Rights body praised for its findings

JAKARTA (JP): Observers say the National Commission on Human Rights proved its independence when it announced its findings on the July 27 riots by clearly identifying rights violations committed by the authorities and others.

Chairman of the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) Bambang Widjojanto welcomed the findings, but claimed there were some inaccuracies in the report.

"The commission failed to provide the locations where the fatalities were found and the whereabouts of the missing people before they disappeared," he said in a press release.

"Such details are important for further legal proceedings (such as identifying who will be held responsible for the fatalities)," he said.

Dimyati Hartono, a lawyer representing the overthrown leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri, said the commission's findings were accurately obtained through thorough investigation of all related parties, including Megawati's faction, her rivals under Soerjadi, the security forces and the victims.

"The findings help boost Indonesia's image, both domestically and internationally," he said.

"We can see the commission's independence...it has retained its credibility in the eyes of the people," he said.

Criminologist and human rights activist Mulyana W. Kusumah praised the rights commission for maintaining its composure and disclosing its findings in the current "difficult" political climate.

He said the commission had been objective and courageous in its findings, which were different to the government's.

"This is the best the commission can give us now," he said.

On Saturday, the rights commission disclosed its final report on the riots which erupted following the forced takeover of the disputed PDI headquarters on July 27. According to the report, five people were killed in the riots, 149 were injured and 23 are still missing. Earlier the commission said that 74 people were missing.

The commission said there were clearly some violations of people's basic rights in the incident, including the right to freedom from fear and inhumane treatment. The commission accused the authorities of taking sides in the PDI's internal dispute; a stance which led to the riots.

Through its spokesman Brig. Gen. Nurfaizi, the National Police rejected the charge that it had taken sides in the PDI dispute.

"The police don't discriminate when it comes to upholding the law," Nurfaizi was quoted by the Merdeka daily as saying.

Dimyati said yesterday he believed the commission's number of fatalities and missing people differed from the number listed by Megawati's faction. He did not clarify this, but added that the difference was unimportant so long as the commission's figures were based on facts.

Mulyana said the commission was less than accurate in its identification of the type of gun which killed Sariwan, and on the blunt instruments which killed Asmayadi Soleh and Slamet.

"Such details are necessary to identify which service of the Armed Forces should be held responsible for Sariwan's death. Identification of the 'blunt instruments' said to have been used to kill the two victims could help reveal the perpetrators," he said.

The rights commission said two of the five victims died of wounds from blunt instruments, one of fatal burns, one of a possible heart attack and one from gunshot wounds.

Bambang said the commission had failed to identify the rights violations which he alleged had occurred during the arrest and investigation of PDI supporters.

He called on the commission to continue its investigation on the riots.

In its six-page report, the commission linked the government and the military with the unrest, prompted by the violent takeover of the PDI headquarters in Central Jakarta. (imn)