ABRI's top brass regrets fatal clash

JAKARTA (JP): Senior Armed Forces (ABRI) officers regretted on Wednesday a fatal armed clash between members of the Army cavalry unit and the police's elite Mobile Brigade stationed in the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak.

Minister of Defense and Security/ABRI Chief Gen. Wiranto said the clash, which left four troops dead on Tuesday, would not have happened if each unit had set aside their pride after an exchange of gibes.

"We really regret that the clash happened. The case is now under intensive investigation," he told reporters before a limited Cabinet meeting on political and security affairs held at the Bina Graha presidential office.

In Pontianak, military police chief Maj. Nana Rohana said injured victims in the clash were also two members of the cavalry and 10 from the mobile police brigade.

National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi dismissed speculation the clash was fomented by particular parties.

"The clash took place because of uncontrolled emotions of members of both military units," Roesmanhadi separately told reporters before the Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo called on both military units to keep their emotions in check and not blame each other for the fighting.

"We really regret that the incident happened and killed several officers.

"Each military unit must not attack each other then, as everybody will suffer," he told reporters after presenting the Bintang Kartika Eka Paksi Pratama medals to dozens of active high-ranking and retired Army generals at Army headquarters on Wednesday.

He told both military units to abide by a nonviolent approach and maintain unity in settling problem.

"Each unit must introspect and avoid blaming each other for the incident," he said.

Chief of the National Military Police, Maj. Gen. Syamsu Djalal, said his office was now conducting the probe into the incident.

The brawl started in the morning when members of the Mobile Brigade, who were on their way home from a parade rally, met with the cavalry troops, who were returning from an exercise to commemorate the state ideology Pancasila's Sanctity Day, which fell on Wednesday.

A prior "verbal battle" descended into violence.

Witnesses said members of the cavalry unit traveled in their armored vehicles to the nearby Mobile Brigade headquarters and attacked the building. Mobile Brigade members retaliated with shotguns.

The fatalities were Slamet Riyadi and Hocki Purnawan of the Mobile Brigade, and Slamet and Ruwadi of the cavalry unit. All were second sergeants.

The bodies of Riyadi and Hocki were flown to their Central Java hometowns on Wednesday. Riyadi will be buried in Klaten and Hocki in Kebumen.

The bodies of Slamet and Ruwadi were buried at the Bahagia cemetery in Pontianak on Wednesday afternoon. (imn/aan)