'Military did nothing to prevent attack on Carrascalao's house'
'Military did nothing to prevent attack on Carrascalao's house'
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A pro-Jakarta East Timorese leader told the Rights Tribunal on
Thursday that the Indonesian Military (TNI) did nothing to stop
armed militias from attacking the residence of proindependence
leader Manuel Viegas Carrascalao on April 17, 1999.
Basilio Araujo, who worked as a translator for former East
Timor governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, said not a single
member of security personnel tried to stop militia groups, even
though "they were holding sharp weapons and homemade guns, and
threatening people taking refuge in Carrascalao's house."
He also confirmed Carrascalao's statement that prior to the
attack, pro-Jakarta militia commanders Eurico Gutteres and Joao
Tavares made a speech urging militia members to "silence the
Carrascalao family."
"As a local administration employee, I attended the ceremony
held at the Governor (Abilio)'s office, marking the establishment
of Pamswakarsa on April, 17. All Pamswakarsa members were also
present ... they were, among others, the Aitarak, the Mahidi, and
the Besi Merah-Putih," Basilio said, referring to several pro-
Jakarta militia groups.
Basilio was testifying against pro-Jakarta militia commander
Eurico Gutteres, who is charged with committing gross human
rights violations in East Timor before, during and after the 1999
independence ballot. If proven guilty, he will face a minimum
sentence of at least 10 years' imprisonment.
He said he was with East Timor military commander Tono
Suratman when Carrascalao arrived at Tono's house to ask for
protection immediately after militia members attacked
Carrascalao's house.
"I knew when they attacked and burned Pak Manuel's house
because I saw smoke billowing from it," said Basilio, adding that
his house was located only 500 meters to one kilometer away from
Carrascalao's.
"But I didn't see that Pak Danrem insisted on helping him. I
didn't see it," Basilio said, referring to Tono Suratman.
During the attack, some 12 people, including Carrascalao's 16-
year-old son Manelito Carrascalao, were killed, while dozens of
others were reported missing.
Tono is also a defendant in the same court.
Earlier, Carrascalao also testified against Eurico, blaming
militia members for the violence that killed his son.
Both Eurico and his defense lawyers, however, turned the
courtroom into a trial of Carrascalao, attacking him with a
flurry of questions.
That prompted presiding judge Helen Hutapea to warn Eurico and
his lawyers that Carrascalao was not the defendant but a witness.
"This is not the trial of Pak Manuel. He is not a defendant
here, so don't ask any questions that attack him," Helen said.