Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) believes that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has a great of information about the abduction of pro-democracy activists in 1997-1998. Based on this, Komnas HAM believes that it would be a mistake if the president does not give his full attention to solving these gross human rights violations.
Komnas HAM chairperson Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara made this statement during a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III on Tuesday February 6. The meeting was chaired by Commission III deputy chairperson Azis Syamsuddin from the Golkar Party fraction. “President Yudhoyono was once a member of the [Indonesian Military’s] honorary council that questioned a military officer involved in the abductions. President Yudhoyono therefore, is the one that could provide information”, said Nusantara.
Because up until this day the whereabouts of the 13 activists remain unknown, Komnas HAM is asking the president to immediately task the national police with finding them within a period of three months. “They must be found no mater what their plight”, asserted Nusantara.
Because there has been no sign from the government that it will investigate a number of pending human rights violations, several DPR members have started to pressure Komnas HAM to take the case before the International Human Rights Court.
“I agree with the internationalisation of human rights cases if there is no presidential will [to solve them]”, said Eva Kusuma Sundari from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction during the meeting.
Arbab Paproeka from the National Mandate Party faction has also raised questions about Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh’s stance who has persisted in avoiding investigating the disappearance of the 13 activists on the grounds that he is waiting for a recommendation from the DPR.
Responding to this impasse, the Commission III meeting with Komnas HAM decided to immediately support an investigation by the Attorney General into the results of an investigation by Komnas HAM into the 1997-1998 disappearances that are believed to be gross human rights violations.
The commission also agreed to immediately hold a tripartite discussion with the Attorney General and Komnas HAM to follow up the results of the investigation. (sut)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
