16 policemen stand trial over killing of students

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

A military court here began the trial on Monday of 18 police officers charged with attacking protesters in Medan, North Sumatra, three years ago killing two students.

The two victims were shot dead during the May 1, 2000, incident, when police attacked the HKBP Nomensen University.

Military prosecutor Lt. Col. Purnomo said the defendants have been charged with violating Article 170(1) and (2) of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of only nine years in prison.

The defendants are being tried before a military tribunal, even though the military and police were separated in 1999.

One of the military judges said the court had jurisdiction to try the case, arguing that the separation officially come into effect only in 2001.

During the trial, only 16 of the 18 police officers showed up as two other defendants remain missing after having deserted the force.

The 16 defendants are Adj. Comr. Amiruddin Pasaribu, Adj. Comr. M. Edi Wiriady, First Insp. Yahya, First Insp. Dedi Kurnia, Chief Brig. L.Kennedi Hutapea, Chief Brig. Hidayat Hasibuan, Chief Brig. Armansyah Harahap, Chief Brig. Yunaldi, Chief Brig. Zul Efendi, Chief Brig. Zulhendri, First Brig. Ismail Siringo- Ringo, Brig. Alexander Putra, Brig. Rusdianto Sembiring, Brig. Usnul Yazi, Brig. Zahendri and Brig. Sudaryono.

The trial, which is being presided over by Col. Reflina, was marked by a protest by hundreds of Nomensen University students who demanded that the defendants be given heavy sentences.

The protesters urged the panel of judges to be fair in trying the case.

The first day of the trial heard testimony from several witnesses presented by military prosecutors.

The former chairman of the Nomensen's students union, Jerri Tobing, one of the witnesses, told the court that the incident occurred after hundreds of students demonstrated at the North Sumatra Police Headquarters to demand the release of a fellow student who had been accused of gambling.

However, the police blocked the path of the demonstrators as they attempted to get near the building, he added.

The situation worsened after a group of unidentified people behind the students pelted stones at the police. A clash then erupted and the police fired warning shots to disperse the protesters.

"We were chased and several police officers fired bullets at us. We later retreated back to campus," Jerri said, adding that at least 17 students were injured in the clash.

On their way to the campus, the students took two police officers, identified only as Suherman and Surbakti, as hostages.

Incensed by the hostage-taking, dozens of police personnel besieged the campus and fired shots at students in an attempt to release their colleagues who were reportedly being abused by their captors.

Jerri said the police fired shots from Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan and Jl. Sutomo, killing two students and injuring another one.

The two dead students were identified as Calvin Nababan and Ricardo Silitonga. The wounded student was Jimmi Simangungsong, who was shot in the leg.

When asked by counsel for the 16 defendants, Adj. Comr. D. Purba, Jerri admitted he did not know whether any of them had actually been at the scene.

The trial was adjourned until Thursday.