Ex-general regrets Priok incident

JAKARTA: A retired Army general in the dock before the ad hoc human rights tribunal said on Wednesday that he regretted the 1984 Tanjung Priok bloodshed, but insisted he was innocent.

"I am sorry that the incident occurred and that it claimed the lives of some of our people," Maj. Gen. (ret) Rudolf Butar-butar told the court.

However, he claimed he was not involved in the shooting of angry protesters carried out by his soldiers. He also rejected the indictment that accused the military of torturing civilians at its station in North Jakarta.

Rudolf, who is the former North Jakarta military commander, has been charged under Law No. 26/2000 on human rights tribunals.

Prosecutors accused him of gross human rights violations, punishable by a minimum 10 years in jail.

Presiding judge Cicut Sutiarso adjourned the hearing until next week. -- Antara.