InfoAnda - Kidnapper recruits victims in Indonesia vote

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

McCartney hints at mythical Beatles track release | Entertainment | | 17 November 2008
China cuts its holdings of U.S. debt | 19 October 2011
Latin American Governments Criticized In Wikileaks Documents | 30 November 2010

Japan's central bank keeps key rate unchanged | 22 January 2009

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Kidnapper recruits victims in Indonesia vote

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Search Search: Kidnapper recruits victims in Indonesia vote AFP - Monday, March 23 JAKARTA (AFP) - - A former Indonesian general running for the country's presidency has gone to unusual lengths to shake a bloody reputation for human rights abuse, by recruiting activists he kidnapped 11 years ago. ADVERTISEMENT Prabowo Subianto, the former head of the country's notorious Kopassus special forces, is hoping the three activists will be his secret weapon as he leads his Gerindra Party into legislative elections next month. The activists were plucked from the streets in the dying days of the Suharto military dictatorship in 1998, interrogated and -- for the most part -- tortured by Prabowo's men. But they say they have no problems supporting Prabowo, who is hoping a strong showing in the April polls will boost his chances in presidential elections in July. "I'll work with anyone, be they Prabowo or Satan, so long as they have the same political principles as me and my friends," said Haryanto Taslam, who was once jailed by Prabowo's men and now heads Gerindra's media centre. "He's admitted his mistakes and apologised to me, so I think what can I make a fuss about," asked Taslam, a former legislator for the Democratic Party of Struggle of ex-president Megawati Sukarnoputri, who is also making a comeback bid for president. Such backing is music to Prabowo's ears. The ex-general, who was once married to a daughter of Suharto and considered by some heir apparent to the strongman, stands accused of a string of rights abuses. He has denied accusations that he organised terror squads in East Timor during Indonesia's bloody 24-year occupation and that he orchestrated riots and mass rapes of ethnic Chinese women in Jakarta prior to Suharto's fall. But he has not shied away from responsibility for the kidnappings, telling foreign journalists last month his "conscience is clear" over the abductions and joking about the motives of the victims backing him. "Some people say it's Stockholm syndrome, but I would say that they know the real story and in fact many of them told me they were glad being in the hands of soldiers under General Prabowo," he said. Prabowo is hoping to get enough support in next month's legislative poll to push him into contention for a July presidential vote against a likely field of challengers including incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a liberal ex-general. The kidnap victims are key to that plan. Of the 23 activists abducted in 1997 and 1998, one is known to be dead, 13 are missing, and three are with Gerindra. Desmond Mahesa, a lawyer abducted and held for two months by Prabowo's men who is now one of two legislative candidates for Gerindra, said he does not absolve Prabowo of responsibility. But he says Prabowo was just one of many who were involved in the abductions. "Every military official working then was involved in the kidnappings," Mahesa said, including Yudhoyono and ex-armed forces chief Wiranto, also a presidential contender. Prabowo was simply saddled with all the blame after losing out in the palace power struggle that followed Suharto's fall, Mahesa said. "There are few people as brave as Prabowo in acknowledging they were involved in the kidnappings," he said. But not all victims are convinced. Raharja Waluya Jati was held in a cell for 45 days and tortured in what he suspects, but is not sure, was Kopassus headquarters. At night, he communicated by yelling down the hall to the three kidnap victims now with Gerindra, and to friends who never returned. "Prabowo needs the victims to get legitimacy and wash his bloody hands," Jati said, adding the alliance was likely motivated by the victims' own thirst for political power. "I have four friends still missing now and when I talk to their families they just want to know about their sons. Prabowo knows about everything, including my friends who are still missing." Jati, now a human rights campaigner, said another explanation of Prabowo's appeal to the former leftist activists could be Gerindra's unique brand of populism. The party, founded only last year, has positioned itself as a critic of the free market and champion of the poor, despite its standard-bearer's penchant for playing polo. It has also loudly proclaimed its support of Indonesian secularism and criticised Yudhoyono's failure to tackle head-on the country's Islamic extremist fringe. This move towards the secular and stridently nationalist end of the political spectrum was signalled by the recruitment of Permadi, a former top lawmaker for Megawati and a democracy activist. Permadi, a renowned paranormal and practitioner of ancient, pre-Islamic Javanese mysticism, said Prabowo's history of rights abuses should not disqualify him from the presidency. "Why shouldn't someone with a dark past have a bright future?" asked Permadi in his party office, which is adorned with traditional kris daggers reputedly imbued with magic powers. Permadi compared Prabowo to the ancient Javanese king Ken Arok, a thief who according to legend rose from poverty to the throne with the aid of cunning and black magic. "What was Ken Arok like when he was young? A bastard, a rapist, a thief, a murderer. But when he became a king he was amazing, he became a just and wise king who started the bloodline of Javanese kings up to today," he said. