Komnas HAM eyeing '96 PDI HQ attack

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) chairman, Djoko Soegianto, pledged on Wednesday to form a team to investigate the notorious July 27, 1996, attack on the headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

"We are considering setting up an investigation into the incident," Djoko said after a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission I for defense, foreign and political affairs.

Djoko's remark came in response to comments from National Awakening Party (PKB) legislator A. Effendy Choirie who demanded the commission investigate past incidents which allegedly involved military generals, including the incident at PDI headquarters.

Effendy urged the commission to question several retired military officers, including former chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Gen. (ret) Feisal Tandjung and former TNI chief of social and political affairs Syarwan Hamid, who were allegedly behind the incident.

Commission members Albert Hasibuan supported the idea of forming an investigation team and the questioning of the these officers.

"They (Feisal and Syarwan) should be questioned about it," Albert, who also led the government-sanctioned Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor, said.

Asked whether the team would be independent since the case related to a particular political party, Albert said he was sure it would be independent.

"The team would consist of independent members. We would investigate human rights and legal violations." he added.

The 1996 incident sparked a riot which hit a central area of Jakarta. While there have been ongoing claims that many died in the initial attack, there has never been any thorough evidence to support the contention that over 100 were killed in the attack on PDI headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta.

President Abdurrahman accused Feisal on Tuesday of being responsible for the takeover of the PDI office.

Besides the incident, the President also accused Feisal of helping engineer an attempt to unseat Abdurrahman from his post as chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization during its 1994 congress, in Cipasung, Tasikmalaya, West Java.

Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) legislator Jacob Tobing said the party central board was now setting up a separate investigation team to collect more data about the incident.

"It's not revenge. It's just to disclose the truth," Jacob said on the sidelines of the hearing. (jun)