Indonesia's likely new president haunts father of missing activist

JAKARTA — Supporters of Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto are celebrating his likely ascent to the presidency, but for Paian Siahaan it is a painful reminder of his missing son and the man he blames for his disappearance in 1998.

Paian's 22-year-old son Ucok was one of the pro-democracy activists who disappeared during the chaotic riots of 1998 that precipitated the end of authoritarian leader Suharto's decades-long rule, at a time when Prabowo was an influential military commander.

A report by Indonesia's rights commission later indicated that Prabowo and several other soldiers were involved in kidnapping the activists, but Prabowo never went on trial, and has always denied any wrongdoing.

For nearly two decades, loved ones of alleged human rights abuse victims at that time have gathered every Thursday at the State Palace in Jakarta to join a silent protest to demand the government acknowledge and make amends for past atrocities.

The movement is known as 'Kamisan', derived from the Indonesian word for Thursday, its members say. Rights activists say it was inspired by mothers in Argentina, who staged silent protests every Thursday in memory of people who were killed or disappeared during the 1976-1983 military rule there.

Prabowo's win has come as a shock to those who attend the Kamisan gatherings, said Paian, 76, a frail, balding man with a grey moustache.

"We're stressed," he said, speaking in his home in West Java before leaving for Jakarta for the protest this week. "Will the case just disappear just because he's president? It's impossible... We had to cool down last night. There were mothers who cried."

Spokespersons for Prabowo did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

As Paian spoke, he held a framed