Akbar Says Try, Benny Must Reveal Truth Behind Massacre (fwd)

["M.G.G. Pillai" <pillai@mgg.pc.my>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 07 Mar 2000 03:38:56
From: tapol@gn.apc.org
Reply-To: "Conference act.indonesia" <indonesia-act@igc.org>
To: Recipients of indonesia-act <indonesia-act@igc.org>
Subject: Akbar Says Try, Benny Must Reveal Truth Behind Massacre

From: TAPOL <tapol@gn.apc.org>
Subject: Akbar Says Try, Benny Must Reveal Truth Behind Massacre

Received from Joyo Indonesian News

Indonesian Observer
March 7, 2000

House wants Try, Benny to explain Tanjung Priok massacre

JAKARTA (IO) — Chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Akbar Tandjung 
says former military chiefs Try Sutrisno and Benny Moerdani must reveal the 
full truth behind the 1984 Tanjung Priok massacre.

Tandjung said legislators are pleased the National Commission on Human Rights 
(Komnas HAM) has formed a special sub-commission to investigate the killings.

An estimated 400 Muslims protesting against the policies of then-president 
Soeharto were gunned down at Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta on September 12, 
1984.

However, the military and government tried to cover-up the massacre and said 
only 16 people were killed when a mob of violent Muslim extremists attacked 
soldiers and tried to destroy state property.

At the time of the mass slaughter, Try was Jakarta Military commander, while 
Benny was Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) commander and defense and security 
minister.

Witnesses said soldiers piled the hundreds of corpses onto trucks and buried 
them at night in secret locations. Tempo magazine in 1993 quoted Brigadier 
General H.M.A. Sampurna as saying "the victims were transported by truck and 
buried at a location in Jeger hamlet, Rambutan village, East Jakarta, because 
some could not be identified".

Rumor has it that some of the victims were buried under the Cawang flyover, 
while others were allegedly dumped in Jakarta Bay.

But the full story behind the massacre and what happened to the victims has 
never been told.

"Both retired generals L.B. Moerdani and Try Sutrisno are the key persons to 
uncovering the whole story. People today need to know the total number of 
victims because the difference between the official and unofficial reports is 
very big," said Tandjung.

Human Rights Minister Hasballah M. Saad yesterday said Try is morally obliged 
to stand before the DPR and explain exactly what happened at Tanjung Priok.

He said that for the sake of law enforcement, Try must testify either before 
legislators or in court.

Saad said the government cannot simply ignore serious cases of human rights 
violations, such as the Tanjung Priok massacre and killings in East Timor. 

"The key people must be brought before the court."

However, he acknowledged that although Komnas HAM is investigating the case, 
it will be up to the Attorney General’s Office and police to ensure the cases 
are settled in line with the law.

Try last Thursday said he would have nothing to do with the commission 
investigating the 1984 massacre, as it is not from parliament.

He said only state institutions — i.e. the military — can be held accountable 
for the killings, adding that individuals cannot be blamed. Try also said the 
military "was just obeying orders" when the massacre occurred. He didn’t say 
who had given the orders. 

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TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904   Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh

26 years - and still going strong 
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