Rights abuses in Pasuruan

SURABAYA, East Java: The police were guilty of committing human rights violations when they acted to quell protests in Pasuruan between May 28 and May 30, the joint independent fact- finding team investigating the incidents said on Tuesday.

The team's coordinator, Abdul Hamid, said the violations ranged from unlawful arrests, beatings, torture and shooting which killed local resident M. Fathan and injured dozens of other people.

"The security forces arrested people from outside the protests who were not involved in them," he said, adding that torture was mostly committed later in the police lockup.

"Detainees were burned with cigarettes, told to undress and not allowed to perform their prayers," he said.

Abdul claimed that the protests, aimed at supporting President Abdurrahman Wahid, were led by local cleric Masyhudi Nawawi and were proceeding peacefully. But, at the same time there was an unidentified group staging a similar protest.

"It was this unidentified group which provoked the arson and destruction in a number of places, including churches and schools," Abdul said.

Abdul, however, said that the group had still not been identified.

The 50-member team consisted of local ulemas, Christian clergymen, students and political party executives. The fact- finding team had already submitted their report to President Abdurrahman Wahid when the latter visited Pasuruan some time ago. (nur)