Mega to sign decree for Timor tribunal

JAKARTA: State Secretary/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo said on Wednesday that President Megawati Soekarnoputri will sign a decree on the appointment of ad hoc human rights trial judges by the end of the year.

"We submitted the decree before Idul Fitri (Dec. 16). Before the end of the year (four more days) the President will issue the decree," Bambang told journalists after meeting the President, adding that the hearings will begin next month.

The Supreme Court and National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) had submitted earlier this month a list of 32 nominees to be judges for the ad hoc trials.

The tribunal will attempt to bring to justice all human rights violators in cases which took place in occupied East Timor throughout 1999, as well as the bloody Tanjung Priok uprising in 1984. Both cases have named high ranking military officers as prime suspects.

Despite Bambang's announcement there was no official reason given as to why the President had waited more than ten days -- and presumably will wait two or three more -- to sign and issue the decree. -- JP