Resolve Trisakti incident: Observers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A number of people from several backgrounds have
\ncalled on President B.J. Habibie's administration to bring a
\nspeedy end to the now year-long investigation of the May 12
\nTrisakti shooting incident.<\/p>\n
They expressed hopes that an open and fair probe into the
\nshooting of the anti-government student protectors would reveal
\nthe identities of those responsible for the killing of four
\nstudents and wounding of dozens of others.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Military Police have been handling the investigations
\nfor the past year. However, the results have not satisfied the
\npublic, as so far only two police officers have been sentenced in
\nthe military tribunal for \"breaching standard procedures\".<\/p>\n
Here are the excerpts:<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso: \"I just want to urge the responsible
\nparties to make a complete and thorough investigation of the
\nshooting.<\/p>\n
The case must not be frozen, meaning that the real shooters
\nshould be found.\"<\/p>\n
Jakarta Legal Aid Institute chairwoman Apong Herlina: \"People
\nwill no longer trust the government should the shooting case not
\nbe solved fairly. If the people cannot trust the government
\nanymore, anarchy could occur and riots may break out again.<\/p>\n
I think the government has tried to cover the case, hoping
\nthat the public would forget it.\"<\/p>\n
Trisakti University rector Thoby Mutis: \"The investigation of
\nthe shooting, which is a crime against humanity, should be
\ncompleted immediately in a transparent and honest way.<\/p>\n
The belated work of the investigators in this criminal case
\nwould only lead people to lose their trust toward the government.<\/p>\n
The military tribunal (of 18 officers) did not satisfy the
\npublic at all since it merely aimed at digging out 'the
\nprocedural errors' of the shooting.<\/p>\n
The public only want the shooters and those responsible for
\nthe case.\"<\/p>\n
Usman Hamid, chairman of the law faculty's student senate at
\nthe university: \"The shooting is not merely a Trisakti tragedy,
\nbut a national tragedy as well.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the fair disclosure of the case is obligatory in
\norder to let our nation and its people learn about such possible
\nexperiences for the future.\"<\/p>\n
Clementino dos Reis Amaral, secretary-general of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights (Komnasham): \"The former city police
\nchief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata and the former city military
\ncommander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin should be held
\nresponsible and punished for the shooting at Trisakti students on
\nMay 12.<\/p>\n
Their recent replacement is not enough. They instead should be
\nfired from the Armed Forces (TNI) and tried in a court because
\nthey were responsible for security affairs in the city.\"<\/p>\n
City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis: \"The reason for
\nthe slow investigation of the shooting has become the TNI's
\nhomework. Police have completed their part by examining the
\nbullets and weapons used in the incident.<\/p>\n
All bullets and weapons have been examined at a police
\nforensics laboratory and I think the results have been given to
\nTNI. So, it is now their responsibility to disclose it.<\/p>\n
Police also realize that it won't be easy for the students and
\nfamilies of the victims to forget the May 12 incident. Thus, we
\nunderstand if they want to commemorate the Trisakti shooting on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
In their notification letter to the police, the Trisakti
\nstudents say they will hold activities inside their campus and 20
\nstudents will visit the Tanah Kusir public cemetery (in South
\nJakarta).<\/p>\n
If the students keep their activities just like what they have
\ntold us, there will be no problems at all.\"<\/p>\n
Tohir, a UPN Veteran Jakarta student who is also an activist
\nwith the Communication Forum of Jakarta's Student Senates: \"I'm
\npessimistic that President Habibie would be able to uncover the
\nshooting case, since he is a product of the New Order government.<\/p>\n
His administration has been intentionally muffling the case
\nfor their own interests, particularly to retain their power.<\/p>\n
It's almost the same as, say, the killings in Aceh and East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
From a certain point of view, I don't feel a loss from the
\ndeaths of the four Trisakti University students because they were
\nnot my friends. But from a humanistic perspective, I am really
\nsad about their deaths, since they are victims of an
\nauthoritarian regime.<\/p>\n
City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman: \"Don't ask
\nme because I have no authority to answer such questions related
\nto the (Trisakti student) shootings. Just ask the city military
\npolice commander.\" (jun\/ind\/emf\/01)<\/p>",
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