E. Timor indicts Indonesian officers<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Dili<\/p>\n
Prosecutors in East Timor said on Wednesday they have indicted 16
\npeople including eight Indonesian army officers for crimes
\nagainst humanity before and after the territory's bloody
\nbreakaway from Jakarta in 1999.<\/p>\n
The Serious Crimes Unit said in a statement that an indictment
\nfiled on Monday accuses the 16 of 31 counts of crimes against
\nhumanity against civilians including "murder, extermination,
\nenforced disappearance, torture, deportation and persecution."<\/p>\n
It is the second attempt in less than two months by the United
\nNations-funded unit to bring Indonesian officers to justice.<\/p>\n
In late February it indicted Indonesia's former defense
\nminister and military chief, Wiranto, for crimes against humanity
\nalong with six other senior officers and the then-governor.<\/p>\n
Indonesia refuses to hand over any suspects. East Timor's
\nPresident Xanana Gusmao criticized the February indictments,
\nsaying good relations with the former ruler should take priority.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's military and their proxy militias waged a savage
\nintimidation campaign before East Timorese voted in August 1999
\nfor independence, and a revenge campaign afterwards.<\/p>\n
The territory finally gained independence last May after a
\nperiod of UN stewardship.<\/p>\n
The latest indictment covers crimes in Covalima district
\nbetween January and October 1999, including the massacre at Suai
\nchurch on Sept. 6, in which at least 31 people including three
\nCatholic priests were killed.<\/p>\n
Apart from the eight officers, those charged are the former
\nIndonesian district civilian administrator, the former Indonesian
\ndistrict police chief and six ethnic East Timorese serving with
\nthe military.<\/p>\n
Among the former district commanders and officials to be
\nindicted are Col. Herman Sedyono, the ex-district administrator;
\nLt. Col. Achmad Mas Agus; Lt. Col. Lilik Kushadianto; police Lt.
\nCol. Gatot Subiaktoro; Lt. Achmad Syamsuddin and Lt. Sugito.<\/p>\n
The indictment accuses Sedyono of personally taking part in
\nthe church attack along with Kushadianto, Subiaktoro, Sugito and
\nSyamsuddin.<\/p>\n
It says Sedyono and Agus helped set up and fund the notorious
\nLaksaur militia while Agus gave them military weapons.<\/p>\n
Between January and August 1999 troops and militiamen are
\nalleged to have colluded in over 35 cases of torture, four
\n"disappearances" and 10 cases of murder in Covalima.<\/p>\n
After August, soldiers and militiamen in the district are
\naccused of 36 murders.<\/p>\n
The Serious Crimes Unit said all the accused are believed to
\nbe in Indonesia. Prosecutors there would be asked to arrest them
\nand the warrants would also be forwarded to Interpol.<\/p>\n
Sedyono, Kushadianto, Subiaktoro, Syamsuddin and Sugito have
\nalready appeared before Indonesia's human rights court and been
\nacquitted.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta court was set up in response to international
\ndemands for justice but has acquitted 11 out of 16 defendants in
\nwidely criticized verdicts.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-timor-indicts-indonesian-officers-1447893297",
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