Kompas - February 20,
2010
On Friday February 19,
there was something different taking place at the Army’s Special Forces or
Kopassus headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta.
The Kopassus headquarters,
which is known as being “angker” (ghostlike, eerie, terrible), was visited by
around 30 protesters. They were family members of the victims of forced
disappearances in 1997-1998 accompanied by activists from the Indonesian
Association of the Families of Missing Persons (Ikohi) and the Commission for
Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras).
Riding in an executive bus,
they arrived at the elite forces headquarters carrying a woven basket filled
with snacks that they planned to share out among their friends and family
members who are still missing and believed to be held at the headquarters. “The
last time I met with Petrus Bima (one of the missing victims) was here,” said
Ikohi chairperson Mugianto, who was also a victim of the abductions and finally
released.
In addition to Mugianto,
also visiting the Kopassus headquarters was Sipon, the wife of Widji Thukul,
Petrus Bima’s father Utomo, Yani Afri’s mother Tuti Koto and several other
family members of the victims.
Kopassus headquarters
detachment commander infantry Lieutenant Colonel Kartika Adi Putranta and
Kopassus Deputy Assistant for Intelligence Lieutenant Colonel I Nyoman Suparta
refused to accept the basket of food.
They claimed not to have
serving at Cijantung in the period 1997-1998 so they did not know the
whereabouts of those who are missing. "They came here meaning well, and we
received them accordingly also," said Kopassus Deputy Commander Brigadier
General Wisnu Bawa Tenaya.
The action ended
peacefully, but with the protesters leaving the Kopassus headquarters without
any assurances. But they will not tire of searching.
They are also still
awaiting the issuance of a presidential decree to shed light on the case.
"I've waited for 13 years now. The president must implement the DPR's
recommendations", said Tuti Koto.
In late 2009, the House of
Representatives (DPR) recommended the formation of an ad hoc human rights
court, a search for the 13 people declared still missing by the National Human
Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), the rehabilitation of and the provisions of
compensation to the families of the disappeared and the ratification of the UN
Convention on Forced Disappearances.
Kontras coordinator Usman
Hamid said that the important thing is seeking certainty about the fate of the
missing people, whether they are alive or dead. Hamid also confirmed that he
had met with the president's special staff member for social affairs, Andi
Arief. "We spoke about a planned presidential regulation on the search for
the missing people and planned compensation", said Hamid.
In the eyes of the victims
however, material assistance is not the priority. Mugianto insisted that he
would not pawn justice for the sake of material compensation... (EDN/AIK)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
