Jakarta probes missing activists

The 1997-98 riots left hundreds dead or missing

Three Indonesian generals are to be questioned over the fate of 14 rights activists missing since the last months of former President Suharto's rule.

The generals include former armed forces chief General Wiranto, who ran unsuccessfully for president last year.

The missing activists disappeared between April 1997 and May 1998, during unrest which triggered Suharto's fall.

The armed forces have regularly been accused of systematic human rights abuses during Suharto's 32-year-rule.

In addition to Gen Wiranto, the others who face questioning are Prabowo Subianto, former chief of the Army Special Forces [Kopassus] and Strategic Reserve Command [Kostrad], and Syafrie Syamsuuddin, former Jakarta military commander.

Gens Prabowo and Syafrie had been summoned to appear before the National Commission on Human Rights on Friday, and Gen Wiranto on 10 June.

Between April 1997 and May 1998, 24 Indonesian human rights activists went missing.

One of them was found dead, and nine others eventually reappeared, claiming they had been tortured and abused by their military abductors.

Gen Wiranto is the most high profile figure to be summoned

Fourteen people are still missing, and the human rights commission is attempting to discover their fate.

The commission is conducting its inquiry in co-operation with the attorney general's office and the national police.

"We hope that all sides could have an open mind and give balanced information so that the problem could really be revealed, said commission member Ruswiati Suryasaputra.

Suharto was forced to resign in May 1998 after spiralling prices sparked by the Asian financial crisis and political discontent sparked months of riots.