ABRI denies confirming rapes during May riots

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto denied on Tuesday he confirmed the occurrence of mass sexual assaults and rapes during the May riots in Jakarta and other cities, as some media reported.

"There has not been any statement that the government finally admitted there were rapes," Wiranto said in a televised report. "There's still ongoing research."

He acknowledged the official fact-finding team investigating the May unrest had met with 17 witnesses of rapes that occurred during the chaos that led to the death of 1,200 people.

However, "no conclusion has been reached," Wiranto said after meeting religious leaders from East Java at the ABRI headquarters in Central Jakarta.

Wiranto was referring to his meeting with the government- sponsored team on Monday during which it delivered an interim report into its investigation into the riots.

Wiranto added that the public should wait another month until when the team is scheduled to announce its final report. He also corrected some media reports that his colleague, Minister of Justice Muladi, had confirmed "that the government now admitted there were rapes".

During the Monday meeting, the team asserted that despite some officials' denials, sexual assaults and rapes did take place during the riots.

The team's chairman, Marzuki Darusman, said on Monday that the government had agreed not to make any statements regarding the investigation ahead of the team.

Activists, including those in the Volunteers for Humanity led by Catholic priest Sandyawan Sumardi, have said that 168 women and children were raped and sexually assaulted during the riots, 20 of whom died or committed suicide.

Officials, including the police, have since said they have not found evidence to substantiate the alleged figures. These claims have been criticized by observers and activists alike as discouraging victims and witnesses from coming forward to testify.

The government established the team on July 23. It consists of representatives from ABRI, government agencies, the rights body and non-governmental organizations and is investigating allegations that the riots were masterminded.

The team was given three months to complete its task. (byg/imn)