Army regrets UNPKF's reluctance for a joint investigation

JAKARTA (JP): Army deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri regrets the reluctance of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF) in East Timor to launch a joint investigation into the fatal shooting of an Indonesian soldier.

"It is regrettable that they have been reluctant to conduct a joint investigation. It is also unfair that they have issued a statement to justify the shooting before a joint investigation has been launched," Kiki said, in an interview with The Jakarta Post on Monday.

A UN investigating team has found that peacekeepers were justified in shooting dead an Indonesian soldier last month, an UN official said on Monday.

"The investigating team, consisting of United Nations military observers, concluded that the UN peacekeepers had acted within reasonable grounds in engaging a man who they believed had fired on them from over the border," peacekeeping spokesman Capt. Isabelito Sanchez said, as quoted by AP on Monday.

"How could they make that conclusion before conducting a joint investigation?" Kiki said, adding that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would accept the conclusion of a joint investigation.

First Sgt. Lirman, 21, was fatally shot on July 28 in East Nusa Tenggara by about 30 New Zealand troops. AP reported that the soldier, who was not in uniform, fired at least two shots at the peacekeepers from the Indonesian side of the unmarked border before they returned fire.

The incident occurred about four kilometers southwest of Tilomar, near East Timor's southern coast.

According to Kiki, there were around 300 bullet cases around where the body of Lirman was found.

"Just imagine, 30 New Zealand troops firing 300 bullets at a soldier. Even if our soldier fired first, I still think that was too much," Kiki argued.

In Denpasar, Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. William T. Da Costa expressed concern over the UNPKF's reluctance to launch a joint investigation despite both sides having signed a memorandum of understanding on border security.

"There has been no response on our proposal for a joint investigation," Da Costa told Antara, adding that the UNPKF gave no explanation for their silence. (lem)