July 27 riot case remains unsolved: Right commission

July 27 riot case remains unsolved: Right commission

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights insisted
that the case of the July 27, 1996, bloody riots in Jakarta, in
which five people were killed, remained unsolved.

"The case is still in court," commission chairman Munawir
Sjadzali told the press after attending a bimonthly meeting with
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo
Soedarman and senior military officers.

The forcible takeover of Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
headquarters by supporters of government-backed chairman Soerjadi
from those of ousted leader Megawati Soekarnoputri on July 27
last year led to major riots that spread rapidly throughout
Central Jakarta.

Following its investigation into the incident, the commission
reported in October that five people died in the rioting, 149
were injured and 23 others were missing. It recommended a series
of actions including a search for the missing people.

The government earlier said that the number of casualties was
four and that there was nobody missing from the melee.

Last July, when Megawati supporters wanted to organize an
event to commemorate the incident, Soesilo and Minister of Home
Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. said the case had long been over.

When asked if the case was regarded as over and if there was
disagreement between the government and the rights commission,
Sjadzali said there was no disagreement.

The commission also scaled down its account of missing people.
It said seven of the 23 people earlier reported missing had been
found, leaving 16 still being sought by the police.

"The commission believes they are still alive and are probably
only afraid to go home," Sjadzali said.

The government not only accepted the commission's account on
the number of people killed, but also renewed its pledge to
reveal the truth behind the incident.

In addition, the government promised to be more responsive
toward commission recommendations for dispute settlements in the
future, Munawir said.

Commission deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman said that it was
now the responsibility of the police and the government to solve
the case.

"We hope the government's handling of the (case) will be
reasonable and accepted by the public," he said.

Marzuki said that by last month, the rights commission had
issued 84 letters to regional administrations, 54 to Armed Forces
headquarters, 23 to the Ministry of Manpower, 29 to the National
Land Agency and 71 to other institutions and private sectors. The
letters consisted of a recommendation on steps to be taken to
settle disputes or rights violations.

"However, only 10 cases reported to regional administrations,
five cases to the Armed Forces, eight cases to the manpower
ministry and five cases to other institutions have been settled,"
Marzuki said.

The meeting, chaired by Soesilo Soedarman, was attended by
chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board Moetojib,
Jakarta Regional Military Command Chief Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso and
deputy chief of Jakarta Police Brig. Gen. Gunawan.

The rights commission delegation included deputy chairwoman
Miriam Budiardjo, secretary-general Baharuddin Lopa and members
Muladi, Bambang W. Soeharto and Djoko Sugianto. (imn)