Joint fact-finding team warned 'not to hold anything back'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A human rights activist has exhorted the
\ngovernment-sponsored joint fact-finding team probing the May
\nriots not to hold anything back when it announces its findings on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Munir, the coordinator of the independent Commission for
\nMissing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said here on
\nTuesday the team should report everything they learned had
\nhappened in the riots that killed more than 1,200 people and in
\nwhich women were reportedly sexually assaulted.<\/p>\n
\"The team should reveal the true story about the riots and
\nreport what really happened,\" Munir said.<\/p>\n
The government established the team on July 23 to investigate
\nthe riots that rocked several cities in the country in May. The
\n18-member team comprises representatives of the Armed Forces
\n(ABRI), government agencies, the National Commission on Human
\nRights and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).<\/p>\n
The team has also investigated the allegation of rampant
\nsexual assaults and rapes during the riots.<\/p>\n
Munir said many had warned since the team's founding that it
\nmust not compromise on its task.<\/p>\n
\"The success of the team will depend to what extent the
\nresults can be accepted by all members. If not all the members
\nsign the team's recommendations, (people would detect that) there
\nmay be political problems within the team.\"<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
\nhas doubted the team's impartiality due to the inclusion of ABRI
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Team member Nursyahbani Katjasungkana told The Jakarta Post by
\ntelephone on Tuesday that the members planned to meet six
\ngovernment officials who signed the decree on the team's
\nestablishment on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The six are Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto, Minister of Justice Muladi, State
\nMinister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah, Minister of Home
\nAffairs Syarwan Hamid, Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib and
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas.<\/p>\n
Nursyahbani said the officials had yet to confirm the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"If we fail to meet the officials, the public expose of
\nfindings may be delayed,\" Nursyahbani said. (byg\/27)<\/p>",
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