Subject: Prabowo: Army star accused over kidnap of
dissidents
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 08:38:21 +0000
From: etio@ozemail.com.auMonday, August 10, 1998
GENERAL UNDER SPOTLIGHT
Army star accused over kidnap of dissidents
By ANDREW MARSHALL in Jakarta
Lieutenant-General Prabowo Subianto, a rising star in Indonesia's army until the
toppling of his father-in-law, former president Soeharto, takes the stand today in an
investigation into political kidnappings that could end his career.
The head of a special military board investigating the abduction and torture of
political activists in 1997 and early 1998 has already said the evidence points to Prabowo
having ordered the kidnappings, Indonesian newspapers reported.
Prabowo may also be questioned by a team investigating reports that the two-day spree
of looting, arson and rape that shook Jakarta in mid-May was incited by an organised
group.
Yesterday's Merdeka newspaper quoted Mr Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the fact-finding
team, as saying the high-ranking officers suspected of involvement in the abductions would
also be questioned in the riot investigation.
Analysts say the armed forces (ABRI) chief, General Wiranto, is likely to purge Prabowo
to improve the military's image and remove the threat of the ambitious lieutenant-general,
still chafing at his transfer from leading the army's elite units to heading a military
academy in Bandung, West Java.
Army sources say Prabowo was suspended from his job at the academy last week, pending
the results of the investigation.
General Wiranto said last week a board was being set up to investigate Prabowo and two
other senior officers, who have already been questioned.
"The testimony of the other officers showed Prabowo gave the instructions. He,
therefore, must be held responsible," the head of the military board, General Subagyo
Hadisiswoyo, was quoted as saying by Saturday's Jakarta Post newspaper.
The kidnappings of anti-Soeharto activists stretched from late last year until March,
two months before a rising tide of protest and unrest swept Mr Soeharto from power amid a
crippling economic crisis.
Prabowo was head of the Kopassus elite special forces when the kidnappings took place.
General Wiranto said last month Kopassus had been involved in the kidnappings, prompting
Prabowo to say he would take responsibility if there was proof his troops were involved.
Reuters
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