Rights tribunal to summon Tommy in Tanjung Priok trial
Rights tribunal to summon Tommy in Tanjung Priok trial
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
An ad hoc human rights tribunal announced a plan to summon Hutomo
`Tommy' Mandala Putra, the youngest son of former president
Soeharto, to testify in the trial of 11 Army officers accused of
the Tanjung Priok massacre in 1984.
The panel of judges hearing the case said Tommy's testimony
was needed after the court heard testimony of Muchtar `Beni'
Biki, the younger brother of, Amir Biki, a cleric slain in the
incident.
The judges did not set the exact date as to when Tommy would
testify.
Beni appeared in the court to testify against Capt. Sutrisno
Mascung, Chief Corp. Asrori, Chief Corp. Siswoyo, Sgt. Maj. Abdul
Halim, Second Lt. Zulfata, Sgt. Maj. Sumitro, Chief Sgt. Sofyan
Hadi, Chief Corp. Prayogi, Chief Corp. Winarko, Chief Corp.
Idrus, and Second Sgt. Muhson.
The soldiers face a minimum of 10 years in prison and a
maximum death penalty sentence if found guilty for violating the
Human Rights Law No. 26/2000. Officially, 38 people died in the
massacre, after a protest outside the mosque, but unofficial
accounts say the death toll was over 100.
Beni told the court that in 1998 Tommy gave Rp 400 million
(US$47,000) to families of the victims to help neutralize student
demonstrations about the shootings.
Beni said Tommy, Soeharto's favorite son, gave out the money
in exchange for the relatives' support for the former first
family, which was mired in corruption allegations.
"Tommy came to us and asked us a favor -- to send people to
guard his family home on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta from
stepped-up student demonstrations," Beni told the court.
Beni said he declined the offer, and instead persuaded Tommy
to follow the legal course. However, Tommy wouldn't budge and
approached other heads of the victims' families.
"After negotiations, money was then given to Syarifuddin
Rambe, who later distributed it to 70 relatives of the Priok
victims present at the At-Taqwa Mosque in North Jakarta," he
said. Rambe was one of the local Islamic leaders who survived the
massacre.
The agreement was preceded by a negotiation involving himself,
Syarifuddin and three other relatives at Tommy's office on Jl.
Merdeka Timur, Central Jakarta, Beni said.