TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) in East Java has asked the government to form an independent team comprising of elements from the government and the society such as the National Commission on Human Rights and the National Commission for Women. Last Sunday 500 people rampaged in Sampang, attacking Shia Muslims and burning down homes. The attack is one incident in a running series of violent acts which have carried on since 2004 between Roisul, a Sunni leader with his own group of followers, and Roisulâ??s brother, Tajul Muluk, a Shia Muslim. Tajul Muluk himself was sentenced to two years in jail for blasphemy over a month ago. He has been held in jail since April.

Kontras Coordinator Andi Irfan believes such a special team is necessary to reveal the actual data and facts in the attack on Shias in Sampang last Sunday. "Nothingâ??s clear yet, everythingâ??s still confusing. How many victims? Who attacked? Why the attack?" he told Tempo, Tuesday, August 28, 2012.

The independent team will hopefully reveal the facts. They can freely review the location of the conflict. Clear facts will result in a good and impartial solution. "The solution will be acceptable and comfortable to both parties," he said.

In Andiâ??s opinion, a partial decision will only create a time bomb liable to explode at any time. He cautions the government to always involve the victims in making the decisions. "The fact that the attack happened two times was proof that the solution provided by the government failed," he said.

Previously, police spokesman in East Java Senior Commissioner Hilman Thayib said that police investigators had established Roisul Hukama, younger brother of Tajul Muluk, a Shiite cleric, as a suspect. "He was detained by Sampang Police and charged with several articles," Hilman said.

He says the suspect will be charged with murder, grave torture, group beatings and destruction, as well as aiding and abetting a crime based on articles 55 and 56 of the Criminal Code. According Hilman, the number of suspects will possibly increase.