Damiri to stand trial on Wednesday

JAKARTA: Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, former chief of the Udayana Military Command overseeing Bali, West and East Nusa Tenggara is scheduled to stand trial on Wednesday at the Central Jakarta Court for crimes against humanity during the 1999 post ballot riots in East Timor.

Damiri is the highest ranking military official to be prosecuted for not taking any action to avoid mass killing, torture, and forced displacement before and after the ballot.

In Tuesday's hearing, the court cross-examined Lt. Col. Sugito, the fifth defendant in the Suai massacre where the pro- Jakarta militia attacked rivals who took refuge in the St. Ave Maria Church. At least 27 people killed during the incident including three Catholic priests.

Sugito, former chief of the Suai military subdistrict, said he decided to bury the victims, but militia leader Martinus Bere suggested that they bring the bodies to neighboring East Nusa Tenggara.

Claiming that he was not aware who Bere was, Sugito told the court that he also approved Bere's suggestion to excavate three burial holes in a bid to save time because Sugito had to evacuate the refugees.

Presiding Judge Cicut Sutiarso gave one week for the prosecutors to read out their sentencing demands against the Suai authorities. --JP