Jakarta – Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh said Wednesday that his office did not have the legal grounds to proceed with an investigation into the 1998-1999 Trisakti, Semanggi I and Semanggi II shootings.

"The AGO cannot proceed with the investigation into those cases without political recommendation from the House of Representatives declaring the three cases to be gross human rights violations," Abdul Rahman was quoted Wednesday as saying by the detik.com news portal.

A 2000 law stipulates that "gross human rights violations" can only be tried in an ad hoc rights court, and then only after the House issues the recommendation that the court be set up. The recommendation then needs the approval of the President.

The AGO and the House have been blaming each other for not taking the initiative to start an investigation.

On Tuesday, the House rejected attempts to insert a recommendation for ad hoc court sessions into its plenary session agenda. Only four House factions supported the move, while the remaining six disagreed.