RI criticizes UN team's report<\/p>\n
Indonesia rejected the United Nations team of experts' report on
\nthe trials of alleged human rights violators in the then
\nIndonesian province of East Timor and accused the UN commission
\nof \"distracting\" reconciliation efforts between Indonesia and
\nTimor Leste.<\/p>\n
\"If the reported contents of the report are accurate, then
\nclearly that sort of recommendation is one that we cannot
\nsupport,\" foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa told AFP.<\/p>\n
An international tribunal should happen only in \"the most
\nexceptional and extraordinary cases where there's an abject
\nfailure on the part of the countries concerned (to ensure
\njustice),\" Natalegawa said.<\/p>\n
\"This is not the case as regards Indonesia and Timor Leste.\"<\/p>\n
In its report, a copy of which was seen by AFP, the experts
\nsaid Indonesia's ad hoc human rights court was \"manifestly
\ninadequate\" and \"shows scant respect for -- or conformity to --
\nrelevant international standards\".<\/p>\n
The three-member panel recommended that the UN Secretary
\nGeneral require Indonesia to account for its prosecutions within
\nsix months or allow an international tribunal to bring those
\nresponsible for the violence to justice.<\/p>\n
The UN commission visited Indonesia in May to assess the
\ncountry's efforts after earlier visiting Timor Leste to review
\nthe work of a parallel prosecution body tasked with indicting
\nhuman rights violators.<\/p>\n
Jakarta had argued that the United Nations panel was redundant
\nin light of the creation of a joint reconciliation panel with
\nTimor Leste, called the Commission of Truth and Friendship, but
\nlater agreed to cooperate.<\/p>\n
But the UN experts said some aspects of the reconciliation
\nbody's remit \"contradict international standards on denial of
\nimpunity for serious crimes\".<\/p>\n
Timor Leste leaders, meanwhile, have said they do not support
\nan international tribunal, preferring to focus on good ties with
\nthe tiny state's giant neighbor.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said last month
\nthat the country's human rights tribunal was \"imperfect\" but
\nstressed both Jakarta and Dili were \"trying to move forward\".<\/p>\n
Timor Leste gained full independence in May 2002 after more
\nthan two years of UN stewardship.<\/p>\n
Pro-Indonesian militia gangs, allegedly directed by Indonesian
\narmy officers, went on a rampage before and after East Timorese
\nvoted for independence from Jakarta in a UN-sponsored ballot in
\nAugust 1999. -- AFP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-criticizes-un-teams-report-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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