Jakarta – Former National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief A. M. Hendropriyono missed his first questioning session by the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) over his alleged involvement in human rights violations in Talangsari, Lampung.
"Hendropriyono could not make it because, based on the information we have, he is in the United States," Komnas HAM commissioner Yoseph Adi Prasetyo was quoted as saying by Antara.
He said the former Lampung Garuda Hitam Military Resort Commander also claimed he had not received a summons from Komnas HAM.
The commission said it had sent its first summons Sunday to Hendropriyono's residence at Jl. Pesanggrahan, South Jakarta, and it was received the same day at 5:10 p.m. by his housekeeper Rina.
Kabul Supriyadhie, one of Komnas HAM's investigators for the Talangsari case, said Hendropriyono's knowledge of the Talangsari event was crucial for the investigation. "His answers are of the utmost importance to this case, so we hope he can come as soon as possible," he said.
On Feb. 8, 1989, military troops stormed Talangsari village to destroy a Muslim militant group led by Anwar Warsidi that was based in Cihideung, one of the four hamlets in the village.
According to an official statement, 27 people, including Warsidi, were killed in the military attack. Villagers, however, say more than 300 people died, including those who were not part of the militant group.
Hendropriyono's absence saddened at least two victims of the Talangsari incident.
Muhammad Sunaji, a 55-year-old former principal of a religious school eight kilometers from Talangsari, came to Komnas HAM to learn more about what had happened to three of his students who went to Talangsari during the incident and have not been seen since.
"I heard that Hendropriyono would appear today and now they say he isn't coming. I have come all the way from Lampung to learn the truth about the children," he said.
Another victim, 31-year-old Edi Arsadat, also hoped to hear the truth revealed. "I saw a madrasa (Islamic school) locked from outside and the military burned the school down with everyone inside, but no one believed me. I need to know what happened," he said, adding he was only 12 when he saw the killings.
Usman Hamid from the Commission for Missing People and Victims of Violence (Kontras), who came with the victims, said he was confident the government would resolve the case.
"Komnas HAM has more support on this case than it did years ago. Some commissioners have said that the Army is ready to cooperate with the investigations, so this time we should see some results," he said.
Kontras reported that 88 people went missing in the incident. It said 164 were arrested and held captive following the incident with 48 of them unfairly tried in court. The report also said that all 164 captives have died.
Komnas HAM plans to summon other former and current officials linked to the Talangsari incident, including former vice president Try Sutrisno and former commander of the Army's Special Forces Gen. Wismoyo Arismunandar. (anw)