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)