Jakarta – The Army's special forces (Kopassus) chief must stand trial for crimes against humanity over a massacre which took place almost 20 years ago, the country's human rights court ruled Thursday.

Judges rejected defence claims that they have no right to put Maj. Gen. Sriyanto Muntarsan, who now heads the Kopassus special forces, on trial.

"The indictment of the prosecutors meets the requirements and is clear and complete. And furthermore, the ad hoc human rights court at the Central Jakarta district court has both the authority and the competence to hear the case," Judge Herman Heler Hutapea ruled. He adjourned the hearing to December 11 to hear witnesses.

More than 100 Kopassus soldiers and other members of the powerful military packed the court in a show of support for the general.

Muntarsan, now 52, is charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a crowd of Muslim protesters in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, 1984.

Prosecutors say Muntarsan's troops shot into the crowd in September 1984 without first firing warning shots. At least 10 people died and the shootings continued as protesters fled, the indictment said. An investigation by the National Commission on Human Rights found at least 24 people were killed.

The judges dismissed defence claims that the retroactive principle – under which the rights court established in 2000 hears earlier cases – breaches the law.

In addition to Muntarsan, two retired generals, an army captain and 10 private soldiers accused over the massacre are on trial separately.