Riot investigation team to provide Wiranto an update

JAKARTA (JP): The government-sponsored fact-finding team investigating the May riots is scheduled to brief Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto on Monday on its findings to date.

Team chairman Marzuki Darusman told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that Minister of Justice Muladi and State Minister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah would also attend the closed-door meeting at the justice ministry. Marzuki, however, declined to mention details of the team's interim report.

"We can't disclose information pertaining to the interim report since it is still being discussed," Marzuki said.

Wiranto, Muladi and Tutty were among six officials who signed a decree establishing the team in July.

The other three officials were Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid, Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas.

Marzuki admitted that the team was facing difficulties in carrying out its task, such as enormous public pressure to announce the results as soon as possible.

Another hurdle, Marzuki said, was ongoing public skepticism over the extent and scale of the riots.

Marzuki criticized officials for voicing doubts about reports of rapes and sexual assaults during the riots.

National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi said last month that some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were exaggerating reports of rapes and sexual assaults against Chinese-Indonesians.

Roesmanhadi said that if the NGOs failed to come up with evidence and continued their claims, they could be charged with spreading unsubstantiated rumors.

Wiranto said last week that ABRI had found no evidence to back up such claims.

"It's difficult for us since government officials are moving ahead of the team to make such statements," Marzuki said, adding that he planned to discuss the matter with Wiranto today.

Activists, including members of the Volunteers for Humanity led by Catholic priest Sandyawan Sumardi, have said that 168 women and children were raped and sexually assaulted during the riots. Twenty of them reportedly died or have committed suicide.

Officials, including the police, have since said they have not found evidence to substantiate the alleged figures.

The National Commission on Human Rights had stated in July that the rapes and sexual assaults during the riots were perpetrated systematically by unidentified groups.

May's violence has sparked an international outcry. Ethnic Chinese communities in several countries have held protests at Indonesian missions to demand a thorough inquiry and trial of those responsible.

The 19-member team set up on July 23 includes representatives from ABRI, government agencies, the rights body and NGOs. It is assigned to investigate allegations that the riots were masterminded. The team is expected to complete its task in three months.

Volunteers for Humanity was the first to allege that the May riots were incited by people who appeared to have been well organized.

The group said 1,190 people died after being trapped and burned during fires and 27 died from gunshot wounds. Thirty-one people are classified as missing and 91 were injured. (byg)