Army chief ready to face questioning<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
\naccepted on Monday calls for him to face questioning for his
\nresponsibility in the murder of Aceh traditional Muslim leader
\nTengku Bantaqiah in July last year.<\/p>\n
But Endriartono reminded that the human rights case had
\nalready been closed after a joint civilian-military court
\nsentenced 24 soldiers and a civilian in May this year.<\/p>\n
\"However, if some people are unhappy with the verdict and ask
\nme to share responsibility for the murder, I am ready to face the
\ntrial,\" Endriartono told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Endriartono was responding to comments by the deputy director
\nof the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) Munir
\nwho said that Endriartono should be held accountable for the
\nmurder of Bantaqiah as well as Gen. (ret.) Wiranto, who was
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) chief at the time. Endriartono was the
\nassistant for operational affairs to the TNI chief of general
\naffairs when the mass killings took place.<\/p>\n
\"Many cases in Aceh, mostly crimes against humanity, have not
\nbeen probed transparently, such as the murder of the traditional
\nulama Bantaqiah,\" Munir said outside the Conference of Asian and
\nLatin American Lawyers on Monday.<\/p>\n
Bantaqiah, the principal of Babul Mukaromah Islamic boarding
\nschool in Beutong Ateuh, some 80 kilometers from West Aceh
\nregency capital, Meulaboh, was shot dead along with 31 of his
\nfollowers, by troops of the Lilawangsa Military command. Another
\n23 students, who were wounded, were allegedly killed on the way
\nto the hospital. Three other people are missing and presumed
\ndead.<\/p>\n
Ten members of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad),
\nincluding the highest ranking officer Capt. Anton Yuliantoro, and
\na civilian were sentenced to 8.5 years in jail.<\/p>\n
Fourteen soldiers from Bukit Barisan Military Command were
\nsent to jail for nine to ten years.<\/p>\n
The defendants' lawyer, as well as those who criticized the
\ntrial, said the defendants were only carrying out orders from
\ntheir superiors.<\/p>\n
Many observers questioned the fairness of the trial, citing
\nthe absence of key suspect Lt. Col. Sudjono, who remains at
\nlarge, and incumbent Lilawangsa Military Commander Col. Syafnil
\nArmen.<\/p>\n
Munir said if Indonesia would cope with separatism in Aceh,
\nall crimes against humanity in Aceh should be brought to the
\ncourt to fulfill the demands for justice raised by Aceh people.<\/p>\n
\"Army chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto is the person
\nmost responsible for the murders due to his position,\" Munir
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The assistant for operations to TNI chief of general affairs
\nis responsible for troop deployment and every plan and
\nimplementation of military operations.<\/p>\n
Endriartono admitted the military attack on Bantaqiah boarding
\nschool was premeditated, but he noted that TNI headquarters had
\nwarned against violations of the law.<\/p>\n
\"I agree that anyone who commits crimes should be punished. We
\ndon't have to hide the offenses,\" Endriartono said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Endriartono said he had no idea of the
\nwhereabouts of Sudjono. He also denied that Sudjono was being
\nprotected by TNI.<\/p>\n
\"If only I could find him and shoot him myself, I would be
\nglad,\" Endriartono said. (02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/army-chief-ready-to-face-questioning-1447893297",
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