ABRI team, rights body compare their findings

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)