Policemen on trial for Trisakti killings
Policemen on trial for Trisakti killings
JAKARTA (JP): After almost three years, the Military Tribunal
commenced on Monday the trial of nine low-ranking police officers
for their alleged role in the shooting of students from Trisakti
University, an incident that sparked massive riots and forced
former President Soeharto to step down in disgrace.
Prosecutor Let. Col. Taufik Rachman initially named 11
defendants in the case. But two defendants, First Adj. Brig. Idad
Musadad, 26, and Second Brig. Dominggus Pinto, 26, failed to
appear due for differing reasons: Idad was killed in a traffic
accident, while Dominggus, deserted and returned to East Timor
after the territory won its independence in 1999.
The nine were Second Insp. Erick Kadir Sully, 27, Second Brig.
Raul Da Costa, 25, First Adj. Brig. Suparwanto, 26, Second Brig.
Joko Irwanto, 24, Second Brig. Tedy Iskandar, 25, Second Brig.
Anang Yulianto, 25, Second Brig. Cahyo Nugroho, 24, First Adj.
Brig. Langgeng Sugiarto, 24, and First. Adj. Brig. Santoso, 25.
On May 12, 1998, the defendants, along with other security
personnel, were stationed at the Grogol flyover to guard the
students, who at the time had held demonstrations both inside and
in front of the Trisakti University campus at Jl. Let. Gen. S.
Parman, West Jakarta, the prosecutor said.
"The defendants were among security personnel who opened fire
without orders from their superior causing the death of four
students," he told the court, presided over by Let. Col. A.R.
Tampubolon.
Taufik charged the defendants with violating Article 338 of
the Criminal Code on premeditated murder, which carries a maximum
penalty of 15 years in prison, or alternatively charges for
violating Article 351 line (3) on assault leading to death, which
carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
The Trisakti incident centered around a series of anti-
government rallies held by students in several regions, demanding
then president Soeharto, who was in power for 32 years, to
resign.
Four students, Elang Mulya Lesmana, Hery Hartanto, Hendriawan
Sie and Hafidhin Royan, were killed in the incident, which was
followed by two days of widespread rioting in the capital that
included the burning and looting of shops and businesses, which
left hundreds of people dead.
The court had sentenced two police officers on Aug. 12, 1998
to 10 months and four months in jail respectively for ordering
the shooting at the crowd. But none of the military officers have
been sent to court.
The defendants' lawyer, Hotma Sitompul, told the media that
the accusation was unclear, because prosecutors failed to decide
whether the bullets belonging to the defendants caused the
students' deaths.
The trial was also attended by about 30 students who
distributed leaflets asking high-ranking officers, such as former
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Wiranto and former National
Police chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo, who were allegedly involved in
the shooting, to be tried at a human rights tribunal.
Judge Tampubolon adjourned the trial until June, 28 to hear
the response of the defendants' lawyer.(02)