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)