Joint fact-finding team warned 'not to hold anything back'
Joint fact-finding team warned 'not to hold anything back'
JAKARTA (JP): A human rights activist has exhorted the
government-sponsored joint fact-finding team probing the May
riots not to hold anything back when it announces its findings on
Friday.
Munir, the coordinator of the independent Commission for
Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said here on
Tuesday the team should report everything they learned had
happened in the riots that killed more than 1,200 people and in
which women were reportedly sexually assaulted.
"The team should reveal the true story about the riots and
report what really happened," Munir said.
The government established the team on July 23 to investigate
the riots that rocked several cities in the country in May. The
18-member team comprises representatives of the Armed Forces
(ABRI), government agencies, the National Commission on Human
Rights and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The team has also investigated the allegation of rampant
sexual assaults and rapes during the riots.
Munir said many had warned since the team's founding that it
must not compromise on its task.
"The success of the team will depend to what extent the
results can be accepted by all members. If not all the members
sign the team's recommendations, (people would detect that) there
may be political problems within the team."
The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
has doubted the team's impartiality due to the inclusion of ABRI
members.
Team member Nursyahbani Katjasungkana told The Jakarta Post by
telephone on Tuesday that the members planned to meet six
government officials who signed the decree on the team's
establishment on Thursday.
The six are Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces
Commander Gen. Wiranto, Minister of Justice Muladi, State
Minister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah, Minister of Home
Affairs Syarwan Hamid, Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib and
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas.
Nursyahbani said the officials had yet to confirm the meeting.
"If we fail to meet the officials, the public expose of
findings may be delayed," Nursyahbani said. (byg/27)