Abilio challenges retroactive ruling

Abilio challenges retroactive ruling

JAKARTA: Former East Timor governor Abilio Soares has
challenged the constitutionality of the retroactive application
of Law No. 26/2000 on human rights, on which his prosecution for
rights abuses in East Timor was based.

Abilio, who was sentenced to three years in jail, said on
Friday that the retroactive application of the Human Rights Law
violated his constitutional rights.

"I am only using my constitutional right to defend myself," he
told reporters after attending the first day's hearing of his
case.

Abilio was one of 17 military, police and civilian figures who
were brought to court for the bloody mayhem that broke out
following the independence referendum in East Timor in 1999.

Most of the defendants, particularly military and police
officers, were acquitted, with the entire process being seen by
many observers as little more than a whitewash designed to
absolve the military of responsibility for gross human rights
violations in East Timor in 1999. -- JP