Maj (Inf) Ahmad Susetyo

Commander, Kostrad Battalion 521/ DY (from Kediri)

Ahmad Susetyo (serial no. 30475) replaced Maj (Inf) Julianto (serial no. 30058, 1984 military academy graduating class) some time in 1999. Both their names appear on a list of officers who according to TNI Watch! should be investigated for human rights crimes committed in East Timor.[1]

Soldiers from Battalion 521, according to an anonymous account, took part in shooting at pro-independence youths who were armed with bows, arrows and knives, in Becora, a suburb of Dili, on 19 April 1999. The shooting went on for two hours, and left ten wounded, two seriously.[2]

Upon the arrival of Interfet in Dili, this battalion was one of the last to leave. (It was later posted to Ambon). Susetyo told reporters the prevailing attitude - ('in effect, the policy', one journalist opined) - of the departing troops was: 'We're not going to leave anything for those idiots to take over.' He predicted that 'all hell will break loose' in the coming days. Deserters who had decided to fight on here, he said, 'will leave something for the people to remember.'[3]

This Kostrad battalion was one of many combat units routinely posted to East Timor outside the regular territorial structure. One report said it was controlled by the Kopassus intelligence unit SGI.[4]

·        Lt Pilon Situmorang, intelligence officer with this battalion (Pasi 1/ Intel Satgas Teritorial, serial no. 11930070260269) was also recommended for investigation.^[5]

Extra Information Current Status: 2 - Priority 2 for further investigation. Not included in any other formal list, but mentioned in other independent reports, bearing structural responsibility, but with minimal data so far for involvement in ET violence. See map of location This individual is also mentioned in these profiles: LtGen Djamari Chaniago Maj Julianto