Djasri: Abductors' dossiers to be sent to tribunal

Djasri: Abductors' dossiers to be sent to tribunal

JAKARTA (JP): Dossiers of 11 members of the Army Special
Forces (Kopassus) suspected of abducting prodemocracy activists
will immediately be submitted to the tribunal, says Maj. Gen.
Djasri Marin, the new chief of the Armed Forces Military Police.

"Insya Allah (God willing), this week the dossiers will be
submitted to the tribunal," Djasri told reporters after he was
sworn in as chief of the Military Police, replacing Maj. Gen.
Syamsu Djalal here on Monday.

He promised to continue handling cases left by his
predecessor, including the abduction of prodemocracy activists.

Marzuki Darusman, deputy chairman of the National Commission
on Human Rights, said earlier that the trial of 11 Kopassus
members suspected of kidnapping the activists would open on Nov.
3.

Also on Monday, Syamsu denied the allegation of the
independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of
Violence (Kontras), that the 11 were still on the loose. Syamsu
said they were all in the custody of the Military Police.

"If he said the abductors were still at large, then Munir (the
coordinator of Kontras) might be one of the abductors. How could
the commission know if the suspects were still at large since the
(activists) and their abductors don't know each other," he said.

Maj. Gen. Syahrir MS, the chief of Kopassus, confirmed the
suspects had been handed over to the Military Police.

"My task is to hand them over and I have done it. Please, ask
the new Military Police chief whether the suspects are or are not
in custody," he said.

Kontras said recently that some of the activists have seen
their abductors on the streets and in other public places.

However, Djasri himself was quoted by Antara as admitting
there was an "arrest cancellation authority" that enabled the
suspects to evade detention.

Meanwhile, Army chief Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, who presided
over the swearing in ceremony on Monday, confirmed the
possibility that Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, former Kopassus
chief, could be brought to the High Military Court for his
involvement in the abduction case.

"I'm of the same opinion as the Armed Forces chief that there
is the possibility of Prabowo facing military court. But, I have
asked the Military Police not to sue him hastily before
collecting accurate and adequate evidence so that the trial will
not be disappointing," he said.

The Military Honor Council investigating the case said Prabowo
had admitted to ordering the suspects to abduct nine activists.

Syahrir also said Monday that the military would continue its
search for 14 other activists still missing.

Nine activists who have resurfaced and been reunited with
their families are Pius Lustrilanang, Desmon J. Mahesa, Rahardjo
Waluyo Djati, Faisol Riza, Nezar Patria, Mugianto, Aan Rusdianto,
Andi Arief and Haryanto Taslam.

Some of the missing persons currently being sought by Kontras
are Deddy Hamdun, Noval Alkatiri, Ismail, Suyat, Petrus Bima
Anugrah, Yani Afri, Sonny, Ucok Munandar Siahaan, Hendra Hambali,
M. Yusuf, Y. Muhidin, Triyono and Wiji Thukul. Leonardus Gilang
Nugroho Iskandar, or Moses, was already found dead in Magetan,
East Java.

Meanwhile, Antara reported Syamsu as saying that all the nine
resurfaced activists have signed the dossiers on their suspected
abductors. With this statement, he refuted Munir's remark that
only Pius Lustrilanang had signed the documents.

When pressed for details, Syamsu only said the activists did
not come to the military police to sign the documents. Instead,
the signing could have been done on other occasions, he said.

"For instance, Andi Arief (one of the kidnapped activists),
also signed his readiness to be a witness when he was asked to
give his testimony to the Jakarta Police," he said.

Regarding the victims' visum, which according to Munir should
complete the dossiers, Syamsu said they were not attached to the
dossiers.

"We could not attach these as there is no more trace (of
torture on the victims which could serve as evidence)," he said.

Meanwhile, in his address at the ceremony, Subagyo asked the
Military Police to be wise in handling the mounting pressure on
crimes involving servicemen.

"I warn all Military Police personnel again to not easily be
influenced by the numerous unproportional demands that could
encourage them to be emotional in handling cases," he said.

As the ceremony proceeded on Monday, the families of the
missing people staged a rally outside the Military Police
headquarters, waving pictures of the victims.

"We don't intend to meet the (military police) chief, but if
he is ready, we will meet him," said Said Alkatiri, father of
Noval Alkatiri. (rms)