The Jakarta Post
July 8, 2003

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh

Three Army privates went on trial on rape charges in Lhokseumawe on Monday.

The three soldiers were identified as Chief Pvt. Seprianus, First Pvt. Husni Dwila and First Pvt. Awaludin, who were charged with raping the women between June 20 and June 22 in the village of Alue Lhok, Paya Bakung, North Aceh.

According to the military criminal code, the defendants face a maximum 12-year jail sentence if convicted.

The prosecutors said in their indictment that the three soldiers had raped four Acehnese women, identified only by their initials as As, 21, Hns, 25, Nrl, 19, and Sdy, all residents of Paloh Bakung district.

According to the prosecutors, the first rape occurred on June 20 when the defendants were ordered by their commander, Second. Lt. Sisrahmat, to patrol Alue Lhok village in the district. At 6 p.m., Chief. Pvt. Seprianus and First. Pvt. Husni Dwila approached the home Sdy to question her about whether she was involved with GAM.

"After questioning her briefly, Sdy was taken out of her house by the two soldiers, and they raped her in turns in a spot not far from the house. They threatened to kill her if she revealed what they had done," said a prosecutor.

The next day, Chief. Pvt. Seprianus and First. Pvt. Husni visited the homes of the other victims, and raped one of them.

In the same spot and at almost the same time, First. Pvt. Awaludin also raped the fourth victim, As.

The victims finally reported the case to the local authorities after having been raped for three consecutive days. The three soldiers were arrested on June 26.

The hearing was adjourned for a few hours before defense arguments were heard.

This was the second time rapes have been reported since the military and police launched their all-out offensive to quell the separatists on May 19.

In June, a police paramilitary trooper was been detained for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl.

The military, which had a record of serious rights abuses during earlier campaigns in Aceh, has said it will try to ensure its troops behave better this time.

Six soldiers have been jailed for between four and five months for beating up civilians during a hunt for rebels.

Separately, troops led by Lt. Col. Rimbo Karyono discovered one hectare of marijuana plants in Alue Garut village, Seumirah, Nisam district, North Aceh, on Monday.

The marijuana plants, believed to have been grown by rebels, were destroyed.