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1997–98 Activists Kidnappings in Indonesia

UNSOLVED1997Jakarta, Indonesia3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Between the 1997 Indonesian legislative election and the fall of President Suharto in May 1998, pro-democracy activists in Indonesia were subjected to a wave of abductions carried out by state forces. The kidnappings occurred in three phases: before the May 1997 legislative elections, roughly two months before the March 1998 People's Consultative Assembly session, and in the period immediately preceding Suharto's resignation on 21 May 1998. Activists abducted in the first and third phases have never reappeared, while some abducted during the second phase were later released and have spoken publicly about their experiences.

KONTRAS, the Indonesian Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, documented 23 people abducted by the state during this period. Of these, nine were released, one — Leonardus Gilang — was found dead, and 13 remain missing. The released activists include Desmond Junaidi Mahesa, Haryanto Taslam, Rahardjo Walujo Djati, Pius Lustrilanang, Faisol Reza, Nezar Patria, Aan Rusdianto, Mugianto, and Andi Arief. The 13 still missing include Petrus Bimo Anugrah, Herman Hendrawan, Suyat, the poet Wiji Thukul, Yani Afri, Sonny, Dedi Hamdun, Noval Al Katiri, Ismail, Mundandar Ucok Siahaan, Hendra Hambali, Yadin Muhidin, and Abdun Nasser. Victims described being held in confined spaces, poisoned, and tortured during detention.

The abductions have been attributed to members of Kopassus, the Indonesian Army's special forces, and specifically to a unit known as Team Mawar within Kopassus Group IV, then commanded by Bambang Kristiono. In April 1999, a military tribunal (Mahmilti II) found 11 Team Mawar members guilty and sentenced them to terms of up to 22 months, with several discharged from the army; the Supreme Court appeal outcome was never made public. General Wiranto, then Armed Forces Commander, acknowledged Kopassus's involvement following an internal military inquiry in August 1998. Then-Kostrad commander Prabowo Subianto was removed from his posts and dismissed from the army after admitting responsibility to a military investigation team, though he later denied direct responsibility in a 2014 public letter; the Veterans Association chairman stated Prabowo told him he had been ordered by Suharto to carry out the kidnappings.

Families of the missing organized as the Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared (IKOHI) and pressed for government accountability. Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights investigated the disappearances from October 2005 to October 2006, concluding there was evidence of human rights violations, and submitted findings to the Attorney General in 2006 with a recommendation to establish an investigative team, citing sufficient preliminary evidence of crimes against humanity. As of the reported record, no further prosecutions had resolved the outstanding cases of the 13 missing activists, and in 2020 two former Team Mawar members were appointed to strategic defense ministry posts.

Key facts

Victims
Andi Arief, Nezar Patria, Noval Al Katiri, Leonardus Gilang, Faisol Reza, Dedi Hamdun, Desmond Junaidi Mahesa, Pius Lustrilanang, Rahardjo Walujo Djati, Yadin Muhidin, Mugiyanto, Hendra Hambali, Mundandar Ucok Siahaan, Wiji Thukul, Herman Hendrawan, Haryanto Taslam, Suyat, Yani Afri, Ismail, Aan Rusdianto, Petrus Bimo Anugrah, Abdun Nasser, Sonny
Date
1997
Location
Jakarta, Indonesia
Case status
unsolved

Case timeline

  1. 1997-04-26

    Yani Afri and Sonny, supporters of Megawati's PDI Pro Mega, disappear in Jakarta.

  2. 1997-05-29

    Dedi Hamdun, Noval Al Katiri, and Ismail disappear in Jakarta.

  3. 1998-01-10

    Poet and activist Wiji Thukul disappears in Jakarta.

  4. 1998-02-02

    Pius Lustrilanang is kidnapped in front of RSCM hospital in Jakarta.

  5. 1998-02-04

    Desmond Junaidi Mahesa is kidnapped at the Nusantara Legal Aid Institute, Jakarta.

  6. 1998-02-12

    SMID activist Suyat disappears in Solo.

  7. 1998-03-12

    Rahardjo Walujo Djati, Faisol Reza, and Herman Hendrawan are kidnapped after a press conference at RSCM/Legal Aid Foundation KNPD, Jakarta.

  8. 1998-03-13

    Nezar Patria, Aan Rusdianto, and Mugianto are kidnapped in the Klender apartment block, Jakarta.

