A laudable step forward

News that five officers of the Army's special force (Kopassus) have been detained and that two other Kopassus members are under intensive investigation in connection with the abduction of political activists brings fresh hope to Indonesia's crisis- stricken community that the goal of building a peaceful, orderly society based on respect for the law is not too far-fetched after all.

Not that the disclosure of the involvement of Kopassus members comes as a surprise. The fact is that all the clues revealed so far through the accounts of released activists seemed to point to only one direction -- that of the Army's elite Kopassus.

Though the name Kopassus was never openly mentioned in the accounts and though the victims were never given a chance to see their abductors, the great efficiency in which the operations were carried out and the ease with which the victims were held captive or later moved elsewhere gave an indication that the kidnappings, or enforced disappearances, could only have been carried out by trained professionals backed by an efficient and powerful organization.

Only a very limited number of Armed Forces personnel are believed to have had the kind of training and possess the power and organization necessary to ensure the success of such special operations. Again, the best bet here would be those whose job requires those particular skills, the training and the mobility displayed by the abductors -- the special force.

In fact, a report published in The Washington Post and quoted by the wire service Agence France Presse some time ago mentioned not only Kopassus in connection with the disappearances, but the specific group within Kopassus whose members were said to be responsible. The report also said the American Defense Department was aware of the abductions even at the time they were taking place.

The important point is that it takes a good deal of moral courage as well as a strong commitment for ABRI to accept the blame for an offense so serious as the enforced disappearance of scores of political activists, some of whom remain missing to this day. In the past, a case such as this would most probably have remained an unresolved dark secret. Far from diminishing its prestige, therefore, ABRI's responsive handling of the case of the enforced disappearances has boosted its stature and imparts a greater sense of lawfulness and security among the population. For ordinary Indonesians it is encouraging to see that the present ABRI leadership appears sincere in upholding its stated determination to reestablish law and order in this country.

Nonetheless, it is important to remember that the job is far from finished. Although in official ABRI statements regarding the abductions, the blame has so far been placed on oknum (independent individuals) in an apparent attempt to contain the scope of the issue, it is clear that political motivations exist. To be satisfactory, therefore, a thorough solution of the case is imperative, including court disclosure of the brains behind the plot and the political objectives involved.

Of no less importance, those still missing must be found. Their fate must be revealed. The May 12 Trisakti shooting mystery in which four students lost their lives must be properly resolved and legal action must be taken accordingly. To complicate matters further, rightly or wrongly, the public suspects a link exists between the abduction of activists, the May 12 Trisakti shooting incident, the May 13 and May 14 riots and the rapes that have recently come to light. In other words, many people believe all the incidents are related and were masterminded by the same people for the same objectives.

It does not take extraordinary imagination to see that a solution that satisfies the public is imperative if peace and order are to be effectively restored. Considering what is at stake, no effort must be spared to bring all those outstanding issues to a satisfactory solution.