Officers in hospital attack, returnees from E. Timor: Erald<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Preliminary results of a police investigation
\ninto last week's attack at the health facility of Jakarta
\nHospital in South Jakarta revealed the attackers were troops who
\nhad just returned from a battle zone in East Timor.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Erald Dotulong said on
\nThursday that the military officers who caused excessive damage
\nto a part of Jakarta Hospital were from troops posted in East
\nTimor, during the chaotic period after the Aug. 30 self-
\ndetermination ballot.<\/p>\n
\"Three days before the hospital attack, those officers had
\njust stepped foot in Jakarta. They came from a long and difficult
\nfight, controlling the dangerous situations in East Timor,\" Erald
\ntold reporters at National Police headquarters.<\/p>\n
\"The attack, whatever the case, is still very wrong. Whatever
\nthe reason, those officers were just undisciplined.\"<\/p>\n
Frustrated military officers entered the hospital's four-story
\nadministration building in the late evening of Wednesday last
\nweek, broke the windows and doors and fired several gas canisters
\ninto the basement, in search of suspected militant students
\nhiding on the premises.<\/p>\n
A number of people were injured and dragged away, while four
\nrooms used as a kitchen, administration, central sterilization
\nfor surgical equipment and a laundry were heavily damaged during
\nthe attack, which has sparked anger from many people and
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
MP business<\/p>\n
Erald said the results of the police investigation, which
\nincluded the questioning of six of the hospital's staffers, would
\nsoon be handed over to the military police.<\/p>\n
\"National Police Gen. Roesmanhadi issued orders today
\n(Thursday) that the case will soon be handed over to Military
\nPolice Headquarters. Feel free to ask the General himself why the
\ntransfer is necessary,\" Erald said.<\/p>\n
He declined to confirm whether the troops were from the Army
\nStrategic Reserves Command's (Kostrad) 201 battalion, based in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I can't confirm whether that is true or not.\"<\/p>\n
\"I do remind you that this is a nation of law. With regard to
\nthis case, even the city police chief (Maj. Gen. Noegroho
\nDjajoesman) can be summoned for questioning,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Noegroho was the commander of the joint security troops
\ndeployed in and around the Jakarta area during the recent General
\nSession of the People's Consultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
When asked whether he knew that the attack was planned, Erald
\nsaid he did not know of such a plan.<\/p>\n
He was silent when reporters hinted that it was common
\nknowledge that when the lights suddenly go out in a particular
\narea, which is being heavily guarded by military officers, it
\nalmost certainly means that there was going to be an attack.<\/p>\n
When a reporter said that there were at least 50 of his
\ncolleagues at the scene, the undeterred Erald said that \"this
\nmeans, any one of you could be called in for questioning as
\neyewitnesses as well.\"<\/p>\n
From the sky<\/p>\n
On the police's preliminary investigation results, political
\nobserver Hermawan Sulistyo said on Thursday that whether the
\nmilitary officers had \"returned from Timtim, or from the sky, the
\nact was a very serious violation\".<\/p>\n
\"It was a serious violation against mankind. Call Noegroho
\nfirst, question him seriously over the matter, then talk,\"
\nHermawan, a researcher at the National Institute of Sciences,
\ntold The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Hospital Foundation chairman Royono Murad said on
\nTuesday that repairs at the hospital would be completed by next
\nweek.<\/p>\n
Royono has repeatedly insisted that Jakarta Hospital had no
\nreason or plans to sue the police.<\/p>\n
Earlier, hospital executives said that medical surgery would
\nbe suspended for two and a half months at least, owing to damage
\nworth some Rp 2.5 billion. (ylt)<\/p>",
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