More officers indicted in E. Timor

More officers indicted in E. Timor

JAKARTA: Prosecutors in East Timor indicted on Thursday 57
people, including 17 Indonesian military officers and four former
pro-Jakarta militia leaders, for their part in the deadly
violence that consumed the former Indonesian province during its
1999 bid for independence.

A statement issued by East Timor's Serious Crimes Unit said
the men were accused of crimes against humanity including murder,
torture and persecution during the UN-backed referendum to break
away from Jakarta.

The defendants include four senior Indonesian military
officers, one Special Forces (Kopassus) agent, 12 East Timorese
serving in the Indonesian military as non-commissioned officers
and four former pro-Jakarta militia leaders, the unit said.

The indictment is related to "planned and coordinated"
attacks, allegedly launched by Indonesian troops and militiamen
on civilians seeking refuge with the police in September 1999,
which left at least 13 people dead, it said.

East Timor's prosecutors have filed a series of indictments in
an attempt to bring Indonesian military members, officers and
militiamen to justice, including former defense minister and
Indonesian Military commander, Gen. (ret) Wiranto.

Indonesia refuses to extradite any suspects and East Timorese
President Xanana Gusmao criticized the indictments, saying good
relations with their former sovereign should be the priority. --
AFP