Tj. Priok abuse case still dawdling

JAKARTA: Hopes for an immediate trial of the military and police officers accused of gross human rights violations in the North Jakarta area of Tanjung Priok in 1984 have been deflated as the ad hoc prosecutors for the case will only start working after June 16.

The 16 prosecutors were selected by the Attorney Generals' Office and are tasked with indicting suspects of the bloodshed.

BR Pangaribuan, the office's human rights task force chief, told reporters that 12 civilian and four military prosecutors comprised the prosecution.

Their first job will be handle four cases involving four defendants, including Indonesian Military (TNI) Special Forces (Kopassus) Chief Maj. Gen. Sriyanto Muntrasan.

"They will file the indictments with the court soon," Pangaribuan said, referring to the ad hoc human rights court.

The Attorney General's Office has named 14 suspects in the human rights abuse. -- JP