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.