Prosecutors demand eight months for soldiers

Prosecutors demand eight months for soldiers

Berni K. Moestafa and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh

Military prosecutors are seeking an eight-month sentence for
three soldiers who allegedly assaulted civilians during a raid in
Bireuen, Aceh regency, at the end of May.

The prosecutors' demand followed the three soldiers'
confessions and the testimony of victims delivered on Wednesday
at the military tribunal in Lhokseumawe.

"The soldiers are guilty of the charges," said military
prosecutor Capt. Baharuddin Siregar during the court session
yesterday.

First Pvt. Syaiful Bahri, 29, Second Pvt. Tony Narianto, 22,
and Second Pvt. Agus Hidayat, 24, were accused of physically
abusing five residents of Lawang village, Peudada District,
Bireuen regency in a raid against members of the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM), and thereby not acting in accordance with the
rules of military discipline.

Four other soldiers, including a middle-ranking officer, are
still awaiting trial at the military tribunal.

During the raid, the soldiers also killed Abu Bakar, a
resident, whom they claimed to be a member of GAM as they had
found a bundle of identity cards belonging to villagers in his
house.

Abu Bakar's widow Aisyah said to reporters that her husband
was killed by soldiers, who dragged him out of the house, beat
him and then shot him.

One of the seven suspects, (First Private) Alfian, however,
told the court on Wednesday that Abu Bakar was a rebel and he was
shot while trying to escape.

Witnesses identified the three soldiers behind the beating of
Lawang villagers during an early-morning raid for GAM members on
May 27. The victims, three of whom appeared before the court on
Wednesday, suffered bruises on their faces and bodies.

Prosecutors charged the soldiers with violating Articles 251
and 55 of the Criminal Code on the torture of civilians, as well
as Article 103 of the Military Criminal Code for neglecting
military discipline.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

However, prosecutors demanded eight months for Syaiful and
Agus, and eight months and 20 days for Toni, who allegedly
assaulted three civilians.

Baharuddin said that the prosecution was reducing the charges
because the soldiers were relatively young, were polite in court
and because they were serving their duty in Aceh.

But he added that the three had tarnished the image of the
Indonesian Military, caused suffering to others, took the law
into their own hands and violated the Saptamarga principles
under the military code of ethics.

"These considerations were heavily weighing upon the severity
of their charges," said Baharuddin.