In the latest verdict to favor Indonesia's powerful military, a court acquitted a former army general on Tuesday of charges that he tortured scores of Muslim activists two decades ago.

Indonesia's human rights tribunal ruled there was no evidence to support charges that in September 1984, Maj. Gen. Pranowo unlawfully detained or tortured more than 150 people who protested the arrest of several Muslim clerics who had been publicly critical of Suharto.

At the same demonstration, soldiers opened fire on the unarmed protesters, killing at least 33.

Islamic activists have long campaigned for soldiers to be brought to trial over the massacre, one of several by troops during the 32-year Suharto dictatorship.

Pranowo was Jakarta military police chief at the time. He is one of 13 officers on trial on charges related to the killings and subsequent detentions.

Another soldier, Brig. Gen. Rudolf Butarbutar, has been convicted and sentenced to 10 years over the massacre. He remains free pending his appeal to a higher court.

Rights activists have expressed concerns that the military might be intimidating witnesses at the trials.

A number of senior members of the military have been accused of committing human rights violations during Suharto's rule.

Last week, an appeals court overturned convictions against three senior army officers and a policeman over violence that killed at least 1,500 people in East Timor in 1999 when the former province voted to break free of Jakarta's rule.

Witnesses have said the East Timor unrest was led by Indonesian troops and their militia proxies. But no Indonesian security officers have been punished and proceedings have been labeled a sham by local and foreign rights activists, and criticized by foreign governments, including the United States.