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Speech on the 55 Session Un Human Right Commission

Prepared by : KONTRAS (The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence) Indonesia

Delivered by: Rafendi Djamin

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

On this opportunity, I will report and ask for world support to stop enforced and involuntary disappearance in Indonesia and to demand Indonesian government's responsibility on this issue.

When Soeharto came to power in 1965, thousands people disappeared due to the accusation of being a member of communist party. The practices of disappearance continued during Soeharto regime and after he stepped down. At the end of Soeharto regime, 21 students were reported disappear and at least 6 people disappear during the new government of Habibie. The practices of disappearance mostly exist because of the military role in politics.

The Indonesian military has a very extensive power ( almost without limitation ). The power divide Indonesia into military zones from the provincial level (called KODAM ) to the village level (called BABINSA). With teritorial power, military reach extends throughout the country. In the name of "security", arm forces can interrogate people without a clear reason. Especially in Aceh ( in the northern part of Indonesia ), West Papua (in eastern part of Indonesia) and Timor Leste, the deeds done by the military power are worst ! They created Military Operation Zones (DOM ) in those areas. They caught and kidnapped local people and accused them for being members of "Liberation movement" or as separatists.

The result of DOM is that about 700 people disappear in Aceh . In East Timor there is no accurate number of the total victims; but in Santa Cruz Massacre is more than hundreds disappeared on November 12, 1992. In Biak, West Papua during a flag-hoisting event on July 6, 1998 they report 6 persons is disappear.

During the New Order Regime under Soeharto, a popular political party lead by Megawati ( a female and daughter of the first president of Indonesia, Soekarno ) was also terrorized by military people in plain clothed. They attacked the Head Office of Megawati's party ( PDI Perjuangan ) and 21 persons missing ! And during the preparation time to a General Election 1997, the government ( using military power ) again has been doing the so called "cleansing" and 6 persons is missing until NOW !

To "secure" the General Asssembly held in March, 1998. The New Order Regim again and again doing the same bad deeds. Hundreds of activists were kidnapped. The activists were tortured and electrified to frighten all activists. The military power only reported 9 people they detained and all of them later released. And the other 3 activists still unknown about their lives or whereabouts.

Usually, the kidnapped persons or families do not dare to talk publicly ( they have been threatened by military personnel not to talk to the press ); but this time the 9 released activists gave a public statements about what really happened.

The Honorary Miltary Officers' Commission ( Dewan Kehormatan Perwira = DKP ) later declared that the Special Forces of the Army has kidnapped 9 persons and they already released. This Military Commission does not acknowledge the rest kidnapped persons; the fact is that all of the kidnapped persosns were detained in the complex of the Head Office of the Special Forces located in Cijantung, Jakarta East.

After Soeharto as president replaced by BJ Habibie nothing is changed. In the welknown "May Riot", May 1998, reported 3 students missing but until today no further news about those students. Until now, the Habibie's Government never shows a serious efforts to clear that problem of missing students. And the military power never mention about it in accordance with military activities during the May Riot.

This Report is a result of KONTRAS, the new establish commission for disappearences and victim of violence.

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Dear Sisters and Brothers of the world,

Disappeared persons in Indonesia is mainly done by the government and military power in:

Firstly, during the process of escalation of political situation such as General Election, to defend "status quo", general assembly, etc. Secondly, in the "mood" of created miltary zones by military Dual function (Dwifungsi ABRI).

In this opportunity, we, KONTRAS from Indonesia, ask strongly for the support given by the United Nations ( especially the Human Rights Commission ) to: Firstly, to follow-up the KONTRAS's last year Report ; connected with lives of many missing persons

Secondly, to send the UN-WEIGD to Indonesia to look for the whole truth about 13 missing persons and victims in Aceh, West Irian and Timor Leste.

Thirdly, to give serious sanctions to the Government of Indonesia, so that in the future such deeds can be avoided.