Pastika fails to answer summons

JAKARTA: Former Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika failed to show up at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) office on Monday to shed light on alleged rights abuses in Papua in 2001.

"National Police chief (Gen. Da'i Bachtiar) has instructed all police commanders to stay in their office during the month-long campaign period. We may question him as a witness after the July 5 election," Komnas HAM member Hasballah M. Saad said.

Pastika, who led the investigation into the deadly Bali bombings on Oct. 12, 2002, is now chief of the Bali police.

Aside from Pastika, Komnas HAM had also summoned three other police personnel, who also failed to attend.

At least 16 people were tortured and three killed in Wasior district, Manokwari regency, Papua, in 2001 when dozens of homes were burned down by police in raids triggered by the killing of six police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel, who were guarding a local company.

Police blamed the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) for the murders. --JP