Bring to justice those responsible for killings: UN<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A visiting UN Security Council mission called on
\nthe government here to speed up the judicial process of militia
\nleader Eurico Guterres and those responsible for the killings of
\nthree international workers in East Nusa Tenggara in September.<\/p>\n
Speaking to a joint media conference with Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Alwi Shihab, Namibian Ambassador to the UN Security
\nCouncil Martin Andjaba said on Friday that the mission would like
\nto \"underscore the international community's interest in speedy
\nprogress in bringing to justice those responsible for the deaths
\nof the three UNHCR staff, two UN peacekeepers and for the events
\nof 1999 (in East Timor)\".<\/p>\n
\"Members of the mission expressed the hope that the cases of
\nEurico Guterres and those responsible for the murders of three
\nUNHCR staff would proceed quickly,\" Andjaba said, reading a four-
\npage statement issued at the end of the UN delegation's four-day
\nvisit to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Eurico was arrested in October for his alleged role in
\nordering his followers to repossess arms which had been handed
\nover to the authorities in the East Nusa Tenggara town of Atambua
\non Sept. 24.<\/p>\n
He is being detained at the Salemba penitentiary in Central
\nJakarta and awaiting trial, the date of which has yet to be set.<\/p>\n
Eurico is, however, not a suspect in the Atambua killing of UN
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
The North Jakarta District Court is scheduled to hold the
\ntrial of the seven suspects of the Sept. 6 murder of the three UN
\nhumanitarian workers.<\/p>\n
All seven suspects are East Timorese.<\/p>\n
Andjaba, who is leading the seven-member UN delegation, said
\nthe mission \"welcomes the efforts the Indonesian government is
\nmaking to address the situation on the western half of Timor
\nisland, but much remains to be done\".<\/p>\n
Andjaba said that \"information from refugees returning to
\nEast Timor indicates that intimidation is still present in the
\ncamps in East Nusa Tenggara\".<\/p>\n
\"The intimidation must be stopped. Many refugees are saying
\nthat they are frightened and still do not have a free choice
\nabout their own future, and security in the camps remains
\nuncertain,\" he said, adding that \"further decisive action is
\nnecessary to deal with the remaining militias\".<\/p>\n
The delegation was in the country to assess whether UN
\nSecurity Council resolution 1319, calling for the immediate
\ndisarmament and disbandment of the militias, had been implemented
\nby Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The resolution was issued following the murders of the three
\nUN relief workers in Atambua on Sept. 6.<\/p>\n
The murders sparked an international outcry and resulted in
\nthe exodus of about 400 foreign aid personnel who were working
\nwith about 130,000 East Timorese refugees remaining on the
\nwestern half of Timor island.<\/p>\n
Some 250,000 people fled to East Nusa Tenggara after the
\npeople in the former Indonesian province voted for independence
\nin August 1999.<\/p>\n
Andjaba also said on Friday that no decision had been made as
\nto whether UN relief workers would be able to return and resume
\naid operations in East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
\"For this to happen, the security of international
\nhumanitarian workers will need to be assured,\" Andjaba said.<\/p>\n
He added that \"the Indonesian government will be discussing
\nwith the UN offices in Jakarta arrangements to facilitate an
\nassessment by UN security experts of the situation in East Nusa
\nTenggara, in cooperation with the police, Indonesian Military and
\nother responsible authorities\".<\/p>\n
Andjaba also said his mission \"took note of the request of
\nAttorney General Marzuki Darusman for international assistance in
\nensuring adequate expertise in bringing to justice those
\nresponsible for human rights violations\".<\/p>\n
\"Mr. Darusman indicated his intention to work closely with the
\noffice of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and to establish
\na referral commission which includes international experts,\"
\nAndjaba said, referring to the delegation's meeting with Marzuki
\nearlier in the day.<\/p>\n
The UN mission also said the internationally observed
\nregistration of refugees in East Nusa Tenggara was important.<\/p>\n
Andjaba said the delegation would be making its full report to
\nthe Security Council on Nov. 20.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Alwi said \"Indonesia for its part will continue to
\ntake steps to further enhance the security conditions in the
\n(refugee) camps\" in East Nusa Tenggara.(byg\/bby)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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