Jakarta (The Jakarta Post/ANN) – A soldier testified about the inhuman treatment and torture he suffered with a fellow soldier which led to the death of his friend, on accusations that they both were involved in LGBT relationships.
Witness Second Pvt. Richard Bulan sobbed when he recalled the brutal torture inflicted on him and the late Second Pvt. Lucky Chepril Saputral Namo during a session against four defendants at the Kupang Military Court, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Wednesday (Oct 29), as reported by kompas.com.
Wednesday's session saw four defendants questioned. The panel of judges was presided by Maj. Subiyatno with members Capt. Denis Carol Napitupulu and Capt. Zainal Arifin Anang Yulianto, while the military prosecutor was Lt. Col. Yusdiharto.
Both Richard and Lucky are personnel of the newly created 834 Territorial Development Infantry Battalion/Wakange Mere, which is based in Nagekeo regency, NTT.
Richard said the torture started at about 1:30 a.m. on July 27 when defendant First Pvt. Emeliano de Araujo kicked Lucky's head when both victims were sitting on mattresses. Emeliano also hit Richard's epigastrium (upper central abdomen) and slapped his cheeks.
Another defendant, First Pvt. Petrus Nong Brian Semi ordered both victims to stand up and hit Lucky's chest five times, causing him to fall.
Richard continued, saying that they were told to undress and show their genitalia. "Lucky was told to bend and I had to act as the male," he said, as quoted by kompas.com.
The defendants accused both Richard and Lucky of being in an LGBT relationship. Another defendant, Firs Pvt. Aprianto Rede Radja slapped Richard and Lucky and stuck burning cigarettes to their bodies, including Lucky's neck and nape.
Emiliano also commanded the victims to pretend to call their parents using watermelon rind, telling their parents that both victims were just fine.
Richard said that both victims were already very weak following incessant hits and kicks from the defendants. Lucky died on Aug. 6 after being treated at the intensive care unit (ICU) ward of Aeramo General Hospital in Nagekeo from Aug. 2.
His death attracted attention from the public because it demonstrated the culture of violence still present within military units.
Udayana Military Command commander, Maj. Gen. Piek Budyakto maintained on Aug. 11 that the Indonesian Army had taken strict actions against perpetrators. He said that 20 Army personnel had been named suspects and were detained, including an officer.
The case was divided into three dossiers. The first dossier on Monday saw the military court questioning the battalion's Rifle Company A commander First Lt. Ahmad Faisal while the second dossier saw 17 defendants, who are Lucky's seniors, questioned on Tuesday.
Faisal was charged with complicities for failing to prevent his subordinates from torturing Lucky and Richard. When reading the charges, Yusdiharto several times mentioned that the defendants tortured both victims and forced them to admit to being in an LGBT relationship.
Lucky was accused of having LGBT relations with several friends of his and civilians. Richard said he was forced by his superior, Second Lt. Made Juni Arta dana to admit this.
Richard said the incident took place on July 28 at about 9 p.m., when he was brought to the intelligence staff room by First Pvt. Nimrot Laubora, where Juni was already waiting.
Richard said he was forced to admit being in an LGBT relationship but refused. "I had to lie and admit because they kept hitting me," Richard told the court, adding that he was whipped five or six times.
Similar torture was also endured by Lucky. When the military prosecutor gave Lucky's father, Sgt. Maj. Kristian Namo, the opportunity to speak, he questioned the accusations that his son was involved in LGBT relationships.
"From the witnesses' testimonies, my son was tortured because he was accused of being in an LGBT relationship. Is there any proof?" Kristian asked. Yusdiharto answered that it could not be proven.
"It was just their [the defendants'] assumption, especially as they only knew each other for a month and a half," the military prosecutor said, as quoted by kompas.com. "Their battalion was not even two months old [when the case took place]."
Yusdiharto then asked Kristian and other witnesses not to discuss LGBT subjects anymore. Meanwhile, Lucky's mother, Sepriana Paulina Mirpey, asked the panel of judges to give the defendants life sentences and to be discharged dishonourably from military service.
"Your honour judge, please apply articles which really are heavy against the defendants for killing my son in a barbaric and inhumane way," she said.
All defendants were charged with multiple articles of the Military Criminal Code (KUHPM) and the Criminal Code (KUHP), with a maximum sentence of nine years behind bars.