Army officers testify police shot at students

Army officers testify police shot at students

JAKARTA (JP): Two military officers and three witnesses from
Trisakti University who yesterday gave evidence to the military
tribunal investigating the May 12 incident stated that it was the
police who fired shots at demonstrators.

During yesterday's hearing, defense lawyers twice declined to
cross-examine witnesses because they felt their testimonies bore
no relation to the charges brought against the two defendants in
the case, who are being tried for committing an undisciplined
act.

The first witness, Capt. Arman Dahlan, a company commander
from the Bekasi-based 202/TM Infantry Unit, told the court that
he heard gunshots fired from all directions but did not hear any
that were characteristic of warning shots.

"I heard the police shout 'Attack!' and they started chasing
the students. I also saw their armored vehicle starting to move,"
he told the court.

Arman said he saw some members of the police Rapid Reaction
Unit on the pedestrian bridge and flyover in front of Trisakti
University.

"I was on the street. At that time we were located about 200
meters behind the police. None of my officers opened fire.

"No matter what situation we find ourselves in, we must wait
for our superior's (operational commander's) order," Arman said.

When asked by a defense lawyer how he managed to recognize the
police from a distance, Arman said: "I saw their uniforms."

When the defense team then tried to verify that his sight was
sufficiently good for this, presiding judge Col. Sudji Suradi
banged his gavel and said loudly: "He said he saw the police.
He's still young and has healthy eyes, so do not put him in a
corner."

The questioning lawyer, Adnan Buyung Nasution, scolded the
judge back: "Why are you yelling like that! This is not fair. Do
not take the side of the witness."

The two defendants, First. Lt. Agus Tri Heryanto and Second
Lt. Pariyo, both from the police Mobile Brigade Unit, are charged
under Article 103 of the military penal code for committing an
undisciplined act.

When asked to respond to Arman's testimony, Agus said: "As a
company commander I would never have ordered the men under my
command to 'Attack'. We only use 'push' or 'press' to command men
to move forward. Our armored vehicle was for tactical purposes
only and was not armed with a deadly weapon, only a water
cannon."

The second witness from the military, Second Lt. Mahmud
Sulaiman, a company commander from the 203/AK Infantry Unit based
in Tangerang, backed up Arman's statement. He said his troops
were positioned in front of the West Jakarta Military District
office near the scene.

Throughout the hearing, when questioned, Mahmud repeatedly
said: "I do not know."

"Because he did not see or hear what happened and he can only
answer 'No' I will not direct any more questions to the witness,"
defense lawyer Moh. Assegaff told the court.

Civilian witness

The first civilian witness, Ari Gunarsa, the head of Trisakti
University campus authority, said that he heard one of the
officers yell: "Gotcha! Take that from the Kelapa Dua officers."

"I thought it was an officer from the police Mobile Brigade
Unit who was abusing the students," Ari said.

Kelapa Dua in Depok is the home base of the Mobile Brigade
Unit.

Ari also said that students had begun to disperse on their own
initiative by the time he became involved in negotiations about
the situation with West Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Timur
Pradopo and West Jakarta Military District Commander Lt. Col.
Amril Amir.

During Monday's session of the court-martial, Timur told the
court that he was surrounded by students when he first heard
gunfire.

When the judge asked him to comment on Ari's statement, Timur,
who was also present yesterday, replied: "I remember that the
students were reluctant to go home. Many of them were still
sitting on the street."

Two other witnesses, Samsudin, a civilian security officer in
the neighborhood, and Yonas Pattikaihatuand, the head of security
at Trisakti University, also implied in their statements that
they saw officers who appeared to belong to the police attacking
the students.

"They were wearing brown uniforms," Samsudin said.

"Like what?" judge Sudji asked.

"The police of course. They were armed like robots," Samsudin
replied, to the amusement of those in the public gallery.

Yonas also said that it was the police who chased the students
and abused them.

Sudji adjourned the court until next Tuesday, when Julianto
Hendro Cahyono, the chairman of the Trisakti student senate, will
give evidence for the prosecution.

Defense lawyers are scheduled to present two expert witnesses
whose identities have not been revealed.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Military Police Commander Col. Hendardji
told the media that the 21 weapons being tested at the National
Police Forensic Laboratory for a match with the weapons which
fired the fatal bullets at the May 12 incident would be sent to
PT Pindad, a Bandung-based state ammunition manufacturer, for
further ballistics tests. (edt)