Relatives demand probe on Priok killings
Relatives demand probe on Priok killings
JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers and relatives of victims of the 1984
military shooting in North Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port area are
demanding a new, thorough investigation into the violence that
killed dozens.
The group also demanded questioning of former vice president
Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno and former defense minister Gen. (ret)
L.B. Moerdani, respectively commanders of the Jakarta military
and Armed Forces at the time of the incident.
"If necessary, (former president) Soeharto should also be
questioned concerning the case," said Ahmad Hambali, one of the
40 lawyers from several prominent rights groups who banded
together in the Lawyers Coalition for Priok's Case to push for
the reopening of the investigation. Among the groups are the
Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras)
and the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI).
In a media conference at the foundation's office, the
coalition said both Try and Moerdani were responsible for the
order to shoot at the crowd.
The military claimed only 18 were killed on Sept. 12, 1984,
when it opened fire on antigovernment protesters, but relatives
and witnesses have said more than 400 people died and their
bodies dumped at sea.
Muslim preachers were accused of inciting the Tanjung Priok
residents after security personnel desecrated a mosque. In the
ensuing crackdown on Muslim activists, dozens of preachers and
their students were tried and convicted.
The government subsequently declared the case closed.
The group of lawyers said it officially lodged a demand for
reopening of the case on Thursday with the military police
"because we believe the military was involved in the killing,
abductions and violence 15 years ago".
As a result of the demand, the military police said it would
summon relatives of the victims for questioning on Monday.
The lawyers also expressed concern that their attempt would be
stymied if the bills on state security and on the National
Commission on Human Rights, currently under deliberation by the
House of Representatives (DPR), are endorsed.
"The two bills are principally antidemocratic and appear to
justify the military (security approach)," Ahmad said. He warned
the documents could provide the government with the legal leeway
to frustrate efforts to settle past cases of rights violations.
(emf)