Human rights welcome Wiranto's admission cautiously

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)