Jakarta, Kompas – Accusations of human rights violations have not affected retired Lieutenant General Prabowo Subianto’s plan to advance towards the presidency. The former head of Kopassus who is believed to be linked to the abductions of a number of students1 continues to move forward in Golkar’s presidential candidate selection process.

“This is a democratic process. I ask for the people’s mandate. If the people consider that I am unsuitable, the people won’t choose me. But if the people choose me, I think that it is unfair if I continue to be accused of [doing] negative things, it is a form of stigmatisation”, said Subianto in Jakarta on Monday March 15.

He explained that the accusations of human rights violations which have been directed at him are one sided. “At that time I was accused of all kinds of things. But these accusations are not objective”, he explained.

As an example, he said that the media has never ever reported on the facts regarding the activists which it is said were abducted, in fact they had already assembled 22 homemade bombs. “So, in fact my subordinates, if it is viewed clearly, actually prevented 22 bombings which could have resulted in [people becoming the] victims”, he added.

According to Subianto, many of the student activists which are said to have been abducted actually support him becoming a presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, the executive director of Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial), Munir, hoped that the public would respond appropriately in face of the various questionable politicians which have emerged. In relation to the abduction of students, Munir was of the view that this issue is not one of stigmatisation. The abductions clearly represent violations committed by the state. Indeed, these cases have never been tried in their entirety so it is not known exactly who is guilty. (sut)

Notes:

1. Between 1997 and 1998 as many as fourteen pro-democracy activists were abducted by members of the elite special forces Kopassus. After extended periods of detention – in many cases the victims were severely tortured – most were released although four remain missing and are presumed dead. Former Kopassus chief Lieutenant General Prabowo Subianto who was at the time President Suharto’s son-in-law is alleged to have ordered the abductions. In April 1999, 11 low-ranking Kopassus officers were tried by a military court for the kidnappings and given sentences of between a year and 22 months in prison, although six of them were allowed to remain in the army.

[Translated by James Balowski.]