ABRI team, rights body compare their findings

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) fact-finding team investigating the abduction of activists met with the National Commission on Human Rights yesterday to compare notes and ask how it concluded that those missing were "forcibly abducted".

Led by Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Syamsu D., the team met for more than two hours with 10 commission members.

"It's been an order from the Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander (Gen. Wiranto) for us to clarify the issue," Syamsu told journalists after the meeting.

Syamsu was accompanied yesterday by Rear Adm. Berty Ekel, who is assistant for intelligence affairs for the Armed Forces Chief of General Affairs; Maj. Gen. Andi Muh. Ghalib, head of the Armed Forces Personnel Supervision Department; and Maj. Gen. Marwan Paris who is a staff member of the Armed Forces commander.

Syamsu reiterated again yesterday that it has never been a policy of the Armed Forces to kidnap political activists, nor had there been any order from the Armed Forces chief to do so.

"He's even very concerned about the matter ... concerned from the very bottom of his heart," he said. "Let us, as religious people, not make bad assumptions about others, it's a sin. Let's uphold the principle of presumption of innocence."

Syamsu said the team would conclude its investigation "only after it had enough data" to do so.

"It is ABRI's responsibility to clear up this matter as soon as possible," he said, adding that the team's findings would be submitted to Wiranto who would later make a decision on the matter.

Asked when a decision could be expected, Syamsu said "relatively soon".

He urged those who had information concerning the missing people to submit a report to the team's command post on Jl. Merdeka Timur 17, Central Jakarta.

"They can meet me any time, I will be ready," Syamsu said before leaving the commission's office.

The commission's deputy chairman, Marzuki Darusman, later said the commission had got the "strong impression" from the meeting that the Armed Forces was truly interested in unearthing the true facts behind the incidents.

"In this case, we fully support the efforts of the Armed Forces."

Marzuki also urged the public to inform the Armed Forces about missing people cases if they possessed relevant information.

The commission recently issued a statement pointing to a "well-organized group" as being behind the activists' abductions. (aan)