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SCMP Reporter

Indonesia's anti-riot forces have been ordered to shoot to cripple rather than kill protesters and rioters, according to a military manual leaked yesterday.

 The manual says any platoon leader has the authority to order the use of live rounds of ammunition. Each anti-riot unit has three soldiers with weapons.

 'Live ammunition is only to be used in self-defence to cripple rioters who are clearly threatening to kill others or cause heavy material damage,' it says.

 Soldiers carry 15 rounds each of blanks, rubber bullets and live rounds - to be used in that order once verbal persuasion, megaphone warnings, batons and tear-gas fail.

 If a 'Fire Red' - live ammunition - order still does not work, a platoon commander has the authority to 'proceed with actions he deems appropriate'.

 The manual, published by the Jakarta Post, provides a rare glimpse into the workings of President Suharto's extensive military intelligence and security apparatus which is now faced with one of its most difficult tests as protests spiral.

 The protests were sparked by the economic crisis, which participants, mainly university students, blame on Mr Suharto.

 In a series of demonstrations throughout the country over the past few weeks they called for him to step down and take the blame for the crisis.

 Students, opposition politicians and diplomats are watching the military's behaviour for signs of mistrust over Mr Suharto's grip on power. The 76-year-old leader is also Supreme Commander of the military.

 Many believe senior officers would be extremely reluctant to implement any wholesale crackdown order from the top and that any such move could spark leadership chaos.

 Some fear street-level military officers could be increasingly edgy following reports of beatings of colleagues who are working undercover in new units and have been ordered to infiltrate student groups.

 Demonstrations nationwide have started degenerating into violent stand-offs between civilians and the military and eight people reportedly died in the past week. At least one death is thought to have been caused by a rubber bullet fired at close range.

 One of the latest to die was a senior military intelligence officer in Bogor, west Java, who was hit with rocks as he went to the aid of an undercover officer being beaten by students.

 Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners raised their fists and chanted in defiance of authority in Yogyakarta yesterday at the funeral of Moses Gatotkaca.

Gatotkaca, a 39-year-old part-time student, died after he was beaten by two policemen until his skull was cracked open.



'Shoot to cripple not kill'