Adam Damiri's trial adjourned

JAKARTA: The human rights court adjourned on Tuesday the teleconferencing of the trial of former Udayana Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, due to the unavailability of former Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo and another key witness.

Presiding judge Marni Emmy Mustafa said the teleconferencing was delayed until key witnesses former Bishop Belo and Rafael were ready to testify against the military officer before the whole trial process ended.

Marni said the trial was adjourned until Dec. 24 so they could hear other witnesses.

Prosecutor S. Hozie said former Bishop Belo couldn't testify via teleconference as he was still visiting various districts in East Timor, while Rafael dos Santos, another key witness, was ill.

The delay is another disappointment after the state prosecutor failed a day earlier to present former Bishop Belo, and only heard the weak testimonies of two key witnesses against a military officer.

Adam is charged of failing to prevent atrocities in East Timor before, during and after the East Timor independence vote on Aug. 20, 1999. --JP