East Timor inquiry ends questioning of TNI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights
\nViolations (KPP HAM) in East Timor ended its questioning of
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) officers on Monday, well ahead of its
\nJan. 31 deadline to submit its report to the government.<\/p>\n
Army First Lt. Sugito, who was commander of the military in
\nthe East Timor border town of Suai during the mayhem in
\nSeptember, was questioned about his activities on Sept. 6 when 27
\npeople, including three Catholic priests, were killed.<\/p>\n
During the questioning, Sugito acknowledged he helped bury the
\nvictims in Belu inside the Indonesian border, but stressed he did
\nit out of a humanitarian calling.<\/p>\n
The mass grave was one of the most significant findings during
\na visit by the commission in November, following earlier
\nspeculation of massacres committed by pro-Indonesia East Timorese
\nmilitias.<\/p>\n
Human rights lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, a member of the
\ncommission, said he found Sugito's answers unsatisfactory.<\/p>\n
\"We believe he was in a psychological state that was not
\nconducive to answering the questions,\" Todung said.<\/p>\n
\"His answers were inconsistent with his earlier statements and
\nwith the testimony of others.\"<\/p>\n
Sugito said after the two-hour questioning that while he
\nhelped bury the victims, he failed to report it to his superiors.<\/p>\n
\"The incident should have been reported by the Suai Police
\nstation which was located near the church. I was evacuating the
\nfamilies of military members and refugees when the shooting
\ninside the church took place. When I arrived at the scene in the
\nafternoon, there were only the bodies,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The East Timorese then asked me to bury them away from Suai
\nwhich was in a critical situation at that time.\"<\/p>\n
Another commission member, Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, said
\nSugito admitted that the killers were members of Laksaur
\nmilitias, and they were at the scene when the military arrived.<\/p>\n
The commission, which questioned several TNI generals and
\nofficers in the last three weeks, plans to visit East Timor for a
\n\"final check\" this week.<\/p>\n
Lawyers representing the TNI officers are also planning to
\nvisit East Timor this week to conduct their own investigation.<\/p>\n
The commission's final report will determine whether there is
\na case to try Indonesian generals in connection with the unrest.
\nA separate international inquiry has already presented its
\nreport, with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expected to issue a
\nruling soon. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-timor-inquiry-ends-questioning-of-tni-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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