Kontras seeks new probe of abductions

JAKARTA (JP): The independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) urged the military on Wednesday to reopen the investigation into the abduction of political activists in the last months of the Soeharto regime.

Kontras coordinator Munir said reopening the investigation was necessary because the military failed to prosecute the individuals most responsible for the abductions.

He also said a new probe was needed because the military court failed to shed light on the 13 abducted activists still missing.

"The trial did not point to the hierarchy of command in the Armed Forces (ABRI) and we believe it is the superiors of the defendants who should be prosecuted," Munir said.

The trial, which was derided by rights activists as a "farce" to protect top military officers and Soeharto, ended with the sentencing of 11 soldiers from the Army's Special Force on Tuesday. The soldiers received between one year and 22 months in jail for abducting nine political activists in February and March last year.

"The court also did not pursue some facts which had been unveiled by the witnesses during the trial's earlier sessions and the judges even supported the defendants' arguments," Munir said.

Some of the nine activists told the court that during their captivity they met with some of the 13 still missing activists. They also said they had been tortured while in detention.

Munir earlier said that despite testimony from most of the nine activists that they had been tortured by the defendants, the military police never carried out medical examinations.

The nine activists were among 23 activists who were abducted by unidentified men beginning in April 1997. They resurfaced a few weeks after their disappearance, speaking of abduction and torture. Another activist was found dead and 13 others are still listed as missing.

The highest-ranking defendant in the trial, Maj. Bambang Kristiono, said he established a Rose Team within Kopassus in July 1997 to arrest "radical activists" who allegedly were planning to sabotage the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly held in March last year.

At the time of the abductions, the defendants were under the command of Soeharto's son-in-law Prabowo Subianto.

"The trial also failed to touch on the results of the Officer's Honor Council (DKP) which revealed Prabowo's involvement in the abductions," Munir said.

Prabowo admitted before the DKP last August that he was involved in the abductions.

ABRI chief Gen. Wiranto honorably discharged Prabowo from the military and released two other senior Kopassus officers, Maj. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono and Col. Chairawan, from active duty in August last year for their alleged involvement in the abductions.

Activists have demanded that Prabowo, last known to be in Jordan, be put on trial.

"If there is no progress in the investigation, Kontras will bring this case to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands," Munir said. (byg)