At least 11 activists still missing: Reports
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)
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)