W

hile the Indonesian Military (TNI) has won kudos for its probe that determined that soldiers were behind the Cebongan Penitentiary raid and massacre, others doubt its transparency.

For example, lawmaker Priyo Budi Santoso, a deputy House of Representatives speaker, lauded the TNI’s openness in publicly disclosing the involvement of 11 Army Special Forces (Kopassus) commandos in the homicides.

“I also appreciate that the TNI has found the perpetrators in such a short time. I suggest that we let the TNI try them in a military court,” Priyo said.

Similarly, Democratic Party secretary-general Edhie “Ibas” Baskoro Yudhoyono, the son of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the nephew of Army chief Gen. Pramono Edhie Wibowo, lauded his uncle for creating a team to probe the case.

“The TNI’s openness indicates the emergence of a new military culture that does not tolerate military movement outside the chain of command,” Edhie said in statement.

Army investigators announced on Thursday that the commandos from the Second Special Forces Group stationed in Surakarta, Central Java, confessed to launching an unauthorized revenge raid on the penitentiary.

The raid culminated in the execution of four inmates detained for allegedly killing former Kopassus commando First Sgt. Santoso.

The victims — Johanes Juan Manbait, Gamaliel Yeremianto Rohi Riwu, Adrianus Candra Galaja and Hendrik Angel Sahetapy — were shot to death by a single gunman before 31 other detainees, according to witnesses.

Military Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Unggul K. Yudhoyono, the leader of the Army investigation, described the incident as spontaneous. “The perpetrators bravely admitted to committing the crime on the first day of our investigation on March 29.”

However, the Setara Institute, a human rights group, said that it suspected that the TNI’s surprising implication of the soldiers might indicate a deeper cover-up.

“A number of regularities show that the arrests could be a systematic attempt by the TNI to take over the investigation for certain purposes, such as distorting facts, simplifying the case or nixing allegations that the attack might have been planned and involved senior TNI officers,” the group said in a statement on Friday.

Setara noted that it took several days for the Army to announce the results of its investigation after the soldiers allegedly confessed on March 29.

It also noted highlighted that Diponegoro Military District Command chief Maj. Gen. Hardiono Saroso immediately denied that his soldiers were involved in the attacks.

A few days later, Pramono contradicted Hardiono, saying that there were indications of military involvement in the raid and executions that observers said had tarnished the dignity of the state.

Pramono, who is slated to retire in May, has been touted as a potential successor to Yudhoyono, who is barred by term limits from seeking reelection. Failure to resolve the case might damage Pramono’s
electoral prospects.

Separately, military observer Andi Widjojanto said that the Army’s transparency was not linked to Pramono’s political future. “I don’t see such connection at all. A few days after the [Cebongan] incident occurred, the TNI chief [Adm. Agus Suhartono] ordered Pramono to form the investigation team,” Andi said.

“The Army’s openness in dealing with human rights violations perpetrated by soldiers is a sign that the institution no longer enjoys impunity.”

Kopassus Commandant Maj. Gen. Agus Sutomo said that the soldiers’ court martial would be implemented fairly and transparently and be open to the public.

While praising the TNI for their honesty, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said that its own probe of the incident would continue.