1975 murders to be investigated

1975 murders to be investigated

DILI, East Timor (AP): The United Nations has opened an investigation into the deaths of five foreign newsmen killed during Indonesia's invasion of East Timor in 1975, a UN official said on Friday.

On Oct. 16, 1975, reporter Malcolm Rennie, 28, and cameraman Brian Peters, 29, both British citizens; reporter Greg Shackleton, 27, and soundman Tony Stewart, 21, both of Australia; and New Zealand cameraman Gary Cunningham, 27, were murdered in the town of Balibo.

Australian investigators and the Indonesian government said the newsmen were caught in a firefight between Indonesian troops and East Timorese defenders. But former resistance fighters testified that the journalists were executed in cold blood by the Indonesian invaders.

The Indonesian forces were commanded by Maj. Gen. Leonardus Benny Moerdani, one of ex-dictator's closest henchmen, who later served as defense minister.