Human rights activists targeted in terror attacks<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Human rights activists were cautioned on Wednesday of what
\nthey called an escalation of terror against them after dozens of
\npeople attacked the office building of the Commission for Missing
\nPersons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) on Jl. Mendut in
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
One Kontras staff member, Edwin Partogi, was beaten by the
\nattackers, who also vandalized property belonging to the human
\nrights organization. Kontras founder Munir was inside the office
\nwhen the sudden raid took place, but he managed to escape unhurt.<\/p>\n
Edwin was rushed to nearby St. Carolus hospital.<\/p>\n
Police came minutes after the incident took place, capturing
\nseven key suspects in Pondok Kopi, East Jakarta, in an ensuing
\nchase. The suspects face charges of causing damage to personal
\nproperty.<\/p>\n
Rights activists gathered at the Kontras office later in the
\nday to lend moral support to Kontras members. They said the \"act
\nof terror\" would not hamper their commitment to the promotion and
\nprotection of human rights.<\/p>\n
\"This has not been the first crime aimed at terrorizing human
\nrights activists in the country. Other human rights organizations
\nhave fallen victim to these crimes, which have never been
\nthoroughly investigated,\" the chairman of the Indonesian Human
\nRights Research and Advocacy Association, Hendardi, read out in a
\njoint statement.<\/p>\n
Also present were lawyers Todung Mulya Lubis and Johnson
\nPanjaitan, political observer Arbi Sanit, rights activist Karlina
\nLeksono of Kalyana Mitra and chairperson of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights for Women Kemala Chandra Kirana.<\/p>\n
Kontras has become the target of violence over the past few
\nyears. In 2000 a grenade blast damaged several cars parked in the
\nfront yard of its office. Last year unidentified men placed a
\nbomb at Munir's family residence in Malang, East Java. Also in
\n2001, the car belonging to Jhonson was shot, while it was parked
\nat the Kontras office.<\/p>\n
In the latest attack, the mob smashed eight computer terminals
\nand four printers and looted boxes of dried food, instant
\nnoodles, milk and mineral water. The basic needs were to be
\ndonated to flood victims.<\/p>\n
Prior to the incident, some 200 people claiming to be
\nrelatives of four members of the military-backed Muslim
\nvigilantes (Pamswakarsa) who were lynched by a mob protesting the
\nSpecial Session of the People's Consultative Assembly in November
\n1998, came to protest \"Kontras' systematic discrimination at the
\nexpense of Muslims\".<\/p>\n
They said Kontras paid too much attention to the shooting of
\ndozens of students and residents in 1998 and 1999, known as the
\nTrisakti, Semanggi I and II incidents, which allegedly involved
\nthe military and police top brass, including former Armed Forces
\nchief Gen. (ret) Wiranto.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot tolerate Kontras who has terrorized Pak Wiranto,\"
\none of the people yelled before breaking in the office and
\nsmashing windows and glass panels.<\/p>\n
Separately, Wiranto denied his involvement in the incident and
\nsaid he would sue those who accused him of masterminding it.<\/p>\n
Wiranto is one of several officers summoned for the inquiry
\nprobing the Trisakti and Semanggi incidents.<\/p>\n
The parents of the victims came to pick Wiranto up at his
\nSimprug home on Monday to face the inquiry, but he was not there.<\/p>\n
\"I've been told that a demonstration took place at my house. I
\nheard it was organized by Kontras. Many legal experts deplored
\nthis, when legal issues become a personal matter. I've told my
\nfriends not to make exaggerating reactions regarding this,\" he
\nsaid after visiting detained House of Representatives speaker,
\nAkbar Tandjung, at the Attorney General's Office.<\/p>",
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