Joint security troops 'overacted' in Ambon: Djasrie

Joint security troops 'overacted' in Ambon: Djasrie

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military Police chief Maj. Gen.
Djasrie Marin said on Monday that the joint security forces in
Ambon may have been 'overacting' in the raid of a hotel in the
Maluku capital following four days of unrest during which 10
civilians were killed.

"They were probably correct when performing their duty. But
since there were also fatalities, we're therefore conducting an
investigation to clarify whether they used excessive force during
the raid," Djasrie said while addressing a hearing with the House
of Representatives Commission I on Security, Defense and Foreign
Affairs.

Djasrie's explanation came in response to a legislator's
question over whether the Indonesian Military (TNI) would take
stern measures against soldiers of the joint security forces
involved in the incident.

The incident at Hotel Wijaya II took place on Jan. 20 when
soldiers, who had been in a security post located about 100
meters away from the hotel exchanging fire with rioters, were
shot by a sniper from an opposite direction. The soldiers said
that the gunshot came from the hotel building.

The joint security forces -- comprises Navy's Marines, air
force's Paskhas, and army's Kopassus -- then raided the hotel on
Jan. 21, capturing several military and police officers and
arresting them for their alleged involvement in attacks by
heavily armed Muslims that began on Jan. 19.

The joint security forces seized two SS-1 rifles, four Luger
handguns, an FN pistol, four Colt handguns, a combat knife, six
magazines of ammunition for SS-1 rifles plus two homemade bombs
and two grams of shabu (crystal methamphetamine) from the nine
suspects.

The TNI headquarters had sent a fact-finding team led by the
assistant for intelligence to the TNI chief of general affairs,
Brig. Gen. Zulfahmi, to investigate the alleged involvement of
soldiers in the attack, while the army has confirmed that one of
the army's middle-ranking officers named Maj. Nurdin Nontji, a
staffer at Pattimura Military Command's inspectorate, was
involved in the incident and has been proven partisan.

Djasrie said the military police have questioned Nurdin over
his presence at the hotel and declared him a suspect due to his
'indisciplinary act', but was still gathering more evidence.

"We also have yet to declare Nurdin to be inactive," Djasrie
said while dismissing reports that the joint security forces had
also found Rp 30 million in cash at the hotel.

Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa, protested
at Djasrie's statement saying that the joint security forces have
been overacting.

"They were carrying out a special task enforcing the civil
emergency there, including detaining any police officers and
soldiers who deserted their units.

"My troops (the joint military forces troops) are good
soldiers. Pak Djasrie has hastily described them as overacting,"
Made Yasa told reporters in an emotional tone after the hearing.
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