At least 11 activists still missing: Reports
JAKARTA (JP): Ten out of at least 21 people reported missing have returned, but the whereabouts of the rest are still unknown, reports said yesterday.
Those accounted for were eight students who went missing following a clash between protesters and security personnel in Yogyakarta last week, another student and a lawyer from Jakarta.
The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) said that among those still missing were Herman Hendrawan, 27, a student at Airlangga University in Surabaya; Andi Arief, 27, a student at the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta and an activist in the outlawed People's Democratic Party (PRD); and Haryanto Taslam, a loyal supporter of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
Also unaccounted for are Faisol Rezha, 24, and Rahardjo Waluyo Djati, 28, both of UGM.
Herman, Faisol, and Rahardjo have been missing since March 12, when they were known to be in Jakarta, and Andi was allegedly abducted from his home in Bandarlampung on March 28, YLBHI said in a letter sent to National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo yesterday.
Haryanto Taslam disappeared on March 2, it also said.
"Pius Lustrilanang and Desmond J. Mahesa were missing for two months, but returned to their respective homes last Friday", the letter, signed by YLBHI Chairman Bambang Widjojanto and Deputy Chairman Munir, said.
Copies of the letter were sent to Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Feisal Tanjung, Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto, Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights Munawir Sjadzali, Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata, and families of the missing people.
In Yogyakarta, Iwan Satriawan, a lawyer for the Students Advocacy Team, told Bambang Soeharto, Djoko Sugianto, and Syamsuddin from the National Commission on Human Rights that six people were still missing. They are a student and five street singers involved in last Friday's rally at UGM which resulted in a clash with security personnel.
He said seven students reported missing on Monday have returned, but Alfan D. from Sunan Kalijaga Islamic Institute and five street singers were still unaccounted for.
The students and their lawyers were accompanied yesterday by Gadjah Mada Rector Ichlasul Amal and the father of one of the missing street singers.
The human rights commission will meet Yogyakarta Police Chief Col. Bani Siswoyo today to establish the police version of events.
Prohibit
Despite last weeks violence, Ichlasul Amal said yesterday he would not prohibit students from staging demonstrations on the campus grounds.
"I can't forbid them because they are just voicing concern about what they witness in society," he said.
Ichlasul also called on security officers not to "cross the psychological boundary line and enter the campus," as it might provoke the demonstrators.
However, Ichlasul said students should control their emotions and not be provoked into violence.
The most violent student demonstrations have taken place at the University of Lampung in Bandarlampung and in Yogyakarta. Antara, quoting Iberahim Bastari, a lawyer from Bandar Lampung Legal Aid Institute, said the National Commission on Human Rights would send Albert Hasibuan and Soegiri to investigate the March 19 incident in which dozens of students and at least five police officers were injured.
More violence was reported at student rallies in Surabaya, the capital of East Java, yesterday. At least 18 students were injured in two separate clashes between students and security officers.
The first incident took place at Dr. Sutomo University when 200 protesting students tried to march off the campus and onto the street. A scuffle with security personnel broke out. One student was injured and a police officer suffered a bruised arm.
In reaction to the first incident, 2,000 students from 13 universities gathered at Airlangga University and began throwing stones at riot police guarding the compound.
A scuffle broke out when police fired tear-gas to disperse the angry crowd as they tried to march off the campus. The melee calmed down after Rector Paruhito appeared and soothed the students.
Yesterday, two separate demonstrations were also staged by students in Semarang, Central Java, at Soegiyopranoto Catholic University and PGRI Teachers Training Institute.
Both protests called for the government to lower the price of basic essentials and carry out sweeping economic and political reforms. (23/44/nur/har/aan)