E. Timor defendants now blame Habibie

E. Timor defendants now blame Habibie

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Defendants in alleged crimes against humanity in East Timor
blamed on Thursday the policy of then president B.J. Habibie as
the origin of all the troubles that occurred during East Timor's
struggle for independence from Indonesia in 1999.

The defense team representing former East Timor governor
Abilio Soares asked the panel of judges twice to bring Habibie
into the courtroom to testify in regard to his decision to offer
East Timor a self determination vote, blaming that as the trigger
for the violence that ensued.

"Knowing that the option offered by president Habibie caused
the violence in East Timor, we need your honor's approval to
order the former president to appear in court to testify," lawyer
Indriyanto Seno Adji said.

Presiding Judge Marni Emmy Mustafa did not respond to the
request and adjourned the hearing until next Wednesday.

Both witnesses in Abilio's hearing, former Aileu regent
Suprapto Tarman and former chief of the East Timor military
command Brig. Gen. Tono Suratman testified that the situation
under their authority was calm until the announcement of the
"second option" by Habibie in January 1999. The second option was
the vote to choose to accept or reject a wide-ranging autonomy
under Jakarta rule.

Former East Timor Police chief Brig,. Gen. Timbul Silaen
appeared in another hearing on Thursday. The session, presided
over by Judge Andi Samsan Nganro, heard testimonies by two of
Silaen's former subordinates when he was in command of the East
Timor provincial Police.

Soares and Timbul are being charged with failure to stop their
subordinates from committing rights abuses and turning the
perpetrators in.

Silaen will testify in Abilio's hearing next Wednesday.