Recommendations on Priok case awaited<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
\nHAM) is slated to hand over 23 names, recommended to be named as
\nsuspects in the 1984 shooting in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Those named may include former vice president Gen. (ret) Try
\nSutrisno and former Armed Forces (ABRI) chief Gen. (ret) L.B.
\nMoerdani.<\/p>\n
\"We'll hand over a report, comprising names of recommended
\nsuspects and the autopsy results of the victims during the
\nincident to the Attorney General's Office tomorrow (Saturday),\"
\nSecretary-general of the rights commission Asmara Nababan told
\nThe Jakarta Post on Friday evening.<\/p>\n
But, he declined to mention the names of the recommended
\nsuspects.<\/p>\n
A staffer at the rights commission, however, revealed that the
\nsuspects were from the military, with ranks varying from private
\nto general.<\/p>\n
\"The generals include Gen. (ret) Try Soetrisno and Gen. (ret)
\nL.B. Moerdani,\" he said, while adding that the number of suspects
\nmight increase, depending on the results of further
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
Try was the Jakarta Military commander, while Moerdani, also
\ncalled Benny, was the ABRI chief when the incident took place.
\nTry was later elected as vice president from 1988 until 1993.<\/p>\n
In the preliminary inquiry, both Try and Benny dismissed
\naccusations that they had instructed troops to shoot the
\nprotesters.<\/p>\n
Benny, who suffered a stroke recently, said he was informed of
\nthe incident by Try half-an-hour after it had taken place.<\/p>\n
The source said the commission also named several officers
\nfrom the Jakarta Military Command, including Maj. Gen. (ret)
\nPranowo, former director-general of immigration.<\/p>\n
The rights commission also named Brig. Gen. Soenardi, former
\ndirector of the Army's Gatot Soebroto Hospital.<\/p>\n
\"He (Soenardi) is accused of having deliberately permitted the
\ndisappearance of the victims' medical records,\" the source told
\nthe Post.<\/p>\n
The clash erupted following provocative lectures at the
\nTanjung Priok Rawa Badak Mosque by preachers, who criticized the
\ngovernment. The military claimed that 40 people died in the
\nconfrontation, while eyewitnesses said they had seen a truck
\nloaded with charred bodies.<\/p>\n
An initial inquiry by the commission-sanctioned investigation
\nteam was held in March. But, the team failed to identify either
\nvictims or evidence, including autopsy reports of the victims.<\/p>\n
A new inquiry team, led by former deputy National Police chief
\nMaj. Gen. (ret) Koesparmono Irsan, exhumed the graves of the
\nvictims together with forensic experts from the Cipto
\nMangunkusumo General Hospital and the police's Forensic
\nLaboratory.<\/p>\n
Preliminary results of 14 remains showed that they had been
\nabused before being buried in several cemeteries in North
\nJakarta. The bodies' characteristics matched physical data
\nobtained from relatives.<\/p>\n
Separately, Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes M.A.
\nRachman said the report would complement the commission's initial
\nreport which had been returned by Attorney General Marzuki
\nDarusman in July due to lack of evidence.<\/p>\n
\"We'll first study the report. If we find it complete, we may
\nform a special team to investigate the case,\" he told journalists
\nat his office on Friday. (bby)<\/p>",
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