Jakarta – There are strong indications that the Kopassus, under the command of Major General (Army) Prabowo Subianto (now Lieut. Gen. and Commander of Army Reserve - Ed), is responsible for the abduction of activists. The intensive operation to kidnap activists began during the time of the General Assembly session in March l998. Thus the conclusions of a number of people who have attempted to analyze the testimony of the former victims, as narrated to SiaR.
"We can trace this [Kopassus involvement-trans.] from the testimony of Andi Arief," said a member of the Commission for the Disappeareds and Victims of Violence (Kontras) to SiaR.
Some time ago, Andi Arief, who was detained by the Police was able to smuggle out paper with his handwriting. "In chatting with the people who detained me, some information has been revealed. Three people who do not have long hair turn out to have been sent to East Timor. One of them, only a few weeks ago, returned from training in England. We don't know what type of education he received there," writes Andi.
SiaR's efforts to trace a number of sources in England has reached the conclusion that if Andi's information is valid, then the person he mentions can only be a member of Kopassus. "They participate in a year-long training course in Security Studies at Hull University. Graduates are at the S-2 level, with the degree of Master of Arts. Seven of the ten soldiers from Indonesia taking this course are members of Kopassus," said a SiaR source in the British Foreign Ministry.
Furthermore, the SiaR source also said that the presence of Indonesian soldiers in the course is based on personal status rather than membership in an army unit. "It would appear that their participation is due to co-operation between the British government and a well-known "family" in Indonesia," said the SiaR source. The courses at Hull, according to the source, is a replacement for the military course at King College, which had previously received bad press.
The names of Indonesian participants in the military courses in Great Britain who have recently returned are: Aang Shuarlan, Imran Mohamed, Eko Margiyono, Wahyu Wibowo Raharto, Budi Pramono, Mulyo Aji, Abd Aziz MD Nor, Imam Santosa, Farid Makruf and Ignatius Yogo Triono.
Other names also mentioned are, Major General (Army) Sjafrie Sjamsuddin, Greater Jakarta Military Commander. He has been mentioned by a number of witnesses as taking part as an interrogator. "He was recognized by the victims of the abductions by his voice," said a SiaR source.