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