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Kontras demands TNI transparency

Jakarta Post - April 11, 2015

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Nani Afrida, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has urged the Indonesian Military (TNI) to allow victims of crimes or violations committed by soldiers to obtain information regarding their prosecution.

"At the moment, it is very difficult for victims to get any information on whether perpetrators who are military personnel have been tried or not," Kontras research division head Puri Kencana Putri said in Jakarta on Friday.

Kontras has also found that it is very difficult for civilians to file reports of crimes or violence committed by soldiers to the military police (POM), as there is no clear-cut mechanism.

"The military institutions are very strict and are not transparent about criminal cases involving their personnel," Puri claimed.

Kontras coordinator Haris Azhar said that in most cases involving military personnel, investigations ended up hitting a brick wall. "Usually the victims report the case to the police. Unfortunately, the police don't want to meddle in the problem and justice is not served," he said.

Two TNI personnel, along with a civilian, were accused of murdering a family of four in Langkat, North Sumatra, last year. Despite evidence presented by the Langkat Police, the two Army personnel were not charged. The civilian suspect, however, was brought to trial.

A similar result occurred in the case of the alleged kidnapping of a civilian named Dede Khairuddin by Navy personnel, also in Langkat last year. Dede's family reported the case, but the local police never launched a probe.

Puri said that the government and the TNI should immediately establish a mechanism for reporting criminal cases involving military personnel.

"The mechanism should not only concern reporting the case but also access to information and justice proceedings, so that victims can be sure that the TNI follows cases up," Puri said.

Indonesian Military chief Gen. Moeldoko pledged that he would not allow impunity within the military. "We will impose severe sanctions and punishments on [personnel who commit crimes], including dismissing them from the institution. We are very strict on this issue," Moeldoko told The Jakarta Post.

According to Moeldoko, the military also shamed soldiers guilty of committing regular crimes by officially dismissing them in an open ceremony that the media could attend.

Besides stringent punishment, the TNI has also opened a call-center for families of victims of abuse by TNI personnel to convey their complaints.

Based on data from the TNI in 2014, there were 143 cases of violence involving TNI personnel, down from 187 in 2013. "The military institutions are very strict and are not transparent about criminal cases involving their personnel."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/11/kontras-demands-tni-transparency.html.