Army yet to receive copy of report on Timika killings

Army yet to receive copy of report on Timika killings

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces not been able to comment on the
recent findings of the National Commission on Human Rights
regarding the killings in Timika, Irian Jaya, saying it had not
received a copy of the report.

The commission announced here Friday that 16 civilians were
killed and four others went missing during various military
operations in Indonesia's easternmost province.

Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Hardi Karso told The Jakarta Post
yesterday that the Army had not yet received the report.

"I don't think the Human Rights body is obliged to send it to
us," he said.

However, Hardi said that the Army will take stern measures
against officers involved in the incidents.

"All officers involved will be brought before a military
tribunal. ABRI (the Armed Forces) will not try to cover up the
case nor protect those involved," he said.

He said a joint team consisting of officers from the Army
Headquarters and the Trikora Military Command, whose jurisdiction
includes Irian Jaya, is working hard to investigate the case as a
follow-up of its recent findings about the incidents.

"The Army will only announce the number of officers involved
when the team, which is led by the Trikora Command's inspector
general, has completed its tasks," he said.

The spokesmen said that the case would be handled in the way
the Armed Forces handled the Liquisa incident in East Timor in
January.

Two Army members were sentenced to four years, and four years
and sixth months imprisonment respectively last June for shooting
to death six unarmed local villagers during a patrol.

The Army dispatched a fact-finding team to East Timor after
the human rights commission found human rights violations there.

Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung told the House of
Representatives last week that he had ordered the Army chief to
take stern actions against those involved in the incidents which
took place when officers were launching operations against
members of the Free Papua separatist group between October 1994
and June 1995.

Some of the incidents happened close to operations area of PT
Freeport Indonesia, an American copper-mining company. (rms)