It's the wrong Herman: Consul-general
It's the wrong Herman: Consul-general
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian consul-general in the southern
Philippines' city of Davao, Asmadi Arbi, has dismissed an earlier
claim by the Armed Forces (ABRI) that Herman Hendrawan, one the
missing activists, has been found and was sheltering in his
office.
Asmadi said the man who appeared at his door and claimed to be
Herman Hendrawan insisted that he was not the Herman Hendrawan
now being sought by rights activists and the military alike.
Asmadi said he was convinced of this after he received a
photograph of the missing activist from Jakarta.
"They're different. Stories can be made up and incidents can
be engineered, but I'm sure he's not the missing Herman
Hendrawan, I can guarantee you that," Asmadi told The Jakarta
Post by phone.
The 27-year-old Herman in Davao claimed he was a student at
the private Siliwangi University in Tasikmalaya, West Java,
before he moved to Parahiyangan University in Bandung.
The missing Herman Hendrawan was a student at Surabaya's
Airlangga University, Munir, the head of the Commission for
Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said.
ABRI spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif, who announced the
"reappearance" of Herman on Friday, was not available for comment
yesterday.
Asmadi said the Herman in Davao also objected strongly to
"exaggerated media reports" on the "coincidence."
"He doesn't want to be bothered. He told me that he is just an
ordinary person, not someone important," he said.
Asmadi regretted that the report about the "Davao Herman"
which he sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and copied to
the Armed Forces was released to the press. The report detailed
the Davao Herman Hendrawan's story and requested help to confirm
his identity, Asmadi said.
The Herman in Davao reportedly told Asmadi that his family in
Tasikmalaya knew of his whereabouts and understood the purpose of
his overseas travel.
"He told me that he wanted to wander around after what he had
gone through," Asmadi said.
The Davao Herman claims that he was kidnapped in Jakarta in
March. He said his experience had been similar to that reported
by activists who have gone public with their kidnap ordeals, but
added that he was released immediately after being interrogated,
Asmadi said.
The Herman in Davao also admitted that he knew the missing
Herman Hendrawan and Pius Lustrilanang, another kidnapping victim
who has reappeared.
Asmadi concluded that he was not the Herman Hendrawan who
Kontras are looking for but did have the same name.
"They happen to have the same name, just as there are many
people with the name Soeharto," Asmadi said. (emf/edt/imn)