  9. 1998-03-28

    Andi Arief is kidnapped in Lampung.

  10. 1998-03-30

    Petrus Bimo Anugrah disappears in Jakarta.

  11. 1998-05-14

    Mundandar Ucok Siahaan, Yadin Muhidin, and Abdun Nasser disappear during Jakarta riots.

  12. 1998-05-15

    Hendra Hambali disappears in Glodok, Jakarta.

  13. 1998-05-21

    President Suharto resigns.

  14. 1998-08-21

    Officers' Honorary Council questions three senior Kopassus officers, including former commander Prabowo Subianto.

  15. 1999-04-06

    Military tribunal finds 11 Kopassus/Team Mawar members guilty, sentencing them to jail terms of up to 22 months.

  16. 2005-10

    National Commission on Human Rights begins investigation into the forced disappearances.

  17. 2006-10

    National Commission on Human Rights concludes its investigation into the disappearances.

  18. 2006-12-22

    Human Rights Commission asks Indonesian House of Representatives to urge the President to resolve the case.

  19. 2007-02-07

    House Speaker Agung Laksono asks President Yudhoyono to order the Attorney General to conduct further investigations.

  20. 2014-05-07

    Civil Society Coalition Against Forgetting visits Komnas HAM to urge re-investigation of Prabowo Subianto.

  21. 2020-09-25

    President Joko Widodo appoints six military officers, including two former Team Mawar members, to strategic Defense Ministry posts.

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People

  • Budi Harto

    CONVICTED

    Infantry Captain in Team Mawar; sentenced to 20 months in prison and discharged from active service by military tribunal in 1999.

  • Andi Arief

    VICTIM

    Kidnapped in Lampung, March 28, 1998; later released.

  • Fauka Noor Farid

    CONVICTED

    Infantry Captain sentenced to one year and four months in prison by military tribunal in 1999; retained army position.

  • Nezar Patria

    VICTIM

    Kidnapped in the Klender apartment block, March 13, 1998; later released.

  • Noval Al Katiri

    VICTIM

    PPP activist; disappeared in Jakarta on May 29, 1997, and remains missing.

  • Fausani Syahrial Multhazar

    CONVICTED

    Team Mawar Deputy Commander; sentenced to 20 months in prison and discharged from active service by military tribunal in 1999.

  • Leonardus Gilang

    VICTIM

    Abducted activist found dead; one of 23 activists documented by KONTRAS as abducted during 1997-98.

  • Bambang Kristiono

    CONVICTED

    Commander of Team Mawar; sentenced by military tribunal to 22 months in jail and expelled from the army in April 1999.

  • Faisol Reza

    VICTIM

    Kidnapped at RSCM after a press conference, Jakarta, March 12, 1998; later released.

  • Dedi Hamdun

    VICTIM

    Businessman active in PPP and Mega Bintang 1997 campaign; disappeared in Jakarta on May 29, 1997, and remains missing.

  • Desmond Junaidi Mahesa

    VICTIM

    Kidnapped at the Nusantara Legal Aid Institute, Jakarta, on February 4, 1998; later released.

  • Dada Hendra Yuda

    CONVICTED

    Infantry Captain sentenced to one year and four months in prison by military tribunal in 1999; retained army position.

  • Pius Lustrilanang

    VICTIM

    Kidnapped in front of RSCM hospital after a press conference, Jakarta, February 2, 1998; later released.

  • Rahardjo Walujo Djati

    VICTIM

    Kidnapped at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital after a press conference, Jakarta, March 12, 1998; later released.

  • Yadin Muhidin

    VICTIM

    Sailing School student; arrested by North Jakarta Police and disappeared on May 14, 1998; remains missing.

  • Mugiyanto

    VICTIM

    Kidnapped in Jakarta on March 13, 1998, allegedly taken to Kopassus headquarters; later released and gave public testimony.

  • Hendra Hambali

    VICTIM

    High school student; disappeared in Glodok, Jakarta, May 15, 1998, and remains missing.

  • Mundandar Ucok Siahaan

    VICTIM

    Student; kidnapped during Jakarta riots on May 14, 1998, and remains missing.

  • Sigit Sugianto

    CONVICTED

    Sergeant sentenced to one year in prison by military tribunal in 1999.

  • Wiji Thukul

    VICTIM

    Poet and activist from Jaker organisation; disappeared in Jakarta on January 10, 1998, and remains missing.

