Abdul Khalik and Dian Kuswandini, Jakarta – The House of Representatives' special committee on the abduction of democracy activists in 1997-1998 decided Tuesday to continue summoning retired generals to clarify their roles in the cases.
At a plenary meeting of the committee, also attended by House Speaker Agung Laksono, all members pledged to follow standard procedure in carrying out the probe.
The committee dismissed accusations they were using these cases to attack several retired military generals contesting the 2009 presidential election.
Committee chairman Effendi Simbolon said all the abduction victims would be summoned to testify on Wednesday.
The committee, he added, would later call several retired generals, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono – Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) chief of socio-political affairs at the time – former ABRI commander Wiranto, former Army Special Forces (Kopassus) chief Prabowo Subianto, and former Jakarta military chiefs Sutiyoso and Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
"If the government decides the case is closed, then we will stop the probe. But it should be made in a formal and written policy," Effendi said. "Why close the case when there are 13 activists still missing?"
Agung Laksono expressed his support for the committee, saying it was necessary for the House to seek clarification from all relevant parties and individuals, including retired generals.
The committee was established last year but has done absolutely nothing until Effendi's recent announcement to summon the retired generals.
Observers are questioning the motives behind the committee's sudden jump into action, pointing out that those being summoned were mostly presidential hopefuls from the military and that the probe would take place a matter of months before the presidential election next year.
To counter these claims, Yudhoyono held a limited Cabinet meeting twice on Monday.
After the meetings, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Djoko Santoso, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi and Attorney General Hendarman Supandji told reporters the President had nothing to do with the abduction cases.
They also said the government had brought these cases to justice by punishing all military officers responsible for the cases, including Prabowo, a presidential hopeful.
"The President has expressed concern over unhealthy statements that are full of false allegations, character assassination and barbaric politics," Sudi said.
University of Paramadina political expert Bima Arya Sugiarto said the revival of the abduction probe could be seen as politically motivated ahead of the election.
Human rights activist Poengky Indarti, however, expressed support for the committee to press ahead with summoning all people involved in the cases. "Only 11 low-ranking officers were punished, yet we know they just acted on orders from their (military) commanders," she said.