Prosecutors named for Abepura case

JAKARTA: The Attorney General's Office appointed on Friday six prosecutors in the gross human rights violations in the Papua town of Abepura in 2000.

Secretary to the office's human rights working committee K. Lere said the prosecutors would start working only after tbeir induction in November.

The team comprised Mailan Syarief, Burhanuddin Achmad, Abdul Rauf Kinu and Tonangi Madjid, all from the South Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office, Makassar military prosecutor's office head Aris Sudjarwadi and Manado military prosecutor's office head Bambang Ariwibowo.

Deputy commander of the National Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Brig. Gen. Johny Wainal Usman and Papua Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Daud Sihombing have been named as suspects in the case.

The Abepura incident occurred on Dec. 7, 2000, when a group of 50 armed proindependence people attacked the Abepura police station, killing at least two policemen.

Brimob troops immediately raided the Namin student dormitory in the town of Kotaraja and arrested 24 students there suspected of supporting separatism in the province. Two of the students were killed and dozens of others injured during questioning. -- JP