East Timor will not push for int'l tribunal to try TNI officers
East Timor will not push for int'l tribunal to try TNI officers
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
East Timor foreign minister Jose Ramos Horta reiterated here on
Wednesday that his government did not intend to pursue an
international tribunal against Indonesian military officials
charged with rights abuses in East Timor.
According to Horta, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, who has
reportedly suggested an international tribunal, clarified East
Timor's official policy on the issue during the meeting with
President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the Merdeka Palace on
Wednesday.
"We took the initiative to clarify ... and I have never heard
the Prime Minister's (Alkatiri) statement on the international
tribunal," Horta said after the meeting.
"In regards to the idea of the reports about an international
tribunal, this is not the position of the government of Timor
Leste (East Timor)."
Horta, however, did not explicitly say he would oppose it if
others in the international community commenced a trial, just
that he would not lobby for it.
"This (justice) is now the responsibility of the international
community and from the East Timor side, we are not interested in
pushing for an international tribunal," Horta said.
Asked if justice took a back seat in relations with Indonesia,
he said: "For me, the greatest act of justice is that we are
free.
The Minister added that the his government was more interested
in working in "the present relationship towards the future."
In the joint press briefing with Alkatiri, Megawati underlined
the importance of accepting political realities that East Timor
and Indonesia were two equal countries that should develop a
mature relationship.
"We share the view that two countries living as neighbors are
a political and social reality that we have to accept, and
develop mature ties," Megawati said.
During the meeting, they also discussed various residual
issues between the two countries, including refugees, assets and
former Indonesian civil servants.
Alkatiri said that he believed there was goodwill to settle
the issues for better cooperation in the future.
"I believe that our two countries will deal with these
residual issues with honesty and sincerity," the Prime Minister
said.
It was reported earlier this month and again upon departure to
Indonesia on Tuesday that Alkatiri wanted the establishment of an
international tribunal against alleged Indonesian war criminals,
and proclaimed that the ongoing human rights trials here were,
"nothing but theater".
It is unclear, however, if Alkatiri actually said such things,
as Horta, a close aide, said he had never heard them.
Alkatiri is known for his strong personal stance on the
justice and rights issues, particularly as they pertain to
alleged Indonesian abuses.
The Indonesian human rights ad hoc tribunal acquitted 13 of 18
officials implicated in the 1999 violence which left hundreds
dead, 80 percent of the buildings destroyed and created a refugee
crisis.
The decisions have drawn the ire of both domestic and
international human rights activists.
Alkatiri, leading a high power delegation during the visit, is
on a four-day working visit to Indonesia.
Also on Wednesday, Alkatiri witnessed the signing of a
border/trade agreement.
He is slated to meet with other high ranking officials on
Thursday and return back to Dili on Friday.