Rights body confirms findings

Rights body confirms findings

On Oct. 12, after being delayed for one day, the National
Committee on Human Rights announced the report, which was
conducted from July 28 to Oct. 10, on its investigation
concerning the mass riots on July 27.

Besides confirming that five people died, 23 disappeared and
149 were injured, with material losses incurred involving
hundreds of billions of rupiah, the committee also revealed their
judgment on the occurrence of six forms of human rights
violations: the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and
association, freedom from fear, freedom from torture and other
cruel treatment and the protection of human life.

Several recommendations were also mentioned, including the
suggestion not to discriminate in law enforcement.

The committee has become more significant because of its
objectivity, which serves as an example for other authorities,
particularly law enforcers. The findings of the human rights
committee should motivate follow-up action by the state
apparatuses, i.e to clarify the situation.

MULYANA W. KUSUMAH

Jakarta