Bring to justice those responsible for killings: UN

Bring to justice those responsible for killings: UN

JAKARTA (JP): A visiting UN Security Council mission called on
the government here to speed up the judicial process of militia
leader Eurico Guterres and those responsible for the killings of
three international workers in East Nusa Tenggara in September.

Speaking to a joint media conference with Minister of Foreign
Affairs Alwi Shihab, Namibian Ambassador to the UN Security
Council Martin Andjaba said on Friday that the mission would like
to "underscore the international community's interest in speedy
progress in bringing to justice those responsible for the deaths
of the three UNHCR staff, two UN peacekeepers and for the events
of 1999 (in East Timor)".

"Members of the mission expressed the hope that the cases of
Eurico Guterres and those responsible for the murders of three
UNHCR staff would proceed quickly," Andjaba said, reading a four-
page statement issued at the end of the UN delegation's four-day
visit to Indonesia.

Eurico was arrested in October for his alleged role in
ordering his followers to repossess arms which had been handed
over to the authorities in the East Nusa Tenggara town of Atambua
on Sept. 24.

He is being detained at the Salemba penitentiary in Central
Jakarta and awaiting trial, the date of which has yet to be set.

Eurico is, however, not a suspect in the Atambua killing of UN
workers.

The North Jakarta District Court is scheduled to hold the
trial of the seven suspects of the Sept. 6 murder of the three UN
humanitarian workers.

All seven suspects are East Timorese.

Andjaba, who is leading the seven-member UN delegation, said
the mission "welcomes the efforts the Indonesian government is
making to address the situation on the western half of Timor
island, but much remains to be done".

Andjaba said that "information from refugees returning to
East Timor indicates that intimidation is still present in the
camps in East Nusa Tenggara".

"The intimidation must be stopped. Many refugees are saying
that they are frightened and still do not have a free choice
about their own future, and security in the camps remains
uncertain," he said, adding that "further decisive action is
necessary to deal with the remaining militias".

The delegation was in the country to assess whether UN
Security Council resolution 1319, calling for the immediate
disarmament and disbandment of the militias, had been implemented
by Jakarta.

The resolution was issued following the murders of the three
UN relief workers in Atambua on Sept. 6.

The murders sparked an international outcry and resulted in
the exodus of about 400 foreign aid personnel who were working
with about 130,000 East Timorese refugees remaining on the
western half of Timor island.

Some 250,000 people fled to East Nusa Tenggara after the
people in the former Indonesian province voted for independence
in August 1999.

Andjaba also said on Friday that no decision had been made as
to whether UN relief workers would be able to return and resume
aid operations in East Nusa Tenggara.

"For this to happen, the security of international
humanitarian workers will need to be assured," Andjaba said.

He added that "the Indonesian government will be discussing
with the UN offices in Jakarta arrangements to facilitate an
assessment by UN security experts of the situation in East Nusa
Tenggara, in cooperation with the police, Indonesian Military and
other responsible authorities".

Andjaba also said his mission "took note of the request of
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman for international assistance in
ensuring adequate expertise in bringing to justice those
responsible for human rights violations".

"Mr. Darusman indicated his intention to work closely with the
office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and to establish
a referral commission which includes international experts,"
Andjaba said, referring to the delegation's meeting with Marzuki
earlier in the day.

The UN mission also said the internationally observed
registration of refugees in East Nusa Tenggara was important.

Andjaba said the delegation would be making its full report to
the Security Council on Nov. 20.

Meanwhile, Alwi said "Indonesia for its part will continue to
take steps to further enhance the security conditions in the
(refugee) camps" in East Nusa Tenggara.(byg/bby)