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)