Soldiers involved in U. Pandang deaths sentenced to jail

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): A military tribunal sentenced six soldiers to between 90 days and 105 days in prison for using excessive force in handling the demonstrations here in April, which resulted in the death of three students.

Col. Susanto, head of the military tribunal's panel of judges, said soldiers had been found guilty of the charges filed against them as stipulated in Article 103 of the military criminal code.

"Because of that it is natural that they be held responsible for their actions with a three month jail sentence," he said.

Second Lieutenants Budiyana, 36, Djoni Prasetyo, 24, and Agus Priyanto 32, were brought in for the trial session first and sentenced to 90 days in prison each.

Their three comrades, second lieutenants Supomoro, 28, Rohadi Ibnu, 28, and Agus Moechtarom 27, followed and were each sentenced to 105 days.

The six army officers were also told to pay court fees ranging from Rp 4,000 (US$1.70) to Rp 5,000.

The sentences handed down yesterday were shorter than the five and six month terms for each group demanded by chief military prosecutor Lt. Col. Rachman.

A massive demonstration occurred in the city of Ujungpandang in April to protest the mayor's decision to raise public transit fares by an average of 66 percent.

To quell the demonstration, soldiers entered the campus of the Indonesian Moslem University (UMI). Some then chased and beat up students, the court said in its verdict.

Death

To escape, three students plunged to their death into the river behind the campus, according to the judges.

Judges noted that while the soldiers who entered the campus and used excessive force remain unidentified, the six officers, as platoon commanders, must take responsibility for the actions of their men.

The judges said the officers had failed to control their men who broke ranks and ran down the student demonstrators.

In the first session, Budiyana, on behalf of his two comrades, said, after consulting with their lawyer, that they would appeal. "We object to the verdict and will appeal," he told the judges.

The three other officers, Supomoro, Rohadi Ibnu and Agus Moechtarom, said they would need time to consider appealing the sentence.

The trial received a great deal of attention from the public. The gallery remained full throughout many of the proceedings.

Also attending yesterday's sentencing was Syahban Nur, mother of M. Tasrif, one of the students who died in the demonstration. She wept after hearing the judges announce the sentences. (20/mds)