RI urged to support UN commission<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: International Human Rights Advocacy (HRWG), a coalition
\nof Indonesian non-governmental organizations, urged the
\ngovernment to cooperate with three legal experts assigned by the
\nUnited Nations to investigate the failure to punish any military
\nofficers over the violence that accompanied East Timor's
\nindependence vote in 1999.<\/p>\n
HRWG said in a press release on Tuesday an April 28 UN
\nSecurity Council resolution clearly stipulated that all parties
\nshould fully cooperate with the work of the experts.<\/p>\n
It added that by cooperating with the experts, the government
\nwould have the opportunity formally to explain what happened with
\nthe court proceedings against the military officers accused of
\nresponsibility in the violence.<\/p>\n
The HRWG said rejecting the UN resolution would only damage
\nIndonesia's reputation overseas.<\/p>\n
With the alleged support of military forces, pro-Jakarta
\nmilitias killed hundreds of people in the aftermath of a UN-
\norganized vote in 1999 that ended Indonesia's 24-year rule in
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
In response to international pressure, the Indonesian human
\nrights court charged 18 people, most of them police and military
\nofficers. Twelve were acquitted and five others had their
\nsentences overturned on appeal.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government previously refused entry to the UN
\nexperts, saying Jakarta and Dili had already set up a commission
\nto investigate the violence and promote reconciliation. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-urged-to-support-un-commission-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}