Aqida Swamurti/Sutarto, Jakarta – The National Commission for Human Rights has said that it considers President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono knows about the information on activists who were kidnapped between 1997 and 1998.

At the time of the kidnapping cases, Yudhoyono – then Social and Political Affairs Head – was also a member of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Honor Council which investigated a soldier who was suspected of being involved

"So, President Yudhoyono can provide information because he was a member of the Honor Council," said Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara, Chairperson of National Commission for Human Rights, during a hearing with House Law Commission at Parliament Complex, yesterday (6/2).

As a TNI Honor Council member, according to Abdul Hakim, the President should be able to provide information on the location of activists kidnapped in 1998. "We now inquire does the President know, question or instead ignore the case?" he said.

The National Commission for Human Rights has submitted the result of investigations over pro-democracy activist kidnappings to the Attorney General's Office (AGO). However, the AGO has not yet been able to follow up on the results because it is still awaiting the House's recommendation stating that there has been severe human rights violation as regards the cases.

The Commission also wrote to the AGO asking the investigation into the cases be continued while waiting for House's recommendation. This is because the Commission viewed that there was no provision in the Human Rights Law saying that investigation awaits the establishment of ad hoc human rights court.

Abdul Hakim said he believes that the President is responsible for this case. The reason is the president has the infrastructure and gives commands to the police and the AGO to solve the case.

The Human Rights Commission, said Abdul Hakim, has sent a letter to the president asking to meet him. "But there has been no response so far," he said.

For the meantime, Andi A. Mallarangeng, presidential spokesman, has not yet been able to respond to the Human Rights Commission Chairperson's statement.