The Problem The Responsible

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 disappeared and at least 6 people disappeared 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 East Timor, the deeds done by the military power are terrible! They created Military Operation Zones (DOM ) in those areas. They caught and kidnapped local people and accused them of being members of a "Liberation movement" or separatists.

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

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.