Navy orders marine corps to verify Sunday shoot-out
JAKARTA (JP): Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono said on Monday he had ordered marine corps chief Maj. Gen. Harry Triono to investigate a Sunday shoot-out in Senen, Central Jakarta, which claimed the life of a marine.
"The marine who was shot was trying to settle some debts. I have ordered the marine corps chief to verify what actually happened there, and to take stern action," Indroko said following a meeting with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri at her office in Central Jakarta on Monday.
"It was the marine's personal problem. The incident has nothing to do with the marine corps as an institution," he added.
Marine corps Chief Sgt. Aliman was reportedly shot dead by a Central Jakarta Police officer First Adj. Insp. Agus Sunardi, who, along with two civilians, suffered gunshot wounds in the dramatic Sunday fire exchange at a grocery store located in the Ansor Youth Movement (GP Ansor) building on Jl. Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta.
GP Ansor is the youth wing of the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Muslim organization in the country.
The incident was initially handled by the Central Jakarta Police, before the case was transferred to the city garrison.
Sources in the Central Jakarta Police identified the civilians as Rustam and Silvester.
The sources added that five people had been questioned as witnesses in connection with the shoot-out.
They were identified as Iswanto, the NU auxiliary group (Banser) chief for Karang Tengah district in Demak, Central Java; Hadi Suryadi, a cashier at the minimarket; Saefuddin, the assistant manager of the minimarket; Abdul Manan, a cleaner at the GP Ansor office; and Robert, an eyewitness to the incident.
The source said the incident began when the Ansor chief for Demak, Ashadi, and Iswanto took Aliman to meet with the Ansor chief in Jakarta, Aris Junaidi, at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The source said they wanted to meet with Aris to discuss hotel bills, but the discussion soon turned violent.
Aliman then got two Banser members, Rustam and Silvester, who were present in the Ansor office, to help calm the situation.
The source at the Central Jakarta Police confirmed that the discussion was about paying bills at hotels in Central Jakarta.
"Several people allegedly stayed in hotels on Jl. Jaksa while in Jakarta to take part in mass protests. So Iswanto, Ashadi and Aliman expected Aris to pay the bills," a source said.
Separately, marine corps spokesman Lt. Col. Ibrahim Saddong said Aliman had accompanied Iswanto and Ashadi to demand "payment for hotel bills on Jl. Jaksa".
Denial
The secretary-general of the Ansor Youth Movement, Ahmad Niam Salim, denied on Monday the organization was involved in any way in the shoot-out.
"We have to make it clear that our organization is not related at all with what happened. It was a personal problem which turned into a crime," Ahmad said. He admitted, though, that Aliman was Ashadi's brother.
Another police source said that inside the grocery store, Aliman and Banser members Rustam and Silvester became involved in a verbal quarrel.
"Suddenly, Aliman took out a gun and shot both Rustam and Silvester, to the shock of everybody present. Someone immediately called the police," the source said.
City police records state that Silvester was shot in the left side of his head, in the chest and his left hand, while Rustam was shot in the shoulder. Both are being treated at Saint Carolus Hospital in Central Jakarta.
"The police call on Sunday was taken by First. Brig. Roni. Roni arrived at the scene, saw Aliman and tried to speak with Aliman, who was already outside the Ansor office. Aliman started waving a gun in Roni's face ... Agus Sunardi happened to be shopping in the area," the source said.
Agus, the source said, snuck behind Aliman and grabbed Aliman around the neck, but Aliman was able to turn around and shoot Agus twice, the source said. (ylt/dja/01)