Solahuddin's nomination no problem: Komnas chief

Solahuddin's nomination no problem: Komnas chief

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta

The chairman of the national rights body played down fears here
on the fate of investigations into human rights violations in the
event of one its executives becoming a vice presidential
candidate.

Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara of the National Commission on
Human Rights (Komnas HAM) was responding Friday to questions and
protests over the possible naming of Solahuddin Wahid, a deputy
chairman of the body, as running mate to Gen. (ret) Wiranto, the
Golkar Party's presidential candidate.

However Solahuddin would have to step down if officially
declared a candidate, he said.

Solahuddin led the Komnas HAM team that investigated the May
1998 riots during which Wiranto led the Indonesian Military
(TNI). He was also minister of defense at the time.

"We have finished our work on the cases and submitted it to
the Attorney General's Office," Abdul Hakim said.

"We will not change our stance in the East Timor, May riots or
Trisakti cases, in which several state officials such as Wiranto
have been accused of being responsible. It has nothing to do with
Solahuddin," he asserted.

Wiranto was still TNI commander when violence and the
scorched-earth policy erupted in East Timor following a
referendum in which most voted to separate from Indonesia. The
fatal shooting of four Trisakti students on May 12, 1998 in
Jakarta is also among unresolved cases.

"We urge the Attorney General's Office to bring the cases to
court soon. Regarding Pak Solah's decision (to pair with
Wiranto), let the people decide," he commented.

A commission member who request anonymity said some members
worried that the potential pairing of Solahuddin with Golkar
presidential candidate Wiranto could be bad for Komnas HAM's
image.

Solahuddin, also deputy chairman of the 40-million-strong
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has been requested by the Golkar Party to
run with Wiranto in the July presidential election.

Golkar approached Solahuddin after its preferred candidate, NU
chairman Hasyim Muzadi, turned down Golkar's offer and instead
agreed to be the running mate of the leader of the Indonesia
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), President Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

A number of groups have urged Solahuddin not to pair with
Wiranto, fearing that Golkar would only exploit the cleric's
position in the rights body. Some staged protests outside the
commission's office in Central Jakarta.

Solahuddin has acknowledged that he has received many
questions and protests over his possible pairing with Wiranto.
He said that he had yet to decide whether to accept Golkar's
offer, pending a decision from the National Awakening Party
(PKB).

His brother, former president Abdurrahman Wahid, the
presidential aspirant from the PKB, will likely have to drop out
of the presidential race due to his impaired vision. The
Constitutional Court rejected a request from the PKB to annul a
rule of the General Elections Commission (KPU) on health
requirements for presidential and vice presidential candidates.