Police, military to search for missing student activist
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)