Activists abducted by organized group

Activists abducted by organized group

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights said
yesterday that student and political activists who went missing
recently were abducted by a well-organized group.

"They did not disappear voluntarily," the commission said in a
statement commenting on a string of disappearances of people
known to be very critical of the government.

Nine of the 14 people who were reported missing have
resurfaced in the last two weeks. Only one, Pius Lustrilanang,
has gone public with an account of his experiences, including
torture, at the hands of an unknown group.

Pius flew to the Netherlands on Monday, saying that his
abductors had threatened to kill him if he spoke out about what
had happened.

The other eight activists who have returned home all refused
to speak publicly, although one or two are believed to have
spoken to the commission on the condition that details were not
disclosed to the public.

The five activists still reported as missing are Sonny, Yani
Avri, Suyat, Herman Hendrawan and Bimo Petrus.

"These forced disappearances are a terrible abuse of human
rights," the commission said, invoking the Criminal Code, the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the
Declaration for People against Forced Disappearance.

"Given that the victims were taken beyond the reach of legal
protection, the actions amounted to a violation of human values.

"They caused suffering on the part of the victims and their
families, spread fear among society and tarnished the image of
the nation.

"In principle, a forced disappearance is a violation of civil
rights and freedom, and a comprehensive and total denial of the
norms and order of civilized politics."

The commission "condemns these forced disappearances," it
added.

The commission held a meeting at its office to discuss the
issue yesterday, after which the statement was read out by deputy
chairman Marzuki Darusman. He was accompanied by commission
members Miriam Budiardjo, Albert Hasibuan, B.N. Marbun,
Clementino dos Reis Amaral, Djoko Soegianto and Soegiri.

"Based on the accounts of those who have returned, we can
conclude that the abductions were carried out by a well
organized" group, it said.

"There is now a growing perception among the public that there
is a possibility that the state security apparatus was involved."

The commission questioned the attitude of the Armed Forces
(ABRI), and particularly that of the National Police, saying that
they had "failed to instill confidence in the public that they
intended to fulfill their political and legal responsibilities,
or convey the gravity of the problem and take the actions
necessary to calm public fears."

The statement noted that ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto, who is
also Minister of Defense and Security, had clarified that there
was never any order to abduct people issued by the military, and
that ABRI would strive to find those who were still missing.

The commission said: "His statement should be backed by a
guarantee for the safety of those who have returned and spoken
out about their experience."

The commission issued a series of recommendations which
included:

* Calling on ABRI and the government to immediately take
coordinated and firm actions to investigate the disappearances.
Those responsible should be prosecuted.

* Proposing the establishment of a national commission of
investigation.

* Calling on the government to rehabilitate and compensate the
victims of abductions to restore their integrity.

* Calling on the government and the House of Representatives
to quickly ratify the convention against torture and other cruel,
inhuman and degrading acts.

* Calling on members of the public who possess information
about the disappearances to voluntarily come forward. The human
rights commission will treat them in confidentiality if
necessary.

Earlier, one of the abducted activists, Haryanto Taslam,
visited the commission's office, but refused to disclose details
of his ordeal.

The deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) under Megawati Soekarnoputri's leadership maintained
that his silence was out of concern for the others still listing
as missing.

Haryanto disappeared in Jakarta on March 9 and reappeared on
April 19 in Surabaya, his home town.

He was only willing to state yesterday that his disappearance
had to do with political activities undertaken in his capacity as
PDI deputy secretary-general.

"I have a moral obligation to those who were abducted and
whose whereabouts are still unclear," Haryanto said.

"I think members of the commission are intelligent enough to
interpret my response of 'no comment'," he added.

"It is true that I cannot give a lengthy explanation, although
I know that you want to hear an honest and clear account."

Haryanto said he believed that extensive media coverage of the
abductions would help to enlighten the public about what really
happened.

The disappearances were also discussed at the monthly meeting
of cabinet ministers under the charge of Coordinating Minister
for Political and Security Affairs Gen. Feisal Tanjung.

Chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Body Lt. Gen.
(ret.) Moetojib, who took part in the meeting, said the
government was considering establishing a fact-finding team to
verify accounts given by the returnees.

"All parties, including the government, should get a clear
insight into the veracity of the cases before drawing any
conclusions and deciding on further action," he told reporters
after the meeting.

Moetojib said Pius' account given to the commission Monday was
only one of many reports which needed further investigation and
clarification.

"Pius' account is only one side of the story," he said.
(byg/imn)