Human rights meeting set to probe abuse claims

Human rights meeting set to probe abuse claims

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights will
convene a meeting of leading rights activists and forensic
experts on Thursday to draw up the composition of a fact-finding
team to investigate the alleged human rights abuses in East Timor
following the Aug. 30 ballot.

Rights body chairman Marzuki Darusman told reporters on
Wednesday that the lineup of the fact-finding team was expected
to be announced on Friday.

"The complete lineup will be less than 10 people and it will
consist of a number of rights body members and several
independent experts," Marzuki said.

Rights body members Djoko Soegianto, H.S. Dillon, Asmara
Nababan, Charles Himawan, Koesparmono Irsan and Lies Sugondo and
leading rights activists Todung Mulya Lubis, Abdul Hakim Garuda
Nusantara, Hendardi, Munir, Ita Fatia Nadia and forensic expert
Budi Sampurno of the University of Indonesia were among
individuals scheduled to attend Thursday's meeting.

Several of them are expected to be "the core members of the
fact-finding mission".

Marzuki said the mission was expected to start its work early
next week and complete their investigation by the end of
December.

"The team will be working under strict international standards
and if necessary, the identities of witnesses will not be
revealed," Marzuki said.

Marzuki's comment came as Jakarta reiterated on Tuesday its
rejection of an international commission of inquiry into East
Timor.

The government said that it would launch its own investigation
into the alleged rights abuses in the former Portuguese colony.

Marzuki has said, however, that Jakarta has a moral obligation
to cooperate with the UN in its inquiry.

Leading human rights groups have also said that Jakarta's
rejection of an international inquiry into East Timor was a sign
of the government's reluctance to bring those who were allegedly
involved in the violence to an international war crime tribunal.

Marzuki said earlier that an international tribunal would not
be needed as Indonesia aims to hold its own tribunal.

He said that the request for the establishment of a national
human rights tribunal was initiated by the rights body to reduce
foreign intervention.

The government said on Tuesday that a draft of a government
regulation in lieu of a law which would constitute the
establishment of a national human rights tribunal would be ready
within two days.

Marzuki said that Djoko and former judge Benjamin
Mangkoedilaga, who is also a member of the rights body, were
among those who were projected to be judges in the national
rights tribunal.

International human rights watchdogs have said that several
high-ranking officers of the Indonesian Military (TNI) were
allegedly involved the violence. (byg/33)