Sutarto, Jakarta – Lawyers and human rights activists went to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) offices on Tuesday April 29 to declare their support for the commission’s continued investigation into cases of gross human rights violations, particularly the Talangsari case. They also urged Komnas HAM to issue subpoenas against retired military and police officer that have refused to be questioned.

Former Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) chairperson Hendardi said that Komnas HAM has already summoned former TNI (Indonesian military) and police officers for questioning over violations in East Timor and the Trisakti, Semanggi I and Semanggi II shootings.

“Before, when they were still active they could be summoned. How is it that now that they are retired they’re afraid,” said Hendardi when reading out a press statement at the Komnas HAM offices in Central Jakarta. Hendardi was accompanied by lawyers Petrus Selestinus and Sugeng Teguh Santoso. They were received by Komnas HAM member Yoseph Adi Prasetyo.

On Thursday April 24, around 500 retired military and police officers gathered in Jakarta to declare their position, which in essence condemned Komnas HAM’s moves to investigate human rights cases. They said that the investigations being carried out by the commission were one-sided.(see Retired military officers say Komnas HAM undermining national unity)

Hendardi said he was surprised by the stand being taken by retired military and police officers in refusing Komnas HAM’s summons to investigate the Talangsari case. By way of example he said, when they were summoned by the Truth and Friendship Commission looking into the East Timor case they were prepared to fulfil the summons.

But, in the case of Talangsari, “Why was it only Sudomo who arrived”, asked Hendardi. Former coordinating minister for politics and security retired Admiral Sudomo did indeed fulfil the Komnas HAM summons when it was investigating the Talangsari case. According to Hendardi, the refusal by the retired officers demonstrates their lack of patriotism.

Notes:

The Talangsari incident revolves around a dawn attack by a battalion of army soldiers on the village in Lampung regency, which was believed to be home to a group accused of attempting to establish an Indonesian Islamic state. Officials said 27 members of the Warsidi-led Koran recital group were killed in the incident, but rights groups put the death toll as high as 246.

[Translated by James Balowski.]