Riot suspects in Pasuruan tortured: PKB

SURABAYA (JP): An investigation team formed by the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction at the East Java provincial legislature claims to have found evidence that people arrested following riots in Pasuruan were tortured during police questioning.

Chairman of the team Fathorrosjid said on Thursday at least three of the suspected rioters had been admitted to Bhayangkara Police Hospital for injuries they sustained.

"We first heard about the torture from families of the detainees who complained to us. When we visited them we learned that the crime against humanity was true," Fathor said.

A team of 26 PKB faction members went to Pasuruan Police precinct on Thursday to visit 127 people who were held under arrest. They were alleged to have participated in riots that erupted last week in response to the House of Representatives move to call for an impeachment process against President Abdurrahman Wahid, one of PKB's founders.

Abdurrahman charged the East Java Police with human rights abuse, likening them to the iron-fisted security troops during the New Order, for their measures against the demonstrators across the province. The President claimed that the protesters staged peaceful rallies, although in fact a number of buildings, including schools, mosques and churches, were attacked or set on fire.

One man was shot dead in the Pasuruan riots.

Fathor said a number of detainees showed signs of being beaten and had cigarette burns on their faces.

The team also discovered two of the detainees were students of an elementary and a junior high school.

Responding to the results of the investigation, chief of East Java Police detectives Sr. Comr. Bambang Hendarso Danuri suggested that the PKB team pursue legal avenues. He maintained that his personnel had carried out their job in a professional manner and in line with the law. (nur)