Kopassus chiefs might be probed

JAKARTA (JP): The ongoing investigation into the abductions of political activists will not stop at the current seven Army special force (Kopassus) suspects as the unit's former commanders might also be questioned.

Maj. Gen. Syamsu Djalal, commander of the National Military Police Corps, said yesterday that the seven suspects' testimony might lead to the interrogation of former Kopassus commanders who were in charge at the time of the abductions.

Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto headed the force for nearly two years until March 29 this year and was replaced by Maj. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono, who served in the post until May 25.

"Just wait for the results of the investigation into the seven suspects," Syamsu told reporters at his office yesterday. "Their testimony will reveal the person who gave them orders to kidnap the activists," he said.

Five special forces officers are currently in military police custody, while another two are under intensive investigation in connection with a series of abductions of political activists over the past year.

The military police chief, however, declined to mention their names or their ranks.

However he admitted that one of the seven suspects was a senior officer.

Informed source have said the seven include one captain, one major, two colonels and a general, without specifying the general's precise rank.

Surabaya Post daily report cited Col. Chairiawan, the chief of Kopassus' Group IV which deals with intelligence operations, as one of the suspects.

Armed Forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif said early Tuesday morning that the special forces members were involved in the kidnappings of Pius Lustrilanang, Desmond J. Mahesa, Haryanto Taslam, Andi Arief, Feisal Reza and Raharjo Waluyo Jati, and the detention of Nezar Patria, Aan Rusdiyanto and Mugiyanto.

All have been released, including Andi who was freed yesterday.

Many of them were kidnapping around February and mid-March.

Several of the abductions were believed to be connected with efforts to seek information on possible rallies or disturbances around the time of the plenary session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

Syamsu said he had already obtained uniforms and equipment, including face masks, used during the kidnappings that belong to the elite unit and will use them as evidence in the courts- martial.

"All of the evidence is included in the dossiers that we are now preparing," Syamsu, who also leads the Armed Forces' fact- finding team into the abductions, said.

He dismissed speculation that he would have difficulty questioning high-ranking military officers, especially his seniors.

"I will ask the Armed Forces (ABRI) commander's permission to question a high-ranking military officer," he said.

"However it won't necessarily be myself who will conduct the investigation as it would be satisfactory if a medium-ranking officer questions a high-ranking military officer," he added.

The military police have questioned 43 people, including 20 members of the Armed Forces.

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), at one stage, had a list of 21 activists who had disappeared. Twelve are still listed as missing.

Deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights Marzuki Darusman called yesterday for a massive investigation into the missing activists.

"The suspects' testimony will help ABRI locate the whereabouts of the activists who are still missing," Marzuki told The Jakarta Post.

"Andi Arief's testimony will be of great help to reconstruct the abduction of the activists," he said, adding that there should be no reason to delay the release of those still being held.

"All of the missing activists must be released in the near future," he said.

He believed that the Armed Forces headquarters would follow up the announcement of the Kopassus members' involvement with credible action.

"People will then have no doubt about ABRI's seriousness in handling the case of the missing activists. All impressions that ABRI has been defensive while dealing with such a case will disappear," he added. (imn/byg)