Council ends probe on abductions

JAKARTA (JP): The Officers Honor Council completed its investigation yesterday of three senior officers suspected of involvement in the abductions of political activists by the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) early this year.

Council secretary Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago told reporters after the meeting at Army headquarters that results would be announced in the next two days.

The seven-man council, led by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, questioned the three officers again yesterday.

The three are Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto (Kopassus commandant- general from 1996 to 1998), Maj. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono, who succeeded Prabowo in March but was abruptly replaced in May, and Col. Chairawan, former Kopassus chief for intelligence operations.

Prabowo and Muchdi left the Army headquarters at 11:30 a.m., while Chairawan remained at the military compound as he has been transferred to administrative duties at the Army's General Staff Department since the investigation started on Aug. 4.

Djamari said the council would report to Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto on the result of the investigation. Wiranto would make the decision on the proper course of action.

Asked about the council's recommendation, Djamari said it could suggest both administrative and court-martials, or either of the punishments.

Gen. Subagyo said Friday the council would recommend that Prabowo be court-martialled, instead of just receiving administrative punishment.

Prabowo is the son-in-law of Soeharto, who was forced to resign from the presidency in May under strong public pressure.

The military has already announced its plan to court-martial 10 lower-ranking Kopassus personnel for their alleged roles in the abductions.

The kidnappings are believed to have been part of Kopassus' operation to safeguard the People's Consultative Assembly meeting in March, which saw the reelection of Soeharto for a seventh presidential term.

The other council members are ABRI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi, ABRI Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Governor of the National Resilience Institute Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar, Inspector-general of the Ministry of Defense and Security Lt. Gen. Jusuf Kartanegara and Armed Forces Academy Commandant-general Read Adm. Achmad Sutjipto. (imn)