President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered a thorough investigation into the brutal killings of four detainees in Cebongan Penitentiary in Sleman, Yogyakarta, and has also urged the Indonesian Military (TNI) to cooperate with the National Police in the latter’s investigation.

Yudhoyono said the execution-style killings were a direct attack on the state’s authority.

“[The killings] have not only resulted in a serious threat that affects public safety, but has left the public with no sense of trust in the supremacy of law in the republic,” said Yudhoyono as quoted by presidential advisor for political communication Daniel Sparringa in Jakarta.

The statement was delivered three days after 17 unidentified assailants ransacked the prison and shot dead four inmates in the penitentiary: Angel Sahetapi, Adrianus Candra Galaga, Gameliel Yermiayanto Rohi and Yohanes Yuan. The inmates were accused of murdering a former member of the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus).

The assailants carried weapons including AK-47s, FN pistols and hand grenades. The attack was reported to have lasted only 15 minutes, with one of the assailants acting as a time keeper.

The National Police have been criticized for showing restraint in the investigation, especially after reports said only elite members of the military could have carried out such a swift and precise operation.

In his instructions to the National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo, Yudhoyono wanted the police to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice, Daniel said.

The President also asked TNI chief Adm. Agus Suhartono to ensure that military officials cooperated with the investigation.

“The President urges all sides to support and monitor the investigation,” Daniel said as quoted by Antara news agency.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar denied suggestions that the police lacked the courage to deal with the case.

Boy acknowledged that the police had problems in their investigation and called on the public to help.

“We will use all of our resources in this investigation, but we also hope to receive help from the public,” Boy said on Tuesday.

He said that police had no key information that could lead to identifying the perpetrators.

“The crucial information may not be at the crime scene, but let’s say it could be information about people looking like the perpetrators,” he added.

Police investigating the case are left with little clues as to the chain of events inside Cebongan Prison, as the assailants removed footage recorded by Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in the facility.

Boy said that the police had questioned 45 witnesses in the case, including 12 prison guards and a number of detainees who witnessed the murders inside their cell.

The police’s ballistic test found that the assailants fired 7.62 millimeters caliber bullets.

“The bullet type is generally used for [assault] rifles,” Boy said.

Speculation was rife that the Yogyakarta Police had prior knowledge of the murder plan, which could have prompted them to transfer the four detainees a day before the brutal attack.

Boy claimed that the police’s internal affairs division (Propam) had analyzed the detainee-transfer procedure and found that no breach had been reported.

Yogyakarta Police chief Brig. Gen. Sabar Rahardjo previously said the four detainees and six others were transferred because their detention center was undergoing a minor reconstruction project.

Boy said the transfer of detainees had breached no procedures.

“Penitentiary transfers can be approved if it’s decided that we lack space or have urgent projects like renovations ,” Boy said.

The National Commission onHuman Rights (Komnas HAM) has launched its own inquiry into the murder, with Komnas HAM chairwoman Siti Noor Laila saying the commission will collect evidence on the violent incident.

Komnas HAM’s inquiry could determine whether the murders are categorized as human rights violations.

Highly sophisticated attack

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

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

• The entire attack took only 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 killings.

• The police are accused of having prior knowledge of the plan to kill the detainees, as they decided to transfer them to the penitentiary.

• Prison warden B. Sukamto Harto asked the Yogyakarta Police why the four suspects had been transferred to the prison, but did not receive a clear answer.

• The assailants wore masks, black vests, black canvas shoes, long boots, and blue and black jeans.

• Police found 31 bullet casings, including 19 7.62 mm caliber bullet projectiles, at the crime scene.

• The assailants seized wardens’ cell phones, cut the prison phone line and removed CCTV footage from the chief warden’s office.

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