Rights commission returns to Liquisa<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights
\nyesterday began the second round of investigations into the
\narmy's Jan. 12 killing of six suspected rebels in Liquisa.<\/p>\n
The five-member team met with Liquisa regent Leonato Martin
\nand a number of soldiers involved in the incident, including the
\ncommandant of the army unit that raided the house believed to be
\na rebel hideout.<\/p>\n
\"We asked them what they could recall about the incident,\"
\nClementino dos Reis Amaral who was on the mission with his fellow
\ncommission members Marzuki Darusman, Muladi, Joko Sugianto and
\nSoegiri.<\/p>\n
Amaral said the team would arrive today in the villages of
\nGariana and Lefa, where the murders took place, to interview
\neyewitnesses and, possibly, relatives of the victims.<\/p>\n
The team, led by Marzuki Darusman, completed its first
\ninvestigation on Feb. 19. The commission, however, has returned
\nto Liquisa, about 60 kilometers west of here, to verify the
\ninformation already obtained.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces (ABRI) has also formed its own investigation
\nteam. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono said yesterday that he has
\nassigned 36 senior officers to review the findings.<\/p>\n
Local military leaders claim that the six victims, killed in
\nan armed clash, were Fretilin rebels. The military's version is
\nwidely disputed.<\/p>\n
East Timor Roman Catholic Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo
\nsaid yesterday that the Liquisa affair could have been settled
\nlong ago.<\/p>\n
\"The problem would already have been solved if those involved
\nhad been honest,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Muladi said upon his arrival in Dili from Jakarta yesterday
\nthat the information obtained by the commission's team last week
\nneeded verification to ensure an objective conclusion.<\/p>\n
\"We need to check the exact place where the shooting happened
\nto get a better picture of the incident,\" said Muladi, who is
\nalso rector of the Semarang-based Diponegoro State University.<\/p>\n
At the scene of incident, the investigation plans to once more
\ninterview Jeremias Kase, the Liquisa military commandant, and the
\nABRI member who was stabbed during the encounter.<\/p>\n
He said that the team might also interview other troopers who
\ntook part in the operation in the area, which the military
\nbelieve is a Fretilin stronghold.<\/p>\n
\"We want to collect as much information as possible,\" Muladi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The commission was originally scheduled to announce its
\nfindings today. Their report, however, was postponed to allow
\nthem to gather more information to come to a conclusion.<\/p>\n
Muladi denied that the postponement had anything to do with
\nthis week's statement by Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal
\nTanjung at the House of Representatives that the six slain people
\nwere Fretilin rebels.<\/p>\n
\"We were not influenced by Feisal's remarks,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked why the first investigation led by commission chairman
\nAli Said failed to visit the scene of incident, he said it was
\nbecause the team was not prepared. He did not elaborate.
\n(yac\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rights-commission-returns-to-liquisa-1447893297",
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