TNI top brass give moral support to officers tried<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In a show of solidarity, a number of Indonesian Military (TNI)
\ntop brass turned up in force at the human rights tribunal on
\nTuesday to give moral support to their soldiers as they were
\nbeing tried for crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n
Despite the fact that TNI Chief Adm. Widodo A.S., Army Chief
\nof Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and their entourage occupied
\nmost of the courtroom, the military leaders fell short of
\ninterfering in the trial.<\/p>\n
\"As the TNI chief who holds command of responsibilities, I
\nhave to provide moral support to the soldiers -- I have no
\nintention of meddling with the legal process, as I want the trial
\nto proceed fairly,\" Widodo said at a press conference after
\npresiding judge Cicut Sutiarso adjourned the session until next
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
He maintained that the defendants were merely carrying out
\ntheir duties when the alleged crimes took place.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, my presence as the TNI chief to offer moral and
\nlegal support for the soldiers is a must,\" Widodo said.<\/p>\n
Also present were TNI Inspector General Vice Adm. Bernard
\nSondakh; TNI Academy Commander Vice Marshal Chappy Hakim; newly-
\ninstalled TNI Military Police Chief Maj. Gen. Sulaiman A.B., and
\nJakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo.<\/p>\n
Among other prominent audience figures was TNI spokesman Maj.
\nGen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, one of the top officers questioned in
\nconnection with the East Timor atrocities.<\/p>\n
The landmark human rights trial is being held at the Central
\nJakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
In addition to the privilege of having a security escort, the
\ncars of the TNI top brass were allowed to occupy the parking area
\nbelonging to the Central Jakarta District Court's leaders.<\/p>\n
It was the opening session for four members of the military
\nand one policeman accused of committing gross human rights
\nviolations in the destruction of the St. Ave Maria church in
\nSeptember 1999 in Suai.<\/p>\n
At least 27 people were killed in the attack, including
\nCatholic priests Tarsisius Dewanto, Hilario Madeira, and
\nFrancisco Soares.<\/p>\n
The defendants, former Covalima regent Col. Herman Sedyono;
\nformer Suai military commander Lt. Col. Liliek Koeshadianto; his
\nsuccessor, Lt. Col. Sugito; former Suai military command chief of
\nstaff Capt. Achmad Syamsudin, and former Suai Police precinct
\nchief Lt. Col. Gatot Subiaktoro, were charged with violations of
\nArticles 7, 9, 37 and 42 of Law No. 26\/2000 of the rights
\ntribunal.<\/p>\n
The crimes carry sentences ranging from 10 years' imprisonment
\nto the death penalty.<\/p>\n
\"As superiors in charge at the time, the defendants failed to
\ncontrol their troops who, along with five other pro-Jakarta
\nmilitias, destroyed the St. Ave Maria church.<\/p>\n
\"At the very least, the defendants purposely ignored
\ninformation that their troops were responsible for gross human
\nrights violations by conducting a direct attack on civilians at
\nthe church,\" prosecutor Darmono told the court.<\/p>\n
In all, 18 military, police and civilians are standing trial
\nfor crimes against humanity which took place in East Timor after
\nthe majority of people in the former Indonesian province voted
\nfor independence that year.<\/p>\n
Outside the courtroom, hundreds of demonstrators grouped
\ntogether under the aegis of the Indonesian Defender Front (FPBI),
\nignoring the heavy rain to perform an impromptu play expressing
\nsympathy for the soldiers.<\/p>\n
Human rights activists were quick to criticize the military's
\ntop brass for their inconsistent stance.<\/p>\n
They said that, despite their demands for a fair trial, the
\nTNI leaders had once more ignored the judicial process by
\nrefusing to allow Wiranto -- the Armed Forces chief when the
\nviolence took place -- to the face the tribunal.<\/p>\n
\"The TNI chief has consistently ignored the trial. Why should
\nWidodo go to court to express his support while Wiranto, the
\nofficer in charge when the killings took place ... has failed to
\nappear before the courtroom as a suspect?\" Hendardi, of the
\nIndonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-top-brass-give-moral-support-to-officers-tried-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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