Activists rally behind Papua probe<\/p>\n
Netty Dharma Somba and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post,
\nJayapura\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Papuan human rights activists said they were prepared to support
\nthe planned investigation by the National Commission on Human
\nRights (Komnas HAM) into alleged atrocities in the province.<\/p>\n
Activist Iwan K. Niode, who joined the preliminary probe
\nconducted by the commission, said that the Koalisi LSM -- which
\ngroups several non-governmental organizations in Papua -- would
\nhelp find witnesses and other data needed to support the formal
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
\"I have been asked by the commission to join the inquiry team,
\nalong with several activists and we are ready to do our jobs,\"
\nIwan said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The commission decided to launch a legal probe into the
\npossible gross rights abuses by the Indonesian Military (TNI) and
\npolice in Wasior in June 2001 and Wamena regency in April 2003.<\/p>\n
Aside from Iwan, local activists Demianus Wakman and Rika
\nKorain of the Koalisi LSM have been included in the investigation
\nteam.<\/p>\n
Trikora Military Commander overseeing Papua Maj. Gen. Nurdin
\nZainal regretted the planned inquiry, saying that the rights body
\nhad jumped to conclusions without consulting the military.<\/p>\n
\"When they came here for the preliminary investigation they
\nheld talks with me, but then after they completed the probe they
\nnever confronted me with their findings,\" Nurdin said.<\/p>\n
He doubted the accuracy of the data collected by the
\ncommission, saying that security officers had not detained as
\nmany people as reported by the rights body in the Wamena
\nincident.<\/p>\n
\"They said we detained 48 people, whereas we had never held
\nthat many people,\" Nurdin said.<\/p>\n
He was convinced that the military did not violate standard
\noperating procedures during the Wamena case, in which TNI
\npersonnel reportedly tortured the detainees and killed seven of
\nthem and forcibly evacuated some 7,000 residents, following raids
\nby the Army after alleged Free Papua Movement (OPM) rebels broke
\ninto a TNI armory.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the Papua Police Sr. Comr. David Sihombing also
\ndenied accusations that operational procedures had been violated
\nduring the raid in Wasior, after six Mobile Brigade police were
\nkilled by rebels. At least three people were killed and 16 others
\ntortured during the raid.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the House of Representatives said that the
\nlegislative body would wait until the rights body completed its
\nprobe before disclosing its stance.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the House Commission II on legal and home affairs
\nAgustin Teras Narang said that the rights body had the right to
\nproceed with the investigation, according to the law.<\/p>\n
\"They should continue with their investigation and remain
\nindependent,\" Teras said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
He said that both the House and government could not hamper
\nthe investigation as it is part of the country's commitment to
\nupholding human rights.<\/p>\n
According to the 2000 human rights law the House decides
\nwhether alleged crimes against humanity will be heard in the ad
\nhoc human rights court.<\/p>\n
So far the House has approved the rights trials of people
\nimplicated in gross human rights violations in East Timor in 1999
\nand in the North Jakarta area of Tanjung Priok in 1984.<\/p>\n
The legislators, however, declared that no human rights
\nviolations had occurred in the incidents at Trisakti University
\nand the Semanggi clover-leaf, both in Jakarta, in 1998 and 1999
\nrespectively.<\/p>",
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