Missing people case to be probed

Missing people case to be probed

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights will
launch today an investigation into the clash between protesting
students and security personnel in Yogyakarta, and the reported
disappearance of political activists.

Bambang W. Soeharto said Monday the commission had received
reports about the clash and the missing activists and that,
unless handled well, both cases might prove to be detrimental to
Indonesia's international image.

"It'd be detrimental for Indonesia if we didn't seek
clarification on both cases immediately," he said. "Our country's
credibility is at stake in the international community.

"This is a serious matter. Security personnel have to be
serious in their search for the missing people."

Over the past several months, students across the country have
been staging demonstrations critical of the government's handling
of the monetary crisis and demanding reform. More than 100 have
been injured in demonstrations which turned violent and students
clashed with security personnel.

The most recent clash took place last week at Gadjah Mada
University in Yogyakarta, where a dozen students and security
personnel were injured, facilities vandalized and vehicles
wrecked.

The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation claimed on Monday that as
the result of Thursday and Friday's clash, the whereabouts of 38
students are unknown.

"The various forms of repression and violence taken against
the students is evidence of the government's inability to
accommodate the dynamics prevailing in society through peaceful
means," the foundation said in a statement.

The media has also reported on the disappearance of some
political activists including Haryanto Taslam, a loyalist of the
ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati
Soekarnoputri, and Andi Arief, a member of the outlawed
Democratic People's Party (PRD).

Some people have speculated that the Armed Forces were behind
the disappearance or even downright abducted the activists in
order to muzzle them. The Armed Forces has flatly denied the
allegation, and said the military and police have in fact
cooperated and helped in the search for the missing people.

On Monday, for instance, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen.
Da'i Bachtiar said the police were in the process of establishing
an accurate list of missing activists.

"We will reveal the list soon," he said, adding that police
would gladly cooperate with other institutions including the
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation to help trace the whereabouts of
the missing activists.

Separately, political observer Amien Rais welcomed the rights
commission's investigation into the student clashes and the
reportedly missing people. He was quoted by Antara as saying in
Malang, East Java, on Monday that the public in general should
also help.

"This is not a trivial matter because the international
community is treating it as an important matter," he said.
"What's at stake is Indonesia's international image.

"I fear that if they (international donors), including the
International Monetary Fund, see us as neglecting human rights,
then they will cancel their plan to aid (Indonesia)."

Rights commission member Djoko Sugianto said the delegation
would visit and hold discussions with the students and rectors,
and cross-check the information they obtain with local police and
military offices.

"We will also visit the local legislative council to find out
why it has neglected the students' request for a dialog," he
said. (imn/edt/swe)