Trial of Kopassus soldiers rigged, says Kontras

JAKARTA (JP): Ahead of a verdict expected Tuesday to defendants in a trial on the abduction of activists, a rights group reiterated that the trial was rigged.

The trial could not be expected to shed light on the case, while 13 activists are still listed as missing.

The independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) told a media conference Monday that the trial was "far from fair and does not try to unveil the truth behind the abductions at all".

Bambang Sugiyanto of Kontras' legal division said, "The trial brings about nothing and this shows that the government is still exercising the old pattern ... it is still covering things up and the trial has been designed since the beginning."

Eleven Army's Special Force (Kopassus) soldiers are defendants in the trial which opened in December.

Bambang reiterated the group's statement earlier that the charges "do not point to a hierarchy in the command that led to the decision to abduct the activists, but instead they are formulated so that it appears as if the abductions were the personal initiative of the defendants".

"This is ridiculous and does not make sense at all," Bambang added.

Military prosecutors said the defendants had acted on their own initiative and the charges only relate to the nine activists who have reappeared.

The nine were among 23 activists who were abducted by unidentified men since April 1997. One was found dead and 13 others are still listed as missing, while those who resurfaced reported abduction and torture.

Military prosecutors have demanded jail sentences of between 15 months and 26 months for the defendants.

They also demanded the court discharge eight of the defendants -- one major, seven captains and three sergeants -- from the Armed Forces (ABRI).

At the time of abductions, the defendants were under the command of Soeharto's son-in-law Prabowo Subianto.

ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto honorarily discharged Prabowo from the military and released two other senior Kopassus officers, Maj. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono and Col. Chairawan, from active duty in August for their alleged involvement in the abductions.

Rights activists have been demanding that Prabowo, last reported to be in Jordan, be put on trial. He had admitted before the Officer's Honor Council in August that he was involved in the abductions. (byg)