'Military did nothing to prevent attack on Carrascalao's house'<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A pro-Jakarta East Timorese leader told the Rights Tribunal on
\nThursday that the Indonesian Military (TNI) did nothing to stop
\narmed militias from attacking the residence of proindependence
\nleader Manuel Viegas Carrascalao on April 17, 1999.<\/p>\n
Basilio Araujo, who worked as a translator for former East
\nTimor governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, said not a single
\nmember of security personnel tried to stop militia groups, even
\nthough "they were holding sharp weapons and homemade guns, and
\nthreatening people taking refuge in Carrascalao's house."<\/p>\n
He also confirmed Carrascalao's statement that prior to the
\nattack, pro-Jakarta militia commanders Eurico Gutteres and Joao
\nTavares made a speech urging militia members to "silence the
\nCarrascalao family."<\/p>\n
"As a local administration employee, I attended the ceremony
\nheld at the Governor (Abilio)'s office, marking the establishment
\nof Pamswakarsa on April, 17. All Pamswakarsa members were also
\npresent ... they were, among others, the Aitarak, the Mahidi, and
\nthe Besi Merah-Putih," Basilio said, referring to several pro-
\nJakarta militia groups.<\/p>\n
Basilio was testifying against pro-Jakarta militia commander
\nEurico Gutteres, who is charged with committing gross human
\nrights violations in East Timor before, during and after the 1999
\nindependence ballot. If proven guilty, he will face a minimum
\nsentence of at least 10 years' imprisonment.<\/p>\n
He said he was with East Timor military commander Tono
\nSuratman when Carrascalao arrived at Tono's house to ask for
\nprotection immediately after militia members attacked
\nCarrascalao's house.<\/p>\n
"I knew when they attacked and burned Pak Manuel's house
\nbecause I saw smoke billowing from it," said Basilio, adding that
\nhis house was located only 500 meters to one kilometer away from
\nCarrascalao's.<\/p>\n
"But I didn't see that Pak Danrem insisted on helping him. I
\ndidn't see it," Basilio said, referring to Tono Suratman.<\/p>\n
During the attack, some 12 people, including Carrascalao's 16-
\nyear-old son Manelito Carrascalao, were killed, while dozens of
\nothers were reported missing.<\/p>\n
Tono is also a defendant in the same court.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Carrascalao also testified against Eurico, blaming
\nmilitia members for the violence that killed his son.<\/p>\n
Both Eurico and his defense lawyers, however, turned the
\ncourtroom into a trial of Carrascalao, attacking him with a
\nflurry of questions.<\/p>\n
That prompted presiding judge Helen Hutapea to warn Eurico and
\nhis lawyers that Carrascalao was not the defendant but a witness.<\/p>\n
"This is not the trial of Pak Manuel. He is not a defendant
\nhere, so don't ask any questions that attack him," Helen said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-did-nothing-to-prevent-attack-on-carrascalaos-house-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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