Govt serious on revealing truth about July riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
\nSecurity Soesilo Soedarman said yesterday the government was
\nserious about revealing the truth behind the July 27 riots.<\/p>\n
The riots rocked Jakarta following the violent takeover of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters by a government-
\nbacked breakaway faction that evicted supporters of ousted party
\nchief Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
\"President Soeharto has endorsed the police and government
\ninvestigators to question Soerjadi (the new PDI chairman),\"
\nSoesilo said, trying to prove the government's seriousness.<\/p>\n
Soesilo made the remarks after a bi-monthly meeting with
\nmembers of the National Commission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Critics have accused the government of being biased in favor
\nof Soerjadi in the handling of the aftermath of the riots. Over
\n100 Megawati supporters have been prosecuted. But no action has
\nbeen taken against the hundreds of Soerjadi supporters who
\nattacked the party office.<\/p>\n
Soesilo called on the public to remain calm when asked what
\nthe government would do to follow up the rights commission's
\nrecommendations on the matter.<\/p>\n
The case was being handled by the police and the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office, he said.<\/p>\n
In its report published in October, the commission criticized
\nthe government for meddling in the internal affairs of the PDI,
\nand said this had contributed to the riots that left five people
\ndead and 23 people missing.<\/p>\n
Fragments of bullets were found in the body of one of the five
\nkilled, the commission said. This was in contrast with the
\nmilitary's assertions that not a single bullet was fired in
\ncontaining the unrest.<\/p>\n
The commission also said members of the security forces were
\ninvolved in the violent takeover of the PDI headquarters, the
\nincident that snowballed into a full-scale riot.<\/p>\n
The commission urged the government to investigate all of the
\nperpetrators, including new PDI chairman Soerjadi, who had
\nordered the take over of the headquarters.<\/p>\n
When asked why Soerjadi would only be questioned as a witness,
\nwhen other witnesses had indicated his involvement in the
\ntakeover, Soesilo said the decision would rest with the police.<\/p>\n
\"You should ask the police,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he would question National Police Chief Lt. Gen.
\nDibyo Widodo over the rights commission's recommendations,
\nSoesilo said that would be the responsibility of the Armed
\nForces' Chief.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Jakarta City Police Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said
\nearlier this month that according to police investigations the
\nPDI chairman was not involved in the July riots.<\/p>\n
\"There is not enough evidence to put Soerjadi in as a suspect
\nin the July 27 riots,\" Hamami said. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-serious-on-revealing-truth-about-july-riots-1447893297",
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