Rights body to send team to Irian Jaya

Rights body to send team to Irian Jaya

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights said
yesterday it is to send a team to investigate alleged human
rights violations during the recent proindependence protests in
Irian Jaya.

The rights body's secretary-general, Baharuddin Lopa, told
non-governmental organization (NGO) activists that the team will
be dispatched tomorrow to collect information.

"Once they're are back, we will hold a plenary meeting and
then announce the results of our investigation," Lopa said
without giving a specific date.

The activists urged the military to show restraint in the
province where security forces have clashed with proindependence
protesters.

One police intelligence officer was killed and at least 26
people were injured when security officers fired on protesters
who were demanding autonomy for Indonesia's easternmost province.

Members of 15 NGOs, which included the Indonesian Legal Aid
Foundation, the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy, the
Indonesian Forum for Environment, the Volunteers for Humanity and
the Solidarity Committee of Irian People (KOSORAI) visited the
rights body to complain about reports that the military was
persecuting civilians in Irian Jaya.

Willi Sawaki, an organizer of KOSORAI, told the rights body
that soldiers had allegedly raided homes and were interrogating
suspected protesters.

Proindependence protests have been mounting in Irian Jaya, and
also in the former Portuguese colony of East Timor recently.

President B.J. Habibie has pledged democratic reform but has
ruled out giving way to separatist demands.

Irian Jaya was ceded to Indonesian in 1963 following a United
Nations-sponsored referendum. (byg)