ABRI's top brass regrets fatal clash
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)