Rights body to investigate Ambon attack<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
\nHAM) established on Monday a fact-finding team to investigate the
\ndeadly attack by joint-security troops in Ambon, Maluku, against
\na clinic belonging to Laskar Jihad (Jihad Force).<\/p>\n
According to Samsudin, a member of the Komnas HAM, the
\ndecision was taken following a closed-door meeting between
\nmembers of the rights body and representatives of Muslim
\norganizations led by the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).<\/p>\n
The fact-finding team, headed by B.N. Marbun, will hear the
\nvictims' testimonies and, if necessary, dispatch members to
\nMaluku in the next two or three days to complete their
\ninvestigations.<\/p>\n
\"If the team finds out that the troops have carried out gross
\nhuman rights violations, we will forward the case to the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office and demand for a human rights tribunal,\"
\nSamsudin told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The establishment of such a rights tribunal is governed by Law
\nNo. 26\/2001.<\/p>\n
Samsudin said that preliminary testimonies from members of
\nLaskar Jihad, who took their case to the rights body earlier on
\nMonday, showed that the joint-security troops had violated human
\nrights by attacking the clinic.<\/p>\n
\"Hospitals or clinics are among many places that should be
\nexempted from any attack,\" Samsudin said.<\/p>\n
The commander of Laskar Jihad, Ja'far Umar Thalib, who led his
\nmen to protest at Komnas HAM, said that joint-security troops
\nopened fire randomly at people in the clinic.<\/p>\n
\"The troops attacked paramedics and patients being treated
\nthere,\" Ja'far said.<\/p>\n
A three-day-long incident between June 12 and June 14 in
\nGalunggung and Kebon Cengkih in Ambon claimed at least 20 lives,
\nincluding one soldier and wounded 30 others.<\/p>\n
Following the incident, some 15 armed civilians, all members
\nof Laskar Jihad, were arrested.<\/p>\n
Separately, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
\nSecurity Affairs Agum Gumelar urged all parties to stop making
\ncomments about the incident in Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"I expect all parties to stop making hasty comments and
\nconclusions on what happened on June 14. Just wait for the
\nresults from the Indonesian Military (TNI) fact-finding team,\"
\nAgum said, after attending a meeting with Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
\"The TNI fact-finding team will be objective in revealing the
\ncase,\" the retired four-star general added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, TNI Legal Department chief Maj. Gen. Timor Manurung
\nsaid that joint-security troops, comprising elite troops from the
\nArmy, Navy and the Air Force, would not be disbanded because of
\nthe incident.<\/p>\n
Timor said the joint-security troops were established by the
\nTNI headquarters to avoid intervention by the UN peacekeeping
\nforce in the prolonged sectarian conflict in Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"The UN had warned us that if we failed to settle the
\nconflict, they would send their peacekeeping forces. We answered
\nit by forming these professional troops,\" Timor told the Post
\nafter attending a hearing with the House of Representatives'
\nspecial committee on the defense bill.<\/p>\n
Back in Ambon, the consul general of the United States
\nEmbassy, Robert A. Pollard, said that the U.S. government was
\nalways ready to assist any initiative for reconciliation between
\nthe warring groups, the Christians and Muslims.<\/p>\n
\"We are ready to facilitate, by providing computers, hotels
\nand other accommodation if the warring groups want to meet and
\ntalk, either in Ambon or outside Ambon,\" Pollard said, after
\nmeeting with the deputy governor of Maluku, Paula Renyaan.<\/p>\n
Responding to mounting calls by locals for an international
\npeacekeeping force in Maluku, Pollard said that his government
\nrejected any initiative to bring foreign troops to Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"Foreign intervention will not be able to help solve problems
\nfaced by people here,\" Pollard said. (02\/49\/emf\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rights-body-to-investigate-ambon-attack-1447893297",
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