Wiranto resists blame on Timor chaos<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret)
\nWiranto balked at the continued criticism against him saying here
\non Tuesday that he was only part of the larger infrastructure and
\nthat there were more senior officials overseeing the process in
\nEast Timor last year.<\/p>\n
Wiranto pointed out that his duties in East Timor were
\nregulated by a presidential decree.<\/p>\n
"I only followed orders issued by the government, to insure
\nthe security and the success of the United Nations (UN)-
\nsupervised ballot," he told journalists after being questioned
\nfor six hours by a special Attorney General's Office
\ninvestigative team.<\/p>\n
Wiranto was referring to Presidential Decree No. 43\/1999.<\/p>\n
The decree was issued soon after the May 1999 New York
\nAgreement which obliged Jakarta to create a more secure climate
\nand to safeguard the ballot.<\/p>\n
"All policies came from the then coordinating minister for
\npolitical affairs and security," Wiranto said referring to Gen.
\n(ret.) Feisal Tanjung<\/p>\n
Wiranto explained that in the military there is a system known
\nas delegating authority and responsibility to subordinates.<\/p>\n
"Such a delegation divides the responsibility among those who
\nare in charge of the operation and those who carry out specific
\npolicies and actions," he said.<\/p>\n
"(And) I wasn't responsible for the military operations in
\nEast Timor," Wiranto added.<\/p>\n
He is among several military officers alleged to be
\nresponsible for the violence that erupted following the Aug. 30
\nballot.<\/p>\n
Tuesday was the second time Wiranto was summoned by the
\nAttorney General's investigating team involving the matter.<\/p>\n
Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes M.A. Rahman said
\nWiranto was asked 20 questions.<\/p>\n
"I answered all questions honestly. I didn't hide the truth.
\nBut I resisted questions that were beyond my authority and
\nexceeded my responsibility," Wiranto told journalists later on.<\/p>\n
"Based on the substance of the questions posed to me, I could
\ntell that the Attorney General's Office was sincere in trying to
\nfind out the truth," he added. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wiranto-resists-blame-on-timor-chaos-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}