ABRI may set up honorary council over abductions

JAKARTA (JP): Amid growing pressure for transparency in the investigation into the abductions of political activists, the Armed Forces (ABRI) confirmed yesterday it is considering establishing an honorary council to try all parties charged with the kidnappings.

Also yesterday, the ABRI fact-finding team confirmed that at least 10 members of the Army's special force (Kopassus) were involved in the abductions.

"The plan to establish the military honorary council is now being discussed at the Armed Forces Headquarters by the General Staff," ABRI spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif told reporters at his office yesterday.

The decision to establish the council would eventually be made by Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto. He is expected to announce the results of the discussions soon.

"Just wait for the results. I'll tell you about them," Wiranto said yesterday.

Several names have been mentioned as possible members of the council, should one be established. These include ABRI chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi, ABRI chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar.

Regarding the investigation into the abductions and torture of political activists, Syamsul said the suspects would soon be brought before a military tribunal.

"The dossiers are currently being completed," he said.

The head of the fact-finding team, Maj. Gen. Syamsu Djalal, confirmed yesterday that three more Kopassus members had been added to the list of suspects.

"Yes, 10 Kopassus members are suspects in the case of the missing activists," Syamsu, also chief of the National Military Police Corps, told reporters.

He, however, refused to mention their names or their ranks, citing the principle of presumption of innocence.

Earlier last week, Syamsu confirmed that five Kopassus members had been detained and two others were under intensive interrogation for their alleged involvement in the kidnappings.

Antara has reported that the seven were a general, two colonels, a major, a captain and two privates.

Syamsul Ma'arif said Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, the former Kopassus commandant-general who is currently commander of the ABRI Staff and Command School, "has not yet been questioned."

Agum said Sunday the council could reveal the truth surrounding the abductions of the activists.

"I think the abductions of the activists must be thoroughly probed. And the honorary military council is expected to reveal whoever was involved in and behind the abductions of the activists," Agum, another former Kopassus chief, told reporters in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.

"Incomplete investigations into the abductions of activists could ruin the image of Kopassus as the government's elite force," he said.

He called on the public to trust Wiranto, saying the Armed Forces Headquarters would be consistent in investigating the case of the missing activists. He also warned against placing the blame on Kopassus as an institution.

"If the prosecution finds that Kopassus members were involved, people should not blame the institution, because those members would have been acting on their own," he said.

The independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), however, quickly dismissed the prospect that the planned honorary council would be able to reveal any involvement of high-ranking ABRI officers in the kidnappings.

"It is clear that (seeking) a solution through that procedure will not unveil the 'facts' surrounding the abductions," Kontras said in a statement, signed by its coordinator Munir, yesterday.

The statement charged that the council would only impose disciplinary measures on the alleged perpetrators rather than slapping severe punishments on them.

It cited how a similar council imposed only disciplinary measures on a number of senior officers in the aftermath of the Dili incident in East Timor in 1991 when security forces opened fire on protesters in a cemetery, killing dozens of people.

Kontras therefore urged that all of the suspects be court martialled, and demanded that the proceedings be held in public.

It also called on ABRI to take "effective steps" to free the 12 activists who are still missing.

Kontras activist Standarkiaa said that political activist Andi Arief -- a police suspect in the Tanah Tinggi bomb blast in Central Jakarta last January -- is scheduled to give his testimony over his abduction at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation office in Central Jakarta today. Andi was released from Jakarta Police detention last week.

Syamsu confirmed that Andi would testify at his office on Thursday. (imn/byg/30)