Riot suspects in Pasuruan tortured: PKB

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)