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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001761 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL, DRL/AWH 
NSC FOR EPHU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018 
TAGS: PGOVID PINR PHUM ID
SUBJECT: MUNIR CASE -- ACCUSED MASTERMIND'S BACKGROUND 
 
REF: A. JAKARTA 1758 
     ¶B. JAKARTA 1614 
 
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  Former BIN Deputy Muchdi 
Purwopranjono--accused of masterminding the murder in 2004 of 
human rights activist Munir (Ref A)--is a decorated veteran 
who spent most of his career commanding troops in the 
Suharto-era's most difficult conflict zones.  He was also at 
the heart of one of the nation's human rights tragedies--the 
1998-99 abductions of student and pro-democracy activists. 
While the Munir case may go beyond Muchdi in the chain of 
command, a conviction of Muchdi would bring one of 
Indonesia's most vindictive public figures to justice.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
A LONG MILITARY CAREER 
 
¶2.  (C) A career army Special Forces (Kopassus) officer, 
Muchdi spent a large part of his career as a paratroop 
commander in the conflict zones of Aceh, Irian Jaya (Papua) 
and East Timor during the Suharto era.  He served together 
with Prabowo Subianto (a current presidential candidate) in 
East Timor and the Papua region.  Although three years older 
than Prabowo, Suharto's then son-in-law, Muchdi rose rapidly 
on Prabowo's coattails since graduating from the Military 
Academy in 1970.  Muchdi and Prabowo were kindred 
spirits--tough fighters and devout Muslims.  Starting in 
1995, Muchdi was promoted three times in three years, 
succeeding Prabowo as Kopassus commander in March 1998, one 
of Indonesia's most powerful military positions. 
 
MUCHDI LINKED TO ABDUCTIONS 
 
¶3.  (C) Prabowo commanded Kopassus from December 1995 to 
March 1998.  Beginning in late 1996 and culminating in 
March-April 1998, approximately 23 political activists were 
abducted by Kopassus.  The covert team, "Rose Team" (Team 
Mawar), took youth leaders, protesters and pro-democracy 
leaders into secret detention.  Many of those abducted were 
members of major opposition political parties, including the 
Indonesian Party of Democratic Struggle (PDI-P), which would 
later take power under President Megawati. 
 
¶4.  (C) Some of these missing figures were released in April 
1998, including a group of democracy activists.  Fourteen are 
still missing.  There are rumors that some of these were 
buried beneath the asphalt of the airport highway.  Those 
released talked of being abducted at gunpoint.  Some victims 
testified to beatings, electric shock and underwater 
submersion. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) One of those released, Mugianto, helped found a 
prominent NGO which to this day is active in human rights 
matters.  Another is still with Megawati's party. 
Ironically, two of those released joined the political party 
founded by Prabowo for his presidential campaign, Gerindra 
(Ref B).  Muchdi is the vice chair of Gerindra, still 
orbiting Prabowo's star. 
 
THE MOVE TO INTELLIGENCE 
 
¶6.   (C) As Kopassus head for 53 days beginning in March 
1998, Muchdi would have presided over the situation involving 
the nine abducted activists during that brief period.  Of 
those nine, four never reappeared.   Controversy persists 
over who headed "Tim Mawar."  The team's head, Maj. Bambang 
Kristiono, claimed to a military tribunal that he authorized 
all the kidnappings himself and this was accepted.  A 
military tribunal dismissed or demoted three senior officers 
for failure to control subordinates--Lt.Gen. Prabowo was 
 
JAKARTA 00001761  002 OF 002 
 
 
dismissed from active service while Maj.Gen. Muchdi was 
mothballed to a headquarters staff officer position.  Head of 
Kopassus Group IV, Col. Chairawan was also dismissed.  Eleven 
members of Tim Mawar were sentenced to between one and two 
years while all six officers in the team were dismissed from 
active service.  The tribunal concluded that Tim Mawar acted 
on its own initiative. 
 
¶7. (C) Muchdi was one of seven key BIN deputies from 
2001-2005.  He was in charge of a division which under 
Suharto had conducted covert activities designed to persuade 
or intimidate communities into supporting the regime.   He 
currently describes himself as "a mining entrepreneur" with a 
coal mine in East Kalimantan.  As vice chair of Prabowo's 
Gerindra Party, his associates include several well known 
Islamists and ultra-nationalists.  The well-funded Prabowo 
candidacy is campaigning strongly nationally. 
 
A VINDICTIVE CHARACTER 
 
¶8.  (C) A retired general who knows Muchdi well described him 
to DepPol/C as "crazy", explaining that he has a gigantic ego 
and no scruples.  The former head of the Munir case police 
investigation team, Internal Affairs head Bambang Hendarso 
Danuri (recently named as the President's choice to be the 
next national police chief) told DepPol/C that Muchdi has a 
personality that would allow him to commit human rights 
violations without it bothering him. 
 
HUME