DKP opens probe on officers' role in abductions

JAKARTA (JP): The Officers Honor Council began its investigation yesterday into the allegedly involvement of officers and soldiers of the Army's special force (Kopassus) in the abductions and torture of political activists.

The first hearing of the seven-member council, led by Army Chief Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, was held at the Army headquarters on Jl. Veteran in Central Jakarta. It took the council six hours to question officers allegedly involved in the case.

There was no official statement about how the session proceeded or which of the three senior officers under investigation appeared before the council yesterday.

"I cannot tell you the result or who among the three (senior) Kopassus officers testified before the council members today. The session was closed not only to the press but also to me," Army spokesman Brig. Gen. I Dewa Putu Rai told reporters after the session finished.

He said he did not know when the next session would be held.

The three senior officers are former Kopassus commandants- general Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto and Maj. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono, and Col. Chairawan, the former chief of Kopassus Group IV which deals with intelligence operations.

An officer on guard at the headquarters said that Prabowo, Muchdi and Chairawan arrived in the morning in regular-plated vehicles.

American expert in Indonesian politics William Liddle dismissed speculation that the Armed Forces (ABRI) formed the Officers Honor Council under pressure from the United States.

"Yes, (U.S. Defense Minister) William Cohen had just visited Indonesia, but the establishment of the council and the investigation of Prabowo and other high-ranking Kopassus officers are another matter," he was quoted by Antara as saying in New York.

He believed the council was set up by ABRI in an effort to "cleanse" itself, and restore its reputation abroad. He admitted that Cohen's statement in Jakarta that Washington urged the government to investigate the alleged involvement of Kopassus officers in the abduction of political activists might have influenced ABRI.

Ultimately, however, it was ABRI who made the decision, he said.

He pointed out that Cohen's statement was by no means new as American President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had both conveyed the same message earlier.

He cited the American public's concern about whether the involved Kopassus officers had been trained in the U.S. under a bilateral cooperation agreement.

People objected if their military cooperation assistance with other countries was used in the abuse of human rights, he said.

"It would be embarrassing for the Americans if American- trained officers are involved in human rights violations because Americans are major human rights campaigners," he said.

Support

Praise and support for the council came from a number of observers yesterday. Criminologist Mulyana W. Kusumah said in Yogyakarta the establishment of the council was proof of the courage and responsiveness of ABRI leaders.

However, the council was only one step forward and should be followed by a military tribunal. In addition, even though the council's work was an internal affair, it should be done transparently.

"If it's possible, please inform the public (about the investigation) so they won't remain in confusion," he said.

He also suggested that the council be entrusted with the task of investigating the May shooting of Trisakti University students in Jakarta, the rioting and other "important cases".

"This is important to restore the credibility of ABRI, which had been tainted," Mulyana said in Bandung.

He dismissed calls for former president Soeharto and Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung -- who were then ABRI supreme commander and ABRI commander respectively -- to also be held accountable. "Those calls were political in nature. But for a criminal investigation, it should be clear what causes certain crimes," he said.

A former chief of the now-defunct internal security agency Kopkamtib, Sudomo, also supported the council's investigation. "All violators of the law, be they the military or civilian, must face sanction," he was quoted by Antara as saying. "We are all humiliated by the case, and the good name of the unit must be restored."

He said he was convinced the abductions were committed under orders from senior parties within ABRI.

Military observer Rizal M. Panggabean doubted the council would be able to work effectively and honestly. The chairman of the Center for Security and Peace Studies at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta said yesterday that in the past, such a council usually failed to solve cases of rights violations.

"I doubt a military tribunal can do this job, much less the council, (the mission of which) will only find an out of court solution," he said.

He said what had occurred were kidnappings, torture and even murders of civilians by military personnel. "The council or the military tribunal may try military personnel when the case does not involve civilians, for instance clashes among units.

"In this case, the victims were civilians. I doubt the rights of the victims would be defended fairly," he said.

"Those officers should be brought before a civilian court, instead, so trials can proceed fairly," he said. (43/44/swe)