Military men deplore comments made by rights commission<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Top military officers and their legal
\nconsultants on Friday slammed a government-sanctioned inquiry for
\nmaking biased remarks on the military's involvement in violence
\nin East Timor.<\/p>\n
During a preparatory meeting between military officers who are
\ndue to be questioned by the Commission for the Investigation of
\nHuman Rights Abuses in East Timor, they questioned what they
\ncalled one-sided statements concerning the military's role in
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
"We expected the government-sponsored commission to work
\nhonestly and accurately, but as we all already know, what the
\ncommission has revealed to the public is excessive and has gone
\nbeyond the judicial process itself," Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical Affairs and Security Gen. Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
Wiranto, former TNI Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Zacky Anwar
\nMakarim, former East Timor Military commanders Maj. Gen. Adam
\nDamiri, Maj. Gen. Tono Suratman and former ministry of defense
\nexpert staff Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Syamsuddin, gathered with their
\nlawyers and legal consultants here to discuss preparations for
\ntheir meeting with the inquiry later this month.<\/p>\n
The inquiry, headed by National Commission on Human Rights
\nmember Albert Hasibuan, has alleged that the military was either
\ndirectly or indirectly involved in violence in East Timor which
\ntranspired following the Aug. 30 ballot.<\/p>\n
"We have lost the territory (East Timor), lost our best sons,
\ncaused many to become orphans and widows from the Seroja
\noperation, and now we are still being aspersed with these
\ngroundless accusations," Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
In Friday's meeting, the generals briefed their legal advisors
\non their respective roles in East Timor.<\/p>\n
The eight-hour consultation, which was described by Wiranto as
\n"a mere preliminary meeting or brainstorming", was held at the
\nnewly founded Habibie Center at BNI Tower, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Also present at the closed-door meeting were military police
\nchief Maj. Gen. Djasri Marin and military spokesman Maj. Gen.
\nSudrajat.<\/p>\n
The 15-member legal team representing them includes big-name
\nlawyers such as Adnan Buyung Nasution, Ruhut Sitompul, Hotma
\nSitoempoel, M. Assegaf and Hartono Mardjono.<\/p>\n
Former minister of justice Muladi, who was not present on
\nFriday, has also been appointed an legal adviser.<\/p>\n
Nasution remarked that "truth and justice have been twisted in
\nthe case".<\/p>\n
"There have been too many statements made by the commission
\nwhich we are afraid will form misleading public opinion. Many
\nhave said that the our military generals are killers," he said.<\/p>\n
Nasution further questioned the commission's authority,
\nincluding its right to summon the generals.<\/p>\n
"Does it have the authority to summon and question these
\ngenerals? We can't let the commission shape public opinion
\nthrough sensational statements. And if later there is a trial for
\nthese generals, this should be a closed one and its members
\nshould not argue about that, that's the rule," he said without
\nelaborating.<\/p>\n
In a separate development, the members of the commission met
\nMinister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono to seek his support to
\n"order and summon" leaders of the armed prointegration militia.<\/p>\n
Juwono said he would pass on the request to the military chief
\nand the local East Timor military commander to help bring armed
\nmilitia leaders to Jakarta to testify.<\/p>\n
"If possible, they will be in Jakarta before Christmas,"
\nJuwono said.<\/p>\n
When asked whether the visit also related to the summoning of
\nthe TNI generals, Juwono remarked that the military commanders
\nhad already agreed to be questioned.<\/p>\n
"Pak Wiranto has agreed to meet the commission, which I
\nbelieve will happen in the next several days," he said. (emf)<\/p>",
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