Court to try Liquica incident

JAKARTA: The ad hoc human rights tribunal will open a new case on Wednesday as part of the trial of rights violations in 1999 in East Timor.

The court, which will be presided over by Judge Cicut Sutiarso, will hear testimony on the Liquica incident, with the suspects including former Liquica military commander Lt. Col. Asep Kuswandi, former police chief Lt. Col. Adios Salova, and former regent Leonito Martins.

They will be charged with a failure to prevent human rights abuses and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The case revolves around the attack on proindependence supporters taking refuge in Liquica Church on April 6, 1999, which reportedly killed at least 30 people, mostly women and children.

On Wednesday, Judge Cicut will also preside over a hearing against Covalima officials over the same incident.

Former Udayana military commander, Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, is scheduled to testify during the hearing.

Another hearing on former East Timor governor Abilio Soares will also be held on Wednesday, when testimony will be heared from witnesses.--JP