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DATE=5/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232079
TITLE=INDONESIA/DISAPPEARANCES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN RECENT WEEKS, AT LEAST 12 OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS IN 
INDONESIA HAVE BEEN REPORTED MISSING AS STUDENT-LED PROTESTS 
AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT SUHARTO GAINED MOMENTUM.  
INDONESIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE DESMOND MAHESA, WHO HEADS A 
LEGAL GROUP HELPING STUDENT ACTIVISTS, TOLD REPORTERS (TUESDAY) 
HE WAS ABDUCTED AND TORTURED AT A SECRET LOCATION BY MEN HE 
SUSPECTS WERE GOVERNMENT AGENTS.  MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT NICK 
SIMEONE IN JAKARTA.
TEXT:  DESMOND MAHESA IS THE SECOND PERSON TO COME FORWARD TO 
TELL A TALE OF ABDUCTION AT GUNPOINT, AND TORTURE BY PEOPLE HE 
BELIEVES ARE ACTING ON ORDERS FROM THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT.
MR. MAHESA DESCRIBED, TO A NEWS CONFERENCE, HOW HE WAS DETAINED 
FOR TWO-MONTHS AND GIVEN ELECTRIC SHOCKS AT AN UNDISCLOSED 
LOCATION WHERE HE SAID OTHER GOVERNMENT OPPONENTS WERE HELD.  HE 
COULD NOT SAY WHO DID THIS TO HIM, BUT HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS 
BELIEVE THESE KIDNAPPINGS ARE BEING CARRIED OUT BY GOVERNMENT 
AGENTS, SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT DENIES. 
LAST WEEK, OPPOSITION ACTIVIST PIUS LUSTRILANANG SPOKE ABOUT HIS 
ABDUCTION, A TWO-MONTH ORDEAL WHICH HE SAYS INCLUDED BEATINGS AND
ELECTRIC SHOCK AS WELL.  HE WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY HIS 
KIDNAPPERS EITHER, BUT SAID HE WAS RISKING HIS LIFE BY SPEAKING 
OUT.  
THESE ARE ONLY TWO OF AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISAPPEARED 
SINCE ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS BEGAN EARLY THIS YEAR IN 
INDONESIA.  A SPOKESMAN FOR A PRIVATE COMMISSION FOR MISSING 
PERSONS, WHO GOES BY THE NAME ROBET, LEFT LITTLE DOUBT HE 
BELIEVES INDONESIAN SECURITY FORCES HAVE A HAND IN THE 
DISAPPEARANCES.  
                         // ROBET ACT //
         WE BELIEVE THAT THE MILITARY STILL HAS A CONSCIENCE TO 
         BACK AND SUPPORT THE BASIC MORAL FOUNDATION OF OUR 
         NATION, AND WE STILL HOPE THEY WILL.  
                          // END ACT //
POLICE WERE PRESENT DURING TUESDAY'S NEWS CONFERENCE.  BUT AS ONE
MEMBER OF THE MISSING PERSONS GROUP PUT IT, WE DO NOT KNOW 
WHETHER THEY ARE HERE TO HELP US OR TO SPY ON US.   (SIGNED) 
NEB/NJS/RAE
12-May-98 12:29 PM EDT (1629 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.