14 ABRI members implicated in Trisakti shootings

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto said 14 Armed Forces (ABRI) personnel have been implicated as being behind the May 12 shootings at Trisakti University which resulted in the death of at least four students.

"There are eight primary suspects from ABRI who are believed to be behind the death of the students," Wiranto told journalists after attending a cabinet meeting here yesterday.

"It was also reported that six officers are also suspected of non-procedural and undisciplined action," he added.

Wiranto said the findings of a special military team set up to investigate the shootings also implicated "a few members from another unit" which were also found to be taking "non-procedural and undisciplined action" during the incident.

Despite being pressed several times by journalists, Wiranto refused to elaborate further, saying only that the suspects were "innocent until proven guilty. We will announce it later."

At least four students were killed May 12 when security forces fired on students at Trisakti University in West Jakarta where a demonstration demanding political reform was being held.

Wiranto said he and other top military officers had received the report from the Armed Forces special team Sunday.

"I have ordered that the findings from other teams such as from the National Human Rights Commission, Trisakti and the police be included in the final report of the investigation.

"From the conclusion of the findings of various teams, I will then immediately order a legal process to be carried out to punish those responsible," he asserted.

When asked when this legal process would begin, Wiranto replied: "As soon as possible. There's a process, you know. But so far, the findings are very close to the reality." (prb)