Military witnesses in Aceh trial defend shooting<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Three military witnesses testified on
\nWednesday that troops fired in self-defense after Islamic leader
\nTengku Bantaqiah and his followers attacked them in Beutong Ateuh
\nvillage, West Aceh, last year.<\/p>\n
Second Cpl. Jonny Effendi told a joint panel of civilian and
\nmilitary judges that he heard Bantaqiah had ordered the attack
\nwhile the soldiers were conducting a search of the Babul
\nMukaromah Islamic boarding school belonging to the Muslim
\nteacher.<\/p>\n
\"I heard Tengku Bantaqiah shout 'Pai, serbu' (attack) as the
\ntroops were preparing to check his and his followers' identity
\ncards. Dozens of (Bantaqiah) followers then attacked the military
\npersonnel with knives and other sharp weapons,\" Jonny testified.<\/p>\n
Jonny was a radio operator during the July 23 raid on the
\nremote village, which resulted in the death of Bantaqiah and 57
\nof his students.<\/p>\n
He insisted the operation was aimed at searching for 100
\nfirearms allegedly kept by Bantaqiah and his followers.<\/p>\n
Bantaqiah was a former political prisoner and a once prominent
\nsupporter of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which has been waging
\na 25-year independence struggle. He was granted amnesty by the
\ngovernment a few months before he was killed.<\/p>\n
Jonny said Capt. Anton Yuliantoro, the highest ranking officer
\nto stand trial so far, shot three of Bantaqiah's disciples who
\ntried to attack him with sharp weapons while soldiers were
\nconducting the search.<\/p>\n
\"The three men chased and cornered Capt. Anton near the river
\nedge. He then turned his back and fired warning shots,\" Jonny
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The shooting prompted confusion and his (Anton's) subordinates
\nstarted to fire on the other Bantaqiah followers, he said.<\/p>\n
Two grenades exploded during the fighting, he said, but he did
\nnot know who threw them.<\/p>\n
Another witness, First Lt. Heri Robert Morin also gave the
\nsame account. While Pvt. Suwenda recalled that he saw bodies
\nscattered around the boarding school compound.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Ruslan Dahlan adjourned the trial until
\nThursday, and warned prosecutors they would only have until
\nSaturday to present witnesses in the case.<\/p>\n
Separately, students and activists in Banda Aceh marched along
\nthe main street of Jl. Diponegoro to the Pante Perak Bridge and
\ngubernatorial office on Wednesday morning, to commemorate the
\nkilling of at least 60 civilians in Simpang KKA in North Aceh on
\nMay 3 last year. (50\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-witnesses-in-aceh-trial-defend-shooting-1447893297",
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