Committee to probe Aceh human rights abuses<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has agreed to a plan for
\nthe establishment of an independent committee to investigate
\nhuman rights violations in Aceh, a minister said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice Muladi said the committee would be first
\nassigned to conduct a thorough, honest, and accurate inquiry on
\nthe alleged massacre of 40 people by the military in Krueng
\nGeukueh, 15 kilometers west of the North Aceh capital of
\nLhokseumawe on May 3, before probing other cases.<\/p>\n
\"Its membership will be decided later,\" Muladi, who is also
\nminister\/state secretary, said after meeting with the President
\nalong with Minister of Defense\/Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief
\nGen. Wiranto and Attorney General A.M. Ghalib at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people gathered in Krueng Geukueh to protest the
\nunnecessary force used by soldiers during a house-to-house search
\nin the nearby hamlet of Cot Murong two days before.<\/p>\n
Military troops opened fire on the protesters after some began
\nto pelt the soldiers with stones. Lilawangsa Regional Military
\nCommander Col. Johnny Wahab insisted his troops opened fire \"in
\nself-defense\".<\/p>\n
The local government has set up a fact-finding team which
\nincludes local members of the Red Cross, government officials,
\nstudents and members of non-governmental organizations to
\ninvestigate the incident.<\/p>\n
The incident was the latest in a succession of violent clashes
\nbetween the military and campaigners for a referendum on
\nindependence in the troubled province.<\/p>\n
In a visit to Banda Aceh two months ago, Habibie promised to
\ninvestigate human rights abuses during the eight-year military
\noperation in Aceh starting in 1989. Many Acehnese believe at
\nleast 1,000 people had been killed during the operation.<\/p>\n
\"This (establishment of the committee) is a positive step from
\nthe President and the government to respond to allegations that
\nwe tolerate human rights abuses,\" Muladi hinted.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antara reported an unidentified group burned two
\nvans, owned by the United Development Party (PPP) and Islamic
\nCommunity Party (PUI), in Teunom district, in West Aceh on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
Provincial PPP's chairman Muhammad Yunus said the people in
\nthe car were on their way to Krueng Sabe to attend a campaign.<\/p>\n
The 30 people in the group demanded the PPP supporters to
\nfollow their efforts to boycott the general election in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
When the PPP supporters refused, the mob poured gasoline on
\nthe Kijang van and burned it.<\/p>\n
\"They were so brutal, we could not stop them,\" said Yunus on
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
The PUI car was burned by a group of youths when it was parked
\nat Teunom market. The party leaders had toured the small town to
\nannounce the party's campaign schedule there.<\/p>\n
A similar incident also occurred on Thursday in the regency.
\nPro-referendum groups are stepping up their campaigns to boycott
\nthe election. (prb)<\/p>",
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