Officers detained over 'Parepos' attack

Officers detained over 'Parepos' attack

Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar

A dozen officers of the Parepare Military Resort Command's
Military Police detachment in South Sulawesi have been detained
here in connection with a recent attack on the offices of local
daily Parepos.

Wirabuana Military Police Command chief Col. Bambang Wahyudi
said on Thursday that the 12 officers were undergoing questioning
in relation to charges of indiscipline under Military Police
regulations.

According to eyewitnesses, at least 20 Military Police
officers raided the daily's offices on April 29. They overturned
tables and threw chairs around, smashed glassware, and threatened
and insulted employees. They even assaulted one of the employees.

The attack followed a news report published on the same day by
the daily that a Military Police officer had been involved with
drugs.

When asked why only 12 of the 20 officers were detained,
Bambang said that investigation indicated that only 12 personnel
were directly involved in the vandalism, while the remaining
eight had only arrived at the daily's office to give moral
support to their colleagues. Nobody was injured in the incident.

"Eight of the 20 men were just loitering around. Only the 12
were therefore detained," Bambang said.

He added that two of his best investigators, Maj. Yakrizul and
Capt. Jabbar, were personally looking into the matter.

Wirabuana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Ahmad Yahya has
conveyed his apologies for the incident, Bambang told The Jakarta
Post.

"The Commander has apologized, and has stated that the
incident was wrong and unlawful. He has personally given
instructions that the perpetrators be detained and that the case
be investigated," Bambang said.

Meanwhile, Parepos chief editor Yasser Latief said that he was
aware of the investigation into the incident.

"We have handed over whatever evidence we had to the
investigators, and have also given eyewitness testimony," Yasser
said.

He added that he was relieved by the fact that the Wirabuana
Military commander had made sure that an investigation into the
attack would be conducted.

Yasser hoped, however, that the commander would tell his
troops that the media should not be dealt with by violence.

"Since Ahmad become the commander, there have been three
separate incidents of ill-treatment of journalists by military
personnel," Yasser said.

"I am waiting for the investigation results before I can even
consider of possible legal action against the Military Police
officers."