Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Activist uses film to bolster claims that govt exploits terror.

19 Apr 2011

Nasional The Jakarta Post
The Jakarta Post

Activists on Monday alleged that the Indonesian government let violence and terror reign in the country as it resulted in the disbursement of foreign iunds in the name of the war on terror.

The accusation was made after human rights activist Ratna Sarumpaet uncovered a five-year-old Australian TV documentary alleging that Indonesian authorities were behind the perpetrators of many acts terror and violence in the past decade.

The documentary cited as examples die 2000 Christmas Eve bombings of churches in six provinces, the Bali bombings in 2002 and 2005. the violent riots in Poso, Central Sulawesi in 1998 and 2000 and bombings in Jakarta in 2003,2004. and 2009.
"Even though die content of the video cant be viewed totally as accurate evidence, what is clearly presented in it including the statements, confessions, and analysis, is relevant as initial evidence of state crimes against die people." Sarumpaet said after a screening of die documentary at de Kineforum. Jakartai renowned independent cinema venue, at Taman Ismail Marzuki, in Central Jakarta.



The 44-minute documentary was produced by the Australian television network SBS and was first aired on SBSs current affairs program Dateline on Oct. IZ 2005.

Prominent scenes in die documentary include an interview widi former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, who believed diat die militan- forces were behind several acts of terrorism in die country.

Also shown were statements from several convicted terrorists who alleged diey received encouragement from police officers to earn out terrorist acts.

The documentary featured interviews widi regional religious leaders who accused die Indonesian Militan- of using prosy armies to do dieir work and a scene widi former National Police chief Gen. Da"i Bachtiar telling House legislators about how he managed to secure massive funding from foreign countries to be used on die war on terror.

"There is no way die state can dis-mande diis network of terror when diere are actors widiin its body who foster, sponsor, and supply arms to terrorist groups," human rights activist Usman Hamid said.

Usman said die documentaryshowed die involvement of Indonesian authorities in supporting terrorism, including supplying terrorists widi firearms and explosives-

The audwrities also have a habit of pointing dieir fingers at N luslim hardliners and inciting fear of die so-called danger of terrorism in die hearts of die public, while dieir own involvement in die horrendous acts is hardly ever discussed," Usman addedviolence against humanity is equal to violence against God." Cado-lic priest Santo from die Indonesian Bishops Conference said. ""We have to widely disseminate dus documentary so diat die public knows die midi."

"If die documentary is accurate, dien die gov-ernment has gone against its own raison detre, which is to protect die public" political analyst Yudi Latief said.

"If we condemn all acts of terrorism, dien, by default, we must also condemn die state if it becomes a perpetrator."

World Council of Churches president Soritua Nababan said a government apology would be useless.

"An apology- from die gov-ernment is too late right now. However, it is never too late to dismantle dus network of crimes against humanity." (mini)


No comments:

Post a Comment