Joint team to present riot probe findings on Tuesday
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)