Soldiers attack and loot hamlets<\/p>\n
Andi Hajramurni
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Makassar<\/p>\n
A group of infantry soldiers, including their commander, are
\nfacing dismissal for attacking and looting houses in three remote
\nSouth Sulawesi hamlets, in a blow to the military's efforts to
\nrestore its tarnished image.<\/p>\n
Wirabuana Military commander overseeing Sulawesi Maj. Gen.
\nArief Budi Sampurno said during his visit to the hamlets on
\nWednesday that he would discharge members of the 700th Raider
\nInfantry Battalion and their chief Lt. Col. Sapto Agustono for
\nthe incident, which he described as \"brutal\".<\/p>\n
\"We will dismiss not only the soldiers who perpetrated the
\nbrutal acts, but their commander as well in accordance with the
\nline of responsibility. I am also prepared to be dismissed if my
\nsuperiors have lost confidence in my leadership,\" an apparently
\nangry Arief said.<\/p>\n
An internal investigation is underway into a group of soldiers
\nwho ran amok on Tuesday and raided at least 82 houses in Karama,
\nBonto Gaddong and Ujung Moncong hamlets in Bandri Manurung
\nvillage, Jeneponto regency, 80 kilometers south of the provincial
\ncapital of Makassar.<\/p>\n
Five residents and a police officer were injured in the
\npredawn attack, which also involved dozens of people from outside
\nthe villages.<\/p>\n
To the embarrassment of Arief, the rampaging soldiers also
\nlooted shop merchandise including oil, cigarettes and basic
\ncommodities, including 17 sacks of rice for the poor in a store
\nat the house of Bandri Manurung village head Rustam Baso Jaya.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said the attack followed an argument on Saturday
\nbetween one of the soldiers, First Pvt. Haeruddin, and Pantai
\nBahari village head Syaiful Mustamu Karaeng Moncong, who lives in
\nBandri Manurung village. Haeruddin was beaten up after his
\nmotorcycle crashed into Syaiful's car. The soldier was admitted
\nto the hospital with head wounds.<\/p>\n
Arief conveyed his apology to local residents for the incident
\nand ordered his soldiers to help rebuild the houses.<\/p>\n
The trauma, however, remained, with some residents who had
\nfled their houses during the attack saying they would not return
\nhome until peace had been fully restored.<\/p>\n
\"Armed with sharp weapons, the soldiers jumped out of a number
\nof trucks and cars and suddenly ransacked our houses and smashed
\nour cars, motorbikes and home appliances. They also beat several
\npeople because they refused to lead them to village head
\nSyaiful,\" a resident, Syahruddin, recounted.<\/p>\n
He suffered injuries to his head as a result of being beaten
\nby the soldiers.<\/p>\n
One resident, Syahrir, is still undergoing treatment at
\nLabuang Baji Hospital in Makassar for stab wounds, while a police
\nofficer, Brig. Sapri, is being treated at Bayangkara Police
\nHospital, also in Makassar. Sapri said he was beaten up by the
\nsoldiers while attempting to stop the attack.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for Wirabuana Military Command Maj. Rustam Effendi
\ndenied reports that the soldiers had stolen rice meant for the
\npoor.<\/p>\n
\"What would they do with the rice? They rarely cook. Besides,
\nit was impossible for them to take away over a dozen of sacks in
\njust a short time,\" Rustam said.<\/p>\n
Jeneponto Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Iwan Pusodjo said a
\ngroup of people had taken the advantage of the rampage to steal
\ngoods belonging to local residents.<\/p>\n
He said a joint police and military team was investigating the
\nmatter.<\/p>",
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