Trial reveals abductor, activist were schoolmates

JAKARTA (JP): One of the 11 members of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) charged in the abduction of nine activists revealed on Thursday he was a senior of one of the abductees when they studied at a Yogyakarta university.

Capt. Nugroho Sulistyo Budi said he had recognized one of the students, Andi Arief, to be abducted as a member of a later graduating class at Gadjah Mada University.

Nugroho said he held a degree in political science from the university.

He was questioned at the military tribunal with two other defendants, Capt. F.S Multhazar and Capt. Yulius Selvanus.

Nugroho stated he was not among those who "picked up" Andi.

In the military tribunal, the three admitted involvement in the abduction of nine activists as charged, and that they had surrendered themselves to the commander of the Special Force, Maj. Gen. Sjahrir M.S.

"Our surrender was to show our responsibility although the nine activists did not recognize us," Nugroho said.

Abductees said they were always masked when facing their abductors and interrogators.

Capt. Nugroho backed earlier defendants' statements that victims were well treated.

"We even prepared airplane and train tickets for some of them (before) sending them back to their families," he said.

At the time of abductions, the Special Force's commander was Lt. Gen. (ret.) Prabowo. He was honorably discharged after admitting involvement in the abductions to the Officers Honor Council last year.

Activists have demanded that he be put on trial.

The nine activists were among 23 people abducted since April 1997. Thirteen are still listed as missing and another was found dead.

The defendants insisted the nine returned activists were the only ones abducted.

Multhazar said the team received orders to pick up seven people named in a document found at a low-cost apartment where members of the outlawed People's Democratic Party lived.

The other two abductees, Andi Arief and Feisol Reza, were not listed.

The soldiers discounted the possible involvement of other members of the Special Force in abduction and interrogation activities. Reports of torture from activists are not included in the prosecution's case.

Prosecutor Col. Harom Widjaya said the 11 defendants were members of a "Rose Team" set up by the first defendant, Maj. Bambang Kristiono, commander of the force's battalion 42 of Group 4, to arrest radical individuals.

Defendants said other members of the battalion outside the team did not know the existence of the team's command post, located "in a remote area on the ground of the barracks", Multhazar said. The court will reconvene on Tuesday to hear testimony from Bambang. (01)