Joint investigation on Xmas bombings proposed

Joint investigation on Xmas bombings proposed

JAKARTA (JP): The Forum for Indonesian Peace (FID) in a
meeting with Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday appealed to
be given access to information on the Christmas Eve bombings.

The Forum, formed by several noted figures following the Dec.
24 attack, has established its own investigating team.

However a member of the forum's steering committee, Mar'ie
Muhammad, told reporters that there was still no decision taken
during the meeting which also discussed the possibility of
forming a joint commission between the FID and the government
investigation team.

"Pak Bambang said that he and the President Abdurrahman Wahid
are planning to establish a joint investigation between the two
teams," Mar'ie said.

"But he said the decision could only come tomorrow after the
police chief, who leads the government team, approves it," he
added after the two-and-half-hour meeting.

The government special team to investigate the bombings is led
by National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro aided by chief of
the State Coordinating Intelligence Body (Bakin) Lt. Gen. (ret.)
Arie J. Kumaat as his deputy.

The team consists of officers from the Police, Bakin, the
military's Strategic Intelligence Body (Bais), and officials from
the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General's Office.

In a related development, the secretary of FID's team assigned
to fact finding, Munir, told reporters that they still need more
time to reveal the modus operandi of the perpetrators.

"But, we can identify that all bombs in the incidents were
quite unique, as they all contained TNT together with bullets to
worsen the effect. None of the previous bombings in this country
have used this kind of explosive, even in the conflict-torn
provinces," he said.

Munir urged the government to delay the trial against the two
suspects of the bombing in Bandung since the scope is too small
to reveal the whole motives of the bombings.

"The trial may cut short the whole investigation. Moreover,
what is the political output of Bandung's bombing? The trial
will not reveal any answers," he said.

The Forum on Friday also met with House of Representatives
speaker Akbar Tandjung.

After the meeting Akbar said the House may establish a special
committee on the attack.

"The House is seeking a legal formula for the special
committee's establishment because the establishment of such
committees must be based on decrees issued by the People's
Consultative Assembly," he said.

Mari'e said the Forum during the meeting expressed
disappointment with the House's slow reaction to the bombings
which claimed at least 17 lives.

Akbar said the House fully supports the establishment of a
joint team between the Forum and the government.

"The House is still in recess but we will continue to monitor
the National Police's investigation into the incidents," he
said.(02/bby/rms)