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Prabowo Subianto faces court challenge over alleged human rights abuses
ABC Radio Australia - May 21, 2014
Prabowo Subianto is one of two men vying to be Indonesian president after Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stands down later this year. He officially lodged his bid for presidency to great fanfare on Tuesday, with the backing of billionaires, media moguls, and a strong coalition of parties.
But a group of activist lawyers is launching a case aimed at forcing the Government to have him face a special human rights hearing. Lawyer Antoni Silo says Indonesia's parliament voted in favour of starting a human rights trial in 2009, but it has never been held.
"Along with others we demand that the human rights special hearing be opened, to resolve the case of kidnapping of 13 missing persons – because as of today it hasn't been resolved," he said.
"In 2009, there was a recommendation from the parliament, yet it remains a cold case, so we are as independent advocates [are] obligated to enforce the law as it has not yet been enforced."
It has been alleged that in 1998, just days before the fall of President Suharto's regime, troops under Prabowo Subianto's control were responsible for the kidnapping, alleged torture and disappearance of some student protestors. Prabowo was a military commander at the time.
Phillips Vermonte from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies says Prabowo has already admitted involvement in some kidnappings.
"Regardless of the fact that it has never been trialled, Prabowo Subianto acknowledged that he actually did kidnap some of the students," he said. "He admitted though that those who were with him went home out safely – they came out alive."
The ABC attempted to contact Prabowo Subianto and asked his campaign staff for comment about the case, but is yet to receive a response. He has previously been quoted as saying he was being made a scapegoat.
Prabowo Subianto has been trailing his opponent, Joko Widodo, in the opinion polls. Antoni Silo says it is a coincidence that the case was filed on the day Prabowo lodged his presidential bid.
"We're doing it because this case has been a cold case for 16 years," he said. "We frankly need to use the presidential election as a momentum [but] if we had more presidential candidates, we would still lodge this lawsuit. Whether or not Prabowo is a presidential candidate, we would still lodge this lawsuit."
But Phillips Vermonte has been expecting the presidential race get personal. "Now with only two pairs of candidates I think we can expect that the polarisation can be so deep because there is no third candidate that can play moderator," he said.
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