Investigation into Tanjung Priok case ordered
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid ordered on Thursday Attorney General Marzuki Darusman to start a formal investigation into the 1984 human rights abuses in Tanjung Priok.
Marzuki said his office would launch an investigation based on the findings and recommendations of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
The commission's delegation met with the President during a meeting with the commission members at Merdeka Palace. Accompanied by other members, including Aisyah Amini and Syamsudin, the commission chairman Djoko Soegianto handed over its final conclusions about the incident to the President.
Marzuki said he would officially receive the results of the Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights violations (KPP HAM) in Tanjung Priok, set up by Komnas HAM in March, on Friday.
"We will follow up their findings," Marzuki said.
In its report before the House of Representatives recently, the inquiry commission concluded there was no evidence of intentional mass killings or burials during or after the incident. The conclusion sparked anger from many people.
A mob damaged the commission office in Menteng, Central Jakarta, not long after the announcement of the report. They demanded punishment for former military chief Gen. (ret.) Benny Moerdani and former vice president Gen. (ret.) Try Sutrisno for their involvement in the killings.
Komnas HAM has come under fire for implicating several military generals in human rights abuses after the referendum in East Timor last year, but failing to do the same for those involved in the Tanjung Priok case.
"Where there are shortcomings in the report, the Attorney General will improve on them," said Djoko after meeting with Abdurrahman.
Djoko reiterated he was quite satisfied with the findings. He acknowledged gross human rights violations occurred during the incident, where he said at least 24 people were killed by security forces.
"The number is line with the statements of eyewitnesses," Djoko said.
The clashes between civilians and military personnel erupted following emotionally charged lectures at Tanjung Priok's Rawa Badak Mosque by preachers reportedly criticizing the government.
Separately, head of the joint team investigating human rights violations in East Timor, state prosecutor M.A. Rachman, said two teams had been assigned to visit East Timor and East Nusa Tenggara on July 17.
Led by Rachman, 17 members of the first team will visit East Timor for 10 days, while prosecutor Putu Kusa will lead the second team sent to Denpasar and Atambua regency in East Nusa Tenggara until the end of this month.
After meeting with representatives of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), Rachman said the teams would cross check witnesses' testimonies and question East Timor's former governor Jose Abilio Soares and other officials. (bby/prb)