On the heels of the execution-style killing of four detainees in Sleman, Yogyakarta, rights activists have urged the government and the House of Representatives to amend the 1997 Military Tribunal Law to allow members of the military (TNI) to be tried in civilian courts.

A coalition of 12 rights groups said that with exclusive military tribunals hearing their cases, TNI members perceived themselves to be above civilian law, a practice that bred arrogance and impunity.

“Given the staggering number of violent acts committed by soldiers, all TNI members who violate the law should go through the same legal processes as any other citizen: being tried in a civilian court,” Al Araf chairman of rights group
Imparsial said in a press conference in Jakarta on Sunday.

Data from Imparsial said that 83 violent acts had been committed by soldiers since 2004. The latest alleged incident happened early on Saturday, when a group of armed men attacked Cebongan Penitentiary in Sleman and shot dead four inmates accused of murdering a former member of the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus).

The inmates, identified as Hendrik Angel Sahetapi, Adrianus Candra Galaga, Yohanes Juan Mambait and Gamalil Yermiayanto Rohi Riwuwere were accused of fatally wounding First Sgt. Heru Santoso at a café in Yogyakarta on March 19.

The commander of Regional Military Command (Kodam) IV/Diponegoro, Maj. Gen. Hardiono Saroso, claimed that his men had nothing to do with the incident. He also said that the rifles used by the gunmen were not standard Army issue but were available in many places.

Rights groups have alleged that the attack was a planned act of retaliation. Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Haris Azhar said that only soldiers could have carried out such a swift and precise operation.

“The attack only took 15 minutes. A witness said that one of the assailants served as a time keeper as he kept checking his watch while other members of the group carried out the murders,” said Haris, who joined a fact-finding mission to the penitentiary only hours after the attack.

Haris added that of the 17 perpetrators, only one fired the shots that killed the four detainees. The rest guarded several spots around the penitentiary.

The gunmen reportedly carried military weapons, including AK-47s, FN pistols and hand grenades.

As recently reported, warden of the facility, B. Sukamto Harto, said he knew something was wrong when the Yogyakarta Police transferred the four detainees, along with seven others, to the prison on Friday afternoon.

Sukamto said that he grew concerned about the safety of the four detainees, especially knowing that they were involved in the alleged murder of a Kopassus soldier.

He asked for additional security personnel from the Yogyakarta Police and the local military command, fearing a repeat of the attack by soldiers on the Ogan Komering Ulu Police Headquarters in South Sumatra earlier this month.

No such security reinforcements were provided.

Haris alleged that the police transferred the detainees after learning about a possible attack.

“The Yogyakarta Police should be questioned, why did they transfer them? It is very unusual for the police to transfer detainees only for three to four days,” Haris said.

TNI spokesman Rear Adm. Iskandar Sitompul called on the public not to draw their own conclusions prior to a police investigation.

“This is a very sensitive issue. Before the police announce the result of their investigation, don’t speculate on the perpetrators or their motives,” Iskandar told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Iskandar pledged that the TNI would cooperate with the police in investigating the attack.

“We will cooperate with the police if the police ask for our assistance in the investigation,” he said. (nad)

Bambang Maryanto contributed to this report from Yogyakarta.

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