Investigators unsure of Marsinah case

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)