16 policemen stand trial over killing of students<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>\n
A military court here began the trial on Monday of 18 police
\nofficers charged with attacking protesters in Medan, North
\nSumatra, three years ago killing two students.<\/p>\n
The two victims were shot dead during the May 1, 2000,
\nincident, when police attacked the HKBP Nomensen University.<\/p>\n
Military prosecutor Lt. Col. Purnomo said the defendants have
\nbeen charged with violating Article 170(1) and (2) of the
\nCriminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of only nine years
\nin prison.<\/p>\n
The defendants are being tried before a military tribunal,
\neven though the military and police were separated in 1999.<\/p>\n
One of the military judges said the court had jurisdiction to
\ntry the case, arguing that the separation officially come into
\neffect only in 2001.<\/p>\n
During the trial, only 16 of the 18 police officers showed up
\nas two other defendants remain missing after having deserted the
\nforce.<\/p>\n
The 16 defendants are Adj. Comr. Amiruddin Pasaribu, Adj.
\nComr. M. Edi Wiriady, First Insp. Yahya, First Insp. Dedi Kurnia,
\nChief Brig. L.Kennedi Hutapea, Chief Brig. Hidayat Hasibuan,
\nChief Brig. Armansyah Harahap, Chief Brig. Yunaldi, Chief Brig.
\nZul Efendi, Chief Brig. Zulhendri, First Brig. Ismail Siringo-
\nRingo, Brig. Alexander Putra, Brig. Rusdianto Sembiring, Brig.
\nUsnul Yazi, Brig. Zahendri and Brig. Sudaryono.<\/p>\n
The trial, which is being presided over by Col. Reflina, was
\nmarked by a protest by hundreds of Nomensen University students
\nwho demanded that the defendants be given heavy sentences.<\/p>\n
The protesters urged the panel of judges to be fair in trying
\nthe case.<\/p>\n
The first day of the trial heard testimony from several
\nwitnesses presented by military prosecutors.<\/p>\n
The former chairman of the Nomensen's students union, Jerri
\nTobing, one of the witnesses, told the court that the incident
\noccurred after hundreds of students demonstrated at the North
\nSumatra Police Headquarters to demand the release of a fellow
\nstudent who had been accused of gambling.<\/p>\n
However, the police blocked the path of the demonstrators as
\nthey attempted to get near the building, he added.<\/p>\n
The situation worsened after a group of unidentified people
\nbehind the students pelted stones at the police. A clash then
\nerupted and the police fired warning shots to disperse the
\nprotesters.<\/p>\n
\"We were chased and several police officers fired bullets at
\nus. We later retreated back to campus,\" Jerri said, adding that
\nat least 17 students were injured in the clash.<\/p>\n
On their way to the campus, the students took two police
\nofficers, identified only as Suherman and Surbakti, as hostages.<\/p>\n
Incensed by the hostage-taking, dozens of police personnel
\nbesieged the campus and fired shots at students in an attempt to
\nrelease their colleagues who were reportedly being abused by
\ntheir captors.<\/p>\n
Jerri said the police fired shots from Jl. Perintis
\nKemerdekaan and Jl. Sutomo, killing two students and injuring
\nanother one.<\/p>\n
The two dead students were identified as Calvin Nababan and
\nRicardo Silitonga. The wounded student was Jimmi Simangungsong,
\nwho was shot in the leg.<\/p>\n
When asked by counsel for the 16 defendants, Adj. Comr. D.
\nPurba, Jerri admitted he did not know whether any of them had
\nactually been at the scene.<\/p>\n
The trial was adjourned until Thursday.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/16-policemen-stand-trial-over-killing-of-students-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }