TNI top brass give moral support to officers tried
TNI top brass give moral support to officers tried
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In a show of solidarity, a number of Indonesian Military (TNI)
top brass turned up in force at the human rights tribunal on
Tuesday to give moral support to their soldiers as they were
being tried for crimes against humanity.
Despite the fact that TNI Chief Adm. Widodo A.S., Army Chief
of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and their entourage occupied
most of the courtroom, the military leaders fell short of
interfering in the trial.
"As the TNI chief who holds command of responsibilities, I
have to provide moral support to the soldiers -- I have no
intention of meddling with the legal process, as I want the trial
to proceed fairly," Widodo said at a press conference after
presiding judge Cicut Sutiarso adjourned the session until next
Monday.
He maintained that the defendants were merely carrying out
their duties when the alleged crimes took place.
"Therefore, my presence as the TNI chief to offer moral and
legal support for the soldiers is a must," Widodo said.
Also present were TNI Inspector General Vice Adm. Bernard
Sondakh; TNI Academy Commander Vice Marshal Chappy Hakim; newly-
installed TNI Military Police Chief Maj. Gen. Sulaiman A.B., and
Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo.
Among other prominent audience figures was TNI spokesman Maj.
Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, one of the top officers questioned in
connection with the East Timor atrocities.
The landmark human rights trial is being held at the Central
Jakarta District Court.
In addition to the privilege of having a security escort, the
cars of the TNI top brass were allowed to occupy the parking area
belonging to the Central Jakarta District Court's leaders.
It was the opening session for four members of the military
and one policeman accused of committing gross human rights
violations in the destruction of the St. Ave Maria church in
September 1999 in Suai.
At least 27 people were killed in the attack, including
Catholic priests Tarsisius Dewanto, Hilario Madeira, and
Francisco Soares.
The defendants, former Covalima regent Col. Herman Sedyono;
former Suai military commander Lt. Col. Liliek Koeshadianto; his
successor, Lt. Col. Sugito; former Suai military command chief of
staff Capt. Achmad Syamsudin, and former Suai Police precinct
chief Lt. Col. Gatot Subiaktoro, were charged with violations of
Articles 7, 9, 37 and 42 of Law No. 26/2000 of the rights
tribunal.
The crimes carry sentences ranging from 10 years' imprisonment
to the death penalty.
"As superiors in charge at the time, the defendants failed to
control their troops who, along with five other pro-Jakarta
militias, destroyed the St. Ave Maria church.
"At the very least, the defendants purposely ignored
information that their troops were responsible for gross human
rights violations by conducting a direct attack on civilians at
the church," prosecutor Darmono told the court.
In all, 18 military, police and civilians are standing trial
for crimes against humanity which took place in East Timor after
the majority of people in the former Indonesian province voted
for independence that year.
Outside the courtroom, hundreds of demonstrators grouped
together under the aegis of the Indonesian Defender Front (FPBI),
ignoring the heavy rain to perform an impromptu play expressing
sympathy for the soldiers.
Human rights activists were quick to criticize the military's
top brass for their inconsistent stance.
They said that, despite their demands for a fair trial, the
TNI leaders had once more ignored the judicial process by
refusing to allow Wiranto -- the Armed Forces chief when the
violence took place -- to the face the tribunal.
"The TNI chief has consistently ignored the trial. Why should
Widodo go to court to express his support while Wiranto, the
officer in charge when the killings took place ... has failed to
appear before the courtroom as a suspect?" Hendardi, of the
Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) told The
Jakarta Post.