Jakarta – The Indonesian Association of Families of Missing Persons (Ikohi) is urging retired General Wiranto to clarify his statement that 14 activists who were disappeared between 1997-1998 and who’s whereabouts are still unknown are in fact dead.
The call was made by Ikohi chairperson Mugiyanto in Jakarta on Tuesday June 14 in relation to a secret meeting at a coffee shop at the Lippo Building on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman in Jakarta on Friday June 10 between Wiranto and the National Human Rights Commission’s (Komnas HAM) investigative team for missing persons 1997-1998.
According to information obtained by Ikohi, Wiranto revealed that the 14 activists who disappeared over a period of two years are dead. Ikohi is therefore urging Wiranto to explain who the perpetrator of the murders is, where the victims are buried and when they were killed.
“Wiranto’s admission is the first [of its kind], because for seven years there has never been a clarification as to weather these activists are still alive or not. Wiranto must therefore clarify his statement”, asserted Mugiyanto.
Mugiyanto was accompanied by Nurhiansyah, the father of Yadin Muhidin (a victim of the 1998 abductions) and Tuti Kotto, the mother of Yani Arfi (a victim of the 1997 abductions).
Major-General Yohanes Sukiman, the head of the Legal Development Agency, who is believed to be Wiranto’s legal attorney, said that he is unable to respond to the revelation because he has yet to meet with Wiranto. “I have been out of town and I haven’t met with Mr. Wiranto yet”, he told Sinar Harapan.
The TNI (armed forces) has already admitted that that Lieutenant-General Prabowo, Major-General Muchdi PR, Colonel Khairawan and 11 members of the elite special forces Kopassus Group IV/ Sandi Yudha abducted nine activists.
The whereabouts of the 14 activists which Wiranto said are dead however, has never been admitted to. So Wiranto’s admission at the meeting with four members of the Komnas HAM investigating team is something of a surprise. Komnas HAM must therefore immediacy summon and question Wiranto on the grounds that the secret meeting at the Lippo Building was not part of the investigation within the framework of Law Number 39/1999 on Human Rights.
Komnas HAM must therefore ask Wiranto how he knows about the fate of the 14 missing people and who killed them. Wiranto questioning must focus on his capacity as the Minister of Defense/Armed Forces Chief who was given written order by former President Suharto to investigate 28 activist through an intelligence operation. (ino/edl)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
