No military command troops in Senen attack: Spokesman

JAKARTA (JP): City military command spokesman Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi said on Thursday that six soldiers detained in the alleged attack at Senen Market in Central Jakarta last Sunday were not from the city military headquarters.

"The six troops who have been declared suspects are not under the supervision of the city military command," Nachrowi told The Jakarta Post at the military command headquarters in East Jakarta.

"They are from the Army's Land Transportation Battalion, which is under supervision of the Army's Directorate for Supply and Land Transportation."

The soldier are detained at the city military police headquarters.

He said the city military command would not publicize the results of the investigation -- to be conducted by the city military police headquarters -- until it was declared final.

"We will make the case public after the investigation is completed in a bid to avoid confusion among the public."

Nachrowi said punishment for soldiers found guilty would be in proportion to the crime.

"They are dealing with two kinds of sentences. If their actions are categorized as violating the military law, they will be prosecuted in a military court," he said.

"If they are proven to have violated the military's code of discipline, they will be sentenced with disciplinary sanctions by their battalion commander."

A group of soldiers attacked people and establishments in the market, known locally as Pasar Senen. Five people were injured and a security post was vandalized.

Chief of the Jakarta Military Police Col. Mungkono Mursidi has confirmed the attack occurred after several soldiers were asked to quiet down while drinking and playing a radio at high volume at a a stall in the market. (asa)