E. Timor probe faults Wiranto

E. Timor probe faults Wiranto

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
HAM) has implicated former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen.
Wiranto and four other military and police generals in the
violence that swept through East Timor last year, and recommended
a formal investigation be held.

The rights body presented Attorney General Marzuki Darusman on
Monday with a 16-page executive summary of a four-month
investigation by the government-sanctioned Inquiry into Human
Rights Abuses (KPP HAM) in East Timor, which detailed the
"planned and systematic" violence which occurred following the
Aug. 30 ballot.

"The crimes against humanity committed in East Timor occurred
entirely, directly or indirectly, because of the failure of the
(former) TNI chief to insure security in the implementation of
the government's two options," rights body chairman Djoko
Soegianto said.

Wiranto was among 33 names which, according to the commission,
deserve to be investigated by the Attorney General's Office.

A copy of the inquiry's summary, obtained by The Jakarta Post
on Monday, implicated among others -- former East Timor Military
Commander Brig. Gen. Tono Suratman, his immediate superior Maj.
Gen. Adam Damiri, who was former chief of the Udayana Military
Command which oversaw East Timor; former East Timor Police chief
Brig. Gen. Timbul Silaen and former intelligence chief Maj. Gen.
Zacky Anwar Makarim.

Also named was Governor Abilio Soares.

"Gen. Wiranto, as TNI chief, should be held accountable," the
summary said.

The announcement further clouds Wiranto's future after
President Abdurrahman Wahid, before leaving on a 16-day trip
abroad, said he signed a decree which, effective on March 31,
retires the coordinating minister for political affairs and
security from active military duty.

Meanwhile during a stop in Davos, Switzerland, President
Abdurrahman Wahid said on Monday he would dismiss Wiranto from
his Cabinet post if the general was linked to the mayhem which
occurred in East Timor.

"We have to uphold human rights in Indonesia, whatever the
course," Abdurrahman told Reuters Television, while attending the
World Economic Forum's annual meeting in the Alpine town.

Asked if this meant he would dismiss Wiranto, the President
said: "Oh yes, of course. I will ask him, to use a polite word,
ask him to resign."

Asked when he would dismiss Wiranto, Abdurrahman replied:
"When I return (home)."

Genocide

After the official announcement of the inquiry at the Attorney
General's Office, Marzuki said, "the first action that will be
taken by the Attorney General's Office is to immediately set up a
coordination team to follow up Komnas HAM's recommendations".

Marzuki added that the recommendations would be studied by his
office, which he said was "empowered to continue the
investigation and eventually proceed with the legal action
necessary to settle the matter ... to indict and to bring the
matter to the human rights court that will be established".

The inquiry in its executive summary detailed several major
cases which occurred between January 1999 and October 1999.

Among them was the April 6 massacre at Liquica Church in which
some 30 people were killed, the Sept. 5 attack on the Dili
diocese where 25 were killed and the mass destruction of some 80
percent of the buildings in the town of Mailiana on Sept. 4.

It also noted numerous cases of sexual abuse and torture.

Among the most damning accusations was that former Suai
subdistrict Military chief Lt. Sugito had allegedly participated
in the looting and arson during an attack on a church complex in
Suai, which was estimated to have killed at least 50 people.

Sugito was allegedly involved in the removal of 26 bodies
which were then secretly buried in East Nusa Tenggara.

"The mass killings took place in churches, police stations and
military installations. These acts were carried out using sharp
weapons or firearms by militias together with, or supported by,
military and police personnel," a separate press statement issued
by the rights body said.

The rights body said the inquiry confirmed the strong link
between the military and militias, who were blamed for most of
the violence in East Timor.

"Most leaders and core members of the militia groups were
either members of the civilian security forces or the Army," the
inquiry said.

The inquiry also said there was proof of efforts to conceal
and destroy the evidence.

Despite numerous allegations it unfurled, the rights body said
in its press statement that it had "not found crimes of genocide"
in its investigation.

KPP HAM was established in October shortly after Jakarta
rejected the United Nations plan to launch an inquiry into the
East Timor violence.

Chaired by Albert Hasibuan, the commission comprises of Todung
Mulya Lubis, Asmara Nababan, H.S. Dillon, Munir, Zoemrotin KS,
Nursyahbani Katjasungkana and Koesparmono Irsan.

When asked, the inquiry's secretary Asmara Nababan admitted
that there had been "pressure" by certain parties on commission
members mostly via telephone calls and mail.

"But for Indonesia that's pretty normal isn't it?," he told
the Post.

On a visit to East Timor last week, the chief defense lawyer
for the TNI generals, Adnan Buyung Nasution, said his clients
were ready to face a human rights or war crimes tribunal.

But he said he found no evidence of military complicity in the
mass destruction and killings.

Meanwhile from Singapore East Timor leader Jose Alexandre
"Xanana" Gusmao said Monday he did not want to seek revenge
against Wiranto over the violence that erupted in East Timor.

Asked for his reaction over the inquiry's recommendations,
Xanana told AFP the most important thing was that the truth be
established.

"I can't say if I am happy or unhappy. I am not seeking
revenge. I know him (Wiranto) and he knows me," he said in a
telephone interview in Singapore where he arrived Sunday for a
three-day visit.

"I just want the truth to be revealed," he said. (byg/01)