Activists rebuke govt over July 27 riots probe stance

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)