Indonesian troops accused on attack on guards
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Less than a month after Indonesian army commandos raided a prison and killed four detainees, attention is back on the Indonesian Military (TNI) after soldiers allegedly attacked the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) headquarters in Lenteng
Fifteen TNI members from the Army’s 13th Engineering Construction Battalion were accused of attacking three security guards late on Saturday after they tried to stop an argument between the military personnel and a high-school student who was involved in a motorbike crash with the soldiers.
The high-school student sought refuge in the PDI-P headquarters following the crash.
One of the soldiers, who apparently objected to the guards intervening in the argument, called for backup at around 8.45pm on Saturday.
Jakarta Police spokesman Snr Commander Rikwanto said that based on testimony from several eyewitnesses, the soldiers broke into the PDI-P headquarters to search for the student. The soldiers yelled “I am a Mobile Brigade member” before engaging in a fight.
Two of the security guards, Priyo and Marlan, sustained cuts and bruises while the third guard, Yatna, got a concussion after being hit with a bayonet.
PDI-P secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo said the soldiers fled the scene after learning that the personal guards of party chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri were members of the military.
Megawati’s security officers then arrested two of the attacking soldiers.
“We will file an official objection with the Army for what its members have done,” Tjahjo said.
PDI-P Lawmaker TB Hasanuddin, a retired TNI general who arrived at the location later in the evening, identified the assailants as Chief Private Junaedi and Second Private Rachmat.
Hasanuddin also said the commander of the battalion, Lt-Colonel Hari Darniko, arrived on the scene at 10.30pm and took the soldiers with him.
“We regret that these soldiers just barged into our office and took the law into their own hands,” Hasanuddin said.
Separately, Army spokesman Brig-General Rukman Ahmad said 10 soldiers were now under investigation by the Military Police.
“The PDI-P officials also handed over the two soldiers they earlier detained for further investigation to us,” Rukman said.
