Riot probe team postpones presentation of findings

JAKARTA (JP): The team investigating the May riots has postponed the disclosure of its findings scheduled for Friday, until next week due to "technical problems," it was announced on Thursday.

Human rights campaigner Marzuki Darusman said the team members would still have to "finalize" their report before presenting it to the six ministers who signed the decree on the team's establishment in July.

"There are still some points that have to be agreed upon by the members," Marzuki, who is also the deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights, said.

He did not elaborate.

When interviewed by Reuters, team member Asmara Nababan attributed the postponement to "technical problems".

Asked to comment about the rumored friction between team members and that some would refuse to sign the final report, Marzuki said: "We hope to be able to avoid any dissenting views but that has not foreclosed the possibility that some members might want to (refuse to sign).

"We do not foreclose that from happening because it is a team where the members are independent and able to have their own views. Even if there is a consensus on the general reporting of the whole investigation... they might want to present individual views on some issues."

The 18-member team comprises representatives from the Armed Forces (ABRI), government agencies, the rights commission and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It was entrusted with the task of investigating and, if possible, unveiling the instigators and perpetrators of the riots, which some say were organized.

The team is also investigating claims made by human rights groups that there were rampant sexual assaults and rapes during the riots which killed 1,200 people and led to the downfall of former president Soeharto.

Rights activists have exhorted the team not to hold anything back when it announces its findings.

"I think (the findings) will be a report that generally reflects public knowledge of what actually happened during the riots and the emphasis will be on the recommendation (to the government)," Marzuki said.

The team told the House of Representatives in September its belief there were links between the unrest and the abductions of political activists and the fatal shooting of four Trisakti University students on May 12.

Activists, including those from the Volunteers for Humanity led by Catholic priest Sandyawan Sumardi, have said that 168 women and children were raped or sexually assaulted during the riots, 20 of whom reportedly died or have since committed suicide.

Sandyawan is also one of the team members. (byg)