Joint team to present riot probe findings on Tuesday
JAKARTA (JP): The join fact-finding team investigating the May riots is to present its much-awaited final report to the government on Tuesday, the team chairman said on Sunday.
Leading human rights campaigner Marzuki Darusman told The Jakarta Post that the team will present its finding to the six ministers who established the team in a meeting at the Ministry of Justice.
"It is very likely that we will present the final report on Tuesday since most of the ministers, except (Minister of Home Affairs) Syarwan Hamid, who will be out of town, have already confirmed (their availability)," Marzuki said.
The other five are State Minister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah, Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto, Minister of Justice Muladi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib.
The team was initially scheduled to present its final report on Oct. 23.
Marzuki, who is also deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights, said earlier that the presentation of findings had been postponed due to a "technical problem".
Marzuki denied any discord in the team, but admitted the process to reach a consensus took a relatively long time as a result of the team members' diverse backgrounds.
The 18-member team -- comprised of representatives of the Armed Forces, government agencies, the rights commission and non- governmental organizations (NGOs) -- was assigned to investigate and, if possible, unveil the instigators of the riots, which many believe were masterminded.
The team is also investigating claims made by human rights groups that rampant sexual assaults and rapes took place during the riots which claimed the lives of around 1,200 people and led to Soeharto's resignation from the presidency.
A source close to the investigation told the Post that the report will say, among other things, that the Jakarta Operation Commander (Pangkoops Jaya) should be held responsible for the failure of security during the deadly riots.
The source also said that the team will disclose that at least 52 rapes and sexual assaults took place during the riots.
Activists, including those from the Volunteers for Humanity led by Catholic priest Sandyawan Sumardi, have said for months that 168 women and children were raped or sexually assaulted during the riots, 20 of whom reportedly died during the attacks or committed suicide shortly afterwards.
Sandyawan is a member of the joint fact-fining team.
During the riots, when security was allegedly non-existent, former Jakarta Military commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin was the operation commander. He was replaced by Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman in July.
Sjarie has since been appointed assistant for territorial affairs to ABRI's Chief of General Affairs.
Sjafrie was the first official to give testimony to the investigation team. The team also questioned Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, who is the former commander of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, former city police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata, ABRI Intelligence Agency chief Maj. Gen. Zacky Anwar Makarim, Marine Corps Commander Maj. Gen. Suharto, former Jakarta Military Command chief of staff Brig. Gen. Sudi Silalahi and Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris.
The team also met with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Soebagyo, who led the Officers Honor Council investigating the abduction of political activists.
The team told the House of Representatives in September of its belief that there was a link between the unrest, the abduction of political activists and the shooting dead of four Trisakti University students.
However, Marzuki said on Oct. 28 that there were also links between those three events and the downfall of Soeharto. (byg)