Former RI soldier indicted

Former RI soldier indicted

EAST TIMOR: Prosecutors in East Timor on Tuesday indicted a former member of the Indonesian army for crimes against humanity over the alleged torture and enforced disappearance of an independence supporter in 1999.

Rusdin Maubere, then a first private in the Liquica district Indonesian military command, is charged with the torture and enforced disappearance of Andre de Oliviera in Dato village, Liquica district, a press release from East Timor's serious crimes unit said.

The indictment said the Besi Merah Putih (BMP) militia group in Liquica district was under the effective command and control of the civil administration and military in Liquica district.

It said Oliviera was believed to have fled to the forest to hide following an attack on the Liquica church on April 6, 1999 and was returning to Dato on April, 26, 1999, when he was arrested by BMP members and soldiers, including Maubere.

Maubere is said to have ordered the man beaten unconscious.

Oliviera later died of the beating and Maubere, aided by soldiers and BMP militia, allegedly buried the body near the Aipelu BMP militia post. -- AFP