The much-criticized independent team set up by the government
to investigate violations of the law in Maluku arrived in Ambon on
Wednesday to start their probe into all communal crimes committed
during the three-year sectarian conflict.
The team, led by I Wayan Karya, a senior aid to the
coordinating minister for political and security affairs, will
have six months to carry out its investigation and report its
findings to the President.
Wayan said his team had already questioned former Maluku Police
chief Sr. Comr. Karyono and the former commander of the now
defunct Pattimura Military Resort Command, Col. Hikayat, in
Jakarta prior to its departure for the province.
"We hope we will be able to uncover all the legal
violations that occurred during the three years of conflict, and
bring all of the perpetrators to justice," he told reporters
upon the team's arrival at the city's airport.
During the investigation, the team would question local
officials, including Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina, Pattimura
Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso, Maluku Police chief
Brig. Gen. Soenarko Danu Ardianto, local legislators, as well as
local figures and members of the feuding communities.
The team has drawn criticism as it includes government
officials, and police and military officers.
The team was established to follow up on the Malino peace
accord, which was signed by representatives of the conflicting
factions on February 12, 2002.
The team is expected to investigate a litany of bloodthirsty
incidents, including the April 28 attack on the predominantly
Christian village of Soya in Ambon, which claimed at least 14
lives. --JP
