Joint investigation on Xmas bombings proposed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Forum for Indonesian Peace (FID) in a
\nmeeting with Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
\nSecurity Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday appealed to
\nbe given access to information on the Christmas Eve bombings.<\/p>\n
The Forum, formed by several noted figures following the Dec.
\n24 attack, has established its own investigating team.<\/p>\n
However a member of the forum's steering committee, Mar'ie
\nMuhammad, told reporters that there was still no decision taken
\nduring the meeting which also discussed the possibility of
\nforming a joint commission between the FID and the government
\ninvestigation team.<\/p>\n
"Pak Bambang said that he and the President Abdurrahman Wahid
\nare planning to establish a joint investigation between the two
\nteams," Mar'ie said.<\/p>\n
"But he said the decision could only come tomorrow after the
\npolice chief, who leads the government team, approves it," he
\nadded after the two-and-half-hour meeting.<\/p>\n
The government special team to investigate the bombings is led
\nby National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro aided by chief of
\nthe State Coordinating Intelligence Body (Bakin) Lt. Gen. (ret.)
\nArie J. Kumaat as his deputy.<\/p>\n
The team consists of officers from the Police, Bakin, the
\nmilitary's Strategic Intelligence Body (Bais), and officials from
\nthe Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General's Office.<\/p>\n
In a related development, the secretary of FID's team assigned
\nto fact finding, Munir, told reporters that they still need more
\ntime to reveal the modus operandi of the perpetrators.<\/p>\n
"But, we can identify that all bombs in the incidents were
\nquite unique, as they all contained TNT together with bullets to
\nworsen the effect. None of the previous bombings in this country
\nhave used this kind of explosive, even in the conflict-torn
\nprovinces," he said.<\/p>\n
Munir urged the government to delay the trial against the two
\nsuspects of the bombing in Bandung since the scope is too small
\nto reveal the whole motives of the bombings.<\/p>\n
"The trial may cut short the whole investigation. Moreover,
\nwhat is the political output of Bandung's bombing? The trial
\nwill not reveal any answers," he said.<\/p>\n
The Forum on Friday also met with House of Representatives
\nspeaker Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
After the meeting Akbar said the House may establish a special
\ncommittee on the attack.<\/p>\n
"The House is seeking a legal formula for the special
\ncommittee's establishment because the establishment of such
\ncommittees must be based on decrees issued by the People's
\nConsultative Assembly," he said.<\/p>\n
Mari'e said the Forum during the meeting expressed
\ndisappointment with the House's slow reaction to the bombings
\nwhich claimed at least 17 lives.<\/p>\n
Akbar said the House fully supports the establishment of a
\njoint team between the Forum and the government.<\/p>\n
"The House is still in recess but we will continue to monitor
\nthe National Police's investigation into the incidents," he
\nsaid.(02\/bby\/rms)<\/p>",
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