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (0 votes) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: Indonesia Indonesian women lambast discriminating lawsAP - Tuesday, March 24 Hip-hop group N.E.R.D. a no-show in IndonesiaAP - Monday, March 23 Kidnapper recruits victims in Indonesia voteAFP - Monday, March 23 Indonesia's president campaigns in BaliAFP - Sunday, March 22 Related Articles: Asia Pacific Australia's Big Pineapple wins heritage listingAFP - Tuesday, March 24 NKorea's 'thin Kim' triples public activitiesAFP - Tuesday, March 24 Taiwan fires pro-China officialAP - Tuesday, March 24 Tibet protest sparked by row over flag: exilesAFP - Monday, March 23 Troops patrolling Tibetan town in northwest ChinaAP - Monday, March 23 Enlarge Photo Kidnapper recruits victims in Indonesia vote Related Full Coverage Suharto Former Indonesian president All Full Coverage Most Popular – Asia Pacific Viewed British reality TV star Jade Goody dies of cancer Prince Charles blue over green crusade Madoff loses bail appeal as victims' rage revealed Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan Opel boss hints at closing German plants View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Monday, 23 March 2009
U.S. says Iraqi prisoners to be freed or charged | International |
Guatemala to open mass grave in search for war dead | International |
Czech government MP will push to topple government on Tues | International |
Knowing tops weekend box office | Entertainment |
U.S. to put exit strategy in Afghanistan policy | International |
In Afghanistan, US military's `Help Wanted' sign
Riot shows desperate Tibetans may defy security | International |
Netanyahu recruits Shas party for Israel coalition | International |
U.S. says Iraqi prisoners to be freed or charged
Mumbai attack trial begins, gunman says from Pakistan | International |
NATO soldier dies in Afghanistan
Professor takes lead after peaceful Macedonia vote | International |
British reality TV star Jade Goody dies of cancer
US-led raid kills five Afghan civilians: officials
U.S. says Iraqi prisoners to be freed or charged | International |
Iran sets terms for U.S. ties
Global downturn threatens Cambodian garment success | International |
Iraqi VP calls for wise economic policy amid woes
FedEx plane crashes on landing in Tokyo, two dead | International |
Skype targets corporate market: report | Technology |
US pursues charges in 2007 attack in Iraq
Poland hopes U.S. will not let it down on shield
UK reality TV star dies of cancer amid media blitz | Entertainment |
Fox wants more of Gordon Ramsay | Entertainment |
Pakistani leaders reconcile as top judge reinstated
Japanese military assumes more global role
Seven hurt in Philippines blast: police
More than 1,100 civilians escape S.Lanka war zone
7 militants get life terms for Bangladesh bombings
US, disputing Afghans, says raid killed militants
Japan's economy 'needs big stimulus'
Natasha Richardson buried near upstate NY home
Reality TV star Jade Goody dies of cancer
"Knowing" tops box office
Acts twitter at SXSW, in interviews and on stage
Sci-fi thriller "Knowing" tops weekend box office
Taliban kill eight Afghan police: commander
US Afghan plan must have 'exit strategy': Obama
Lebanon bomb kills senior Fatah official, 4 others | International |
Israel, Hamas say talks on prisoner swap not over
U.S. sought ex-Guantanamo detainee's silence: court | International |
US to spend 500 bln to clean toxic assets
Madagascar leader's opponents launch protests | International |
Government won't take all the risk: Geithner
ECB's Trichet: no more stimulus spending needed
Obama warns of collapse if big institution fails
UAE investment fund takes 9.1 pct stake in Daimler
Sudan's Bashir visits Eritrea despite ICC warrant | International |
WTO's Lamy presses U.S. as world trade tumbles | International |
Kids among 17 killed in US plane crash
Nokia drops N73 model from gaming service plans | Technology |
Obama team sees U.S. rebound this year
The Nano, world's cheapest car, to hit Indian roads | Technology |
Under Obama, US drops hostility to ICC: experts
Japan robot model no challenge yet to human rivals | Technology |
US stimulus money fuels 'smart' power grid surge
US to publish torture details: report
Russia region chief quits after ruling party row
Auschwitz museum struggles to preserve site
Knowing tops weekend box office | Entertainment |
Sopranos star Gandolfini a hit on Broadway | Entertainment |
Australia's Big Pineapple wins heritage listing
Harrison Ford proposes to Calista Flockhart: People | Entertainment |
NKorea's 'thin Kim' triples public activities
Taiwan fires pro-China official
Tibet protest sparked by row over flag: exiles
Troops patrolling Tibetan town in northwest China
Indonesian zoo welcomes 32 newborn Komodo dragons
Four Bangladesh 'mutineers' die in custody
Philippine general takes leave during hostage crisis
Hip-hop group N.E.R.D. a no-show in Indonesia
Mitsubishi UFJ to cut 1,000 jobs, close 50 branches
Japan ship shot at off Somalia
US Treasuries still key to China investment plan
Seoul shares hit 6-wk closing high as banks rally
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
FACTBOX-S.Korea govt, party agree on $13 bln new spending
Chinese massacre movies clear censors
Japanese business confidence at new low: survey
Big news year boosts `60 Minutes'
S.Korea lenders mulling private bad bank in April
'God of Carnage' hilariously trashes civility
Seoul shares up as financials rise on US bank hopes
SXSW ends as buzz grows for bands who impressed
India's Tata Motors to launch $2,000 Nano
Harrison Ford proposes to Calista Flockhart: People
Minister: China still welcomes foreign investment
China to be flexible at Doha talks: state media
Kidnapper recruits victims in Indonesia vote
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01