Kidnappers still walking free: Kontras
JAKARTA (JP): Abductors of political activists are still on the loose, according to Munir of the independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras).
"Five of the nine activists (who resurfaced after being abducted) have seen a number of their abductors on the streets recently," Munir told reporters on Wednesday.
He refused to identify the activists.
"They saw the abductors in front of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (LBH) office, on the bus and in some other public places," he claimed.
Munir conceded it was impossible at present to confirm whether the people were the 11 unnamed members of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), who are reportedly detained at the National Military Police headquarters for involvement in the abductions.
"We do not know who those 11 people are... we also do not know whether those in detention are the real kidnappers or not." He added that those spotted in public might be accomplices of the actual kidnappers.
Munir urged the National Military Police to be transparent and release the identities of the 11 Kopassus members.
Activists who have reappeared and human rights groups, including London-based Amnesty International, have said an independent body should be given access to the detained Kopassus members to carry out an impartial investigation.
The military police said they could only meet the suspects in a planned court-martial.
Munir also protested the military's plan to submit the dossiers of the detained Kopassus members to the court-martial next Tuesday since it has yet to locate 14 missing activists.
"It is likely they will be prosecuted only for their involvement in the abductions of the nine activists who have resurfaced," Munir said.
He has argued that no military tribunal should be held until all of the missing activists reappear because it would not be legally feasible to bring the officers before another trial for the same case should evidence be found later on.
Kontras estimates that at least 24 activists went missing beginning in April last year. One was found dead last May. The nine who resurfaced related harrowing tales of physical and mental torture.
The Armed Forces (ABRI) announced the alleged involvement of Kopassus members in the abductions of political activists in July.
Minister of Defense and Security/ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto then discharged former Kopassus chief Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto -- a son-in-law of former president Soeharto -- and removed two senior Kopassus officers from active duty in August for their involvement in the abductions of political activists.
National Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Syamsu Djalal said on Saturday the investigators were still looking for more evidence to prosecute Prabowo.
Wiranto said in August the military did not know the whereabouts of the activists and promised to keep searching for them.
Munir has said that ABRI, which has been battered by revelations of alleged human rights abuses, could not afford the disclosure of more past wrongdoing.
He said recently that ABRI was caught in "political difficulties" over those who are still missing.
"ABRI is still calculating the implications if it announces that there are a number of people among these 14 activists who are already dead."
Munir said on Wednesday that Kontras planned to meet Prabowo's father, noted economist Soemitro Djojohadikusumo, on Friday in its search for more information on the abductions.
Soemitro was still in the United States on Wednesday, Munir quoted the economist's secretary as saying. (byg)