Patrick Walker: A military trial in public is extremely rare

They all belonged to the Kopassus special unit, commanded by Mr Suharto's son-in-law, Lieutenant General Prabowo Subianto, at the time of the alleged crimes. He has also been implicated in the charges.

He was sacked from the army in August and left the country for Jordan which confirmed on Tuesday that it has granted him citizenship.

Military investigators said Mr Prabowo should face trial

The defendants have been linked to the kidnapping and torture of at least 23 activists. But the charges only involved the nine who have since surfaced with tales of torture and incarceration.

Human rights groups say one other has been found dead and 13 are still missing.

Prosecutor Harom Wijaya told the packed Jakarta courtroom that ringleader Major Bambang Wisyono had set up a special unit to kidnap people he saw as radicals threatening national security.

The crackdown on anti-Suharto activists was tagged Operation Rose.

"[Wisyono] instructed the other accused by telling them that this was a highly secretive operation to prevent radical movements," Mr Wijaya added.

But he made no mention of torture in reading out the charges against the 11 who face up to seven years if convicted.

The new government of President BJ Habibie ordered an inquiry into the abductions soon after Mr Suharto was forced out of office on 21 May amid political and economic turmoil.

An official report by Indonesian military investigators has recommended Mr Prabowo be court-martialled for his role in the disappearances.

Indonesian Justice Minister Muladi said the government had contacted its embassy in Amman about the disgraced army chief.

Allegations of a cover up

BBC Correspondent Patrick Walker says it is extremely rare for a military trial to be held in public.

He says President Habibie wants to demonstrate that he is taking steps to fight corruption.

But the human rights group, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence dismissed the court martial as a "political ploy" designed to protect higher officers.

It also objected to the trial being held before the 13 missing activists had been found.