tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9083592332331184648.post8096840931670364745..comments2024-03-23T02:47:06.479-07:00Comments on Kerry B. Collison Asia News: THIS IS A MUST READ about the former Indonesian General who just might become their next President!Kerry B. Collisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02939821793284561307noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9083592332331184648.post-20513161684808855782014-06-22T16:18:03.315-07:002014-06-22T16:18:03.315-07:00Calls Mount to Review Prabowo’s Eligibility
Right...Calls Mount to Review Prabowo’s Eligibility<br /><br />Rights activists have called for the presidential bid of the Gerindra Party’s Prabowo Subianto to be reviewed following revelations that he oversaw the kidnapping of pro-democracy activists in 1998.<br /><br />Prabowo’s involvement in the abductions was confirmed by former Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) commander Gen. (ret.) Wiranto, whose Hanura Party joined the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)-led coalition supporting presidential candidate Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.<br /><br />Wiranto, who was a member of the ABRI Officers Ethics Council (ABRI DKP) in 1998, on Thursday revealed that Prabowo, who was then Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus) chief, ordered the kidnapping based on his own volition.<br /><br />Setara Institute chairman Hendardi said that Wiranto’s statements should be used as the impetus to evaluate Prabowo’s candidacy.<br /><br />“The General Elections Commission [KPU] has a responsibility to evaluate the eligibility of Prabowo as a candidate,” Hendardi said in a statement.<br /><br />Setara also called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take measures against Prabowo.<br /><br />“The onus is on the President to reveal the ABRI DKP document [concerning Prabowo’s dismissal from the military service] and to act upon the House of Representatives’ recommendation to establish a human rights court,” Hendardi said.<br /><br />Yudhoyono was among the signatories of the ABRI DKP document, which issued a recommendation that Prabowo be dismissed from the military service for being complicit in the kidnapping, insubordination and disregard for the military code.<br /><br />On Friday, Jokowi launched a thinly veiled attack on Prabowo by vowing to resolve the kidnapping case.<br /><br />“The case must be resolved until everything is settled. Then, we can go to settlement through political reconciliation,” Jokowi told reporters in Surakarta, Central Java, on Friday.<br /><br />Jokowi, however, declined to comment when asked if the settlement would involve Prabowo.<br /><br />“The most important point is to clear up everything related to the case. I am optimistic [the case can be resolved] because many of those involved are still alive,” he said.<br /><br />Also on Friday, Prabowo’s campaign team held a press conference to respond to Wiranto’s statement.<br /><br />A member of Prabowo’s campaign team and Golkar Party senior politician, Marwah Daud Ibrahim, displayed two official letters insisting that Prabowo was not involved in the abductions.<br /><br />The two documents were Presidential Decree No. 62/ABRI/1998, which stated that Prabowo was honorably discharged and the second letter, which was written by then state secretary Muladi to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), claiming Prabowo’s innocence.<br /><br />“These two letters have the highest authority, while the ABRI DKP document was only a recommendation,” Marwah said.<br /><br />In spite of the claim, program director of human rights watchdog Imparsial, Al Araf, urged Komnas HAM to summon Prabowo and a number of retired military officials to gather information regarding the involuntary disappearances.<br /><br />“This case is far from over. The whereabouts of 13 activists are still unknown. The President needs to establish an ad hoc court for the kidnapping. Komnas HAM must summon Prabowo and other officials,” he said. The Jakarta Post Yuliasri Perdani and Ina Parlina, Jakarta<br /><br />Kerry B. Collisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02939821793284561307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9083592332331184648.post-405308019202259242014-06-22T16:06:21.063-07:002014-06-22T16:06:21.063-07:00PRABOWO’S BAGGAGE
THE abduction of pro-democracy ...PRABOWO’S BAGGAGE<br /><br />THE abduction of pro-democracy activists in 1998 caused a rift between military officers Fachrul Razi and Syamsu Djalal. Syamsu Djalal, who at the time was commander of the Military Police, holding the rank of major-general, tried to have Prabowo Subianto court-martialed. But Fachrul Razi, who at that time was the Armed Forces (ABRI) chief of general staff with the rank of lieutenant-general, prevented him from doing so.<br /><br />"The initial evidence that Prabowo was the brains behind the abductions was very strong," said Syamsu Djalal in an interview last week. Fachrul and Syamsu are presently aligned with the supporters of presidential candidate Joko Widodo.<br /><br />At that time, the Military Police under Syamsu set out to investigate the abduction case. Some people were ready to testify, including nine activists who had been abducted by the Special Forces' Rose Team and the Dove team, led by Colonel Chairiawan and Major Bambang Kristiono respectively, who were subordinates of Special Forces Commander, Lt. Gen. Prabowo.<br /><br />Because the Military Police came under the coordination of the chief of general staff, the case was first discussed by Fachrul and Syamsu, before being approved by ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto. Fachrul asked that the case be handled by the Officers Honor Council. Syamsu threw his hands up. "If at some point this decision is questioned, Pak Fachrul will have to take responsibility for it," said Syamsu, recalling what he said back then.<br /><br />Fachrul felt that this case could quickly be resolved if it was taken directly to the Council. That is why the investigation only focused on the nine activists who had returned. "If it included the 13 activists who were missing, it would have taken a long time to settle," said Fachrul. Yet, he said, a decision needed to be made quickly in order to restore ABRI's reputation, which had been damaged by the abductions.<br /><br />Fachrul also considered Prabowo's position as an in-law of Suharto. Even though he was no longer president when the abduction case was revealed, Suharto was still respected in the Indonesian Military (TNI). "I told the commander of the Military Police: the chief of general staff will take responsibility," said Fachrul, who went on to reach the rank of TNI deputy chief commander.<br /><br />The ABRI commander appointed officers with a minimal rank of three-star general to try Prabowo, who at that time was commander of the ABRI Staff and Command School. The Officers Honor Council was led by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo and his deputy, Fachrul Razi. Its members included Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Kartanegara, Lt. Gen. Arie J. Kumaat and Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago.<br /><br />During the three days of questioning, said Fachrul, Prabowo was initially evasive about ordering the abductions. Later, after admitting to it, Prabowo claimed to have abducted activists "in the name of national security". Prabowo never once mentioned Suharto as having given the order. "So why is someone who has died now being blamed?" said Fachrul.<br /><br /><br />Kerry B. Collisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02939821793284561307noreply@blogger.com