Mulsim leaders summoned over riots

JAKARTA: The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has summoned former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, scholar and potential presidential candidate Nurcholish "Cak Nur" Madjid and several other national figures over the May 1998 riots.

Salahuddin Wahid, who chairs the commission's ad hoc team of inquiry into the riots, said on Tuesday the national figures were summoned to discuss the political background of the riots.

Gus Dur and military observer Salim Said are scheduled to appear on Wednesday, while Cak Nur will meet with the commission on Friday.

The commission is expected to announce in September its findings on the riots, which left more than 1,200 people dead.

However, the report will lack testimony from military and police officers, who have refused to answer summons from the commission. -- JP