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Whereabouts of Widji Tukul, missing activists should be revealed: Jokowi
Presidential candidate Joko âJokowiâ Widodo has pledged to make past human rights abuse cases his priority if he is elected president
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P
residential candidate Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has pledged to make past human rights abuse cases his priority if he is elected president.
'We should find [missing poet] Wiji Thukul. We have to find all 13 [missing pro-democracy] activists. Whether [they are] dead or alive, whether there is reconciliation or not, everything should be crystal clear,' Jokowi told reporters at the Jokowi media center on Jl. Sukabumi, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Monday.
Jokowi was asked about his preparations prior to the official presidential debate to be held on Monday evening.
Monday's debate, which will be broadcast live by SCTV, Indosiar and BeritaSatu, will cover the candidates' respective visions, missions and programs on issues relating to democracy, clean governance and law and human rights.
Jokowi, a native of Surakarta, Central Java, from which the dissident poet also came, said he personally knew Wiji and his family.
'I knew him well. I know his wife, his children, where they live. I also admire his poems'those who are into poetry would. But the point is, we should be able to answer all the questions,' he said.
At least 13 people were abducted in 1997-1998 in the twilight of the New Order regime, including Wiji and activists of the People's Democratic Party (PRD): Suyat, Herman Hendrawan, Petrus Bima Anugerah, M. Yusuf, Ucok Munandar Siahaan, Yadin Muhidin and Hendra Hambali.
Some of those kidnapped during the period were released from captivity shortly before the resignation of Soeharto.
These include then chairman of the PRD, Budiman Sudjatmiko, now a lawmaker with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), student activist Andi Arief, now a special staffer for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and lawyer Desmond Mahesa, now a politician with presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto's Gerindra.
