AGO challenged to reopen Trisakti, Semanggi cases<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives' Commission III on law and human
\nrights agreed recently to reopen the investigation into the
\nshootings of students who staged antigovernment protests in
\nJakarta in 1998 and 1999. The investigation into the high-profile
\ncases was halted after the House's 2001 political probe concluded
\nthat the incidents were not gross human rights abuses. Human
\nrights activist Asmara Nababan spoke to The Jakarta Post's Ridwan
\nMax Sijabat about the issue.<\/p>\n
Question: What is your comment concerning latest development
\nfrom the House?<\/p>\n
Answer: Despite being too late, it is the right thing to do.
\nThe House must review and revoke the misleading decree to show
\ntheir commitment to human rights and democracy.<\/p>\n
What are its implications?<\/p>\n
First, the long-awaited investigation into the Trisakti
\nshootings of May 12, 1998, and two others at the Semanggi
\ncloverleaf on Oct. 13, 1998 and on Sept. 24, 1999, will be
\nreopened immediately.<\/p>\n
The ball is now in the Attorney General's court to follow up
\nthe findings of the fact-finding team that was set up by the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights. The Attorney General's
\nOffice (AGO) has to interrogate all those implicated in the
\nrights abuses.<\/p>\n
Secondly, the House will likely declare the incidents as gross
\nhuman rights violations, prompting prosecutors to lay charges
\nwith heavier sanctions against those who were responsible for the
\nincidents.<\/p>\n
Thirdly, the government itself must carry out a thorough
\ninvestigation into the three cases.<\/p>\n
How should the AGO go about doing this?<\/p>\n
The AGO should appoint experienced and dedicated attorneys
\nwith a broad perspective on human rights to carry out the
\ninvestigation. The investigation should be based on the fact-
\nfinding team's report which was handed to the AGO in 2002.<\/p>\n
What recommendations did the fact-finding team at the time
\ngive to the government?<\/p>\n
According to the team, the three incidents constituted gross
\nhuman rights violations and, therefore, there must be
\naccountability from military and police officials who were in
\ncharge of security during the three incidents.<\/p>\n
Is it not enough that several police and military personnel
\nhave already found been guilty of committing the shootings?<\/p>\n
Absolutely not! Besides the fact that at least 30 students
\nwere shot dead in the incidents, the shootings were committed
\nunder orders from their superiors who have to be held accountable
\nfor their orders.<\/p>\n
Who should take responsibility for the incidents?<\/p>\n
The Attorney General should interrogate retired general
\nWiranto who was chief of the Indonesian Military at the time, two
\nchiefs of the Jakarta Military Command and two chiefs of the
\nJakarta Police in 1998 and 1999.<\/p>\n
How optimistic are you that the AGO will thoroughly pursue
\nthis case?<\/p>\n
We have to (be optimistic). The current government has begun
\nto show a commitment to eradicating corruption and upholding
\njustice and human rights. Its credibility will be questioned if
\nthe AGO fails to bring human rights perpetrators in these
\nincidents to justice.<\/p>\n
Does the rights body and the House have any other role in
\nsupporting the investigation?<\/p>\n
The rights body does not have a role as its fact-finding
\nmission is completed. The House still has an important task: to
\npropose an ad hoc tribunal as is required by the human rights
\nlaw.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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