Another Priok witness changes mind

JAKARTA: A witness testifying in Maj. Gen. (ret) Pranowo's human rights tribunal said on Tuesday he was not beaten when he was detained by the military following the bloody Tanjung Priok shooting incident in 1984.

The testimony of the witness, Yusron, ran counter to his previous statement recorded in his dossier. Yusron is the second witness, after Sardi, to withdraw his testimony against the former commander of the Jakarta Military Police, which detained dozens of protesters in the aftermath of the incident.

Yusron told the court he was treated well at the military detention center in Cimanggis in Bogor, West Java. He claimed he was only hit once when he was having his head shaved, and said it did not affect his health.

Pranowo is charged with unlawfully detaining up to 169 civilians without warrants following the Tanjung Priok incident. The detainees were reportedly beaten and abused by members of the military police, some suffering serious injuries.

The prosecution has also charged Pranowo with violating Articles 7 and 42 of Law No. 26/2000 on crimes against humanity. Violation of the law carries a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of death. -- Antara