Mob attacks Kontras over Aceh stance<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
About 100 members of a nationalist youth organization attacked on
\nTuesday the office of a local human rights watchdog, the
\nCommission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras)
\nhere and assaulted five staff members for being critical of war
\nin Aceh.<\/p>\n
Clad in green military-like fatigues, the gang arrived at noon
\nostensibly in search of Munir, Kontras' founder who now serves as
\nexecutive director of another human rights watchdog, Imparsial,
\nbut he was not at the office.<\/p>\n
The mob identified themselves as the Pemuda Panca Marga, a
\nstaunchly nationalistic group whose members are children of
\nveteran soldiers. The youth organization used to be affiliated
\nwith the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
On Monday, about 30 members of the group went to the office,
\non Jl. Cisadane, Central Jakarta, looking for Munir, but could
\nnot find him so they became violent.<\/p>\n
Munir has lambasted the government for its war in Aceh, and
\nalleged that it should be categorized as a gross human rights
\nviolation, which would thwart the development of peace in the
\nprovince. As of Tuesday, at least 80 people have been killed in
\nAceh, according to military sources.<\/p>\n
Orie Rachman, chairman of the Kontras' presidium, said that
\nduring the attack on Tuesday, the group turned violent and
\nvandalized the office, destroying chairs, desks and cabinets, as
\nwell as physically assaulting five people. None of the five were
\nseriously injured.<\/p>\n
"This is the second time they came here this week. Yesterday,
\nthey threatened us and said they would come with a bigger mob,"
\nOrie said.<\/p>\n
After about half an hour, the group left the office in a total
\nmess.<\/p>\n
"And, strangely, no police officers were present even after we
\nhad reported their threat," said Orie.<\/p>\n
He said that on Monday, four police officers from the Central
\nJakarta Police Precinct also witnessed the rally in front of the
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Orie insisted that the assault and vandalism would not affect
\nKontras' activities in promoting human rights.<\/p>\n
"We'll submit the case to the police as it is a police
\nobligation to take legal action against the attackers," said
\nOrie.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Sukrawardi
\nDahlan, who arrived on the scene shortly after the group left,
\nclaimed that his personnel had failed to appear because they were
\nall in a meeting.<\/p>\n
Sukrawardi then went on to say that the police were trying to
\napprehend members of the mob, but that they were outnumbered.<\/p>\n
However, he also revealed that he foresaw difficulties in
\narresting the suspects because the group was protected by the
\nmilitary. He said that instead of directly arresting them, he
\nwould formally ask their leader to hand over the suspects in the
\nattack.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Imparsial's operational director Rusdi Marpaung
\nsaid the attack on Kontras reflected the heightened political
\npressure and violence against all institutions promoting human
\nrights and democracy in the country.<\/p>\n
"But, we won't stop fighting for human rights and democracy
\ndue to intimidation," he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Purwandono, from the non-governmental organization
\nSolidaritas Nusa Bangsa, condemned the attack and called it a
\nform of terrorism.<\/p>\n
"We demand that the police catch those responsible for this
\nattack," said Purwandono.<\/p>\n
Timeline of attacks on Kontras<\/p>\n
Year Incident<\/p>\n
2000 A grenade explodes in front of the Kontras office, no
\ninjuries
\n2001 A bomb placed at Munir's family home in Malang, East Java
\nbut fails to explode.
\n2001 The car belonging to human right activist Jhonson Panjaitan<\/p>\n
was shot at while parked at the Kontras office, no injuries
\n2002 Mob attacks Kontras office destroys furniture and files
\n2003 Mob attacks Kontras office<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mob-attacks-kontras-over-aceh-stance-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}