Several generals to be grilled over Trisakti tragedy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A House of Representatives' special committee
\nwill question on Tuesday a number of active and retired senior
\narmy and police officers in connection with the May 12, 1998
\nshooting of Trisakti University students, the committee chairman
\nannounced on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Panda Nababan, who heads the committee of around 40, said
\nformer Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret.) Wiranto,
\nformer National Police chief Gen. (ret.) Dibyo Widodo, former
\nJakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsuddin and
\nformer Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata were among the
\nhigh-ranking officers being summoned to testify about the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
Other lower-ranking officers to face questioning included Col.
\nArthur Damanik from the Jakarta Police, Maj. Herman, former
\ndeputy chief of the West Jakarta Police precinct, Lt. Col. Timur
\nPradopo, former chief of the West Jakarta Police precinct and Lt.
\nCol. A. Amirul, former chief of the West Jakarta Military
\nCommand.<\/p>\n
The officers were in charge of security in the city when the
\nincident, which left four Trisakti students dead, took place.<\/p>\n
Panda said that both TNI and National Police Headquarters have
\napproved the questioning, which is aimed at ascertaining the
\nfacts surrounding the killings.<\/p>\n
\"Their testimony is needed to resolve the mystery which still
\nsurrounds the shootings. We want to know who ordered the security
\nforces to open fire on protesting students inside the Trisakti
\ncampus.<\/p>\n
\"In line with the chain of command in both the military and
\nthe National Police, there must be somebody who gave the order,\"
\nPanda said at a hearing with the new City Military Commander Maj.
\nGen. Bibit Waluyo on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The special committee is probing the use of violence by the
\nsecurity forces in dealing with student demonstrations in May and
\nNovember 1998, events now known as the Trisakti and Semanggi
\ntragedies.<\/p>\n
The military tribunal established to investigate the Trisakti
\nincident sentenced on Aug. 12, 1998 First Lt. Agus Tri Heryanto,
\n29, and Second Lt. Pariyo, 38, both from the police's Mobile
\nBrigade, to 10 months and 4 months in jail respectively for
\nordering their men to shoot into a crowd of demonstrating
\nstudents, killing Heri Hartanto, Elang Mulya Lesmana, Hafidin
\nRoyan and Hendriawan Sie.<\/p>\n
Another eight police officers were named suspects in the case,
\nbut their fate remains unclear up to the present time.<\/p>\n
Panda said it was unfair to punish only those who opened fire
\non the students while those who were in command of the operation
\nwere not prosecuted.<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing is that the special committee is
\ncommitted to carrying out a thorough investigation into the
\nincident,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Semanggi<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Col. Yoestiono, chief of the Jakarta Military
\nPolice, said the Military Police would prosecute First Private B.
\nSastro from the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) on
\ncharges of shooting Yun Hap, a University of Indonesia student,
\nin the Semanggi tragedy.<\/p>\n
\"But, Sastro's case has yet to be brought to trial because of
\nthe absence of witnesses to the killing,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said an assistant to the rector of the Catholic University
\nof Atma Jaya was to have testified in the case but he withdrew
\nbecause he said he did not actually witness the incident.<\/p>\n
Panda questioned the military tribunal's rejection of the
\ncase, saying the tribunal should be able to try the case as had
\nhappened with the Trisakti case, despite the absence of
\nwitnesses.<\/p>\n
He said the students who participated in the demonstration had
\nforwarded the necessary facts and information to the city
\nmilitary but these had disappeared for unclear reasons. (rms)<\/p>",
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