Xanana, East Timor leaders face human rights questioning<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara<\/p>\n
The East Timor Commission for Truth, Reception and Reconciliation
\nis planning to question several proindependence leaders,
\nincluding Jose Alexandre \"Xanana\" Gusmao, for allegedly
\ncommitting human rights abuses in the territory during the period
\nof April 1974 to October 1999.<\/p>\n
According to the chairman of the commission, Aniceto Guterres
\nLopes, Nobel laureate Jose Ramos Horta, leaders of East Timor's
\nproindependence armed wing Falintil Taur Matan Ruak and Francisco
\nGuterres, as well as Mari Alkatiri will also be questioned in
\nconnection with alleged atrocities that took place during East
\nTimor's turbulent time.<\/p>\n
\"Those who are proven guilty of gross human rights abuses
\ncould be charged under East Timor Government Regulation No.
\n15\/2000 on jurisdiction panels for serious crimes,\" Aniceto told
\na media conference, without specifying the date of the summons.<\/p>\n
The Dili-based commission, which comprises seven personnel
\nwould submit their findings to the United Nations Transitional
\nAdministration in East Timor (UNTAET) for further proceedings.<\/p>\n
The questioning will cover the level and causes of human
\nrights abuse, as well as the circumstances and motive for the
\ncrimes.<\/p>\n
The recently established truth commission is charged with
\nestablishing the facts about human rights violations committed
\nbetween April 1974 and October 1999. It also supports the
\nreintegration of people who have committed minor criminal
\noffenses or harmful acts through a community-based reconciliation
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
Xanana led an armed resistance movement against Indonesia
\nafter the country incorporated the former Portuguese colony into
\nits territory in 1976.<\/p>\n
Aniceto completed on Tuesday his two-day visit to West Timor,
\nwhere he also visited camps sheltering East Timorese who fled
\ntheir ravaged homeland following a UN-administered self-
\ndetermination vote in August 1999.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the much-awaited ad hoc tribunal will soon take
\nplace in Jakarta to try those held accountable for human rights
\nabuses in 1999.<\/p>\n
Three army generals, a police general and a number of middle-
\nranking officers are among the 19 suspects facing trial for the
\ncrimes.<\/p>\n
They include former Udayana Military commander Maj. Gen. Adam
\nDamiri, former Wiradharma Military Resort commanders in Dili
\nBrig. Gen. Suhartono Suratman and Brig. Gen. M. Noer Muis and
\nformer East Timor police chief Brig. Gen. Timbul Silaen. Former
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto was initially
\none of those implicated, but the Attorney General's Office took
\nhis name off the list.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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