Kontras urges fresh probe into 1989 Lampung incident

Kontras urges fresh probe into 1989 Lampung incident

JAKARTA (JP): The government was strongly urged Tuesday to
reinvestigate the Lampung incident in February 1989, which
resulted in scores of deaths.

Munir, coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and
Victims of Violence (Kontras), who demanded the reinvestigation,
said the death toll could be nearly eight times higher than the
Armed Forces' (ABRI) account.

Munir made the demand after meeting with students and human
rights activists in Bandarlampung, Lampung.

Quoting the investigation report, Munir said at least 246
people, including women and children were murdered during the
incident when ABRI troops cracked down on the so-called
separatist rebels.

"According to the government's version the number of
fatalities was only 31," Munir said, as quoted by Antara.

The students and activists, who presented the results of their
four-month investigation into the two-day riots to Kontras, were
from the Solidarity Team of Lampung Students (SMALAM) and
Bandarlampung's Legal Aid Institute.

Munir said the Lampung incident was similar to the massacres
in Aceh which reportedly occurred from 1991 to 1998, and Tanjung
Priok in 1984.

"This case cannot be belittled, it is not very different from
the Aceh and Tanjung Priok cases and is proof of the military's
repressive measures against people," Munir said.

According to the official version, 27 rebels, three security
officers and two civilians died during the crackdown in Lampung
in 1989.

The violence erupted on Feb. 6, when a group calling itself
Mujahidin Fisabilillah, attacked a delegation of local
authorities and killed an Army captain in Way Jepara, Central
Lampung.

The 500-strong group, led by Moslem preacher Warsidi, fiercely
resisted ABRI's efforts to retrieve the captain's body on the
following day.

The military operation was led by the Lampung Military
Command, then under Col. Hendropriyono. Lt. Gen. Hendropriyono is
currently the Minister of Transmigration.

ABRI commander at the time, Gen. Try Sutrisno branded
Warsidi's supporters Moslem fundamentalists.

Local people however pointed out the incident was caused by
land disputes where farmers resisted attempts to take over their
land.

According to the SMALAM's report, about 21 people were
illegally detained for periods from two months up to nine years
without trial. "They were just jailed without any explanations,"
said Fikri, one of the student activists.

Munir again urged ABRI commanders to reveal the truth over the
fate of 14 missing political activists.

"There are strong indications that they were abducted by the
military, but every time we ask Pak Wiranto (the ABRI commander)
the answer is that he does not know," Munir said.

From the initial figure of 24 abducted activists, only nine
have returned to their families. One died and the whereabouts of
the 14 others remains a mystery.

A senior government official who is closely monitoring the
case recently said there was "no hope" of them being alive.

Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto was discharged from active military
service for his leading role in the kidnappings.

The son-in-law of former president Soeharto conceded that he
kidnapped nine activists.

One of the victims, Andi Arief, has offered to drop his
lawsuit against the military if the missing activists are
released.

"But his offer was not responded to at all," Munir complained.

Munir is scheduled to meet again with the National Military
Police chief Maj. Gen. Sjamsu Djalal to discus the fate of the
victims. "It is possible that they are still being held for a
certain purpose," Munir said. (prb)