1997–98 Activists Kidnappings in Indonesia

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.