Mega yet to select ad hoc judges

JAKARTA: The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called on the President to speed up the appointment of judges for the ad hoc tribunal on human rights abuses in East Timor.

Komnas HAM chairman Djoko Sugianto laid the blame Monday for the delayed establishment of the tribunal on the absence of a presidential decree naming the judges.

"About a week ago, we (the Komnas HAM and the Supreme Court) proposed 32 names for the post of ad hoc judges -- but the President has yet to respond to it," Djoko told reporters after meeting with Chief Justice Bagir Manan at his office.

The establishment of the much-awaited court has been postponed several times by officials, citing administrative reasons. Bagir said last week he expected the hearing to open in January.

When asked whether the President's reluctance to address the issue the decree contributed to the delay, Djoko said: "You should ask (State/Cabinet Secretary) Bambang Kesowo about this."

The ad hoc tribunal is being formed to try people suspected of human rights violations in the 1984 bloodshed at Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, and the 1999 post-ballot violence in East Timor.

Several high ranking military officers have been named as suspects in the cases. --JP