Trisakti defendants deny police used live ammunition

JAKARTA (JP): The two defendants in the Trisakti shooting incident told the military tribunal yesterday that none of the police officers under their command used live ammunition during the May 12 incident.

The defendants -- company commander First Lt. Agus Tri Heryanto, 29, and platoon leader Second Lt. Pariyo, 38 -- both from the city police Mobile Brigade Unit, reiterated that they had acted according to the Guidelines of Procedures for Coercive Actions in Handling Riots No. 02/V/1997.

"Only one of the three platoons in my company had guns. The peleton tindak (Action Platoon), led by Pariyo, had 18 personnel equipped with SS-1 rifles," Agus, who graduated from the Armed Forces Academy in 1994, told the court.

"Each gun was loaded with three blank bullets and 12 rubber bullets," he added.

According to Agus, the personnel in the remaining platoons under his command were anti-riot squads equipped with five tear gas canisters, shields and thick rattan canes.

He told the judge that he ordered his men to open fire because the situation appeared to be heading out of control.

"The situation changed so quickly. Crowds started throwing rocks, bricks and sharped bamboo canes toward our anti-riot squad. We tried to push them back but it did not work.

"I thought the situation was life threatening so I gave the order to fire tear gas to disperse the crowds," Agus explained.

When the crowds continued to attack my officers I ordered the tindak platoon to load and prepare their weapons, Agus explained.

Pariyo supported the testimony given by Agus, saying that he heard his First Lieutenant yell the order.

About five minutes later, the crowd became really agitated, Pariyo recalled. "That's when my commander (Agus) gave the order to open fire."

Agus reiterated that all of his men ran out of ammunition at about 6 p.m.

"After that I continued to hear shots being fired from other directions. They were not fired by the police. The shots were louder than the sound of rubber bullets being discharged," Agus said.

The ninth session of the trial turned into a heated argument yesterday after the presiding judge Col. Sudji Suradi fired a barrage of questions at Agus regarding his actions during the May 12 incident.

"Why didn't you try to meet and report your arrival to the West Jakarta Police Chief (Lt. Col. Timur Pradopo, the most senior officer in the field)?

Why were you wearing a cap instead of the regulation helmet?" Sudji asked.

Agus replied that he couldn't leave his men unsupervised for too long and that it was his responsibility to stay with his company.

"I wore a cap because as a field commander I have to communicate with a lot of people and a helmet is a hindrance," Agus said.

"See! You violated the procedures! All officers have to wear helmets for safety reasons. You were wrong!" Sudji yelled.

The head of team of defense lawyers Adnan Buyung Nasution interrupted Sudji. "You cannot do this to him (Agus). You are supposed to ask questions, not make conclusions. You can conclude later."

"I am not forcing him! Listen, this is a military court. I'm in charge here," Sudji shouted back.

Jakarta Military Police Commander Col. Hendardji told reporters after the trial that he would send 21 weapons allegedly used in the incident for independent ballistics tests in Singapore.

The trial was adjourned until next Tuesday.

In another related development yesterday, the newly-appointed National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi told reporters that he would not change the defense lawyers in the case.

Also yesterday, Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said the investigation into the shooting of the four Trisakti University students would continue, despite the two officers having been brought to trial. (edt/imn)