T

he National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has verified as genuine a video depicting officers from a police counterterrorism squad allegedly using excessive force when searching for suspects in Poso, Central Sulawesi.

The commission’s findings contradicted a senior police general, who claimed that the video, which found a wide audience in the local Muslim community through social media, was a fabrication in part.

The 13-minute video sparked protests against the National Police’s Densus 88 counterterrorism unit since its appearance on Youtube. Last month, representatives of several Muslim groups called on the police to disband the unit.

Siane Indriani, who leads Komnas HAM’s investigations division, said that commission had recevied testimony from several local residents who were later convicted of terrorism claiming that they were beaten or shot by Densus 88 officers after surrendering during the raids.

“We visited in Palu and Poso, Central Sulawesi between March 7 and 11. Based on our investigation and interviews with the convicts and eyewitnesses, we believe that the video depicts the raid in Tanah Runtuh, Poso, on Jan. 22, 2007,” Siane said during a press conference at Komnas HAM’s headquarters in Jakarta.

In 2007, a Densus 88 unit raided a house in Tanah Runtuh where several suspected were thought to be hiding. Twelve people, including one police officer, were slain in the ensuing shoot out.

“Some of the victims were still alive after the shootings, but the police did nothing to save them,” Siane said. “Of all the victims, only one, Icang, who was a fugitive, survived.”

One suspected terrorist shot during the raid, Wiwin, told Komnas HAM that officers beat and shot him after he raised his hands and surrendered, the commission said.

Komnas HAM also questioned the treatment of Fachrudin, a suspected terrorist who died a day after the raid.

“He was apprehended in good condition, with no gunshot wounds. A day after he was detained in Central Sulawesi Police headquarters, he died, and his body was in bad shape,” Siane said.

National Police Criminal Investigations Division chief Comr. Gen. Sutarman previously claimed that some of the video had been fabricated to discredit Densus 88, claiming that the officers in the video were not part of the counterterrorist unit and were members of the provincial police’s Mobile Brigade special operations unit.

Sutarman said that officers shot Wiwin, who involved in the murder and mutilation of three SMU Kristen High School students in 2005, for resisting arrest.

Komnas HAM chairperson Siti Nurlaila said the commission found indications of human rights abuses in the terror raid. “The police killed a suspect without trial. This is a violation of the right to life.”

Siti urged the National Police to conduct transparent investigation to bring those responsible to justice.