Generals told to obey summons

Lilian Budianto ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 03/25/2008 11:20 AM  |  National

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has insisted on summoning retired Army generals for questioning in connection with the 1989 killings in the Lampung village of Talangsari, despite the government's opposition.

The rights body is considering issuing a second summons for the Lampung military commander when the incident took place, A.M. Hendropriyono, then armed forces chief Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno and then Army Special Forces commander Gen. (ret) Wismoyo Arismunandar, who all skipped the first hearing earlier this month.

Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono has suggested the generals ignore the summons.

"The defense minister's objection shows a lack of understanding of our mission to uphold human rights," Ridha Saleh, the commission's deputy chairman, said Monday. "The government should not hamper our efforts to bring justice to the victims of the Talangsari incident."

Earlier in the day, Juwono told a House of Representatives hearing the rights commission had no authority to summon retired servicemen unless the House endorsed a law saying otherwise.

He also denied the retired generals had deliberately avoided the questioning for fear they could be held responsible for the killings.

The Talangsari incident revolves around a dawn attack by a battalion of Army soldiers on the village, which was believed to be home to a group, led by one Warsidi, 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.

The military assault reportedly took place following the discovery of the body of Way Jepara military commander Capt. Sukiman in the village. The officer died of stab wounds and a poisoned dart in his chest.

Military and district officials suspected Warsidi of being a follower of Abdullah Sungkar, an Islamic figure who once lived in exile in Malaysia.

Survivors said the Talangsari tragedy not only claimed the lives of their family members, but also deprived them of their basic rights, such as access to electricity, which remains absent from the village until today.

Ridha said the retired generals would be questioned as witnesses.

"It would be suspicious if they refused to answer the summonses, questioning our authority to call them," he said.

A 1999 law on human rights authorizes the commission to summon any witness for questioning after approval from the district court as part of its attempt to conduct a thorough investigation.

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