Jakarta – The Indonesian armed forces (ABRI) plans to sue Indonesian media, which suggested that the military was behind the disappearances of anti-Suharto activists, the official Antara news agency reported yesterday. "The ABRI high command has all the time been watching and taking note of those media that have tried to identify ABRI as the party behind the disappearances," it quoted spokesman Brigadier-General Abdul Wahab Mokodongan as saying.

He said the military "will sue several Indonesian publications that have made it appear as if ABRI was behind the recent disappearances".

About 15 anti-government activists have been reported missing since mid-February.

Some have resurfaced and one, Mr Pius Lustrilanang, has spoken out, saying the military should take responsibility for his ordeal. Mr Lustrilanang, who fled to the Netherlands on Monday, alleged that he was abducted, tortured, and threatened with death if he spoke out.

A second activist, Mr Haryanto Taslam, who was scheduled to tell his story yesterday, left a press conference saying he did not want to be a hero. The National Human Rights Commission had called a press conference for Mr Haryanto. He turned up but then told more than 100 local and foreign reporters: "I can't give you any explanation. I don't want to be a hero."

Before leaving abruptly, the supporter of ousted Indonesian Democratic Party leader Megawati Soekarnoputri added: "We have to empathise with the other missing persons. "I don't want this kind of thing to happen again." Explained Human Rights Commissioner Albert Hasibuan: "He is in traumatic fear."

The military has denied responsibility for any of the disappearances, which began after campus protests first flared up in February against President Suharto. ABRI chief General Wiranto said there had been no instructions within the military to make people disappear, the Kompas daily reported. He said that ABRI had "no policies to kidnap specific individuals" and that the military, concerned about the disappearances, had assisted recently in the search for several missing activists.

Brig-Gen Mokodongan also told local reporters on Wednesday that the military was not responsible for the safety of activists who resurfaced. "We do not want to fall into the trap set by people who want to discredit ABRI and who say that if something happens to them, ABRI should be held responsible," he said.