House legislator found dead in N. Sumatra

House legislator found dead in N. Sumatra

JAKARTA (JP): A House of Representatives legislator
representing Aceh, Tengku Nashiruddin Daud, has been killed, with
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung suspecting on Monday that politics
might be behind the murder.

While announcing the death of Nashiruddin, Akbar said the
killing was likely linked to the United Development Party (PPP)
representative's presence in the House special commission that is
investigating past atrocities in Aceh. Nashiruddin was the
commission's deputy chairman.

"There is a strong possibility that his death is related to
the Aceh case," Akbar said.

Nashiruddin's body was only identified by his family on Sunday
evening at Pirngadi Hospital in Medan, five days after it was
found at the Pancur Batu tourist resort in the northern part of
the North Sumatra capital. Local residents also discovered
another body, which remains unidentified.

Severe injuries, including a gun shot wound, were found on the
legislator's body.

Akbar said Nashiruddin was kidnapped at the Aceh
representative office in Medan by an unidentified group a day
before he was found dead.

The 58-year-old Nashiruddin's death came on the day of
President Abdurrahman Wahid's visit to Sabang on Weh Island off
Aceh.

House Secretary-General Sri Sumaryati said Nashiruddin was not
on an official trip assigned by the House during the time of his
abduction.

"Nashiruddin was not among the legislators who accompanied
President Abdurrahman on his visit to Sabang recently," Sri said.

She said Teuku Syaiful Ahmad from the National Mandate Party
(PAN) and Karimun Ismu from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) were the legislators assigned to join
the President's trip.

Asked who might be responsible for the murder of Nashiruddin,
Akbar said that he had no idea.

He said Nashiruddin was an outspoken legislator who often
criticized the Indonesian Military (TNI) for its role in alleged
human right violations in the province.

"He (Nashiruddin) actively asked questions of TNI generals in
the recent House hearing on Aceh," Akbar said.

He asked the security authority to take stern measures against
the armed separatist movement in the province.

"We will cooperate with the security authority to investigate
the murder," Akbar said.

The body of Nashiruddin was transported to the Aceh capital of
Banda Aceh on Monday for burial.

Condolences poured in on Monday following the announcement of
Nashiruddin's death, including from members of the Aceh chapter
of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).

A MUI executive, Rusjdi M. Ali Muhammad, described the murder
as "a tragedy that must not be repeated in the future".

The ulemas called on the police to capture whoever was
responsible for the murder, Antara reported.

Violence has been rife in Aceh over the past year, despite the
lifting of a decade-long military operation to quell the
separatist rebel movement there. The independence demand has been
heard everywhere in the restive province, but the government and
the House have ruled it out. (50/jun)