Another Priok witness change mind

Another Priok witness change mind

JAKARTA: Another witness in the ad hoc human rights court
hearing the 1984 Tanjung Priok incident withdrew on Tuesday the
evidence he gave about defendant Maj. Gen. (ret) Pranowo.

The witness, Sardi, testified he had been filled with emotion
when he initially told prosecutors of the Pranowo's role in the
alleged human rights violation.

He denied his previous statement he had been severely tortured
while under military detention after he joined a protest against
the arrest of four Tanjung Priok residents held in the district's
military compound prior to the Sept. 12, 1984 incident.

He also claimed he had no idea about the account he himself
had signed, saying he was illiterate.

A group of residents were arrested for allegedly burning a
soldier's motorcycle. The arrest, Sardi said, however, only
sparked anger among local residents, who were already irked by
the soldier's insult to a small mosque in the area.

The protest culminated in a shooting incident, when soldiers
opened fire to disperse the crowd. As many as 33 people may have
been killed in the incident, although the Military's figure is
much lower. -- Antara