Group of Islamic parties denounce Ambon killings

Group of Islamic parties denounce Ambon killings

JAKARTA (JP): A group of Islamic parties denounced on
Wednesday the killing of Muslims during recent clashes in the
riot-torn Maluku capital of Ambon and pledged to set up a fact-
finding team to help the government uphold the law against the
perpetrators of the violence.

Chairman of the alliance Deliar Noer said his group was urging
the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas Ham) to
immediately send a team of investigators to Ambon.

"This call is also addressed to the chief of the Indonesian
Military (TNI). He should remain neutral over this human tragedy,
the biggest crime ever committed by military personnel," Deliar
told a press conference here.

At least 20 people were killed in a series of clashes between
June 12 and June 14 in Galunggung and Kebon Cengkih areas that
involved an Army joint-battalion and armed civilians.

Deliar said the fact-finding team to be formed by the Muslim
parties would submit the results of its investigation to the
House of Representatives, the national rights body and the TNI.

"We need to establish this team, not because we don't trust
the authorities. We just want to prevent them misjudging who is
in the right and who is in the wrong. The government already has
too many responsibilities, that's why we want to help," he said.

Deliar acknowledged that the joint statement was somewhat late
in coming, but said that the parties had needed time to cross-
check the information they had received.

Local media have widely reported that troops raided a health
clinic during the disturbances on suspicion that it was being
used to shelter armed civilians. The clinic was run by the Laskar
Jihad Muslim group.

Separately, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
defended the resolute measures being taken by the military in
Ambon, saying they were part of law enforcement and the attempt
to restore order.

"Law enforcement needs strict measures, but they should be
taken in accordance with the proper procedures. What are the
troops there for if they are afraid of getting tough with law
breakers?" Endriartono said after installing a new Army
spokesman, Brig. Gen. Ismed Hardi.

Endriartono, however, supported legal proceedings in
connection with the incident if they were justified by the facts.

"If there is evidence of human rights violations, even a
lieutenant general must be punished. But don't blow the issue out
of proportion for political reasons," he said.

Both the rights commission and TNI have formed their own fact-
finding teams to investigate possible human rights crimes during
the clashes.

Maluku has been the scene of prolonged communal clashes
between Muslims and Christians, which first erupted in January
1999. (emf/tso)