Reluctant security chiefs to be summoned again<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM)
\nprobing the Trisakti, Semanggi I and Semanggi II killings has
\nbeen extended by one month to allow reluctant military and police
\ngenerals time to decide if they will attend.<\/p>\n
The decision was made during a three-and-a-half hour meeting
\nat the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
\nheadquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Set up by Komnas HAM in July 2001 to investigate the three
\nseparate incidents of the killing of student and civilian
\nprotesters, KPP HAM's working period should have ended on
\nWednesday (Feb. 27).<\/p>\n
KPP HAM chairman Albert Hasibuan, who is also a Komnas HAM
\nmember, told media on Wednesday that the commission would summon
\nto the generals to ask them to appear before the inquiry team
\nnext week.<\/p>\n
\"We will give two chances for the witnesses to appear before
\nthe inquiry team. Should they still refuse to answer the
\nsummonses, Komnas HAM holds the right to use its subpoena rights
\nto force the witnesses to comply,\" Albert said.<\/p>\n
In a bid to unravel the truth behind the Trisakti, Semanggi I
\nand Semanggi II killings, KPP HAM summoned a number of military
\nand police generals, including former military chief Gen.
\n(retired) Wiranto and former Jakarta military commander Maj. Gen.
\nSjafrie Sjamsuddin.<\/p>\n
The commission's move, however, was met with strong resistance
\nfrom the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police Headquarters, which
\nargued that the commission was illegal.<\/p>\n
In response the commission sought the Central Jakarta District
\nCourt's opinion on the issue. The court ruled last week that KPP
\nHAM was legitimate and had the rights to summon the generals.<\/p>\n
KPP HAM member Munarman said on Wednesday the generals would
\nhurt themselves if they squandered the chance to clarify their
\ninvolvement since the commission had sufficient preliminary
\nevidence of gross human rights violations in the incidents.<\/p>\n
The commission is investigating the shooting of four Trisakti
\nUniversity students during a demonstration on May 12, 1998, which
\nled to the fall of the Soeharto regime, and two incidents that
\ntook place at the Semanggi overpass on Nov. 13, 1998 and on Sept.
\n24, 1999, in which more students and residents were killed.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, two groups claiming to belong to the Society Forum
\nfor Justice (FMK) and Indonesian Youth Axis (PPI) protested at
\nthe Komnas HAM headquarters on Wednesday, demanding that both
\nKomnas HAM and KPP HAM be disbanded.<\/p>\n
PPI member Rahmat Ariyanto said that KPP HAM aimed to
\ncharacter assassinate certain military generals.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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