Mawar Team And Kidnapping Of 1998 Activists

Pin picture of victims of the 1998 Reformation incident used by the 1998 Napak Tilas Reform participants at Purwoloyo Cemetery, Solo, Central Java, on November 27, 2019. (Between)

JAKARTA - Suharto and the New Order (Orba) are known to be good at utilizing military forces. The recitation was used to repulse their political opponents. The element of the military as a 'carp who hit' the regime became increasingly visible before Suharto stepped down. The presence of the Mawar Team, for example.

A series of Special Forces Command (Kopassus) officers have a special mission: to protect Suharto's power. Anyone who opposes the New Order's power will be kidnapped by the Mawar Team. Mainly, those who are considered radicals. Some are returned, some are missing.

The New Order government was once considered a new hope. They are hailed as corrupt and repressive Old Order government anti-thesis. In fact, time proves that the New Order and the Old Order are not much different, even the New Order is worse.

The freedom of expression echoed at the beginning of President Suharto's power was no longer heard. The New Order actually appeared repressive. They refuse to accept all forms of criticism. Because, the only thing that New Order understands is that its power must be smooth.

The narrative made the New Order strengthen the three pillars of government. The Golkar Party, bureaucracy, and the Military (ABRI). Military forces are the most vital. They are used to secure the country from all criticisms of activists and students.

Whoever dares to fight the New Order, will surely be secured. The military then became the one who played the most roles as a 'alat' to beat the people. The military can force the people to give up their land for development, and the military can force their political opponents to deter Suharto from vilifying.

This terror option made Suharto and New Order able to dominate every election event since 1971. The people were forced and threatened to choose a ruling party. Thejian made the New Order above the wind. Instead, many high-ranking military officials were appointed as state officials. It is also one of the reasons for rampant corruption in Indonesia.

Therefore, since 1971, Golkar has been a pillar of government power. All New Order policies were created by Golkar and implemented by the military and bureaucrats. For decades in power, Golkar cadres have controlled important positions in executive, legislative, and judicial institutions, both central and regionally.

Golkar's victory in every election is supported by acts of political and military violence. Military violence during the New Order era is aimed at controlling and mobilizing voters to win Golkar. The people are forced and threatened with choosing Golkar. Thus, the Golkar elites can certainly be elected to represent the people in running the government system, including in local government," said Admiral Sukardi in the book Behind the 1998 Reformation (2018).

The leadership of Suharto and the New Order is increasingly threatened ahead of the 1997 General Election. Moreover, at that time the economic recession began to hit Indonesia. The New Order does not want to lose its momentum to perpetuate its power. Preventive measures to maintain national stability are perpetuated.

Prabowo Subianto and the Special Forces Command (Kopassus) do not want to be left behind. They participated in participating in maintaining national stability. Prabowo, who incidentally is Suharto's son-in-law who is also Danjen Kopassus, gave an oral order to Major Bambang Kristiono's ranks to investigate activist groups who oppose the government.

Bambang did this well. He also called his trusted colleagues and formed a Mawar Team which was based on his narrative moved by conscience. Even though many doubt it.

The Mawar team is also tasked with detecting radical groups and masterminds of riots near the center of power. Activists who are considered radical and disrupt national stabilities have begun to be kidnapped and secured. The operation took place from 1997 to 1998.

The operation of the Mawar Team was initially carried out in secret. However, everything was revealed when one of the activists, Pius Lustrilanang, managed to escape, opened his voice and called Tim Mawar the mastermind behind the kidnapping of activists.

The narrative then shocked the whole of the archipelago. This is because the kidnapped activists were not only arrested and detained. Some of them were tortured. From being beaten to being electrocuted. The violence was carried out so that activists would no longer interfere with the course of power.

Several activists were then released and returned to their respective homes. Several others were declared missing. Therefore, the presence of the Mawar Team is one of the worst histories in Indonesian political practice. As well as an affirmant that the military is often used by the New Order to 'beat' the people.

Everything was declared missing in Jakarta in the period between 1997 and 1998. Yani Afri, a PDI sympathizer, and a friend of his went missing in April 1997; while Dedi Hamdun, a PPP sympathizer, and two of his friends went missing in May 1997. They were thought to have disappeared during the 1997 election campaign. Entering 1998, Wiji Thukul, a writer's young man, disappeared in January. Suyat, student activist student Solidarity for Democracy (SMID), disappeared in February. Then Herman Hendrawan and Petrus Bimo Anugerah.

Both Universitas Airlangga students, disappeared in March. They are all activists of the Democratic People's Association (PRD). There was also Ucok Munandar Siahaan and two other people missing during Riots on May 14, 1998; and finally Hendra Hambali, a high school student who went missing in Riots on May 15, 1998. All the victims went missing in Jakarta, except for Wiji Thukul, the only missing person in Solo; it is said that Wiji Thukul 'disappeared' after his writings attacked PT. Sritex, a large textile company in Solo, "explained Sri Bintang Pamungkas in the book Change Regime Change Regime.