Investigators unsure of Marsinah case

SURABAYA: An investigation team set up by the East Java provincial legislature expressed pessimism over its chance to uncover the alleged involvement of military and police personnel in the 1993 murder of labor activist Marsinah.

Team member Saleh Ismail Mukaddar told the media on Thursday that "much substantial and material evidence in the case is missing."

"This (murder) happened almost seven years ago, and many key witnesses in the case gave contradictory testimonies," Saleh said.

Citing an example, he said there had been no clue of a report that three policemen came to help Marsinah after she was severely abused.

"Nobody knows how the three officers managed to come to the scene about midnight. Somebody must have ordered them. But who ... it's not clear," Saleh said.

Deputy chief of the National Police Detectives Directorate Brig. Gen. Zahulu, National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) member Maj. Gen. (ret) Koesparmono Irsan and East Java military police chief Col. Soejono met at the Shangri-la Hotel here on Wednesday to discuss the progress of the ongoing investigation into the murder case. All of them were quiet about the meeting. (nur/edt)