Plan to mark student shooting sparks debate
Plan to mark student shooting sparks debate
JAKARTA (JP): An executive of the Indonesian Legal Aid and
Human Rights Association (PBHI) strongly supported on Monday
plans by several student groups to hold a massive rally to
commemorate the first anniversary of the fatal Trisakti
University shooting incident.
Hendardi, PBHI's chairman, said such a rally was one of the
most effective ways to help uncover the truth behind the bloody
incident.
Four students were shot dead by security officers on May 12,
sparking widespread riots ending with the downfall of president
Soeharto on May 21, 1998.
"The students could go to the streets to push the government
to conduct fair legal proceedings regarding the case and to
demand the complete investigation of the case," Hendardi said.
Student groups from several universities pledged last week to
mobilize thousands of students on Wednesday in a massive rally to
commemorate the shooting incident.
"The shooting incident is a political case, so no other
solution can resolve the case except through political means,"
Hendardi said on Monday in a panel discussion at Trisakti
University in Grogol, West Jakarta.
He said the current government does not have any initiative
and seems reluctant to investigate because it has "certain
political interests" in the case.
"The fact that the case is full of political content makes it
difficult to solve," he explained.
Adi Andojo Soetjipto, dean of the law faculty at Trisakti,
however, did not agree with Hendardi's remarks. "Such a rally is
not necessary since it could ignite other bloody clashes between
students and security personnel," he said.
The former Supreme court judge said he put his hopes for the
solution of the case on the new government to be formed after the
June 7 general election.
"Only the new pro-reform government will be able to handle the
case," he said, adding that the current government could not be
trusted since it was run by pro-status quo officials.
Another speaker, Thamrin Amral Tomagola, a lecturer at the
University of Indonesia, however, agreed with Hendardi's remarks,
saying that the Trisakti killings were sparked by political
clashes among the military's elite.
The discussion, led by political scientist Hermawan Soelistyo,
also featured Rettob Abdullah, another lecturer at Trisakti
University.
Among the attendants were Trisakti rector Thoby Mutis, parents
of the shooting victims and dozens of Trisakti students. (01)