Transparency needed

In a plenary session which lasted almost until midnight on Tuesday, the case of the death of Yogyakarta journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin, alias Udin, and the Situbondo (East Java) riots were the main points on the agenda discussed by the National Commission on Human Rights.

Regarding the Situbondo riots, little that was new could be disclosed by the commission. According to the commission, four kinds of rights violations occurred in this case: against the principle of freedom of religion, against the right to life, against the right to property and against freedom from fear.

In the case of Udin, the commission could provide more details. Among other things, it found what it referred to as an "engineering" of the case and failure on the part of police investigators to respond to reports regarding several individuals who were allegedly involved in these engineering attempts. This, according to the commission, violated the principles of equality before the law and a fair trial.

Regarding Dwi Sumadji, the present suspect in the case, the commission found indications of human rights violations. First, the procedure of Dwi's arrest had weaknesses that could be viewed as human rights violations. Second, the seizure of evidence in the form of Dwi's personal belongings did not comply with the stipulations of the law. Third, (police) allegations that an illicit affair took place between Udin and Sunarti -- Dwi's wife -- were not adequately supported by evidence. This was considered by the commission to be a violation of the basic principle of fairness.

These findings are in agreement with the public conception of the case so far. They are important to note, however, because of their striking incongruity with statements that have been issued by the police so far. When two views are in such diametrical contradiction of each other, surely it is impossible for both to be right.

It would therefore be highly advisable that both those prestigious institutions work together to resolve this case in a transparent manner.

-- Republika, Jakarta