Reluctant security chiefs to be summoned again

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) probing the Trisakti, Semanggi I and Semanggi II killings has been extended by one month to allow reluctant military and police generals time to decide if they will attend.

The decision was made during a three-and-a-half hour meeting at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Set up by Komnas HAM in July 2001 to investigate the three separate incidents of the killing of student and civilian protesters, KPP HAM's working period should have ended on Wednesday (Feb. 27).

KPP HAM chairman Albert Hasibuan, who is also a Komnas HAM member, told media on Wednesday that the commission would summon to the generals to ask them to appear before the inquiry team next week.

"We will give two chances for the witnesses to appear before the inquiry team. Should they still refuse to answer the summonses, Komnas HAM holds the right to use its subpoena rights to force the witnesses to comply," Albert said.

In a bid to unravel the truth behind the Trisakti, Semanggi I and Semanggi II killings, KPP HAM summoned a number of military and police generals, including former military chief Gen. (retired) Wiranto and former Jakarta military commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsuddin.

The commission's move, however, was met with strong resistance from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police Headquarters, which argued that the commission was illegal.

In response the commission sought the Central Jakarta District Court's opinion on the issue. The court ruled last week that KPP HAM was legitimate and had the rights to summon the generals.

KPP HAM member Munarman said on Wednesday the generals would hurt themselves if they squandered the chance to clarify their involvement since the commission had sufficient preliminary evidence of gross human rights violations in the incidents.

The commission is investigating the shooting of four Trisakti University students during a demonstration on May 12, 1998, which led to the fall of the Soeharto regime, and two incidents that took place at the Semanggi overpass on Nov. 13, 1998 and on Sept. 24, 1999, in which more students and residents were killed.

Meanwhile, two groups claiming to belong to the Society Forum for Justice (FMK) and Indonesian Youth Axis (PPI) protested at the Komnas HAM headquarters on Wednesday, demanding that both Komnas HAM and KPP HAM be disbanded.

PPI member Rahmat Ariyanto said that KPP HAM aimed to character assassinate certain military generals.