Council's probe result to be announced soon

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto confirmed yesterday he would announce the result of the Officers Honor Council investigation into the abductions of political activists next week.

"I have not received the council's recommendation of its investigation into the abductions of activists. The council members are still summarizing the result now," he told reporters after a monthly limited cabinet meeting on political and security affairs.

"You'll just have to wait for it. I'll announce the result of the investigation next week," he said.

Secretary to the coordinating minister for political affairs and security, R. Karyono, told reporters separately that the announcement would be made by Wiranto at the Armed Forces headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Monday.

The seven-member council, which met yesterday to formulate its recommendation, would provide the ABRI commander with suggested lines of action that could be taken against three Kopassus officers allegedly involved in the abductions.

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, the former Kopassus chief for intelligence operations.

Council chairman Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo said earlier this month the council would recommend that Prabowo be court- martialled, rather than just face an administrative punishment.

Prabowo is the son-in-law of Soeharto. The latter was forced to resign the presidency in May after months of strong public pressure.

Apart from the council's investigation, 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 operations to safeguard the People's Consultative Assembly meeting in March, which saw the reelection of Soeharto for a seventh presidential term. (imn)