Solution to Priok tragedy<\/p>\n
The tragic case of human rights violations which ended in the
\nkilling of innocent people and those protesting against the
\nmilitary during the Soeharto era about 16 years ago has only now
\nsurfaced in a very dramatic fashion.<\/p>\n
Already appearing before the commission on human rights
\nviolations in the tragic Tanjung Priok affair were a number of
\nretired Army and police generals, including former armed forces
\ncommander L.B. Moerdani and former Jakarta Military commander Try
\nSutrisno.<\/p>\n
None among those called to testify so far before the
\ncommission has openly admitted their guilt, contrary to the
\ntestimony of witnesses who claimed they witnessed their presence
\nat the scene and their involvement in the suppression. Families
\nof those who disappeared have insisted on punishment for the
\nguilty. Bodies were exhumed to determine the identities of the
\nvictims, often an impossible task.<\/p>\n
The charges were mainly directed against the military, who at
\nthe time was ordered to restore law and order by all means, which
\nimplied violent methods. The demand for justice has been
\nstrongest from religious groups, who feel the military trampled
\non basic human rights even as victims were in houses of worship.<\/p>\n
I have a feeling that the case will drag on and on and if it
\never comes to a court trial -- civil, military of human rights
\ncourt -- it will be a never-ending process or made to appear so,
\nwith defense lawyers further delaying the proceedings. After a
\nlapse of sixteen years the defense may question the memory of the
\nwitnesses, calling for the exhumation, like in Kosovo, of more
\ngraves.<\/p>\n
True and real justice will not be found to everybody's
\nsatisfaction. It would, therefore, be preferable that the whole
\naffair be considered and handled as a national tragedy of the
\npast, under a regime for which the nation's political leadership
\nas a whole must admit their common guilt and consider a joint
\napology and offer compensation to the victims' families.<\/p>\n
Those who have suffered mentally, mostly Muslims, surely would
\nbe willing to forgive, though not forget, the brutal killings.<\/p>\n
There are too many influential personalities involved in the
\ncase and will likely succeed in escaping through legal loopholes,
\nand the relatives of the victims will continue to suffer without
\ncertainty about when the case will end.<\/p>\n
I think the state minister of human rights affairs should take
\nthe initiative, while the compensation money should come from
\nSoeharto's funds.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/solution-to-priok-tragedy-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }