Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 09/04/2008 10:14 AM | Headlines
The killings in Talangsari village in Lampung 19 years ago were a gross human rights abuse, for which the local military commander was most responsible, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has concluded.
Commissioner Yoseph Adi Prasetyo said Wednesday the team investigating the incident had found evidence of systematic and widespread killing, torture, demolition and displacement of villagers.
"The incident constituted a gross human rights abuse. It was systematic because this incident occurred under a command (from a higher official)," said Yoseph, a member of the investigation team.
The Talangsari incident, which occurred on Feb. 7, 1989, involved a raid by Garuda Hitam soldiers on homes in the village, following allegations the residents were attempting to set up an Islamic state.
The soldiers burned houses and detained villagers and residents of neighboring areas. According to the commission, hundreds of civilians were killed, wounded or went missing during the attack.
The commission launched the investigation in March 2007.
"From our investigation, we found that the person most responsible for this incident is the Korem (local military) commander in charge. Other responsible people are the Kodam (regional military) commander, the Army chief of staff and other high-ranking officials," Yoseph said.
He declined to give any names.
A.M. Hendropriyono was the commander of the Garuda Hitam Military at the time and the Armed Forces chief was Try Sutrisno. The Army chief of staff at that time was Edy Sudradjat, who died in 2006.
The commission summoned Hendropriyono and Try, as well as former Army Special Forces commander Wismoyo Arismunandar and other retired generals to gather information on the incident.
Only former security and order operation command chief (Pangkopkamtib) Adm. (ret) Sudomo turned up for questioning.
"But the commission can still make its conclusion without those generals' testimonies, because we're using a case-matrix method, which includes a cross-checking technique on the victims' testimonies," Yoseph said.
In response to the summons, Hendropriyono told The Jakarta Post he did nothing wrong but had carried out his state duty to preserve national integrity.
Yoseph said any steps to follow up on the investigation, including bringing the case to an ad hoc court, would be decided in a plenary meeting scheduled for Sept. 9.
"But we will send this report to the House of Representatives anyway and ask for its political support," he said.
Some Talangsari villagers have opted for reconciliation and demanded an end to the investigation, but Yoseph said it would not prevent the commission from moving ahead.
"We acknowledge that some villagers want us not to go further on this case, but note that many others, like the victims and their families, asked for justice," he said.
The killings in Talangsari village in Lampung 19 years ago were a gross human rights abuse, for which the local military commander was most responsible, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has concluded.
Commissioner Yoseph Adi Prasetyo said Wednesday the team investigating the incident had found evidence of systematic and widespread killing, torture, demolition and displacement of villagers.
"The incident constituted a gross human rights abuse. It was systematic because this incident occurred under a command (from a higher official)," said Yoseph, a member of the investigation team.
The Talangsari incident, which occurred on Feb. 7, 1989, involved a raid by Garuda Hitam soldiers on homes in the village, following allegations the residents were attempting to set up an Islamic state.
The soldiers burned houses and detained villagers and residents of neighboring areas. According to the commission, hundreds of civilians were killed, wounded or went missing during the attack.
The commission launched the investigation in March 2007.
"From our investigation, we found that the person most responsible for this incident is the Korem (local military) commander in charge. Other responsible people are the Kodam (regional military) commander, the Army chief of staff and other high-ranking officials," Yoseph said.
He declined to give any names.
A.M. Hendropriyono was the commander of the Garuda Hitam Military at the time and the Armed Forces chief was Try Sutrisno. The Army chief of staff at that time was Edy Sudradjat, who died in 2006.
The commission summoned Hendropriyono and Try, as well as former Army Special Forces commander Wismoyo Arismunandar and other retired generals to gather information on the incident.
Only former security and order operation command chief (Pangkopkamtib) Adm. (ret) Sudomo turned up for questioning.
"But the commission can still make its conclusion without those generals' testimonies, because we're using a case-matrix method, which includes a cross-checking technique on the victims' testimonies," Yoseph said.
In response to the summons, Hendropriyono told The Jakarta Post he did nothing wrong but had carried out his state duty to preserve national integrity.
Yoseph said any steps to follow up on the investigation, including bringing the case to an ad hoc court, would be decided in a plenary meeting scheduled for Sept. 9.
"But we will send this report to the House of Representatives anyway and ask for its political support," he said.
Some Talangsari villagers have opted for reconciliation and demanded an end to the investigation, but Yoseph said it would not prevent the commission from moving ahead.
"We acknowledge that some villagers want us not to go further on this case, but note that many others, like the victims and their families, asked for justice," he said.