Human rights welcome Wiranto's admission cautiously
JAKARTA (JP): Human rights groups have welcomed cautiously Minister of Defense and Security Affairs/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto's admission that some members of the military were involved in the abductions of political activists.
The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) said in separate statements yesterday that it was a sign of ABRI's good will to investigate the case thoroughly.
The groups, however, warned that Wiranto's statement would mean nothing if it were not followed up by a public disclosure on the mastermind behind the abductions.
Kontras said that at least 14 political activists are still missing.
Referring to Wiranto's statement, Kontras said it believed that ABRI has already identified the mastermind, the political motives and places which were used to imprison the activists. They, therefore, urged immediate action to save those still missing.
In a statement signed by coordinator Munir and deputy chairman Dadang Trisasongko, Kontras said the revelation was important not only for the supremacy of law, but also for ABRI's reputation.
"Amid an escalation of people's legal and political awareness, it is about time that ABRI frankly and openly reveals (everything behind) the matter," Kontras added.
Kontras also said that ABRI should brush aside their involvement as a mere violation of procedures.
Meanwhile PBHI said that Wiranto could not be absolved from responsibility just by saying that the abductions were perpetrated by "individuals" within ABRI.
Wiranto said that several personnel who were allegedly involved in the kidnapping acted beyond their authority. Wiranto however did not name the soldiers or disclose their rank or unit.
Wiranto also said that ABRI's investigators have visited places which were said to have been used to imprison the activists.
"A statement that it was a violation of procedures should not close the investigation into the likely possibility that the abductions were well-planned and based on a certain political motive," PBHI said in the statement signed by its executive director Hendardi.
National Military Police Chief Maj. Gen. Syamsu Djalal denied yesterday Kontras' accusation that members of his force were involved in the abduction of student activist Mugianto in March.
Kontras last week said its own investigation pointed to the involvement of the Duren Sawit military subdistrict, the East Jakarta military district, the Jakarta Military Command, the Jakarta Police, the National Police and members of the Military Police.
Mugianto, along with Aan Rusdianto and Nezar Patria, were abducted from their Klender apartment in East Jakarta on March 12 by unidentified men before being handed over to the Jakarta Police three days later.
The three were released earlier this month. (byg)