Tragedy of Humanity in Serayu

KOMPAS/MACHRADIN WAHYUDI RITONGA

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Dudung Abdulrahman (center) performs a flower-laying ceremony at Salsabila's grave (14) with Salsabila's father, Jajang (right), Ciaro Village, Nagreg District, Bandung Regency, West Java, Monday (27/12/ 2021). Salsabila was a victim of a collision between three members of the Indonesian Army in Nagreg, December 8, 2021 ago.

The traffic accident in Nagrek, West Java, followed by dumping the victims’ bodies into the Serayu River in Central Java, is a tragedy of humanity.

Based on the National Police’s investigation, followed by that of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters, the perpetrators involved in the accident and dumping the two victims, Handi Harisaputra, 17, and Salsabila, 14, have been identified as Army personnel Colonel P, Lance Corporal A, and Corporal DA. The accident in Nagrek happened on Wednesday (8/12/2021).

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The public's faith in humanity has been torn asunder. Traffic accidents, including hitting people while driving a vehicle, can happen to anyone. However, the decision to dump the two victims, who might have been still alive, is an act beyond humanity.

Dudung Abdulrahman, who apologized to the families of the two victims and immediately ordered an open and transparent investigation.

We appreciate the firm and speedy steps taken by TNI commander Gen. Andika Perkasa and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Dudung Abdulrahman, who apologized to the families of the two victims and immediately ordered an open and transparent investigation.

From the results of the TNI investigation, one of the enlisted soldiers had suggested that Col. P take the victims to a hospital. However, this suggestion was rejected. Col. P then ordered that the victims be thrown into the Serayu River. This move was completely illogical.

The public has not heard of the Colonel's motives as to why the order given was not to save the victims, but instead to throw them away. An open and transparent investigation and trial must be carried out so that the victims' families know, the public also knows, and the TNI can learn from the incident.

An open and transparent investigation and trial must be conducted to answer the public's question: Why was the order to throw away the victims given at all? Was the situation normal at the time of the incident? Was it merely an attempt to destroy evidence of the incident in order to, perhaps, save their careers? Or, is there another reason?

Hitting people while driving a vehicle can happen to anyone. Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI, in particular Article 65, Paragraph 2, stipulates that soldiers will be subject to the authority of the military courts in the event of any violations of the TNI Law, and will be subject to the authority of the general courts in the event of any violations of the General Crimes Law.

Article 65, Paragraph 3 of the TNI Law adds that, if the general courts does not have jurisdiction, soldiers will be subject to the appropriate judicial authority as regulated by law.

The proper punishment must be boldly handed down to the guilty parties through a fair and open judicial process that respects the public's right to know.

We support the firm and swift steps of the TNI commander and Army Chief of Staff to conduct their investigations as transparently as possible. There is no need to conceal anything. The proper punishment must be boldly handed down to the guilty parties through a fair and open judicial process that respects the public's right to know.

The results of the public trial should be a lesson to prevent similar incidents from ever happening again.

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).