Doubt cast on military police investigation

JAKARTA (JP): A human rights activist said on Friday that he doubted the military police would thoroughly investigate allegations that one of its members had recruited an informer to spy on student demonstrators during the recent Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Munir from the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) told a media conference that a thorough investigation into the case would be like "revealing their own wounds."

Munir was referring to Thursday's face-to-face meeting between Wiwid Pratiwo, 21, and second private Budi Leksono, a military police officer assigned to the presidential guard. Wiwid said that Budi forced him to become an informer under the threat of violence. During the meeting organized by the military police, Budi confirmed that he knew Wiwid but denied that he had recruited him as a spy.

"We knew from the beginning that this case would not be thoroughly investigated because it involves one of their own kind," Munir said, noting that military police officers had been much more cooperative over the matter of missing political activists.

What was important, Munir said, was to bring an end to the practice of recruiting civilians to undertake duties that should be the military's responsibility.

Munir said that Wiwid was one of many vulnerable people the military has exploited in the course of security operations.

On Nov. 21, Wiwid told the National Commission on Human Rights on that Budi had forced him into becoming an informer on the student movement. He was then sent to recruit civilian guards to police the streets during the special session of the MPR.

Wiwid, who said he was a Trisakti University student, was apprehended by students at the university on Nov. 15 after they became suspicious of his activities.

He also claimed Budi warned him several hours in advance that a "shooting spree" would take place near the Semanggi cloverleaf on Nov. 13.

Students protesting against the special session clashed with security personnel in Jakarta on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13, leaving 16 people dead and more than 400 injured. (byg)