Governor disregards human rights summons
Evi Mariani and Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has expressed disappointment that Governor Sutiyoso failed to answer a summons to account for alleged human rights abuses during the recent eviction of squatters in West Jakarta.
Two people died and a 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped by men in city uniforms.
Commission deputy chairman Solahuddin Wahid said an official at City Hall only telephoned on Monday to say Sutiyoso would not be able to attend the day's hearing.
He said the commission had sent letters to the governor and West Jakarta Mayor Sarimun Hadisaputra, who also failed to attend, requiring them to appear at the next hearing on Nov. 4.
"We will be glad if the governor and the mayor themselves respond to our summonses (not other officials)."
He expressed concern over the no-shows as there was no explanation given.
Ministers, top military chiefs and top civilian officials had all answered their summonses, Solahuddin said.
"Komnas HAM is an institution that must be respected, therefore I expect them to answer the summonses next week. I will really appreciate if they do (answer)."
West Jakarta Deputy Mayor Djiman M. Sarosa and head of the city's legal bureau, Manihar Situmorang, arrived at the commission's office midday and met Solahuddin in a closed meeting. They said that both the mayor and the governor were too busy to answer the summonses.
City Hall Spokesman Muhayat said Sutiyoso was speaking at City Hall with the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
"We have rescheduled the governor's visit to the commission. I'm sure he will come next week," he said.
The commission sent summonses to Sutiyoso and Sarimun on Oct. 21 to explain the alleged human rights violations by public order officers during an eviction on state-owned housing company Perum Perumnas land in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, on Sept. 17.
A man died a week later due to internal injuries suffered during a clash with public order officers and police during the eviction. His smashed ribs had punctured vital internal organs.
Another man died on Oct. 2 after watching public order officers burn down a makeshift tent he had been sheltering in after his home had been demolished.
The National Commission on Child Protection (Komnas Anak) also said a 13-year-old girl was raped as her parents' house was demolished. She was found in a state of shock after being taken from her house by men in blue uniform. Public order officers or firemen wear blue uniforms.
The evictees -- through the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) and the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) -- filed lawsuits with the Jakarta administrative court against the West Jakarta and North Jakarta administrations on Oct. 17.
The lawyers accused the administrations of violating Article 11 of Law No. 39/1999 on human rights and Article 3 of Law No. 51/1960 on prohibition of illegal land use.