RI still committed to rights tribunal, challenges remain<\/p>\n
CANBERRA (JP): Top Indonesian officials here on Tuesday
\npleaded for international patience and understanding on the
\ndelicate domestic complexities involved in their efforts to bring
\nthe perpetrators of alleged human rights abuses in East Timor to
\ntrial.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a meeting with Australian Prime Minister John
\nHoward, President Abdurrahman Wahid insisted that Jakarta was
\ncommitted to seeing justice being done.<\/p>\n
\"They have to be brought to justice and the law enforcement
\nwill take place in Indonesia,\" Abdurrahman told journalists.<\/p>\n
However he was quick to caution that despite his unbending
\ncommitment, the process \"needs time because everything in
\nIndonesia is slow.\"<\/p>\n
\"There are so many obstacles we have to face,\" Abdurrahman
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is under international pressure to bring those
\nallegedly responsible for the wave of violence in East Timor in
\nAugust 1999 to trial.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office has named three members of the
\nmilitary top brass at the time as being among the 23 suspects
\nnamed for alleged human rights violations in the former
\nIndonesian province that took place after a UN-sanctioned
\nplebiscite there resulted in an overwhelming vote for
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Recently the government passed a law providing for the
\nestablishment of a tribunal to try those responsible for human
\nrights crimes.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office is also completing its
\ninvestigation of several suspects, including senior military
\nofficers, in connection with alleged rights violations in East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
When the President, who is on a state visit to Australia, was
\nagain pressed if Indonesia was committed to upholding justice in
\nthis regard, he replied: \"There should be law enforcement on this
\nmatter and prosecution as well.\"<\/p>\n
\"But we need time to do that!\"<\/p>\n
The issue of East Timor and the bringing of alleged rights
\nviolators to trial continued to be a major theme of Abdurrahman's
\nvisit to Australia.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Howard himself on Tuesday expressed confidence
\nthat the Indonesia government would stick to its commitment of
\nseeing justice being carried out.<\/p>\n
\"We take a positive view of the commitment made on the
\nestablishment of tribunals to deal with allegations concerning
\nconduct both before and after the 1999 ballot,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Commitment<\/p>\n
Separately after meeting with his Australian counterpart
\nAlexander Downer, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi
\nShihab also underlined Jakarta's commitment to convening a rights
\ntribunal \"as soon as possible.\"<\/p>\n
However Alwi warned about the extent to which Australia and
\nthe international community should try to compel Indonesia to
\ncarry out this commitment.<\/p>\n
\"Australia should also recognize that there are (domestic)
\nelements which feel that if the tribunal goes too far, it could
\ndisrupt the delicate balance inside the country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He warned that should this happen \"the government, despite its
\ncommitment, may not be able to optimally fulfill the expectations
\nof the international community.\"<\/p>\n
In a related development, Alwi said he had also discussed with
\nDowner the issue of the East Timor refugees still living in camps
\nin East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
Alwi said that Indonesia should not have to bear the burden of
\nhelping the refugees alone.<\/p>\n
\"The international community should also take responsibility,\"
\nhe asserted.<\/p>\n
\"I asked Australia to take an active role, not only in terms
\nof financial contributions, but also supporting Indonesia by
\nvoicing it in the international community,\" Alwi said.<\/p>\n
According to Alwi, Downer said he could understand the
\nIndonesian position. (mds)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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