Parents of dead students decry lax Semanggi probe

JAKARTA (JP): Parents of two students shot dead in a street rally against the government at Semanggi cloverleaf on Nov. 13, demanded the government continue investigating the tragedy, in which 14 people, mostly students, were killed.

The parents of Sigit Prasetyo and Bernardus R. Norman visited the National Commission on Human Rights on Monday, asking for help to push the government to continue an inquiry into the tragedy.

Accompanied by lawyers from the Independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence and several students, the parents said continuing the investigation was necessary to bring suspects to court.

"There appears to be no progress on the probe. I cannot live peacefully until the killer of my only son is uncovered," the mother of Sigit, Martini, said.

An abundance of evidence from the incident was available, such as film recordings and projectiles from the shootings, which proved students were shot by security personnel, Martini said.

"I faint whenever I see the tragedy on television. How can the Armed Forces (ABRI) claim to have not yet found indications of the tragedy?" she said in tears.

Investigation

Sigit's father, Asih Widodo, said ABRI was not serious in investigating the case, adding he would not stop demanding an investigation into the tragedy.

"It's simple if ABRI representatives want to investigate it. They can just identify the security personnel deployed at the scene at the time of the incident."

Sigit, 18, a student of YAI Accountancy College and Bernardus alias Wawan, 20, of Atma Jaya Catholic University, were among thousands of students marching to the nearby People's Consultative Assembly building to endorse various reform proposals, shot by security officers.

Wawan's parents, Arif Supriyadi and Sumarsih, also expressed disappointment on the probe, saying the killing would not be resolved by an apology.

"The case cannot come to an end with a statement the security personnel employed 'improper procedure'," Arif said.

He urged the government to announce progress on the inquiry every week, to enable the public, especially the parents of victims, to observe advancement in the investigation.

Commission member Asmara Nababan promised to remind the government, especially ABRI, to continue the probe on the tragedy.

"If the tragedy is not properly investigated, it will only damage the Armed Force's reputation."

He said the commission would not hesitate to urge the government to properly solve the case and other human right violations.

"Even though it's a long struggle, we have to face it. It's all we can do."

Last month, Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Djasri M. said there was no progress in the investigation into the shootings.

The military was still unable to determine who opened fire on the protesters, he said. (jun)