Military police named suspects

Military police named suspects

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Two military police members in Sorong,
Irian Jaya, have been named suspects on charges of shooting a
civilian dead two weeks ago, Antara has reported.

Chief of provincial military police Lt. Col. Sugijanto said on
Tuesday First Sgt. Novi Tomasoa and Second Sgt. Taufik Hidayat
would face a military tribunal following marathon questioning in
connection with the fatal shooting of Edward Wanggai at Jayapura
port.

Also questioned was Pvt. Andi Syamsul, but he was cleared of
any charges due to lack of evidence. Sugijanto said Andi would
have to testify before the court, which will convene "as soon as
possible".

"During investigation, it was found the three military police
personnel each carried an FN pistol. The smell of gunpowder was
evident in the pistols belonging to Taufik and Novi, and we
discovered only five bullets were left in Novi's gun and six in
Taufik's," Sugijanto said as quoted by Antara.

The three soldiers were arrested for allegedly shooting Edward
while aboard the Ciremai ferry which was embarking at Jayapura
port on July 9. Edward died from gunshot wounds to the head.

Sugijanto did not reveal the possible motive behind the
shooting.

A source said the three military police personnel were
assigned to safeguard Ciremai vessel which plies Sorong and
Jayapura route. The source said, however, many people in Jayapura
complained about the soldiers' behavior.

Meanwhile, Sorong Police chief Lt. Col. Charles Victor Sitorus
apologized to residents in the regency for harsh measures applied
by security authorities in dispersing a separatist flag-hoisting
ceremony on July 5, in which three people were killed.

Local coordinator of the Institute for Human Rights Studies
and Advocacy (IHRSTAD) Paskalis Baru said Charles apologized
during a recent meeting with students who investigated the
incident.

Hundreds of security troops were deployed to an amusement
park, where a group of people raised the flag leading to clashes,
after which 20 youths were arrested.

Charles also ordered the troops to surround a post belonging
to the proindependence group. Further clashes erupted, with
people beating to death a motorbike taxi owner, Haryanto, whom
they accused of spying on them. An 18-year-old baby also died
after his parents dropped him in a panic. A proindependence
activist was shot dead.(amd)