Transparency needed

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