Guterres needs Mega's pardon

Guterres needs Mega's pardon

East Timor has been freed from Indonesia. But for Indonesia,
East Timor-related problems linger; the refugees; rights
violation cases and war veterans who are still disgruntled over
former president B.J. Habibie's decision to grant the former
province a vote for independence.

Things have been turned upside down since East Timor's
independence. Those who fought for Indonesia, like Eurico
Guterres, are being convicted for their service to the "Red-and-
White" (Indonesian flag).

The former commander of Pro-Indonesia fighters, who refused to
join the new East Timor rulers, was sentenced to 10 years in jail
by the ad hoc human rights court in Jakarta on Wednesday.

It was ironic that the court said Guterres had failed to stop
his men from attacking the house of Manuel Carrascalao, the elder
brother of Mario Viegas Carrascalao, former East Timor governor.
Both Mario and Manuel joined the new rulers of East Timor.

"If I am punished because of my failure to stop my men (from
violence) then what about the chief of Military Resort 164, the
East Timor Police chief and the President of the country?"
Guterres wondered aloud after the verdict.

The only hope for Guterres is clemency from the President.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta