Court urged to pursue Priok case

JAKARTA: State prosecutors called on judges of the ad hoc rights tribunal on Monday to proceed with the trial of 11 military personnel accused of gross rights violations in the 1984 Tanjung Priok shooting incident.

"We urge the court to put aside the lawyers' arguments," prosecutor Widodo Supriyadi told the court during the trial of Capt. Sustrino Mascung and 10 other defendants here on Monday.

Widodo insisted that the indictment against the defendants was clear and strong.

The defendants are charged with crimes against humanity for their alleged roles in the bloody Tanjung Priok massacre in 1984.

According to the indictment, the 11 soldiers opened fire on a crowd of Muslim protesters in front of the North Jakarta Police station on the night of Sept. 12, 1984.

According to the charges, at least 14 people were killed and 11 others injured in the incident.

Under Law No. 26/2000 on human rights, the soldiers could face a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of death if found guilty. -- JP