Victims of rights abuses challenge deputy minister appointment

A number of families and victims of past human rights abuses are challenging the President’s appointment of Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin as the deputy to defense minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro in court.

They filed on Monday a legal suit against the policy with the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN). The plaintiffs, who are families and victims of the deadly 1998 riots and the 1997/1998 abduction of student activists, asked the court to annul the presidential decree that promoted the former Jakarta Military commander to the new position.

Foreign and domestic rights groups have accused Sjafrie of involvement in the 1998 riots and atrocities in East Timor. He, however, has never been implicated in the cases.

Several human rights groups, including the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), are representing the plaintiffs in the court battle.

Kontras coordinator Usman Hamid said Sjafrie's position as a deputy minister “could hamper future attempt to probe into his alleged part in the past rights abuses”.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono installed Sjafrie as the deputy to the defense minister in Jan. 6.