Police action against Pasuruan rioters endorsed

SURABAYA (JP): The police did everything correctly in accordance with procedures in quelling the recent unrest in the East Java town of Pasuruan, the House of Representatives' fact- finding team leader said on Friday.

Ishak Latuconsina, who is also the deputy chairman of House Commission I for political, security and foreign affairs, said, after a trip to Pasuruan, that the strict measures were proven to be effective in preventing further destruction and an escalation of violence.

Ishak led a six-member team on a visit to the town that was rocked by mass rioting involving supporters of President Abdurrahman Wahid late in May.

The riot followed the House's decision to call for a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly. A man died from gunshot wounds as police opened fire on rioters.

"We are here not to investigate, but to evaluate how effective the security forces were in coping with the conflict and violence in Pasuruan, including their measures to restore order," said Ishak, who represents the Indonesian Military/National Police.

The President has accused the police of violating human rights when handling the protest.

Ishak warned that although peace had been restored, people's vigilance had to be maintained in the face of the MPR special session, which is scheduled to start on Aug. 1.

A team member Effendy Choirie of the National Awakening Party faction alleged that security troops had provoked the President's supporters to perpetrate violence in the Pasuruan incident.

Meanwhile, the National Commission on Human Rights investigation team inspected ruins of schools and places of worship attacked by a mob in Pasuruan and met with local religious leaders and witnesses.

Unfortunately, the team failed to find a coffee stall that the President had claimed was the site where Fathan, the only fatality in the riot, was shot dead by a police officer.

In Manado, North Sulawesi, Abdurrahman said on Thursday he would visit victims of the Pasuruan riot on June 20 and present a donation needed to reconstruct the places of worship attacked during the unrest. (48/nur)