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