Investigators return to E. Timor for more facts<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights has
\ndeferred announcing the result of its investigation into the
\ndeaths of six people at the hands of the military in East Timor,
\nsaying that it needs more evidence.<\/p>\n
The commission originally planned to disclose the result
\ntoday. Its fact finding team returned from East Timor on Monday.<\/p>\n
Commission members have said that their findings may not
\nnecessarily be the same as those from the investigation conducted
\nby the military.<\/p>\n
Marzuki Darusman, a member of the team, told The Jakarta Post
\nyesterday the team will fly back to East Timor today to recheck
\nthe accuracy of some of the material it gathered earlier.<\/p>\n
The five-person team that left last week was personally headed
\nby commission chairman Ali Said. The other members of the team
\nwere Muladi, Djoko Soegianto and Clementino Dos Reis Amaral, who
\nis an indigenous East Timorese. The team that will depart today
\nwill be led by Marzuki. Ali Said's place will be taken by
\nSoegiri.<\/p>\n
Amaral yesterday said the purpose of the return trip is to
\ntalk to key witnesses whose information requires clarification.<\/p>\n
The killings of the six East Timorese in Liquisa regency have
\nprompted an international outcry because of allegations that they
\nwere all unarmed civilians.<\/p>\n
The military command in East Timor insists that they were
\nmembers or supporters of Fretilin, an armed separatist movement.
\nThe military says that all six were killed during an armed clash.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces (ABRI) has conducted its own investigation.
\nIts team recently returned from East Timor.<\/p>\n
Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono is planning to establish
\nan Officers' Honor Council to follow up on the report.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the result of the military investigation was
\ndiscussed at a limited cabinet meeting presided over by
\nCoordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo
\nSoedarman at his office.<\/p>\n
Soesilo told reporters after the meeting that Armed Forces
\nChief Gen. Feisal Tanjung reported to the meeting about the
\nmilitary fact finding team. \"A summary of the report will soon be
\nmade available to the public,\" Soesilo said.<\/p>\n
Soesilo said that the ABRI chief was of the opinion that press
\nreports on the killings have been blown out of proportion.<\/p>\n
At a hearing with Commission I of the House of Representatives
\non Monday, Gen. Feisal said that the East Timor military command
\nreported that the Fretilin rebels had been planning to turn
\nLiquisa into their major base camp when the military moved into
\nthe area last month.<\/p>\n
The close proximity to Dili makes Liquisa an attractive place
\nfor Fretilin in its hopes of continuing its anti-integration
\ncampaign and of gaining exposure from the international media,
\nFeisal said. (imn\/pwn)<\/p>",
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