15 bullets 'found in soldier's body<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An autopsy performed on an Indonesian soldier
\nshot dead by New Zealand members of the United Nations
\nPeacekeeping Force (UNPKF) in East Timor found 15 bullets in the
\nbody of the dead soldier.<\/p>\n
"The autopsy report found 15 bullets in his body," Army Deputy
\nChief of Staff Lt. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri told The Jakarta Post on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
First Sgt. Lirman, 21, was shot to dead on July 28 in East
\nNusa Tenggara by about 30 New Zealand troops. AP reported on
\nMonday that the soldier, who was out of uniform, fired at least
\ntwo shots at the peacekeepers from the Indonesian side of the
\nunmarked border before they returned fire.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred about four kilometers southwest of
\nTilomar, near East Timor's southern coast.<\/p>\n
Kiki also said there were hundreds of bullets around the body
\nof Lirman. If Lirman had fired two shots at the UN peacekeepers
\nbefore the latter returned fire, Kiki believed that the New
\nZealand troops had reacted disproportionately.<\/p>\n
"Besides, we have yet to verify the UN's version of the
\nincident. Did Lirman fire first as they charged?" said Kiki.<\/p>\n
A UN investigating team has found that peacekeepers were
\njustified in shooting Lirman dead.<\/p>\n
"The investigating team consisting of United Nations military
\nobservers concluded that the UN peacekeepers had acted within
\nreasonable grounds in engaging a man who they believed had fired
\non them from over the border," peacekeeping spokesman Capt.
\nIsabelito Sanchez said as quoted by AP on Monday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Udayana Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Willem T.
\nDa Costa said there were other UNPKF members besides the New
\nZealand troops at the scene of the shooting.<\/p>\n
"The UN will surely receive reports from those personnel. On
\nthe other hand, there were also other Indonesian troops who
\nwitnessed the incident," Da Costa told Antara on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Da Costa admitted that Lirman was out of uniform at the time
\nof incident, which was against procedures. "But his fatal
\nshooting still must be questioned," Kiki argued.<\/p>\n
Da Costa also said he had written twice to the UNPKF
\ncommander, Lt. Gen. Boonsrang Niumpradith, proposing the setting
\nup of a joint investigation team. The letters were dated Aug. 2
\nand Aug. 6. (lem)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/15-bullets-found-in-soldiers-body-1447893297",
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