Ad hoc judges for rights tribunal to be inducted soon<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
All of the ad hoc judges for the human rights tribunal being
\nset up to try past crimes against humanity in East Timor and
\nTanjung Priok are expected to be installed next week, but there
\nis still no sign as to when the first trial will begin.<\/p>\n
Chief Justice Bagir Manan told reporters on Friday that both
\nthe president of the Central Jakarta District Court and the
\npresident of the Jakarta High Court had agreed to induct the
\njudges sometime next week.<\/p>\n
\"However, the first hearing may not be held that soon as we
\nare still waiting for the Attorney General's Office to hand over
\nthe books of evidence,\" Bagir said after inaugurating three
\ndeputy governors of Bank Indonesia at the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
The president of the Central Jakarta District Court will swear
\nin 30 trial judges while the president of the Jakarta High Court
\nwill install 12 appeal judges. The ad hoc tribunal will consist
\nof both career and noncareer judges.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office completed its investigations
\ninto the two cases late last year.<\/p>\n
Three army generals, a police general and a number of middle-
\nranking officers are among the 19 suspects who are facing trial
\nfor alleged gross human rights violations in East Timor in 1999
\nbefore and after the Aug. 30 vote for independence.<\/p>\n
They will be charged under 12 sets of charges, each of which
\ninclude separate violations within specific categories.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office has also named three senior
\nhigh-ranking military officers as suspects in the Tanjung Priok
\nbloodshed in 1984.<\/p>\n
Thus far, the ad hoc tribunal will focus on these two cases as
\ntrials in respect of other abuse cases have failed to secure
\napproval from the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
In decree No. 6\/2002, the President appointed 18 noncareer
\njudges to try the crimes against humanity. They will work
\ntogether with 12 career judges appointed by Bagir.<\/p>\n
One of the noncareer judge for the court of first instance,
\nHendra Nurtjahjo, has tendered his resignation after the Supreme
\nCourt found he was in breach of the minimum age requirement of 45
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Bagir said the Supreme Court would not tolerate any attempts
\nto falsify age.<\/p>\n
\"Should he (Hendra) not voluntarily resign, I myself will ask
\nthe President to annul his appointment,\" Bagir asserted.<\/p>\n
Law No. 26\/2000 on the Human Rights Tribunal also restricts
\njudicial candidates for the appeal court to those who are under
\n65.<\/p>\n
Justice Benyamin Mangkoedilaga, who heads the team selecting
\nthe ad hoc judges, defended the nomination of Hendra by the
\nUniversity of Indonesia's School of Law. He was recommended by
\nthe dean of the school,<\/p>\n
\"His (Hendra's) nomination was based merely on his excellent
\nacademic record,\" Benyamin said, adding that the team was
\nconsidering making an exception in the case of the 33-year-old
\nlecturer.<\/p>\n
Earlier in a day, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights,
\nYusril Ihza Mahendra, said that the ad hoc human rights tribunal
\ncould start its work without having to wait for the induction of
\nappeal judges.<\/p>\n
\"In my opinion (the trials) can now commence. We need not wait
\nfor every aspect to be perfect,\" Yusril told reporters before
\nattending a cabinet meeting at the State Palace on Friday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ad-hoc-judges-for-rights-tribunal-to-be-inducted-soon-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}