An apology from the Indonesian Military (TNI) concerning the recent shooting incident in Pasuruan, East Java, would benefit investigators and improve the image of members of the TNI, a rights monitoring group has said.
"I would like to see the TNI issue an apology about the shooting case. Explanations about the incident, either institutional or personal, can come later," Executive director of the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Elsam) Agung Putri Astrid Kartika told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
"The problem with human rights cases is that no one admits their faults. Civilians are usually blamed for such occurrences."
She said many investigations into human rights abuses allegedly involving military personnel, including the events in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, in 1984; Talang Sari, Lampung, in 1989; and the May 1998 violence in the capital, conclude with no mention of human rights violations having occurred.
The May 30 shooting in Alas Tlogo village, Pasuruan, involving marines left four people dead and eight wounded. Military investigators are currently probing the case.
"Admitting fault has never been exercised by the TNI. If the TNI were to issue such a statement, the investigation would be easier. "Members of the military are awaiting the results of the investigation before admitting to anything. Nobody actually needs to push or force them to speak up," Agung Putri said.
Her comments were made at an Elsam training course on human rights in Puncak, West Java, attended by 25 aspiring legal practitioners.
"Beside giving participants instruments to understand international and Indonesian human rights laws, we also receive input from lawyers outside Java," Agung Putri said of the two-week course.
Past participants of the annual course who have become local government officials or legislators provide valuable insight into their administrations, as each province in the country faces unique issues, she said.
"Outside Java, there are only a few people who truly comprehend the legal mechanisms of human rights, yet local lawyers are expected to assist people to form strategies to solve human rights issues," she said. (JP/Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo)