UNTAET unwilling to cooperate with KPP HAM: Dillon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior member of the Commission of Inquiry
\ninto Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor has
\ncomplained that UNTAET has been uncooperative in uncovering
\nalleged rights violations in the territory.<\/p>\n
\"I am disappointed that UNTAET (the United Nations
\nTransitional Administration in East Timor) is unwilling to share
\nevidence and testimony that could provide crucial knowledge for
\nus,\" H.S. Dillon told The Jakarta Post after returning here on
\nWednesday from a three-day visit to the East Timorese capital of
\nDili.<\/p>\n
\"They said that there is no protocol between Indonesia and the
\nUN, but I think that is nonsense because we need that evidence
\nand testimony for our investigation,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Dillon charged that UNTAET \"is not serving to strengthen the
\ncase\" and that it might be \"due to deep-seated mistrust\".<\/p>\n
A representative at the UNTAET office in Jakarta, Jim Della
\nGiacoma, however, maintained that the national inquiry was not a
\nprosecution but an investigation.<\/p>\n
\"It would be wrong to say that UNTAET is not cooperative with
\nKomnas HAM, but it is more correct to say that at the moment we
\nare being careful and cautious,\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
\"Until UNTAET has an agreement and understanding on the
\nprotection of witnesses and the protection of information and
\nsources, UNTAET must be cautious and it must protect its
\nwitnesses and sources. I think we have to come to a clear
\nagreement with KPP HAM on any subsequent prosecution about this
\nvery important issue,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that KPP HAM and UNTAET \"have not done it yet, so we
\nare still not in a position to share all of our information\".<\/p>\n
\"It's all about applying international standards for witness
\nprotection and that's why we cannot give total access\".<\/p>\n
Dillon's visit to the former Indonesian province was aimed at
\na final verification of the inquiry's findings before it
\nannounces the results of its four-month long investigation at the
\nend of the month.<\/p>\n
The inquiry will then hand over the findings to Attorney
\nGeneral Marzuki Darusman through the National Commission on Human
\nRights (Komnas HAM).<\/p>\n
KPP HAM said in its midterm report in late November that the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) was involved in the campaign of
\nviolence and destruction in East Timor following the Aug. 30
\nballot.<\/p>\n
Dillon said he also met with the multinational force commander
\nMaj. Gen. Peter Cosgrove and Nobel Peace laureate Dili Bishop
\nCarlos Filipe Ximenes Belo in Dili.<\/p>\n
\"I met with Belo this morning and he disclosed that he is
\nready to endorse a national human rights tribunal if it is
\nconducted in an impartial and transparent manner,\" Dillon said.<\/p>\n
Dillon also said Belo once again \"went into great detail\" when
\nexplaining the militia attack on his residence in Dili on Sept.
\n5.<\/p>\n
Witnesses have claimed former Jakarta military commander Maj.
\nGen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who was an assistant to former TNI
\nchief Gen. Wiranto, was seen at the scene.<\/p>\n
Sjafrie has denied the allegations, saying he was attending a
\nmeeting in Jakarta at the time.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a team of lawyers representing the generals said in
\na statement on Wednesday that accusations on the \"institutional\"
\ninvolvement of the TNI should be further clarified.<\/p>\n
The team, whose members include former justice minister Muladi
\nand noted lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution, had just returned from a
\nfour-day visit to East Timor on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Leading human rights activist Munir, who is also a member of
\nKPP HAM, said last week that the inquiry had found proof that
\nmilitary personnel were either involved or failed to prevent the
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
\"It seems that military officers at almost all levels of
\ncommand will be held responsible for the violence although there
\nwill be varying degrees of responsibilities,\" Munir told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has objected to the establishment of an international
\ntribunal on rights violations in East Timor, saying it is capable
\nof investigating allegations of atrocities and human rights
\nabuses itself.<\/p>\n
Marzuki has said earlier that if KPP HAM found evidence of
\nrights abuses an ad hoc committee would be established to
\nprosecute the perpetrators in a national human rights tribunal.
\n(byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/untaet-unwilling-to-cooperate-with-kpp-ham-dillon-1447893297",
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