TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Several relatives to the victims of the 1997/1998 activist kidnappings and disappearances declared to not vote for presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, who they deemed as a severe human rights violator.

The conference glaringly entitled “Give us back our friends, make the human rights violator lose the presidential election” was attended by relatives of known people who are still missing to this day and those who have returned.

They consist of Paian Siahaan and his wife (parents to Ucok Munandar Siahaan), Utomo Rahardjo (father of Petrus Bimo Anugerah), Suyadi (Suyat’s elder sibling), Ma'rufah (mother of Faisol Riza), Budiarti (mother of Leonardus "Gilang" Nugroho Iskandar), and Wahyu Susilo (younger sibling of renowned Wiji Thukul).

Utomo Rahardjo said that he could not imagine if Prabowo is elected as president and expressed his hopes to help re-elect incumbent Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and help solve the case of disappearing activists which are still fighting for their rights for 21 tireless years.

The victims’ families were accompanied by three of nine survivors of the notorious politically-motivated 1997/1998 kidnapping victims, such as Mugiyanto, Faisol Riza, dan Aan Rusdianto.

In the conference, they mentioned Prabowo Subianto’s involvement in the kidnapping of pro-democracy activists and expressed the better possibility of the cases being solved under Jokowi’s second administration.

“Pak Prabowo becoming president means there will be no hope of solving the case,” said Paian.

Tempo continues to reach Prabowo Subianto’s camp for comments and confirmation.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI