Prosecutors drop rights charges against Gen. Damiri<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
State prosecutors dropped on Thursday all charges against Maj.
\nGen. Adam Damiri, the highest ranking military officer accused of
\ncrimes against humanity in East Timor in 1999, due to lack of
\nevidence.<\/p>\n
\"We call on the court to rule the defendant not guilty as
\ncharged ... and to acquit the defendant from all charges,\"
\nprosecutor Sarani Hozie told a hearing at the ad hoc human rights
\ntribunal in Central Jakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
His statement received loud applause from dozens of Army
\nSpecial Forces (Kopassus) and Army Strategic Reserves Command
\n(Kostrad) soldiers, who packed the courtroom.<\/p>\n
Hozie claimed later he was not under pressure whatsoever in
\ndeciding to drop the charges.<\/p>\n
He argued that no testimonies delivered at court since July
\nlast year had implicated the involvement of either the military
\nor the police in the armed attacks against pro-independence
\ngroups in April and September 1999.<\/p>\n
Damiri, former commander of the Udayana Military Command
\noverseeing Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara and East
\nTimor, was initially charged with human rights violations for
\nfailing to prevent violence in the former Indonesian province.<\/p>\n
His subordinate at that time, East Timor military chief Brig.
\nGen. M. Noer Muis, was sentenced to five years in prison by the
\nsame tribunal for his failure to prevent his subordinates from
\ncommitting gross human rights violations.<\/p>\n
In one of the hearings, the judges produced a copy of a letter
\nwritten by Damiri to his superior on the success of pro-
\nintegration militia groups attacking pro-independence groups, but
\nthe evidence was not recorded in the prosecutors' case.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Hozie put forth as mitigating considerations the
\nfact that Damiri had been awarded the Seroja medal for service in
\nEast Timor and that the defendant had a family to take care of.<\/p>\n
\"Moreover, the defendant is polite in court and never
\nobstructs the proceedings,\" Hozie said.<\/p>\n
Damiri, currently operation assistant to the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) chief, had skipped the last four consecutive
\nhearings.<\/p>\n
Under prevailing laws, a defendant may skip court hearings
\nthree times, but on the fourth occurrence, judges are to issue a
\nsubpoena. However, no subpoena had been issued.<\/p>\n
Thursday's hearing began at 10 a.m. with presiding judge Marni
\nEmmy Mustafa opening the session by thanking Damiri for attending
\nthe trial. Damiri responded by apologizing for appearing in
\nmilitary fatigues.<\/p>\n
\"I just came from Aceh ... It's my duty not to delay the
\nhearings, but as a soldier, I have to follow my orders. I'm not
\nevading trial,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The defense soon asked the court to skip the reading of
\nwitnesses' testimonies by the prosecutors because their client
\nhad to fly back to Aceh immediately.<\/p>\n
The judges adjourned the court until July 1 to hear the
\ndefendant's statement.<\/p>\n
Damiri is one of 18 security personnel and civilians brought
\nto the rights tribunal, of which 12 have been acquitted so far.
\nAlthough convicted, five others remain free pending appeals.<\/p>\n
The ad hoc human rights tribunal and its trials are widely
\nregarded as shams.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prosecutors-drop-rights-charges-against-gen-damiri-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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