Jakarta – State human-rights investigators yesterday implicated 23 military personnel in the massacre of 33 Muslim protesters in 1984 at the height of the New Order government under Mr Suharto.

The National Human Rights Commission submitted its findings in a report to the Attorney-General's Office and recommended that the 23 be made the focus of a criminal investigation.

"The perpetrators must be brought to justice," said Mr Djoko Soegianto, who headed the commission's inquiry, which included the exhumation of the bodies of eight victims and checks of medical records. Despite this, he refused to name those implicated, saying prosecutors must first declare them suspects.

The massacre at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port district is regarded as a landmark case of human-rights abuse during the former President's 32-year rule. He was forced to step down in 1998 amid riots and protests.

Since then, pro-democracy groups and the current reformist government have attempted to redress past atrocities committed by the military. Mr Soegianto called on the government to apologise and pay compensation to the families of the victims.

Muslim activists have long accused General Try Sutrisno, a former Suharto-era vice-president, who was then Jakarta military commander, and then armed forces commander General Benny Moerdani, of ordering troops to shoot protesters.

Both generals, who have since retired, have denied the allegations. Analysts quoted by the Indonesian Observer said "the two generals still wield influence in the military and are therefore untouchable, despite the government's efforts to put the armed forces under civilian supremacy".

Muslim activists claim that scores of protesters were killed by troops. However, the commission said it had established that 33 people had died. At the time, the military said seven people were killed.

The shootings occurred after Muslims protesters took to the streets in Jakarta's impoverished Tanjung Priok port district after hearing anti-government sermons at a mosque.

Yesterday's findings represent the second time the commission has investigated the killings. In June, it found no evidence to support claims that soldiers slaughtered hundreds of people deliberately.