Feisal, Alatas to testify

Feisal, Alatas to testify

JAKARTA: The Central Jakarta human rights court decided on
Thursday to hear testimonies from top decision makers for East
Timor next week to shed light on government policies that led to
the referendum in 1999.

Former coordinating minister for political and security
affairs Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung, former foreign minister Ali
Alatas and Agus Tarmizi of the ministry of foreign affairs had
confirmed their appearance, prosecutor James Pardede said.

Agus was former chairman for the Indonesian Task Force for the
Implementation of the Popular Consultation in East Timor (P3TT)
assigned to monitor the United Nations-sponsored ballot on Aug.
30, 1999.

They will testify in defense of former East Timor police chief
Brig. Gen. Timbul Silaen, who has been charged with crimes
against humanity for failing to prevent the killing and torture
of civilians.

Thursday's hearing received a report from the National
Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) team sent to East Timor
to monitor the ballot, including current Komnas HAM chairman
Djoko Soegianto and now Supreme Court justice Benjamin
Mangkoedilaga.--JP