Threats, criticism heaped on rights body for Aceh report
Threats, criticism heaped on rights body for Aceh report
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Soon after unveiling its findings in a recent investigation in
Aceh last week, members of the National Commission of Human
Rights (Komnas HAM) have been threatened against speaking out
further about any possible human rights violations in the war-
torn province.
"I received several phone calls suggesting the commission not
make public the results of our inquiry without the knowledge of
the military ... because the commission is also a state
institution, which is supposed to support all government policy,"
said a member of the commission who requested anonymity.
The human rights commissioner refused to elaborate, but
promised that the "suggestions" would not affect the mission of
the Komnas HAM fact-finding team in Aceh.
M.M. Billah, who chairs the commission's ad hoc team to
monitor the ongoing military operation in Aceh, also admitted
that he had received messages from "unidentified parties"
concerning Aceh issues.
"On the back of one letter, someone wrote 'a child of the
nation who supports NKRI'," he told reporters in his office on
Monday, referring to the term of the Unitary Republic of
Indonesia which is commonly used by the military or other
similarly nationalistic citizens.
The letter contained several articles, downloaded from the
internet, blaming Billah for exposing the commission's recent
findings of possible violations by the military in Aceh.
Asked whether there were differences of opinion within the
commission, in which many members are former government or
security officials, Billah replied, "Komnas HAM consists of 23
members, who each have different perspectives on this issue. We
appreciate differences."
The ad hoc team for Aceh made headlines after it revealed last
week its findings over possible rights abuses, including a mass
grave, since the declaration of martial law in the province on
May 19 and a stepped up military campaign.
The team announced that there had been rights abuses against
civilians and called on the government to end the military
operation in the province soon.
Billah also revealed last week that the commission had
obtained reports of alleged military-trained militias and a mass
grave in Nisam, North Aceh. He said that the commission would
look into the reports.
However, his statements were refuted in the strongest of terms
by the military. The statements also irked the government and
several legislators, who questioned the validity and reliability
of data found by the commission.
Legislator Franky W. Kayhatu lashed out at the commission for
announcing its preliminary report to the nation before confirming
all the evidence.
Franky, a member of House's defense commission from the
military/police faction, said that an institution like Komnas HAM
should have launched a thorough field inquiry first before
speaking to the public.
Separately, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung suggested that the
findings should also be accompanied by more data and evidence to
enable the authorities to take further action as a result of any
violation.
Akbar said that legislators would then study that data and
evidence and pass the information on to the legal authorities for
prosecution if it was deemed necessary.
Meanwhile, the government plans to seek further explanation
from the commission about its recent report.
Lt. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, an assistant to the Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, also
said that the commission should conduct investigations in the
field, instead of merely receiving reports to support the
credibility of their findings.
Responding to the strong opposition, Billah said that the team
is expected to meet the government to discuss the issue on Friday
prior to a second team's departure to the battlefield next week.
"We expect to share information with the military
administration in Aceh. It's up to them whether to believe our
investigation or not," he said.
Billah emphasized that the commission had a different role,
separate and distinct from the military role.
"Their duty is to protect the country and to crush the
separatists while ours is to promote human rights. It is a
difference, even though we are both state institutions, which are
protected by law. Therefore, we will share our information," he
said.
Billah reiterated that the commission had standard
requirements to gain valid and reliable information.
"Investigating is nothing new to us. We know how to get valid
and reliable information," said Billah, a former researcher.