Abilio asserts innocence in E. Timor massacre

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

East Timor's former governor, Abilio Soares, told the ad hoc human rights trial here on Thursday pleaded not guilty to massacres in the former province three years ago, saying the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) should be held responsible for all legal consequences before and after the 1999 independence ballot.

Abilio told the ad hoc human rights trial here on Thursday that UNAMET had violated the rules of the UN-brokered ballot designed in accordance with the May 5, 1999, New York Tripartite Agreement, causing an escalation in tension between pro-Jakarta militiamen and those supporting the province's independence.

"UNAMET is also fully responsible for the chaos that took place after the expedited announcement of the ballot's results scheduled from Sept. 7 to Sept. 4. This was UNAMET's own initiative. Indonesia should not be accountable for this," he read out in his defense statement.

Abilio is facing demands that he serve a 10-and-a-half year prison sentence for violating Law No. 26/2000 on human rights by neglecting his duties and powers to prevent rights abuses.

Prosecutors took Abilio's lack of remorse as an incriminating factor, but the defendant revealed that as a political prisoner in the past he had "gone through rough days to struggle for integration with Indonesia".

"This trial has made me lose faith in what is right and wrong ... I was brought to court because I struggled to obtain my citizenship through blood, sweat and tears," Abilio told the court.

Judge Cicut Sutiarso adjourned the hearing until July 25 to hear the prosecution.

In a separate hearing, two expert witnesses produced by the defense lawyer of East Timor's former police chief, Gen. Timbul Silaen, made it clear that the police should not solely be blamed for the atrocities surrounding the independence ballot.

Political and military observer from the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) Indria Samego, told the court that the police at the time was a sub-unit of the Armed Forces (ABRI) whose main function was maintain security.

"The police at the time were responsible for dealing with petty crimes, they were not equipped to deal with the situation in East Timor or the crimes, which were politically motivated," he said.