Soldier killed while mediating labor dispute

JAKARTA (JP): An Army officer, Chief Sgt. Ahmat Tohir, from the Jatiwaringin military subdistrict, in Bekasi, West Java, was stabbed to death during a conflict resolution operation yesterday.

He was the second Armed Forces officer to be killed on duty this month after a police officer, Chief Sgt. Kamino, was shot dead Friday in South Jakarta.

A Jakarta Military Command spokesman, Lt. Col. DJ Nachrowi, said yesterday that Tohir was killed while helping two groups of laborers at Pondok Gede market solve an ongoing dispute.

"Tohir was stabbed to death by a laborer named Hasan Usman," Nachrowi alleged.

"He died at the Haj Hospital in Pondok Gede about 9 a.m., not long after the incident, which occurred about 8:45 a.m."

Nachrowi did not provide further details about the nature of the conflict or the officer's assignment at the market.

He said military command, in conjunction with the Bekasi Police precinct, was still searching for Usman.

Onlookers at the crime scene told journalists that Tohir was escorting a group of laborers, known as the Kiara Group, which was led by Usman, to Bekasi Military Command.

They said the group was to be given advice about how to solve their problem with the Warga Jaya laborers group.

The second group had accused the Kiara laborers of trying to take over the handling of loading and unloading activities at the Pondok Gede market, the onlookers said.

"Tohir was riding his motorcycle behind a truck and a small bus loaded with Kiara members," a witness, who asked for anonymity, said. "They were passing along Jl. Jati Makmur when Usman arrived in a Toyota Kijang."

"I heard Tohir try to invite Usman to join with fellow laborers who were heading to military command.

"Some of Usman's men jumped out of the truck to watch him and Tohir argue," he alleged. "Usman went back to his car then came back with a machete and just slashed Tohir across his back and neck."

Nachrowi alleged Usman had attacked Tohir from behind.

He said the staff at military command were mourning the death of Tohir, who had served there for more than four years.

Proud

The National Police chief, Gen. Dibyo Widodo, praised yesterday officers who died in the line of duty.

"Many officers, including policemen, die while on duty. We are very proud of them because, despite the difficulties police face, they give everything that they have to accomplish their tasks," Dibyo said.

He was commenting on the death of Chief Sgt. Kamino who was shot in the back on Friday morning during the arrest of an alleged narcotics dealer at a low-cost apartment in Pejompongan, South Jakarta.

Kamino and a fellow police officer, identified only as Sgt. Maj. Pa, were escorting a suspect, Boyke, to their car when Boyke tried to run away and attacked the two officers, police said.

Dibyo said Boyke was not handcuffed at the time, adding that handcuffing a suspect during an arrest was not compulsory.

"Officers may not need to use handcuffs as long as they stay alert and are able to prevent the suspect from running away or attacking them," he said.

Some media reports pointed to the possibility that Kamino may have been accidentally shot by Sgt. Maj. Pa during the scuffle with Boyke.

Dibyo said the information that some people at the scene gave journalists may have been incorrect.

Police would continue their investigation into the officer's death, including the allegation relating to Sgt. Maj. Pa, he said.

"If there is evidence that suggests Pa was involved in the shooting then, of course, he will be investigated," Dibyo said.

"And, if he is deemed to be responsible, we will send him to a military court. But for now, we have to apply the presumption of innocence." (cst)