DATE=4/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229412
TITLE=INDONESIA/ MISSING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: OFFICIALS FROM THE INDONESIAN DEMOCRACY PARTY, THE P-D-I,
HAVE URGED POLICE AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF A PARTY OFFICIAL. JENNY GRANT REPORTS FROM
JAKARTA 11 OTHER ACTIVISTS ARE MISSING IN WHAT CRITICS DESCRIBE
AS A GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN ON THE OPPOSITION.
TEXT: HARYANTO TASLAM DISAPPEARED ON THE MARCH NINTH AND HIS
FAMILY HAS NOT HEARD FROM HIM SINCE. MR. TASLAM CALLED A FRIEND
A DAY BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED AND SAID HE WAS IN SERIOUS DANGER.
THE MISSING POLITICIAN WAS AN OFFICIAL OF THE UNRECOGNIZED BOARD
OF MEGAWATI SUKARNOPUTRI'S P-D-I FACTION. THE PARTY OFFICIAL AND
MEGAWATI ALLY IS ONE OF 11 ACTIVISTS STILL MISSING FROM A LIST OF
21 COMPILED BY THE INDONESIAN LEGAL AID INSTITUTE LAST WEEK.
P-D-I OFFICIAL ALEX LITAAY MET WITH POLICE THURSDAY AND URGED
THEM TO SOLVE THE CASE. HE SAYS POLITICS IS AT THE ROOT OF THE
DISAPPEARANCE.
// ACT LITAAY //
IT IS MOSTLY CONNECTED WITH POLITICAL ISSUES BECAUSE HE IS ONE
OF OUR SECRETARY GENERALS. HE DISAPPEARED DURING THE GENERAL
ELECTION PERIOD WHICH LASTED FROM THE FIRST TO THE 11TH OF MARCH
AND HE WAS MISSING ON NINE MARCH; IT HAS TO BE CONNECTED WITH
POLITICAL ISSUES.
// ACT ENDS //
AUTHORITIES CRACKED DOWN ON ACTIVISTS AND BANNED STREET RALLIES
DURING THE TIME OF THE ELECTORAL ASSEMBLY WHICH APPOINTED
PRESIDENT SUHARTO TO A SEVENTH-TERM.
TEN OF THE MISSING HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING
PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS PIUS LUSTRILANANG AND DESMON MAHESA.
SOME HAVE SAID THEY HAD GONE UNDERGROUND BECAUSE THEY FEARED THE
AUTHORITIES. THE REASONS OTHERS ARE MISSING ARE STILL NOT CLEAR.
STUDENT ACTIVISTS FROM UNIVERSITIES IN THE JAVANESE CITIES OF
YOGYAKARTA AND SURABAYA ARE ALSO REPORTED MISSING.
ONE LEADER OF THE OUTLAWED PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PARTAI
RAKYAT DEMOKRATIC - PRD) -- ANDI ARIEF -- IS STILL MISSING AFTER
HE WAS KIDNAPPED BY A GROUP OF MEN TWO-WEEKS AGO IN THE SOUTH
SUMATRAN CITY OF LAMPUNG.
DESPITE WIDESPREAD SPECULATION THE MILITARY IS BEHIND THE
DISAPPEARANCES, P-D-I OFFICIALS SAY THEY DO NOT WANT TO ACCUSE
ANYONE IN MR. TASLAM'S CASE.
JAKARTA POLICE SPOKESMAN LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDWARD ARITONANG TOLD
V-O-A THE PUBLIC SHOULD NOT TO EXPECT SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR THE
PARTY OFFICIAL.
HE SAYS AUTHORITIES DO NOT RECOGNIZE MEGAWATI'S P-D-I AND MR.
TASLAM'S CASE WILL BE INVESTIGATED IN THE SAME MANNER AS ANY
OTHER MISSING PERSON.
THE INDONESIAN MILITARY HAS DENIED ALLEGATIONS IT IS BEHIND THE
DISAPPEARANCES. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL LOOK INTO THE CASE,
BUT BELIEVES THE MISSING COULD BE HIDING.
MS. MEGAWATI WAS OUSTED AS LEADER OF THE P-D-I AT A PARTY
CONGRESS IN JUNE 1996 THAT WAS BACKED BY THE MILITARY AND THE
GOVERNMENT. SHE LOST HER POSITION IN THE PARLIAMENT AND HER
ATTEMPT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT WAS BLOCKED BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN
KEPT OUT OF THE OFFICIAL POLITICAL SYSTEM. (SIGNED)
NEB/JG/GC/FC/RAE
09-Apr-98 7:45 AM EDT (1145 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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