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.