Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – All community elements in Yogyakarta have been told to remain in control during the planned trial of members of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus).
Twelve commandos from Kopassus' Grup II in Kandang Menjangan will stand trial for their role in the murder of four detainees at the Sleman Penitentiary in Cebongan.
"We don't want to see any community group that wants to help secure the trial later be responsible for creating a vulnerability in security instead," Yogyakarta Legislative Council speaker Yoeke Indra Agung Laksana said on Friday after a hearing with Yogyakarta Police Chief Brig. Gen. Haka Astana. The hearing, among other things, covered security conditions in Yogyakarta prior to the trial.
Yoeke was responding to statements made by certain groups in the province expressing a desire to help secure the trial to be held at the Yogyakarta Military Court.
There have been growing rumors that the trial would start Saturday. However, no confirmation on the trial schedule has been made by the authority.
072/Pamungkas Military Regional Command chief Brig. Gen. Adi Widjaya overseeing Yogyakarta province said that he had yet to know the trial schedule. "The dossiers have not yet been finished, we are still waiting for the military prosecutors' decision," he said.
The Yogyakarta Military Prosecutors' Office chief, Lt. Col. Budi Harto, refused to give details on the schedule when asked in a phone conversation, saying that he was in a mosque and then hung up. He also did not respond to The Jakarta Post's text message inquiring about the schedule.
Following the attack that killed Hendrik Angel Sahetapi, Yohanes Juan Manbait, Gameliel Yermianto Rohi Riwu and Andrianus Candra Galaja, security has been considered problematic in Yogyakarta. Supporters and detractors of the raid are engaged in a dispute expressed through banners and posters.
"Military tribunal is a legal process, so let's run it securely," Yoeke said, adding that if any community groups insisted on participating in guarding the trial, it was compulsory for them to coordinate with the police and the military court.
Councilor Istianah ZA of the National Mandate Party (PAN) expressed fear that involvement of community groups in security measures during the trial could lead to vulnerability, especially as the 2014 general election was approaching. "It gives an impression that the community groups do not have trust in the law enforcers," Istianah said.
Separately, Haka said that the police were ready to guarantee the security during the trial. Yet, the security at the military court building was the preserve of the Indonesian Military (TNI). The police would just help secure the area outside the building.
"I have coordinated with the IV/Diponegoro Military Command chief for the security of the trial. Each of us has our own responsibility," Haka said.
He also said that the police were ready to protect the witnesses if the Victim and Witness Protection Institution (LPSK) asked them to do so. There are 42 witnesses in the case, who have asked for protection from LPSK.
Meanwhile, Adi said that the TNI was ready to secure the trial, starting from the Sleman penitentiary, the routes to be taken by the witnesses and the area around the military tribunal building. The TNI had as well coordinated with the Yogyakarta Police for the traffic arrangements.