Military's account on detainee's death accepted

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)