Activists rebuke govt over July 27 riots probe stance

JAKARTA (JP): Human rights activists strongly rebuked yesterday the government's recent public statement that the controversy over the July 27, 1996 riots here should stop.

Leading members of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Associations (PBHI) and the National Commission on Human Rights said the case still needed investigating.

PBHI's executive director Hendardi said the government has "no right whatsoever" to insist that the inquiries into last year's riots were over, saying that many questions still remain unanswered.

"The government should revoke its statement and stop all its discriminative political mechanisms practiced so far in its handling of the July 27 riots incident," Hendardi said.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman last week told journalists the case surrounding the July 27 riots was over.

Soesilo said the public should stop discussing the riots. "The problem is already over. The government has tried to find the missing people."

Similarly, Minister of Home Affairs Yogie S.M. said the issue must not be discussed further. "There is nothing (new) about the riots. You always demand that we make a comment. Please, do not behave like this," Yogie said.

At least five people were killed and 23 others are still missing. The riots were triggered by the takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters by supporters of Soerjadi, the government-recognized party leader.

The National Commission on Human Rights, in a report issued in October, said the takeover was backed by government and military forces, to evict people loyal to ousted PDI leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.

In a written statement, Hendardi noted there was an ongoing legal case filed by Megawati and her supporters nationwide against Soerjadi and the government for ousting the party.

"The government therefore could not act authoritatively like a 'judge' by announcing that all matters regarding the July 27 riots have been closed, even before the court process finishes," he said.

Separately, deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights Marzuki Darusman said that further investigation must be conducted into the July 27 riots.

"More explanations on the handling of the case should be sought, so no conclusion has yet been made by the commission," he said.

Marzuki maintained the case is "not yet over".

When asked to comment on Soesilo's remarks, Marzuki said he had only read about it from the press and would seek further clarification.

He said the commission would check with the government in its next periodic meeting with the office of the Coordinating Minister of Political Affairs and Security later this month.

"We will use the chance to seek the government's explanation over what has turned out to be like the government's final conclusion on the matter," he said.

Marzuki called on the public not to jump to negative conclusions despite the government's open announcement that the case was over. He also called on the court not to be influenced by the government's open announcement.

"Courts here usually take the direction also taken by the government, though they are not told to do so," Marzuki said. (aan)