal was quoted by Suara
\nPembaruan afternoon daily as saying.<\/p>\n
The kidnappings could occur without knowledge of ABRI's top
\nbrass because the military unit under investigation was \"a
\nspecial unit that not everybody can enter\".<\/p>\n
\"Kopassus (the Army's special force) is indeed under the
\ncoordination of the ABRI chief, but there are areas that cannot
\nbe entered,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Wiranto reiterated that ABRI headquarters had
\nnever given Kopassus special instructions to kidnap political
\nactivists.<\/p>\n
\"All orders came directly from my subordinate,\" Wiranto said
\nas quoted by the former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves
\nCommand (Kostrad), Lt. Gen. (ret) Achmad Kemal Idris.<\/p>\n
Kemal was apparently referring to former Kopassus chief Lt.
\nGen. Prabowo Subianto.<\/p>\n
Kemal, together with former Armed Forces chief of
\nsociopolitical affairs Lt. Gen. Harsudiyono Hartas and former
\nJakarta governor Lt. Gen. (ret.) Ali Sadikin, met with Wiranto at
\nthe Armed Forces headquarters on Jl. Merdeka Barat in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Kemal said he urged Wiranto to set aside political aspects of
\nthe investigation into the abduction, and concentrate on its
\nlegalities.<\/p>\n
\"If Prabowo is guilty, he must be punished,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Questioning of the 11 suspects in the kidnapping is expected
\nto be finished and dossiers completed today. Wiranto is also
\nexpected to announce the establishment of the military honorary
\ncouncil to try the suspects.<\/p>\n
Though there has been no confirmation from ABRI, it is widely
\nspeculated that the council will be chaired by Army chief Gen.
\nSubagyo Hadisiswoyo.<\/p>\n
Members of the council will include secretary-general of the
\ndefense ministry Lt. Gen. Soeyono, Armed Forces chief of General
\nAffairs Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razy, Armed Forces chief of
\nSociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
\nGovernor of the National Resilience Institute Lt. Gen. Agum
\nGumelar, ABRI headquarters senior staff Lt. Gen. Arie J. Kumaat
\nand chief of the National Military Police corps Maj. Gen. Syamsu
\nDjalal.<\/p>\n
Officers to testify before the honorary council reportedly
\ninclude Prabowo, chief of ABRI's Intelligence Agency Maj. Gen.
\nZacky Anwar Makarim, former Kopassus chief Maj. Gen. Muchdi
\nPurwopranjono, former Jakarta military commander Maj. Gen.
\nSjafrie Sjamsoeddin, former Kostrad chief of staff Maj. Gen.
\nKivlan Zen and Jakarta military command chief of staff. Brig.
\nGen. Sudi Silalahi. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tanjung-denies-role-in-kidnapping-of-activists-1447893297",
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