Jakarta – A number of "mysterious" people armed with a type of UZI-type handguns were discovered by Team of Volunteers for Humanity and KONTRAS activists during and after the Bloody Semanggi Tragedy, 13 November l998. These mysterious men were discovered in the vicinity of the Jakarta Hospital and a street behind the Atmajaya University. The eyewitness reports by activists were gathered by SiaR on Wednesday, 18 November.
Two KONTRAS activists and three members of the medical team who were trying to reach the Atmajaya campus from behind, along the through-street around the Semanggi-Greater Jakarta Police Headquarters were forced to back-up their van when they met the group of mysterious armed men. The armed men raised their weapons in the direction of the activists' car.
The activists observed that the mysterious men were short, below 160 centimetres, sported shoulder-length hair, and wore wearing jeans, black t-shirts and canvas shoes. They carried UZI-type handguns. These men were also discovered around the Jakarta Hospital when the chaotic situation had reached its climax, around 8:00 p.m.
Joyo, a member of the Volunteer Team/medic, and Atmajaya student was beside Wawan, a student who died when his chest was pierced by a bullet fired by security forces, stated that live ammunition was used by the security forces, in addition to the rubber-tipped bullets, to fire at students and the masses of people.
Jojo is convinced that the military and police involved in the clash with students and the people since 16:00 on Jenderal Sudirman street in front of the Atmajaya University used rubber-tipped bullets apart from tear gas bombs, water cannon and batons.
His convinction is based on the fact that several students and other people who were shot fell to the ground for a few moments. However, they would stand up again, be it shakily. This shows also that they were shot around their legs, and very possibly with rubber bullets.
"Could it be that the live ammunition was shot by the snipers and the mysterious troops of short men in civilian clothing? This is not a conclusion but only a conjecture. It is quite possible that some of the military forces also loaded their weapons with live ammunition," said Jojo. As was reported by the reporter of an FM radio station followed by the public, many eyewitnesses saw a helicopter hovering over the Bank Rakyat Indonesia I and II buildings, dropping off troops who took positions on the roofs of the buildings. Small flashes of red light rays were seen coming from these troops.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Culture, Prof. Dr. Juwono Sudarsono indicated the presence of radical groups who provoked the peaceful rally of the students. According to Juwono, these groups hid in buildings near the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan and laid their plans and strategies.
"They planned to be in the front lines to create anarchy. When clashes and chaos occured, the radical groups were to step aside so that the students behind them would fall victim to security forces' violence," said Juwono.
This clarification by Juwono was rejected by the students, who took it as an attempt to create divisions within student ranks. Students believe that security forces in civilian dress had infiltrated student ranks to create the chaos, as happened at the Dr. Moestopo Religious University.
Regarding the possibility of the involvement of provocators, as many as three military men in civilian clothes were caught red-handed during the rally at the Dr. Moestopo Religious University, 12-13 November l998. The three men were captured by the students as they infiltrated student ranks when the long march was about to begin. Students became suspicious because the three men, who had claimed to be students, began to throw stones left and right, hurling insults at the troops using aggresive, obscene language. After they were apprehended, the three men were found to be carrying cards identifying them as military men from the South Jakarta and local military commands.