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)