Activists condemn 'arrogant' presidential guards
M. Taufiqurrahman and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesian Military (TNI) Police chief Maj. Gen. Sulaiman A.B. announced on Friday that two presidential guards had been declared suspects in a recent shooting incident and a busway traffic violation.
The shooting incident occurred last Thursday in Rawasari, Central Jakarta, leaving two civilians injured with gunshot wounds, and the traffic violation occurred on Wednesday in the busway lane in Harmoni, Central Jakarta.
"(The attempt at) taking the lives of civilians is unacceptable. The perpetrator deserves the death penalty. However, the punishment will depend on the results of the ongoing investigation," Sulaiman told reporters at TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.
The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), which condemned the presidential guards' acts and demanded that they be named suspects, lauded the move by the Military Police.
"If the personnel are acquitted under the Military Code, we will file a lawsuit at the civilian court. The Indonesian Military must also obey civilian laws," LBH Jakarta chairman Uli Parulian Sihombing said.
Uli also demanded that TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto take full responsibility for his soldiers' violent acts against civilians.
LBH lawyer Taufik Basari demanded the TNI to identify the "important person" the guard claimed to be escorting when the incident took place.
"The presidential guard's main task is to guard the president and vice president. Neither were reported to have been part of the entourage when the guard began shooting," he said.
He added that if any of the leaders' family members were being guarded, then the high-security treatment was excessive.
Last week, a convoy of four Toyota Land Cruisers carrying presidential guards -- whose identities the TNI has not disclosed -- were allegedly escorting an "important person" when the convoy instigated a dispute with motorist John Reinhard.
The guards honked at John's driver Junaidi, trying to get him to proceed on Jl. Ahmad Yani, Rawasari, Central Jakarta, which was congested.
One of the presidential guards emerged from his vehicle and accosted John, then began to beat him up with the help of three fellow guards.
John's screams for help eventually attracted the attention of passersby who soon stormed the group of guards and their cars.
One of the guards shot four times, allegedly to disperse the crowd: twice in the air and twice into the crowd, hitting Solomon Simpatupang, 50, and Abdul Rauf, 35.
The two are being treated for gunshot wounds at Jakarta Islamic Hospital in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta.
Another presidential guard, Second Corp. Asrul, was named a suspect for traffic violations. The guard, who was off duty, was caught by a policeman while illegally driving down the busway corridor to avoid a traffic jam in Harmoni.
Unable to show a license nor registration, he returned with a busload of guards to the police post. The incident was taken to the Gambir Police, thereby avoiding out-and-out violence.
"Under the Traffic Law, he will face a maximum six-year sentence for not carrying a valid driver's license and vehicle registration," he said. "He abused his power as a member of the military by riding a motorcycle in the exclusive busway lane."