Army officers testify police shot at students<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two military officers and three witnesses from
\nTrisakti University who yesterday gave evidence to the military
\ntribunal investigating the May 12 incident stated that it was the
\npolice who fired shots at demonstrators.<\/p>\n
During yesterday's hearing, defense lawyers twice declined to
\ncross-examine witnesses because they felt their testimonies bore
\nno relation to the charges brought against the two defendants in
\nthe case, who are being tried for committing an undisciplined
\nact.<\/p>\n
The first witness, Capt. Arman Dahlan, a company commander
\nfrom the Bekasi-based 202\/TM Infantry Unit, told the court that
\nhe heard gunshots fired from all directions but did not hear any
\nthat were characteristic of warning shots.<\/p>\n
\"I heard the police shout 'Attack!' and they started chasing
\nthe students. I also saw their armored vehicle starting to move,\"
\nhe told the court.<\/p>\n
Arman said he saw some members of the police Rapid Reaction
\nUnit on the pedestrian bridge and flyover in front of Trisakti
\nUniversity.<\/p>\n
\"I was on the street. At that time we were located about 200
\nmeters behind the police. None of my officers opened fire.<\/p>\n
\"No matter what situation we find ourselves in, we must wait
\nfor our superior's (operational commander's) order,\" Arman said.<\/p>\n
When asked by a defense lawyer how he managed to recognize the
\npolice from a distance, Arman said: \"I saw their uniforms.\"<\/p>\n
When the defense team then tried to verify that his sight was
\nsufficiently good for this, presiding judge Col. Sudji Suradi
\nbanged his gavel and said loudly: \"He said he saw the police.
\nHe's still young and has healthy eyes, so do not put him in a
\ncorner.\"<\/p>\n
The questioning lawyer, Adnan Buyung Nasution, scolded the
\njudge back: \"Why are you yelling like that! This is not fair. Do
\nnot take the side of the witness.\"<\/p>\n
The two defendants, First. Lt. Agus Tri Heryanto and Second
\nLt. Pariyo, both from the police Mobile Brigade Unit, are charged
\nunder Article 103 of the military penal code for committing an
\nundisciplined act.<\/p>\n
When asked to respond to Arman's testimony, Agus said: \"As a
\ncompany commander I would never have ordered the men under my
\ncommand to 'Attack'. We only use 'push' or 'press' to command men
\nto move forward. Our armored vehicle was for tactical purposes
\nonly and was not armed with a deadly weapon, only a water
\ncannon.\"<\/p>\n
The second witness from the military, Second Lt. Mahmud
\nSulaiman, a company commander from the 203\/AK Infantry Unit based
\nin Tangerang, backed up Arman's statement. He said his troops
\nwere positioned in front of the West Jakarta Military District
\noffice near the scene.<\/p>\n
Throughout the hearing, when questioned, Mahmud repeatedly
\nsaid: \"I do not know.\"<\/p>\n
\"Because he did not see or hear what happened and he can only
\nanswer 'No' I will not direct any more questions to the witness,\"
\ndefense lawyer Moh. Assegaff told the court.<\/p>\n
Civilian witness<\/p>\n
The first civilian witness, Ari Gunarsa, the head of Trisakti
\nUniversity campus authority, said that he heard one of the
\nofficers yell: \"Gotcha! Take that from the Kelapa Dua officers.\"<\/p>\n
\"I thought it was an officer from the police Mobile Brigade
\nUnit who was abusing the students,\" Ari said.<\/p>\n
Kelapa Dua in Depok is the home base of the Mobile Brigade
\nUnit.<\/p>\n
Ari also said that students had begun to disperse on their own
\ninitiative by the time he became involved in negotiations about
\nthe situation with West Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Timur
\nPradopo and West Jakarta Military District Commander Lt. Col.
\nAmril Amir.<\/p>\n
During Monday's session of the court-martial, Timur told the
\ncourt that he was surrounded by students when he first heard
\ngunfire.<\/p>\n
When the judge asked him to comment on Ari's statement, Timur,
\nwho was also present yesterday, replied: \"I remember that the
\nstudents were reluctant to go home. Many of them were still
\nsitting on the street.\"<\/p>\n
Two other witnesses, Samsudin, a civilian security officer in
\nthe neighborhood, and Yonas Pattikaihatuand, the head of security
\nat Trisakti University, also implied in their statements that
\nthey saw officers who appeared to belong to the police attacking
\nthe students.<\/p>\n
\"They were wearing brown uniforms,\" Samsudin said.<\/p>\n
\"Like what?\" judge Sudji asked.<\/p>\n
\"The police of course. They were armed like robots,\" Samsudin
\nreplied, to the amusement of those in the public gallery.<\/p>\n
Yonas also said that it was the police who chased the students
\nand abused them.<\/p>\n
Sudji adjourned the court until next Tuesday, when Julianto
\nHendro Cahyono, the chairman of the Trisakti student senate, will
\ngive evidence for the prosecution.<\/p>\n
Defense lawyers are scheduled to present two expert witnesses
\nwhose identities have not been revealed.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Jakarta Military Police Commander Col. Hendardji
\ntold the media that the 21 weapons being tested at the National
\nPolice Forensic Laboratory for a match with the weapons which
\nfired the fatal bullets at the May 12 incident would be sent to
\nPT Pindad, a Bandung-based state ammunition manufacturer, for
\nfurther ballistics tests. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/army-officers-testify-police-shot-at-students-1447893297",
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