Inquiry into Aceh rights abuses to continue

Inquiry into Aceh rights abuses to continue

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) rejected on
Tuesday the government's request that the rights body seek
official confirmation of any abuses against civilians it finds in
war-torn Aceh.

Chairman of Komnas HAM Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara said that
as an independent institution, the rights body was accountable to
the public.

"We have to maintain our independence in upholding human
rights and if we fail to do so, how could we stop rights abuses
and bring the perpetrators to court?" Garuda told reporters after
a meeting with Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the latter's office.

Garuda said the commission would continue disclosing to the
public any alleged rights abuses it uncovered in Aceh, where the
military offensive to crush rebels has entered its sixth week
after martial law was imposed on May 19.

"I beg Pak Susilo's understanding that in a conflict situation
such as in Aceh, it is not easy to obtain clarification in the
field. Therefore, instead of making public denials through the
media, why don't the security authorities probe into reports of
abuses against civilians," he said.

The meeting took place on the heels of the commission's recent
disclosure of reports on rampant human rights abuses in the
province since the martial law came into effect. Among the
reports were the finding of a mass grave in Nissam district in
North Aceh, the formation of armed militia groups, rapes, torture
and extrajudicial killings.

Both the government and the Indonesian Military (TNI) denied
the reports and urged the commission to provide evidence, while
TNI Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto questioned the validity of the
rights abuse reports, saying that the commission had collected
information from a "trash can".

The rights body sent on Tuesday another a team to verify the
reports, the second since May 19.

Garuda urged the government to provide protection for
witnesses and victims of the violence in Aceh, although the bill
on the issue is still being deliberated by the House of
Representatives.

He said the meeting on Tuesday did not specifically cover the
reports, but discussed efforts on how to stop violence against
civilians anywhere in the country.

During the meeting, both parties also agreed to appoint
Zoemrotin K. Soesilo from the commission and Rachsobawono, the
minister's deputy for legal and human rights affairs, as the
persons in charge of handling the Aceh rights issue.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, an assistant to the
minister, said that the findings and reports obtained by the
rights body were necessary to help the military and police stay
informed as to whether rights abuses took place.

"But we hope the commission will think twice before revealing
cases, so that the people will not get confused," Sudi said.