Ex-general regrets Priok incident

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.