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.