Defense asks military court to drop abduction charges

JAKARTA (JP): Defense lawyers called on the military court on Tuesday to drop all charges against 11 Army's Special Force (Kopassus) soldiers, accused of abducting political activists in the last months of the Soeharto regime, claiming the kidnappings were carried out to safeguard national interests.

"The setting up of the Rose Team (within Kopassus) and its duties were not for personal interests nor the unit's, but solely for the interest of the country and the nation," Col. Rettob Abdullah, who heads the defense team, told the Jakarta Military Court in Klender, East Jakarta.

The alleged Rose Team leader, Maj. Bambang Kristiono, said in a previous court session that he had set up the team in July 1997 to arrest "radical groups" suspected of plotting to sabotage the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly in March last year.

Bambang and the other defendants -- seven captains and three sergeants -- admitted to involvement in the abductions of Pius Lustrilanang, Desmon J. Mahesa, Haryanto Taslam, Feisol Reza, Raharjo Waluyo Djati, Aan Rusdianto, Nezar Patria, Mugianto and Andi Arief.

The nine were among 23 activists abducted by unidentified men beginning April 1997. They resurfaced after weeks of absence and spoke of abduction and torture. Another was found dead and 13 others are still listed as missing.

Bambang said he reported the information gathered from the activists to his superior, then Group Commander Col. Chairawan of Kopassus. At the time, the force was headed by Soeharto's son-in- law Prabowo Subianto.

Chief military prosecutor Col. Harom Wijaya demanded last week jail sentences of between 15 months and 26 months for the defendants.

Harom also demanded the court discharge Bambang and the seven captains from the Armed Forces (ABRI).

He said the defendants were charged with "depriving people of freedom" under Article 333 of the Criminal Code.

The trial, in which a verdict has yet to be reached, is scheduled to resume on March 23 to hear the prosecutors' plea.

Human rights activists say the trial of the 11 Kopassus soldiers is a "farce", claiming it only aims to protect top military officers and former president Soeharto.

Military prosecutors said the defendants acted on their own initiative and the charges only relate to the nine activists who have reappeared.

Activists have also questioned why the charges do not mention the torture that the victims claim they were subjected to.

ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto honorarily discharged Prabowo from the military and released two other senior Kopassus officers, Maj. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono and Chairawan, from active duty in August for their alleged involvement in the abductions.

Rights activists have been demanding that Prabowo, last reported to be in Jordan, be put on trial as he had admitted before the Officer's Honor Council in August that he was involved in the abductions. (byg)