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.