Eight years sought for soldier killing Timorese

JAKARTA (JP): Army prosecutors demanded yesterday eight years' imprisonment for a soldier whom they said had slain six unarmed East Timorese villagers last January.

First Private Rusdin Maumere, who is being tried by a military tribunal in Denpasar, Bali, has already confessed in court to killing the villagers, stressing that he was carrying out an order from his commanding officer, First Lieutenant Jeremias Kasse.

The two men are the only people being tried in connection with the controversial killings in the remote village of Kabo in the Liquisa district of East Timor on Jan. 12.

They have both insisted that the six victims were supporters of the East Timor armed separatist group Fretilin.

Prosecutor Lt. Col. Firman A.R. Coto has argued that Rusdin violated article 103 (1) of the Military Criminal Code (disobeying orders from superiors), and article 338 of the (civilian) Criminal Code (murder), Antara reported.

Firman said the accused had ignored an order from the chief of the Liquisa Military District Command who had clearly stated that the patrol was to take rebels alive, provided they were unarmed and did not resist arrest.

Firman said that instead of following that order, Rusdin had followed the order of Jeremias to "eliminate" the six men whom they had taken prisoner while following the trail of Fretilin members.

Firman said the defendant's action was "most deplorable" because it could damage the image of the Indonesian Armed Forces and was in violation of the soldier's oath. It could also harm the image of Indonesia in the eyes of the world, he said.

He asked the tribunal to have Rusdin removed from the military.

Rusdin's case is being tried by Judge Lt. Col. H. Pakpahan.

Two lawyers, Major Lastra and Captain Wirawati, are defending the accused.

According testimony from Rusdin, Jeremias gave the order to slay the six prisoners shortly after a member of his patrol had been stabbed. The tribunal heard that the six villagers had had their hands tied when they were shot.

Jeremias is being tried separately by the same tribunal. The prosecutor asked on Monday that he be sentenced to six years and nine month imprisonment and also be removed from the service. (emb)