Govt not against Aussie probe of journalists' deaths
Govt not against Aussie probe of journalists' deaths
JAKARTA (JP): Australia is free to hold an inquiry into the death of six foreign journalists in East Timor 20 years ago, but Indonesia will not conduct one of its own, an official said yesterday.
Foreign Ministry director of information Ghaffar Fadyl maintained that the journalists were killed in crossfire during the civil war in East Timor, which, at the time, was under Portugal's administration.
For Indonesia, the matter is closed, he told The Jakarta Post. Jakarta, however, recognizes the right of Australia to hold an inquiry if it wishes to study the matter further, he said.
"If Australia decides to hold a closed door inquiry, then that is their own right." he said. "If asked, Indonesia would not be willing to conduct an inquiry of its own".
"The incident happened before we were even involved in East Timor," he argued.
According to Ghaffar there have been no new developments or appeals for Indonesia to reopen the case.
"Thus far there have been no new requests for us to hold an inquiry," Ghaffar said, adding that even if Australia asks, Indonesia will not change its position.
Five foreign journalists -- Britons Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters, Australian Greg Shackleton and Tony Stewart along with New Zealander Gary Cunningham -- were killed in the village of Balibo in October 1975 while reporting on the civil war in East Timor.
Two months later another Australian journalist was killed in the provincial capital of Dili.
The former Portuguese colony of East Timor became part of Indonesia in 1976. However, the integration is still not formally recognized by the United Nations and a number of other countries.
Despite acknowledging East Timor as Indonesia's 27th province, Canberra remains one of the harshest critics of Jakarta's record in this province.
As reported by Reuters from Canberra yesterday, Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans announced that an inquiry of the deaths would be relaunched.
The inquiry, to start in February, will be headed by the retiring chief of the Australian National Crime Authority Tom Sherman.
The team will have until May 1996 to report its findings to the government.
Evans said the inquiry would be held to investigate the recent testimony by former East Timorese soldiers in Australia, who alleged that the journalists were killed by Indonesian troops.
"We are prepared...to take steps to gather such new evidence as may be available from these sources," Evans was quoted by Reuters as saying.
In the past Evans has urged Indonesia to further investigate their deaths, though Indonesia has always considered the matter to be closed.
Ghaffar did not say what Indonesia would do if the Australian investigation team needs assistance or information. He said that Jakarta would have to study the request first.(mds)