Sat, 08 Feb 1997

Rights commission to probe riots

SEMARANG: A member of the National Commission on Human Rights said here yesterday that the organization would send another team of investigators to the West Kalimantan town of Sanggau Ledo to probe the recent riots there.

Muladi, who is also rector of Diponegoro University, said the commission's decision to send another team was reached in a meeting held earlier this month.

"The commission delegates will go soon after the Idul Fitri holiday to probe any human rights violations that might have occurred," he said, adding that the team would consist of seven people.

According to the commission the case in Sanggau Ledo has not yet been solved, Muladi said.

Following the initial outbreak of ethnic unrest in West Kalimantan earlier this year, the commission sent a team to probe the case. "The commission is trying to find out why the clashes continue," he said.

"The commission will work with the local authorities to find a solution to the problem," Muladi said. (har/08)