Gusmao uneasy about indictments of RI generals<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
East Timor President Xanana Gusmao voiced disappointment over the
\ncourt's issuance of dozens of indictments of senior Indonesian
\nofficials for serious crimes committed in the territory in 1999,
\nfearing that it could undermine ongoing reconciliation between
\nthe two countries.<\/p>\n
He, however, admitted that he could not legally intervene
\nagainst the independent legal system in his country.<\/p>\n
\"I will meet this afternoon (on Friday) with the Prime
\nMinister and the Parliament Speaker. I can only say that a
\n(prosecutorial) decision has been made, I can't do much about
\nit,\" Gusmao conceded.<\/p>\n
He said his government could not interfere with the decision,
\nhowever he said he was surprised that he was not informed earlier
\nabout it. \"I have a right to state my views on that decision.\"<\/p>\n
Prosecutors in East Timor indicted on Friday another 50
\nIndonesians, including former East Timor police chief Brig. Gen.
\nTimboel Silaen and thee ex-militia leaders, for serious crimes
\ncommitted during and after the 1999 independence ballot.<\/p>\n
Earlier they indicted former Indonesian military chief Gen.
\n(ret) Wiranto and seven other senior officials, for similar
\ncrimes including murder, rape and mass deportation.<\/p>\n
A confused Gusmao expressed surprise and regret that the
\ndecision was made before he returned from a trip where he was
\nmeeting with Indonesian leaders.<\/p>\n
\"The chief prosecutor should have asked for my opinion first.
\nThat didn't happen. That's a mistake,\" he told reporters in Bali
\non his way back from the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) summit in
\nKuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
Xanana said he met on Monday President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nand Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda without knowing prosecutors
\nin Dili were about to indict Indonesia's top senior officers.<\/p>\n
\"I was very shocked, because we had just spoken to Ibu
\nMegawati about a lot of things and suddenly the news came out,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Minister Hassan met East Timor Ambassador Arlindo Marcel on
\nThursday morning for an explanation over the indictment.<\/p>\n
Quoting the ambassador, Hassan said the East Timor government
\nhad not made the decision on the indictment and that it was just
\na recommendation.<\/p>\n
\"They (East Timor) seem to be divided over the issue,\"
\nexplained the spokesman from Indonesia's foreign ministry, Marty
\nNatalegawa, when asked about the latest indictments.<\/p>\n
He said the Indonesian government would stick to the position
\nof the East Timor government as outlined by its ambassador.<\/p>\n
But Gusmao did say that the East Timor prosecutors with the
\nUN-mandated court, could not force Indonesian citizens to face
\ntrial in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and East Timor do not have an extradition agreement.<\/p>\n
The United Nations' Serious Crimes Unit, now a section of the
\nEast Timor prosecutors' office in the capital city of Dili, filed
\nthe indictment against 50 people, including former police chief
\nTimbul Silaen, and former pro Indonesia militia chief Eurico
\nGuterres, AFP reported.<\/p>\n
Aside from Wiranto, Maj. Gen. Zacky Anwar Makarim, Lt. Gen.
\n(ret) Kiki Syahnakri, Maj. Gen. Adam Rachmat Damiri Brig. Gen.
\nSuhartono Suratman, and Brig. Gen. Mohammad Noer Muis were also
\nreportedly indicted on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Pro Indonesia militias, allegedly backed by the Indonesian
\nmilitary went on a violent rampage in Dili, after East Timorese
\nvoted overwhelmingly for independence in a UN backed ballot in
\n1999. Thousands died and over a hundred thousand took refuge or
\nwere forcibly deported to West Timor.<\/p>\n
Indonesia set up its own human rights court but acquitted
\nvirtually all senior military officers indicted, including the
\nformer police chief Timbul. Wiranto escaped indictment.<\/p>\n
Activists said the indictment from East Timor came in response
\nto Indonesia's failure to prosecute the alleged right abusers.<\/p>\n
Analysts have blamed the failure on fear of a backlash from
\nthe military, citing its deep rooted influence among Indonesia's
\npolitical elite.<\/p>\n
Pressurizing the military could stir a diplomatic rift with
\nEast Timor, and Xanana said the indictment was not in his
\ncountry's national interest.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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