INDONESIA: FORMER AIR FORCE CHIEF OMAR DHANI SENTENCED TO DEATH

Record ID: 634737

  • Title: INDONESIA: FORMER AIR FORCE CHIEF OMAR DHANI SENTENCED TO DEATH
  • Date: 26th December 1966
  • Summary: TRIBUNAL IN SESSION, DEATH SENTENCE READ, OMAR DHANI IN DOCK WITH GUARDS. Initials JG/V/JF/K Also available on Beta SP - NX - 177 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 10th January 1967 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DJAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVA2F7912KUFRMFAGNHANUJA8X4G
  • Story Text: IN DJAKARTA, THE FORMER AIR FORCE CHIEF, OMAR DHANI IS TO APPEAL AGAINST THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON HIM BY A MILITARY TRIBUNAL.

    DHANI WAS SENTENCED FOR COMPLICITY IN THE UNSUCCESSFUL PRO-COMMUNIST COUP IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR. THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE TRIBUNAL SAID THE COURT FOUND DHANI GUILTY OF TWO CHARGES -- HELPING COMMUNIST ELEMENTS TO LAUNCH THE COUP AND PLOTTING TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT.

    THE JUDGE REJECTED ALL EXPLANATIONS GIVEN BY DHANI IN HIS DEFENCE. "IN ORDER TO FURTHER HIS PERSONAL AMBITIONS," HE SAID, "THE ACCUSED BECAME THE WILLING TOOL OF THE COMMUNISTS. A SUBMISSION THAT HE WAS ONLY CARRYING OUT ORDERS FROM HIS SUPERIORS WAS REJECTED.

    DURING THE TRIAL, THE PROSECUTOR CLAIMED THAT THE COMMUNISTS WANTED TO MAKE DHANI PRESIDENT IF SUKARNO DIED. DHANI DISCOUNTED SPECULATION INCRIMINATING PRESIDENT SUKARNO WHO WAS HIS PERSONAL FRIEND. HE SAID THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE COUP.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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