The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) must form an a commission to resolve the abductions of pro-democracy activists in 1997 and 1998.

This demand was made by a delegation from the Central Leadership Committee of the People's Democratic Party (KPP-PRD) on Friday, July 14, at the office of Komnas HAM in Jakarta. According to the chairperson of the PRD, Budiman Sudjatmiko and the General Secretary, Petrus H Hariyanto, the case is a serious violation of human rights and does not fall within the legal jurisdiction of the police. Rather it is the responsibility of Komnas HAM.

Budiman said that an independent team should be formed made up of people who are concerned with human rights issues along with the victims and family members of those who were abducted. Furthermore, the amount of data, evidence and the number of witnesses is already more than enough grounds for the formation of such a team. Fourteen activists were abducted by the military intelligence operation between 1997-98.

The PRD regards efforts through the military court which have tried members of the elite special forces, Kopassus, along with the recommendations from the Officers Honorary Council as little more than a "political theatre", designed to protect Suharto and other high-ranking military officers.

The head of KPP-PRD, Faisal Reza added that the results of the military trial must be nullified and Komnas HAM shoud recommend that the Attorney General, Marzuki Darusman, investigate the case.

PRD activist who had been abducted [four are still missing, presumed dead - J.B.] were also present including Kijoyo Sardo, Yakobus Kurniawan and Nezar Patria.

In response, the Secretary General of Komnas HAM, Asmara Nababan, said that such an investigation could not be carried out properly because the existing legal and judicial system is still very weak. Accordingly, it required special handling through a human rights court along with a special judiciary to try the high-ranking officers involved.

Aside from this, he said the investigation would be difficult because it involved a military intelligence operation. What is needed is a parliamentary decree which has the legal authority to obtain intelligence data.

Faisal said however, that it was not a problem of access to intelligence data. What was important was the willingness of the Attorney General to investigate the case and clean out the judiciary of status-quo forces which are protecting the New Order regime.

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski]