East Timor inquiry ends questioning of TNI

East Timor inquiry ends questioning of TNI

JAKARTA (JP): The Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights
Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor ended its questioning of
Indonesian Military (TNI) officers on Monday, well ahead of its
Jan. 31 deadline to submit its report to the government.

Army First Lt. Sugito, who was commander of the military in
the East Timor border town of Suai during the mayhem in
September, was questioned about his activities on Sept. 6 when 27
people, including three Catholic priests, were killed.

During the questioning, Sugito acknowledged he helped bury the
victims in Belu inside the Indonesian border, but stressed he did
it out of a humanitarian calling.

The mass grave was one of the most significant findings during
a visit by the commission in November, following earlier
speculation of massacres committed by pro-Indonesia East Timorese
militias.

Human rights lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, a member of the
commission, said he found Sugito's answers unsatisfactory.

"We believe he was in a psychological state that was not
conducive to answering the questions," Todung said.

"His answers were inconsistent with his earlier statements and
with the testimony of others."

Sugito said after the two-hour questioning that while he
helped bury the victims, he failed to report it to his superiors.

"The incident should have been reported by the Suai Police
station which was located near the church. I was evacuating the
families of military members and refugees when the shooting
inside the church took place. When I arrived at the scene in the
afternoon, there were only the bodies," he said.

"The East Timorese then asked me to bury them away from Suai
which was in a critical situation at that time."

Another commission member, Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, said
Sugito admitted that the killers were members of Laksaur
militias, and they were at the scene when the military arrived.

The commission, which questioned several TNI generals and
officers in the last three weeks, plans to visit East Timor for a
"final check" this week.

Lawyers representing the TNI officers are also planning to
visit East Timor this week to conduct their own investigation.

The commission's final report will determine whether there is
a case to try Indonesian generals in connection with the unrest.
A separate international inquiry has already presented its
report, with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expected to issue a
ruling soon. (01)