Investigation into massacre at Aceh plantation reopens<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A Jakarta-sanctioned commission to investigate human rights
\nabuses at the Bumi Flora palm oil plantation in Aceh (KPP HAM
\nBumi Flora) is scheduled to reopen on Monday with the questioning
\nof 17 witnesses in the murder of 31 civilians at the plantation
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Jusuf Puteh, coordinator of the East Aceh human rights office,
\nsaid on Sunday that members of the commission, appointed by the
\nNational Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and led by BN
\nMarbun, were slated to arrive in Langsa district in East Aceh
\nregency on Monday.<\/p>\n
Jusuf Puteh, popularly known as Neksuh, told Antara that his
\noffice had again summoned 17 witnesses, most of whom were spouses
\nof the victims, and all of them had arrived in Langsa.<\/p>\n
Results of the investigation by KPP Ham Bumi Flora will be
\nsubmitted to the Attorney General's Office, which could take
\nfurther legal action if there is enough evidence in the reports.<\/p>\n
The massacre occurred in Idi Rayeuk district, East Aceh, in
\nAugust 2001, when 31 workers at the palm oil plantation were shot
\nto death while waiting for their salaries.<\/p>\n
Both the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the separatist Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM) denied their involvement in the mass murder.<\/p>\n
The Military accused GAM as the responsible party for the
\nmurder.<\/p>\n
GAM, on the other hand, said the massacre was a result of
\nTNI's anger over a GAM raid on a TNI post in the area, and as a
\nvendetta, the TNI raided the plantation, where they found and
\nshot dozens of people.<\/p>\n
It was reported that seven of the workers managed to escape.<\/p>\n
Collecting witnesses has been one of the major problems to
\nsolving human rights abuses in Aceh, as in 2000, the government
\nclaimed it had to discontinue several probes due to a reported
\nlack of witnesses.<\/p>\n
Many suspect that such witnesses \"disappeared\" because the
\nperpetrators would like to cover up the many massacre cases in
\nthe restive province.<\/p>\n
KPP HAM Bumi Flora started its probe on July 4, and conducted
\nthree days of investigation in Langsa. However, at the time, only
\ntwo witnesses showed up for questioning.<\/p>\n
Jusuf claimed that all 17 witnesses had expressed their
\nintention to fulfill the summons for questioning starting on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
He added that many of the witnesses had requested compensation
\nfrom the government to help them financially after the deaths of
\ntheir wage-earning husbands.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/investigation-into-massacre-at-aceh-plantation-reopens-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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