Rights body to send team to Irian Jaya<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights said
\nyesterday it is to send a team to investigate alleged human
\nrights violations during the recent proindependence protests in
\nIrian Jaya.<\/p>\n
The rights body's secretary-general, Baharuddin Lopa, told
\nnon-governmental organization (NGO) activists that the team will
\nbe dispatched tomorrow to collect information.<\/p>\n
\"Once they're are back, we will hold a plenary meeting and
\nthen announce the results of our investigation,\" Lopa said
\nwithout giving a specific date.<\/p>\n
The activists urged the military to show restraint in the
\nprovince where security forces have clashed with proindependence
\nprotesters.<\/p>\n
One police intelligence officer was killed and at least 26
\npeople were injured when security officers fired on protesters
\nwho were demanding autonomy for Indonesia's easternmost province.<\/p>\n
Members of 15 NGOs, which included the Indonesian Legal Aid
\nFoundation, the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy, the
\nIndonesian Forum for Environment, the Volunteers for Humanity and
\nthe Solidarity Committee of Irian People (KOSORAI) visited the
\nrights body to complain about reports that the military was
\npersecuting civilians in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
Willi Sawaki, an organizer of KOSORAI, told the rights body
\nthat soldiers had allegedly raided homes and were interrogating
\nsuspected protesters.<\/p>\n
Proindependence protests have been mounting in Irian Jaya, and
\nalso in the former Portuguese colony of East Timor recently.<\/p>\n
President B.J. Habibie has pledged democratic reform but has
\nruled out giving way to separatist demands.<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya was ceded to Indonesian in 1963 following a United
\nNations-sponsored referendum. (byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rights-body-to-send-team-to-irian-jaya-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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