August 12, 2011
Jayapura. Three Indonesian soldiers tried over the killing of a Papuan priest were sentenced to up to 15 months in jail for insubordination, a military official said on Friday.
“The sentences were appropriate,” provincial military spokesman Lt. Col. Ali Hamdan Bogra said.
“The men were investigated through a process that was in accordance with military criminal law.”
Indonesia is often criticized by human rights groups for failing to punish military personnel responsible for killings and abuses of civilians in the eastern Papua region.
The court martial heard that the soldiers assaulted Kinderman Gire when he stopped a military supply convoy to ask for gasoline in Puncak Jaya district on March 17 last year.
Gire tried to grab a rifle from Second Private Herry Purwanto, who reacted by shooting him in his chest, killing him instantly. The trio then dumped the priest’s body into a river.
Purwanto was sentenced to 15 months in jail for “disobedience and abuse which led to death,” Bogra said.
First Sergeant Saut Sihombing was sentenced to seven months in jail and Second Private Hasirun was sentenced to six months in jail for disobeying orders, he added.
Agence France-Presse (x the JG)
vr 12 aug 2011 - 18:03