Joint probe planned into Indonesian soldier's death

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) and UN Peacekeeping Force (UN-PKF) agreed on Sunday to launch a joint probe into the fatal shooting of an Indonesian sergeant near the East Timor border on Saturday.

TNI's East Timor border task force commander Lt. Col. Magna Chandra said after a meeting with representatives of UN-PKF at Metamasin, Kobalima, Belu regency, on Sunday that the joint investigation aimed to uncover who shot First Sgt. Lirman Hadimu and what were the motives behind it.

"UN-PKF admits that they committed the shooting, but the reason for what they did and why our officer was at the scene have both to be investigated," Magna said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Magna added that, based on preliminary discussions, it was revealed that the shooter was one of the UN-PKF soldiers from the New Zealand Battalion stationed at the East Timor border.

Sunday's meeting was also attended by Kupang 161 Wirasakti District Military Commander Col. Budi Heryanto who overseas the border, UN-PKF Western Commander Brig. Gen. Wilson and related officers.

Meanwhile, Col. Budi said that the joint investigation also aimed to avoid suspicion and increasing tensions among soldiers at the border following the shooting.

It was reported that 21-year-old First Sgt. Lirman Hadimu was shot dead in Alas village, Malaka Barat district, Belu, on Saturday at around 12:40 p.m. local time.

His body was found one hour later by colleagues from the military infantry battalion 726 Tamalatea. Lirman reportedly was not a wearing uniform at the time of the incident and his unloaded SS-1 rifle was found only two meters from the body.

His body was located about 20 meters from the Tactical Coordination Line on the Indonesian side of the border.

Battalion officers in the nearby post testified that they heard three shots and another volley of gunfire coming from the eastern side.

The bullets shot through his chest hitting his liver, his left thigh and stomach and cut off his fingers.

The body was brought to Atambua hospital and would be buried in Southeast Sulawesi.

UN peacekeeping spokesman Capt. Isabelito Sanchez said on Saturday, as quoted by AP, that a group of suspected "militiamen" fired a single shot at a company of New Zealand troops stationed close to the border town of Tilomar. The troops returned fire before the suspected militia group fled.

Col. Budi concluded from his conversation with Brig. Gen. Wilson at the border that Lirman was shot at during a patrol by the international task force.

Budi assumed that UN-PKF used body-heat and firearm detectors during the patrol so they could detect when an armed man approached their post.

He believed that Lirman was shot as a consequence of his undisciplined behavior for wandering about the border without a uniform and companion. Lirman also did not ask clearance from the post.

"However, both forces have agreed to inform each other when they are on patrol and not to ambush or shoot beyond each one's area of jurisdiction," he added. (30/bby)