Police chief seeks 'missing list' from rights body
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)