Govt's new stance over riot hailed

Govt's new stance over riot hailed

JAKARTA (JP): Observers welcomed yesterday the government's
decision to follow up with renewed vigor the National Commission
on Human Rights' recommendation on the July 27 riots last year.

Political observer Arbi Sanit, usually known for his critical
views on many government policies, and lawyer R.O. Tambunan
separately praised yesterday the government's stance. The two
agreed that the position brought the hope of settling the
leadership dispute of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), as
well.

Arbi, a lecturer at University of Indonesia's School of Social
and Political Sciences, noted that there has been a shift in the
government's treatment of PDI, from supporting one faction, to
becoming neutral.

"Megawati's camp now has room to breath, although (the new
development) is still in the bigger political interest of the
government," said Arbi.

Arbi was referring to PDI chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri
who was ousted by her rival, Soerjadi, in a government-backed
breakaway party congress in Medan, North Sumatra, in June last
year.

The dispute peaked when a military-backed forced takeover of
PDI headquarters by Soerjadi's camp from Megawati's loyal
supporters occurred on July 27. The incident triggered massive
rioting in Central Jakarta which left five dead, 16 people
missing and dozens of buildings burned.

The National Commission on Human Rights investigated the
incident and issued a recommendation on a series of actions the
government should take, including a search for the missing people
and serving Soerjadi and his supporters with due legal process.

The government declared in July this year that the case was
"over". The rights commission, insisting that the case was still
unsolved, convinced the government in a meeting on Thursday to
continue with efforts to unearth the truth behind the incident.

Arbi said it was "very likely" that Soerjadi and his
supporters would be brought in for police questioning or brought
to court.

Slow process

However, Arbi speculated that the process would be
painstakingly long. "It will be a slow process that will conclude
only after the presidential election next year," adding that the
process would only be a political move on the part of the
government to bar Megawati from making significant maneuvers of
her own before the election.

Arbi said the government's promise to continue with the case
served another purpose, namely showing the international
community that it was "doing something".

Tambunan, who is chief lawyer for Megawati's legal campaign
against her rivals, said his team would soon write to
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo
Soedarman requesting that the government's words be turned into
action.

He charged that despite the team's previous requests, the
government had yet to "thoroughly investigate" the July 27
incident.

He said the case could not be considered closed just like that
because it takes 12 years for criminal cases to be declared
outdated. (aan)