ABRI firm on human rights abuse

ABRI firm on human rights abuse

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung promised yesterday that no soldier will go unpunished for human rights violations.

Feisal told a hearing with Commission I of the House of Representatives that respect for human rights is very much a part of military regulations.

All past violations were dealt with accordingly, he said, citing two cases last year in which civilians were killed in Liquisa, East Timor, and in Timika, Irian Jaya.

"The Timika and Liquisa incidents occurred because of deviations from standard procedures," he said.

Feisal also reported that the soldiers involved in brawling in Medan, North Sumatra, last week would be punished.

According to one report from Medan, nearly 120 members of a cavalry assault battalion attacked a residential area in Medan to avenge the death of their colleague, who was killed by a gang of hoodlums. Several people were injured and dozens of houses and vehicles were damaged in the attack.

Commission member Krissantono used the opportunity to question Feisal about the recent military violations of human rights in Liquisa, Timika and Medan as well as in Dili, East Timor, in 1991 and in Madura, East Java, in 1993.

Krissantono, representing the dominant Golkar faction, said he welcomed the decision of the Trikora Military Regional Command, which oversees Irian Jaya and Maluku, to produce and distribute a booklet on human rights for soldiers in the area.

However, he asked why a similar effort had not been undertaken by the rest of ABRI.

Gen. Feisal said in response that respecting human rights has always been part of military training.

"It is not necessary to teach ABRI about human rights because everyone, from the top to the lowest ranks, is already familiar with the concept," he said.

Booklet

The booklet distributed by the Trikora Command is only to serve as a reminder. It is up to the others if they want to follow the example of the Trikora commander, he said.

Feisal was accompanied by ABRI's top brass including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Tanto Koeswanto, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Rilo Pambudi and National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman.

Meanwhile, Feisal confirmed that the United States has agreed to resume its military education aid program for Indonesian officers which was stopped in 1992.

"The Pentagon has given the green light to resume the program starting this year. ABRI will send its officers there," he said.

Maj. Gen. Syamsir Siregar, the chief of ABRI's Intelligence Agency, said Indonesia will send officers for law and defense management programs as well as postgraduate studies.

Washington suspended the program under pressure from the U.S. Congress, which was protesting Indonesia's policy in East Timor.

ABRI's Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs, Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, was asked during the hearing to elaborate on his earlier warning about the dangers of a "New Left" in Indonesia.

"This movement, similar to communism which is banned in this country, thrives on controversies and debates," he said, adding that the ultimate goal of the New Left is to sow instability and bring down governments.

The threat, albeit in an embryonic form, is real and not just a smokescreen, Syarwan explained.

"It will be more difficult to stop it once the movement has grown big and its activities grown uncontrollable," he said.

Syarwan refrained from naming any individual or organization identified with the movement.

"If communists used peasants as a base, this new movement is using workers, youths and students to fight for its goals," he said. (rms)