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)