Police, military to search for missing student activist

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces, rejecting speculation that they were behind the recent disappearance of a number of government critics, promised yesterday to launch a search for Andi Arief, a member of the outlawed People's Democratic Party (PRD).

Maj. Gen. Suadi Atma S.I.P., Commander of the Sriwijaya Regional Military Command, speaking in Palembang, South Sumatra yesterday, said the Bandarlampung military district was investigating the disappearance of Andi, as quoted by Antara.

Andi, also chairman of the Indonesian Student Solidarity for Democracy (SMID), was reportedly abducted from his parents' house in Bandarlampung last week by a group of unknown, well-built men with crewcut hairstyles. Many have speculated that the abductors were members of the Armed Forces.

"Does everybody who is well-built with short hair come from the Armed Forces?" Suadi said, adding that such speculation could undermine trust in the Armed Forces, who were in fact the guardians and protectors of the people.

"He could have been abducted by people who disliked him, or by his business rivals," he said.

Antara also quoted Bandarlampung Police chief Col. Gendro Budi Santoso as saying yesterday that local police will cooperate with the National Police in the search for Andi Arief.

Andi's father, Arief Mahya, told police on Thursday that his son had not been seen since he visited his elder brother at the Way Halim Indah Complex last Saturday afternoon.

Mahya was accompanied to the police station by director of the Lampung chapter of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH), Abi Hasan Muan, and lawyer Watoni Nurdin. Mahya is a member of Nadhlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Moslem organization.

The Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) has set up a monitoring post to help trace the whereabouts of a number of missing activists, including Andi.

Others reported missing are Pius Lustrilanang, the secretary of Siaga, a loose association which supports prominent government critics Amien Rais and Megawati Soekarnoputri, and Desmond J. Mahesa, a director of the Jakarta-based Nusantara Legal Aid Foundation.

The foundation believes the disappearances are linked to the outspoken nature of the missing people, who are all harsh government critics.

Jakarta Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. DJ. Nachrowi said yesterday that the allegations were intended to drive the Armed Forces into a corner, but would not succeed in doing so.

"Those people who are missing have nothing to do with PRD, and are not on the Jakarta military's wanted-list. The Jakarta Military Command does not hunt people, even those who are considered to be critical of the government", he said. (swe/09)