Activists hold rally to mark reform failure

Activists hold rally to mark reform failure

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Hundreds of activists, skeptical about the government's effort
to protect the people's rights, held a rally in Jakarta on
Wednesday, expressing disappointment that the reform era failed
to curb state violence against civilians.

The activists also condemned the arrogance of the Indonesian
Military (TNI) officials, saying "they are now safer and stronger
again under the administration of President Megawati
Soekarnoputri."

The rally, which was held in conjunction with the
commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the National
Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras),
attracted hundreds of representatives from various groups,
ranging from non-government organizations and students to
families of the victims.

The rally started with a protest march from Kontras' office on
Jl. Mendut to the University of Indonesia's compound on Jl.
Salemba Raya.

During the long march, dancers performed a Kuda Lumping
traditional dance.

Also present at the rally were Munir, former coordinator of
Kontras, Ori Rahman, coordinator of Kontras, Bara Hasibuan,
former member of the National Mandate Party (PAN), and Wardah
Hafidz from the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC).

In his speech, Munir condemned Megawati, who used to symbolize
the fight against the oppression by the military during the New
Order regime, for her failure to stand at the people's side and
stop the military's actions.

He was referring to a series of violent incidents that
occurred during Megawati's tenure as president, including the
mysterious killing of noted Papuan independence figure Theys Hiyo
Eluay in November last year.

The death of the Papuan Presidium Council leader (PDP), which
reportedly occurred only hours after he attended the
commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the Army's Special
Force (Kopassus) station at Hamadi, Jayapura, sparked speculation
about the involvement of the military in the murder.

Nevertheless, after months of investigation, both the
government and the military teams have yet to disclose whether or
not any element of the military was involved.

Munir expressed further disappointment at Megawati's failure
to hold several generals responsible for gross human rights
abuses, including the Trisakti, Semanggi I and Semanggi II
killings that claimed dozen of people's lives.

The officers were former armed forces chief Gen. (ret)
Wiranto, former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command
(Kostrad) Lt. Gen. Djadja Suparman, as well as former Jakarta
Military commander and also incumbent TNI spokesman Maj. Gen.
Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

The generals have even shown contempt for the law by refusing
to abide by summonses sent by the inquiry team established by the
National Commission on Human Rights in charge of probing the
killings.

In the middle of Kontras' effort to encourage a campaign to
subpoena the generals, dozens of people attacked and vandalized
its office last week, causing major damages, including the
disappearance of some important documents regarding the
military's rights abuses in several troubled regions such as Aceh
and Papua.

In a show of solidarity, a number of the TNI's top brass,
including TNI chief Adm. Widodo A.S. and the Army Chief of Staff
Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, appeared before the human rights
tribunal on Tuesday, as their soldiers were being tried for
committing crimes against humanity in East Timor. Many believe
that their presence would interfere with the trial.

"The military has got back their domination under Megawati's
rule," Munir said.