East Timor indicts five more people for 1999 atrocities

East Timor indicts five more people for 1999 atrocities

Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Prosecutors in East Timor filed another set of indictments at
the Dili District Court over a spate of violent incidents in
1999, but said they were still waiting for response from the
court in regards charges made against former Indonesian military
chief Gen. (ret) General Wiranto.

The prosecutors indicted five East Timorese for crimes against
humanity, rape, torture and deportation during their service with
the Indonesian Military (TNI) in 1999, said the United Nations
Serious Crimes Unit in a statement on Thursday. The indictments
were based on the crime unit's investigation.

"All of the accused in the indictment are believed to be in
the Republic of Indonesia," said the statement, adding that their
names were not being released to protect their victims.

The announcement came a day after the crime unit charged 16
people, including eight Indonesian Army officials, with crimes
against humanity.

They are the latest in a series of indictments the UN unit has
filed this year in its efforts to prosecute those responsible for
the 1999 killing spree in East Timor before, during and after a
UN-sponsored referendum that resulted in a majority vote for East
Timorese independence.

Thousands of East Timorese died in a wave of violence that
swept through the former Indonesian province that time. Many
believe that rogue elements in the TNI deliberately went on a
rampage to undermine the voting.

The TNI was mandated with maintaining security and order in
East Timor during the period.

"There's still a lot of work to do ... investigations are
ongoing," UN Special Crimes Unit spokesperson Mark Harris said
from Dili. More charges were likely, he added.

In February, East Timor prosecutors dropped a bombshell
announcement with its indictment of Wiranto and six other senior
military officers for crimes against humanity.

The former military chief denied any wrongdoings, arguing that
he knew nothing about TNI's role in the atrocities in East Timor.

Indonesia has no extradition agreement with East Timor.
Furthermore, Wiranto's case has made no headway in the Dili
court.

"We're still waiting for a response from the court," said
Harris.

Prosecutors need court-issued arrest warrants, which will be
forwarded to their Indonesian counterparts, as well as Interpol.

Harris would not speculate on the reason for the lack of
response.

East Timor faces a dilemma in pushing for justice, as the move
may run the risk of straining ties with Indonesia.

East Timor President Xanana Gusmao has said the indictment was
not in the nation's interest. He called the indictment a mistake,
but promised not to interfere with the judiciary of his country.

Political and military analyst Indria Samego said Indonesia
was unlikely to hand over any of its military officers to East
Timor.

He said the military remained a key player among the country's
political elite, and with the general elections nearing, few
would want to risk a military backlash by sending their senior
officers to stand trial in East Timor, said Indria.

TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the military
recognized only the ongoing trials in Indonesia for the gross
human rights violations in East Timor.

"We should remain consistent with the process (in Indonesia),"
he said.

But analysts said the UN-backed indictments reflected the East
Timorese's disappointment over the outcome of the rights trials
in Indonesia so far. The ad hoc Human Rights Court here has
acquitted most officers, while Wiranto has escaped indictment
entirely.