Resolve Trisakti incident: Observers

JAKARTA (JP): A number of people from several backgrounds have called on President B.J. Habibie's administration to bring a speedy end to the now year-long investigation of the May 12 Trisakti shooting incident.

They expressed hopes that an open and fair probe into the shooting of the anti-government student protectors would reveal the identities of those responsible for the killing of four students and wounding of dozens of others.

Jakarta Military Police have been handling the investigations for the past year. However, the results have not satisfied the public, as so far only two police officers have been sentenced in the military tribunal for "breaching standard procedures".

Here are the excerpts:

Governor Sutiyoso: "I just want to urge the responsible parties to make a complete and thorough investigation of the shooting.

The case must not be frozen, meaning that the real shooters should be found."

Jakarta Legal Aid Institute chairwoman Apong Herlina: "People will no longer trust the government should the shooting case not be solved fairly. If the people cannot trust the government anymore, anarchy could occur and riots may break out again.

I think the government has tried to cover the case, hoping that the public would forget it."

Trisakti University rector Thoby Mutis: "The investigation of the shooting, which is a crime against humanity, should be completed immediately in a transparent and honest way.

The belated work of the investigators in this criminal case would only lead people to lose their trust toward the government.

The military tribunal (of 18 officers) did not satisfy the public at all since it merely aimed at digging out 'the procedural errors' of the shooting.

The public only want the shooters and those responsible for the case."

Usman Hamid, chairman of the law faculty's student senate at the university: "The shooting is not merely a Trisakti tragedy, but a national tragedy as well.

Therefore, the fair disclosure of the case is obligatory in order to let our nation and its people learn about such possible experiences for the future."

Clementino dos Reis Amaral, secretary-general of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnasham): "The former city police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata and the former city military commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin should be held responsible and punished for the shooting at Trisakti students on May 12.

Their recent replacement is not enough. They instead should be fired from the Armed Forces (TNI) and tried in a court because they were responsible for security affairs in the city."

City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis: "The reason for the slow investigation of the shooting has become the TNI's homework. Police have completed their part by examining the bullets and weapons used in the incident.

All bullets and weapons have been examined at a police forensics laboratory and I think the results have been given to TNI. So, it is now their responsibility to disclose it.

Police also realize that it won't be easy for the students and families of the victims to forget the May 12 incident. Thus, we understand if they want to commemorate the Trisakti shooting on Wednesday.

In their notification letter to the police, the Trisakti students say they will hold activities inside their campus and 20 students will visit the Tanah Kusir public cemetery (in South Jakarta).

If the students keep their activities just like what they have told us, there will be no problems at all."

Tohir, a UPN Veteran Jakarta student who is also an activist with the Communication Forum of Jakarta's Student Senates: "I'm pessimistic that President Habibie would be able to uncover the shooting case, since he is a product of the New Order government.

His administration has been intentionally muffling the case for their own interests, particularly to retain their power.

It's almost the same as, say, the killings in Aceh and East Timor.

From a certain point of view, I don't feel a loss from the deaths of the four Trisakti University students because they were not my friends. But from a humanistic perspective, I am really sad about their deaths, since they are victims of an authoritarian regime.

City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman: "Don't ask me because I have no authority to answer such questions related to the (Trisakti student) shootings. Just ask the city military police commander." (jun/ind/emf/01)