Military's account on detainee's death accepted

JAKARTA (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader Abdurrahman Wahid has accepted the military's account that activist Achmad Siddiq died of an illness and not from torture while in detention.

The leader of the 30-million strong Moslem organization leader said the issue is now closed.

Gus Dur, as Abdurrahman is better known, said in Malang Saturday that the military's explanation was supported with credible evidence, such as the results of a medical examination.

"We believe the authorities have handled the issue properly," he told journalists who asked for his comment on the way the government handled the issue surrounding the death of Achmad Siddiq on Dec. 6.

Achmad, 24, was one of the 54 people detained for their role in the Oct. 10 religious riot in the East Java town of Situbondo, in which five people were killed and 21 churches reduced to ashes or damaged.

He was found dead in detention on Dec. 6. The news was highly publicized in the local media after Gus Dur sent a letter to the Armed Forces Chief, Gen. Feisal Tanjung, demanding an investigation.

Feisal said in a hearing with the House of Representatives last week that Achmad died of intestine inflammation and cerebral infection.

But an official letter from the Situbondo General Hospital said that Achmad died of "respiratory failure" and infection of his nervous system.

According to the chief of the East Java military commander, Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo, the deceased's family confirmed that Achmad had an acute gastric problem.

"We will not give further comment on Achmad Siddiq's death," Gus Dur said after addressing a seminar at Malang's High School of Theology.

He insisted he had no political motive in demanding that the East Java authorities investigate the NU activist's death. "It was just to obtain the truth," he said. (pan)