Indonesia 'needs more time' for Timor probe<\/p>\n
GENEVA (AP): Indonesia deserves \"a bit more time\" to prove
\nthat it is seriously investigating those involved in last year's
\ndestruction of East Timor, the United Nations administrator of
\nthe territory said Friday.<\/p>\n
\"We're reaching the point where we can make a determination as
\nto whether the Indonesian judiciary is or is not acting on these
\ncases,\" Sergio Vieira de Mello told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"So let's give them a bit more time.\"<\/p>\n
Pressure has been growing in some corners for the UN Security
\nCouncil to establish an international war crimes tribunal for
\nEast Timor because Indonesia they claim had lost credibility in
\nbringing those responsible to justice.<\/p>\n
However the Attorney General's Office is continuing with its
\npreparation of filing charges against 22 suspects involved in the
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
The move is the first step in the process of bringing the
\ndefendants to court.<\/p>\n
\"What we need to determine now is whether the files of these
\n22 suspects will be passed on to the courts in Jakarta and
\nwhether judicial action will be taken against these individuals,\"
\nVieira de Mello said.<\/p>\n
\"National jurisdictions should always be given a chance before
\nwe look into extraordinary, exceptional jurisdictions,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The Security Council in February accepted Indonesia's pledge
\nto conduct its own inquiry and prosecute those responsible for
\nthe violence following last year's ballot in East Timor.<\/p>\n
There is also a lingering debate on whether Indonesia can
\nsufficiently bring those responsible to court following a
\nconstitutional amendment which inserts a non-retroactive
\nprinciple.<\/p>\n
Article 28I (1) of the newly amended constitution effectively
\nbars anyone from being prosecuted under a newly introduced law
\nfor crimes committed in the past.<\/p>\n
But the Indonesian House is also discussing a human rights
\ntribunal bill, which includes the possibility of convening an ad
\nhoc court to try human rights abuses.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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