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)