  • Djaka Budi Utama

    CONVICTED

    Infantry Captain sentenced to one year and four months in prison by military tribunal in 1999; retained army position.

  • Wiranto

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Armed Forces Commander/Defense Minister during the kidnappings; acknowledged Kopassus's involvement in the abductions following military investigation.

  • Herman Hendrawan

    VICTIM

    Airlangga University student; disappeared after a press conference on March 12, 1998, and remains missing.

  • Haryanto Taslam

    VICTIM

    Abducted activist who was later released.

  • Suyat

    VICTIM

    SMID activist; disappeared in Solo on February 12, 1998, and remains missing.

  • Sukadi

    CONVICTED

    Sergeant sentenced to one year in prison by military tribunal in 1999.

  • Yani Afri

    VICTIM

    Driver and supporter of Megawati's PDI Pro Mega; disappeared in Jakarta on April 26, 1997, and remains missing.

  • Ismail

    VICTIM

    Disappeared in Jakarta on May 29, 1997, and remains missing.

  • Aan Rusdianto

    VICTIM

    Kidnapped in the Klender apartment block, March 13, 1998; later released.

  • Petrus Bimo Anugrah

    VICTIM

    Airlangga University and STF Driyarkara student; disappeared in Jakarta on March 30, 1998, and remains missing.

  • Sulistiyo Budi Nugroho

    CONVICTED

    Infantry Captain in Team Mawar; sentenced to 20 months in prison and discharged from active service by military tribunal in 1999.

  • Abdun Nasser

    VICTIM

    Contractor; disappeared during Jakarta riots on May 14, 1998, and remains missing.

  • Sunaryo

    CONVICTED

    Sergeant sentenced to one year in prison by military tribunal in 1999.

  • Sonny

    VICTIM

    Driver and supporter of Megawati's PDI Pro Mega; disappeared in Jakarta on April 26, 1997, and remains missing.

  • Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission in 2006; requested the Attorney General establish an investigative team based on Commission findings.

  • Prabowo Subianto

    CHARGED

    Former Kopassus commander and Kostrad commander; questioned by a military honorary council in August 1998, admitted responsibility to a military investigation team, and was dismissed from the army; not tried in a civilian court, and later denied direct responsibility publicly in 2014.

  • Yulius Selvanus

    CONVICTED

    Infantry Captain in Team Mawar; sentenced to 20 months in prison and discharged from active service by military tribunal in 1999.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Jakarta, Indonesia

-6.2088, 106.8456

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Between 1997 and 1998, 23 pro-democracy activists were abducted by Indonesian state forces during the final years of Suharto's New Order regime; nine were released, one was found dead, and 13 remain missing to this day.
Where did the crime happen?
Jakarta, Indonesia.
Who was convicted?
Budi Harto (Infantry Captain in Team Mawar; sentenced to 20 months in prison and discharged from active service by military tribunal in 1999.), Fauka Noor Farid (Infantry Captain sentenced to one year and four months in prison by military tribunal in 1999; retained army position.), Fausani Syahrial Multhazar (Team Mawar Deputy Commander; sentenced to 20 months in prison and discharged from active service by military tribunal in 1999.), Bambang Kristiono (Commander of Team Mawar; sentenced by military tribunal to 22 months in jail and expelled from the army in April 1999.), Dada Hendra Yuda (Infantry Captain sentenced to one year and four months in prison by military tribunal in 1999; retained army position.), Sigit Sugianto (Sergeant sentenced to one year in prison by military tribunal in 1999.), Djaka Budi Utama (Infantry Captain sentenced to one year and four months in prison by military tribunal in 1999; retained army position.), Sukadi (Sergeant sentenced to one year in prison by military tribunal in 1999.), Sulistiyo Budi Nugroho (Infantry Captain in Team Mawar; sentenced to 20 months in prison and discharged from active service by military tribunal in 1999.), Sunaryo (Sergeant sentenced to one year in prison by military tribunal in 1999.), and Yulius Selvanus (Infantry Captain in Team Mawar; sentenced to 20 months in prison and discharged from active service by military tribunal in 1999.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: unsolved.
More cases in Indonesia

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDIC1997–98 activists kidnappings in IndonesiaWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The GuardianThe Guardian · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — peace.home.xs4all.nlpeace.home.xs4all.nl · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 10, 2026