TNI Disbursed The Role Of 13 Suspect Soldiers In The Case Of Persecution Of KKB Members In Papua

Head of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Information Center (Kapuspen) Maj. Gen. Nugraha Gumilar answered reporters' questions when he was met at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, (ANTARA)

Head of the Indonesian Armed Forces Information Center (Kapuspen) Maj. Gen. Nugraha Gumilar explained that 13 soldiers suspected of assaulting a young member of an armed criminal group (KKB) in Papua had different roles in the case.

Therefore, the penalties and sanctions imposed on them can also vary according to the applicable legal rules and the judge's decision if later the case enters the trial stage.

"There are (suspects, ed.) who hit, someone recorded (violent events, ed.), that's a different level of error," said Kapuspen TNI in response to reporters' questions when he was met at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Friday.

Apart from that, Nugraha asked that the principle of presumption of innocence still be applied to them before there was a court decision that had permanent legal force (inkracht) against the 13 suspects.

"We apply the presumption principle, we also want to protect their rights, not necessarily blame them," he said.

On the same occasion, Kapuspen TNI reiterated that the TNI was seriously investigating cases of mistreatment of KKB members.

So far, the investigation into the violence case is still ongoing. Nugraha has not been able to say when the case was transferred from the Military Police to the Military Authority.

"Not yet, it is still being investigated," said Nugraha.

In a video that went viral on social media, a man was tied up and injured by several soldiers. Before long, the victim was known to be a member of the KKB on behalf of Definus Kogoya. The persecution took place at the Gome Post, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province.

In the next investigation, which was held by the Army Military Police Center and Military Police Kodam III/Siliwangi, 13 soldiers were named suspects in the case. The soldiers came from the Infantry Battalion (Yonif) Raider 300/Braja Wijaya.

Related to that, Pangdam XVII/Cendrawasih Maj. Gen. Izak Pangemanan at a press conference in Jakarta, earlier this week (25/3), ensured that the legal process for the suspects went transparent, and the public could follow every process, including the trial.

"We will continue to encourage the legal process. Compensation for the Papuan people is the justice they must get," said Izak.