Jakarta – The whereabouts of the activist Andi Arief (27) who since 28 March 1998 was reported as missing in Lampung is presently known. This Chairman of the Indonesian Students Solidarity for Democracy was since 17 April 1998 "returned" by his kidnappers to the HQ of the RI Police. He is now a detainee of the Police HQ suspected involved in the case of trhe bomb discovery at the Tanah Tinggi housing at Central Jakarta, last 18 January.

This was conveyed by Munir from the Commission's Executive Body for lost persons and victims of acts of violence (Kontras) , Thursday (23/4) in Jakarta after Thursday morning and afternoon having visitted Andi Arief at the RI Police HQ together with Andy Arief's bloodbrother, Edi Irawan.

While at the same day H Ma'ruf and Hj Ma'rufah, the natural parents of Faisol Riza and Sariamin Effendi, the uncle of Rahardjo Waluyo Djati, reported the disappearance of their children to the Military Police in Jakaerta which was received by Lieutenant Colonel Mahadi as sole investigator.

After the meeting the Head of the Central Military Police Lieutenant Colonel Muhadi said to the reporters that he would immediately take further steps on their report by writing to all military police of the Regional Military Command in whole Indonesia to look for those lost persons. Meanwhile to those who had returned, the Head of the Central Military Police also expected that they would immediatelym report to the Central Military Police to take further steps and identify whether there is an involvement of the ABRI institution or not.

Phoned by the HQ

Munir described, that on Wednesday (22/4) around 10.00 W Indonesia Time, his side got a phone from a person who alleged to be Lieutenant Colonel Lubis from the Police HQ, who informed that Andi Arief was at the HQ of the RI police. When checked to Andi's parents, it proved that the same call by the same person was also received by Andi's parents on Tuesday (21/4). Kontras then checked at the Police HQ and the name as well as content of the message was admitted.

Afterwards when Andi was met it was known that mentioned phone call from the police HQ to Kontras was based at the refusal of Andi to be investigated except when he was sided by a lawyer of his choice, namely lawyers from the Institute for Legal Aid in Indonesia.

"Today together with Andi Arief's older brother we went to the Police HQ, escorted by Captain Arismunandar from the Jakarta police, and at the HQ we were received by Lieutenant Colonel Lubis. At that meeting Lieutenant Colonel Lubis said in principle that Andi Arief was at the RI Police HQ but he refused to clarify since when Andi was in hands of the Police HQ,"Munir clarified.

Munir and Edi Irawan were then met with Andi Arief. Both stated that Andi Arief just looked healthy and that there were no signs of violence, Andi looked even whiter and thicker.

But he complained that his liver gave trouble again, and according to the police Andi was Monday (20/4) already brought by a doctor for his complaints and that he was clean, Andi told to his brother and Munir that he was kidnapped in Lampung at 28 March, and with closed eyes ws brought to a place which he could not identify. He was interrogated day and night at that place while hearing a private radio station from Jakarta day and night. But on the way back to Jakarta his eye bandages were opened, when he was on the ferry from the Bakauheni port to Merak.

"According to Andi only 17 April was he delivered to the police by his kidnappers. Until this day the Police HQ officially only admitted to hold Andi Arief and not the others," said Munir.

Munir said that the delivery by the kidnappers to the police was only obtained from Amir because the police did not want to clarify it. That day Arief was also investigated as witness of Agus Supriyono in the Tanah Tinggi case. The police also asked whether Andi knew Rahardjo Waluyo Djati, Faisol Riza and Herman Hendrawan.

[On April 28, Kompas also reported Munir as saying Arief knows the whereabouts of three other activists who have disappeared, Herman Hendrawan, Faisol Riza and Rahardjo Waluyo Djati, and is "eager" to help police to find them. Kompas said that police have made a statement saying that Arief was detained on March 29 (he was abducted on March 28) and that a letter of notification was sent to his family but never arrived. Munir said added that it appeared that the police were blaming an administrative error. Police are still to give a reason for his arrest - James Balowski.]