Exclusive | Indonesia election: Concerns over Prabowo Subianto’s human rights record a ‘five-yearly issue’, says Sandiaga Uno
- A group of activists were kidnapped by a military special forces team led by former general Prabowo around the end of 1997
- Sandiaga Uno has defended his running mate, saying Prabowo has never been prosecuted over the scandal
A group of 23 students, activists and critics were kidnapped by soldiers from “Team Rose” – an infamous unit of Indonesia’s special forces led by Prabowo, then a three-star general – during the twilight years of former strongman Suharto’s 32-year rule in late 1997 and early 1998.
Suharto, the former father-in-law of Prabowo, was forced from office in May 1998 after months of student-led protests that plunged Indonesia into chaos – an event known as the country’s Reformasi [Reform] era.
Prabowo was dismissed from the military during that time, and the kidnapping cases have never been resolved – despite incumbent President Joko Widodo’s promises to address past human rights cases.
“We’ve already had five governments [since Reformasi]. They all had the chance to prosecute [Prabowo]. No one has done anything, including the current government,” Sandiaga told This Week in Asia after a campaign in the city of Bandar Lampung, south Sumatra.
“People believe that it’s a five-yearly issue. What matters is how we can listen to the people, be authentic, and fight for what they want the government to focus on – which is jobs and prices [of staple goods],” he said.
“People should look into [candidates’] track records. I don’t have past burdens, I don’t have any of those. I repeat, I don’t have burdens from the past,” Widodo said to loud cheers from his supporters.
Indonesia election ‘not about religion’, says Sandiaga. It’s about the economy
Asked about the amount he has spent on the campaign, Sandiaga, a successful entrepreneur with a wealth of US$349 million, did not confirm the US$100-million figure reported in a recent Bloomberg article, saying that it was “speculation”.
“I’ve told everybody I will spend as much as I need to get us competitive, and we are now very competitive,” said the vice-presidential candidate.
He confirmed he had sold some of his shares in private equity firm Saratoga Investama, which he co-founded in 1997, and was satisfied the “sums spent for the campaign are well-spent”.
“Seven or eight months ago, nobody would have thought that we would be in this position,” Sandiaga said. “We are focusing on making the right choices for the people. And the choices are very clear: [do they] want to continue with what they’re having today, or do they want a change for a better Indonesia?”
