Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandarlampung – Victims of the 1989 bloody Talangsari incident in Lampung are calling on the government to carry out a thorough investigation into the 19-year-old case and bring those involved to justice. They are also asking the government for compensation.
The victims conveyed their demands to the commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, Kabul Supriyadhie, after a commemoration ceremony for the incident in Talangsari village, Central Lampung, on Thursday. Kabul was present at the village – now renamed Labuhan Ratu 3, Labuhan Ratu district – to discuss with the community issues of human rights.
The Talangsari incident, locally known as the Warsidi case, took place on February 7, 1989, in Cihideung hamlet, Rajabasa Lama district, Central Lampung regency (now part of East Lampung regency).
A battalion of Army soldiers from the Garuda Hitam Command in Lampung reportedly attacke the village at dawn opening fire on homes and setting them on fire. Hundreds of members of a Koran recital group led by Warsidi were killed in the attack.
The military offensive reportedly took place following the discovery of the body of the Way Jepara military commander Capt. Sukiman, in the village with a poisoned dart in his chest and a number of grievous wounds to his body.
Military and district officials believed the Koran recital group was trying to establish an Indonesian Islamic State (NII). They suspected Warsidi of being a follower of Abdullah Sungkar, an NII figure who once lived in exile in Malaysia.
The Lampung Students Solidarity Committee (Smalam) recorded the deaths of 246 people as a result of the attack on the village. According to the government's version there were only 27 victims.
Victims of the incident said the Talangsari tragedy not only claimed the lives of family members, but also deprived them of their basic rights, such as electricity, which has still not been connected to their village.
"The only access to the village is a dirt road. The stigma attached to being considered rebels is painful," said Anwar, 71, a member of Warsidi's religious group. "That's why we are not only demanding that the military soldiers who committed the human rights violations in the tragedy be brought to justice. We are also demanding the government to restore our rights."
According to Anwar, a number of victims have reached an undisclosed settlement with military leaders involved in the case, including former head of the Garuda Hitam Command Lt. Gen. Hendropriyono. Anwar said residents remained unhappy with the settlement due to the unresolved human rights abuses.
Kabul Supriyadhie said an inquiry team from the National Human Rights Commission would likely investigate the unresolved case. The team is to hear testimonies from retired military officials involved in the operation. "We will summon them forcefully if it is needed," said Kabul.
The previous fact-finding team collected testimony from 84 victims and family members, including a former district official, but none from the military. Authorities also have not exhumed the graves of victims. According to Kabul, the commission will continue questioning civilian and military officials, from the top to lower levels.
For the commission, the probe is an initial step to uncovering the reason behind the attack by military soldiers against Warsidi's followers. "We will do our best to settle the Talangsari case immediately. We will also gather statements from victims who are now living in Solo, Jakarta and other places outside Lampung," he said.
The coordinator of the Commission on Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Usman Hamid said the government should have already resolved the case, especially as the National Human Rights Commission already found indications of gross human rights violations, particularly crimes against humanity.
According to Usman, resolving the Talangsari case is not intended to discredit the military, but instead, to show the international community that Indonesia is earnest in handling human rights violations.