TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - A number of organizations in Yogyakarta formed the People’s Coalition for Monitoring Military Justice last Tuesday to monitor the military trial of the 12 suspects charged with the attack on Cebongan Penitentiary in Sleman.
These organizations include the Center for Human Rights Studies at the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII), the Police Watch Network (JPP), the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI), the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), the Indonesian Court Monitoring, the Center for Anti-Corruption Research at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), and the Legal Aid Institute (LBH). Aside from these organizations, media observer from Yogyakarta’s Atma Jaya University, Lukas Ispandriamo, is also a member of the coalition.
LBH Yogyakarta director Syamsudin Nurseha said the coalition is aimed at pushing for transparency in military courts as a part of the Indonesian Armed Forces reformation.
Earlier this year, four prisoners charged with murdering a member of the military’s special commando First Sergeant Heru Santoso, were killed during an attack on the Cebongan Penitentiary on March 23. Recently, 12 soldiers from the Indonesian Army were named suspects of the attack. They are scheduled to have their first hearing at the Yogyakarta Military Court today.
ANANG ZAKARIA
