Komnas HAM eyeing '96 PDI HQ attack<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
\nHAM) chairman, Djoko Soegianto, pledged on Wednesday to form a
\nteam to investigate the notorious July 27, 1996, attack on the
\nheadquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
\"We are considering setting up an investigation into the
\nincident,\" Djoko said after a hearing with the House of
\nRepresentatives Commission I for defense, foreign and political
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
Djoko's remark came in response to comments from National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) legislator A. Effendy Choirie who demanded
\nthe commission investigate past incidents which allegedly
\ninvolved military generals, including the incident at PDI
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
Effendy urged the commission to question several retired
\nmilitary officers, including former chief of the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) Gen. (ret) Feisal Tandjung and former TNI chief of
\nsocial and political affairs Syarwan Hamid, who were allegedly
\nbehind the incident.<\/p>\n
Commission members Albert Hasibuan supported the idea of
\nforming an investigation team and the questioning of the these
\nofficers.<\/p>\n
\"They (Feisal and Syarwan) should be questioned about it,\"
\nAlbert, who also led the government-sanctioned Commission of
\nInquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Asked whether the team would be independent since the case
\nrelated to a particular political party, Albert said he was sure
\nit would be independent.<\/p>\n
\"The team would consist of independent members. We would
\ninvestigate human rights and legal violations.\" he added.<\/p>\n
The 1996 incident sparked a riot which hit a central area of
\nJakarta. While there have been ongoing claims that many died in
\nthe initial attack, there has never been any thorough evidence to
\nsupport the contention that over 100 were killed in the attack on
\nPDI headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman accused Feisal on Tuesday of being
\nresponsible for the takeover of the PDI office.<\/p>\n
Besides the incident, the President also accused Feisal of
\nhelping engineer an attempt to unseat Abdurrahman from his post
\nas chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization during its
\n1994 congress, in Cipasung, Tasikmalaya, West Java.<\/p>\n
Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nlegislator Jacob Tobing said the party central board was now
\nsetting up a separate investigation team to collect more data
\nabout the incident.<\/p>\n
\"It's not revenge. It's just to disclose the truth,\" Jacob
\nsaid on the sidelines of the hearing. (jun)<\/p>",
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