Jakarta – Today is the ninth anniversary of the Semanggi I case when 17 people died, including six students. Unfortunately, the investigation into this tragedy which was triggered by repression on the part of the state apparatus against a demonstration held to reject the 1998 Special Session of the MPR (People's Consultative Assembly), is bogged down in the DPR (Parliament), despite the fact that Komnas HAM, the National Human Rights Commission, has declared that this was a gross violation of human rights.

The delay in investigating this tragedy which occurred at the start of the new political era in Indonesia has angered Kontras, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence. "It is essential to deal comprehensively with the Semanggi case," said Haris Azhar, head of the Division to Counter Impunity of Kontras, speaking on the anniversary of the tragedy. in Jakarta yesterday.

He said that this was not only because it would uphold the right of citizens to enforcement of the law but also because it conformed with the need to correct the system, structure and actions that led to this act of violence against civil society.

Besides Semanggi I, Kontras also urged that the Semanggi II case (24-28 September 1999) should be solved, as well as the Trisakti Incident on 12 May 1998, when four students were killed.

Earlier this year, on 6 March, a plenary session of the Consultative Meeting of the DPR (Parliament) turned down a recommendation by a special committee (pansus) set up by Commission III to investigate these human rights violations. While four fractions supported the motion, six voted against and called for the case to be handed back to Commission III.

"This politicisation by the DPR is a clear sign of vested interests. Members of the DPR do not want to solve these humanitarian issues in accordance with the rule of law," said Haris.

Relatives of the victims plan to place wreaths in front of Atma Jaya University, Semanggi today, and tomorrow they will visit the grave of Sigid Pressetyo. Prayers were also said yesterday by Sumarsih, the parent of Wawan, in memory of the victims. She has persistently fought for justice for her son.