Officers questioned for Trisakti shootings

JAKARTA (JP): At least four senior security officers have been questioned over their alleged roles in the fatal shooting of four students from Trisakti University last week, an official said yesterday.

"They have not been arrested because the investigation is still going on," Jakarta Military Police Commander Col. Hendardji told The Jakarta Post.

According to Hendardji, the results of the investigation would be handed over, probably tomorrow, to Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin for further investigation.

Hendardji refused to reveal the identities of the four suspects but said they were senior officers in charge of security during the May 12 shooting at the Trisakti campus in Grogol, West Jakarta.

"It's not my authority to reveal their names," he said, adding that all officers in charge of security at the time were police officers.

A reliable source said the four officers included Col. Arthur Damanik, head of the Jakarta On-the-Alert Unit, and Lt. Col. Timur Pradopo, chief of West Jakarta Police Precinct.

Arthur and Timur were not available for comment.

Timur's assistant told the Post that he was still out in the field.

"He's busy with the security operation."

According to Hendardji, the final results of the investigation would be made public this week after the report was submitted to Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto.

The four Trisakti students killed in the mishap were Heri Hartanto, Elang Mulya, Hendriawan Sie and Hafidin Royan. They all died from gunshot wounds during the chaos which erupted Tuesday afternoon last week.

Gen. Wiranto admitted Friday at a session with legislators in the House of Representatives that there was evidence that live bullets had been used in the Trisakti incident.

He also admitted that some of the students were shot on the university campus.

According to Trisakti University spokeswoman Hasijani H. Wahjono, eight victims of the shootings were still being treated at several hospitals in Jakarta.

They are Yudha Yulianto, Fero Prasetya, Tammu Abraham Alexander Bulo, Yansen and Sofyan Rahman who are hospitalized in Sumber Waras, West Jakarta; Yonathan and M. Ali Rahmat, in Pertamina Hospital, Central Jakarta; and Wendri Tampubolon in Kramat Jati Hospital, East Jakarta.

Hasijani said she and all members of the university hoped that the case would be revealed soon and the authorities would punish the guilty officers in accordance with the laws.

"It is hard for us to accept the loss of our students. (The deaths are) especially hard for the parents of the students. So we call for a clear and transparent investigation into this matter.

"Please do not lie ... do not create something to cover things up. It will only make things worse," she said. (edt)