Army chief ready to face questioning

Army chief ready to face questioning

JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
accepted on Monday calls for him to face questioning for his
responsibility in the murder of Aceh traditional Muslim leader
Tengku Bantaqiah in July last year.

But Endriartono reminded that the human rights case had
already been closed after a joint civilian-military court
sentenced 24 soldiers and a civilian in May this year.

"However, if some people are unhappy with the verdict and ask
me to share responsibility for the murder, I am ready to face the
trial," Endriartono told The Jakarta Post.

Endriartono was responding to comments by the deputy director
of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) Munir
who said that Endriartono should be held accountable for the
murder of Bantaqiah as well as Gen. (ret.) Wiranto, who was
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief at the time. Endriartono was the
assistant for operational affairs to the TNI chief of general
affairs when the mass killings took place.

"Many cases in Aceh, mostly crimes against humanity, have not
been probed transparently, such as the murder of the traditional
ulama Bantaqiah," Munir said outside the Conference of Asian and
Latin American Lawyers on Monday.

Bantaqiah, the principal of Babul Mukaromah Islamic boarding
school in Beutong Ateuh, some 80 kilometers from West Aceh
regency capital, Meulaboh, was shot dead along with 31 of his
followers, by troops of the Lilawangsa Military command. Another
23 students, who were wounded, were allegedly killed on the way
to the hospital. Three other people are missing and presumed
dead.

Ten members of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad),
including the highest ranking officer Capt. Anton Yuliantoro, and
a civilian were sentenced to 8.5 years in jail.

Fourteen soldiers from Bukit Barisan Military Command were
sent to jail for nine to ten years.

The defendants' lawyer, as well as those who criticized the
trial, said the defendants were only carrying out orders from
their superiors.

Many observers questioned the fairness of the trial, citing
the absence of key suspect Lt. Col. Sudjono, who remains at
large, and incumbent Lilawangsa Military Commander Col. Syafnil
Armen.

Munir said if Indonesia would cope with separatism in Aceh,
all crimes against humanity in Aceh should be brought to the
court to fulfill the demands for justice raised by Aceh people.

"Army chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto is the person
most responsible for the murders due to his position," Munir
said.

The assistant for operations to TNI chief of general affairs
is responsible for troop deployment and every plan and
implementation of military operations.

Endriartono admitted the military attack on Bantaqiah boarding
school was premeditated, but he noted that TNI headquarters had
warned against violations of the law.

"I agree that anyone who commits crimes should be punished. We
don't have to hide the offenses," Endriartono said.

Nevertheless, Endriartono said he had no idea of the
whereabouts of Sudjono. He also denied that Sudjono was being
protected by TNI.

"If only I could find him and shoot him myself, I would be
glad," Endriartono said. (02)