Police chief seeks 'missing list' from rights body

JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata wants the National Commission on Human Rights to hand over its riot reports, which reportedly contain the identities of the 74 people who have been missing since the rioting that broke out in the capital on July 27.

"We haven't received any data on the missing people even though we've been asking for it since the day the rights body made its announcement," Hamami told reporters.

According to Hamami, the commission was uncooperative in helping his officers collect information about the missing people. He said the police want to know the identities of the missing and the last places and times they were seen.

"I don't know why. The rights body just said that the reports were not ready," he said.

Hamami, however, said he would wait until the commission is ready to hand over the reports.

"If it's true that 74 people are missing, the Jakarta Military Commander and I, as the city police chief, have to take responsibility.

"If they cannot account for all their findings, I think I will also hold responsible the related parties and anyone who might have given a fake report," the two-star general warned.

Hamami's remarks came after President Soeharto asked the commission to prove its findings.

The President was quoted as saying by Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono that the commission should support its findings, on both deaths and disappearances, with evidence that "makes sense," such as names, addresses and when they disappeared.

The government has said that only four people died and 28 were injured in the incident.

"The incredibly big difference (between the government and the commission's figures) can spur misunderstanding among the people and it is 'unhealthy' for the resolution of questions related to the July 27 affair," Moerdiono said.

Hamami said that the police want to know where the commission got its information.

"We haven't received any reports of missing persons here in Jakarta, he said, adding that neither have any families reported missing family members.

Hamami said the police also want clarification of the commission's definition of "missing".

"In military terminology the word 'missing' relates to Missing in Action or dead.

"I have handled so many cases of missing persons for many years in this capital, and each of the cases were reported by, for example, a child, son-in-law or mother-in-law," he said.

Based on the reports filed, the police will start their investigation to determine the whereabouts of the missing person.

There are standard procedures and specific rules that one must follow when a person is reported missing, he said. (bsr)