DATE=4/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ACEH TRIAL (L-ONLY)CQ
NUMBER=2-261615
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
Intro: Defense attorneys for 24 Indonesian soldiers
accused of taking part in a massacre in northern Aceh
province have called for the case to be dismissed. As
Patricia NUNAN reports from Jakarta, the landmark
human rights case is seen as a test for the government
of Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid to rein in
the country's powerful military.
Text: The military's defense team says the case
should be thrown out of court, because the 24
defendants were merely following orders. The defense
attorneys also said the legal dossiers against their
clients are incomplete and therefore the charges
against them are legally unacceptable.
Twenty-four soldiers along with one civilian stand
accused of massacring at least 58 people at an Islamic
boarding school in West Aceh last July. The high-
profile "Bantaqiah" case is named for teacher Teungku
Bantaqiah, who was among those killed.
The military has maintained that the deaths occurred
during a gun-battle between troops and separatist
rebels.
It was the second day of arguments since the case was
adjourned one hour after opening Wednesday, in a court
in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh.
It is the first of five human rights cases to be tried
concerning alleged human rights abuses by Indonesian
soldiers in the
province.
Human rights groups say that the Indonesian military
killed or abducted at least 2 thousand people in Aceh
during a ten-year mission to crush the guerrilla "Free
Aceh Movement." The group has been fighting for
independence since the 1970's. But analysts say the
military's tactics in Aceh have actually provided the
group with widespread popular support across the
province.
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid says ending
separatist unrest in Aceh is among his main goals as
President.
But another military operation, aimed at crushing the
"Free Aceh Movement" was launched in February -- which
allowed soldiers to use repressive measures. Human
rights groups say at least 200 people have died as a
result.
A police commander involved in the mission has been
removed from his post for allegedly committing
atrocities. (Signed)
NEB/PN/PLM
22-Apr-2000 07:15 AM EDT (22-Apr-2000 1115 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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