Army ready to surrender soldiers

Army ready to surrender soldiers

JAKARTA: Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
pledged good cooperation with the planned ad hoc tribunal for
army officers implicated in human rights abuses in East Timor in
1999.

"I will surrender any of my soldiers to face the court of
justice if they are suspected of having any involvement in crimes
against humanity. Even if they are four star generals," he said.

The Indonesian government is recruiting judges for the ad hoc
tribunal for soldiers allegedly involved in human rights abuses
in East Timor following a referendum which led to the territory's
independence.

The trial is scheduled for December. Notably absent from the
Attorney General's list of 16 suspects is Gen. Wiranto, the then
military chief.

The three most senior officers among the suspects are Brig.
Gen. Tono Suratman, formerly of Wira Dharma military command in
Dili; Brig. Gen. Noermuis, Tono's successor; and Maj. Gen. Adam
Damiri, formerly of Udayana Military Command which oversees
security in Bali, Nusa Tenggara and East Timor. -- JP