Suryadharma Plays Down Human Rights Issues Surrounding Prabowo
2 May 2014 11:48 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United Development Party (PPP) chairman Suryadharma Ali said he would still support Prabowo Subianto, the presidential candidate from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), despite the human rights issues plaguing the retired three-star general.
“That won’t affect my support for Prabowo,” said the religious affairs minister on Friday.
Some 23 NGOs have called on people to not forget the kidnapping of political activists in 1997-1998 allegedly committed by the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus), which was then spearheaded by Prabowo.
Suryadharma said he did not see any concern from Prabowo regarding that issue. “When one is haunted by something while making the first step, doubts will arise. I see no such things in Prabowo’s bid for presidency,” he said.
Suryadharma said Prabowo would not run for president if he was still overwhelmed by the alleged human rights violations against him. “It’s a controversial issue, so its authenticity is still questionable,” he said.
Gerindra chairman Suhardi said allegations of human rights violations targeting Prabowo had appeared frequently. “They have emerged a hundred, even a thousand times since 2009,” Suhardi said.
SINGGIH SOARES