Prosecutors drop case on Dutch journalist murder

Prosecutors drop case on Dutch journalist murder

Chris Brummitt, Associated Press, Jakarta

Indonesian prosecutors have dropped their investigation into
the killing of a Dutch journalist in East Timor in 1999, a
spokesman said Thursday.

Attorney General's Office spokesman Barman Zahir said
investigators had determined there was not enough evidence to
prosecute.

"In the meantime, we will not be continuing the case," Barman
told the Associated Press. "Later, if new evidence or suspects
come up, it can be continued."

Barman said that a witness identified by the Dutch police as
key to the investigation was unreliable and continually changed
his story.

Barman also said there were conflicting autopsy reports on the
state of Thoenes' corpse. Australian doctors said it bore gunshot
wounds, while Indonesian physicians found stab marks. Barman said
the discrepancy was unexplained.

Dutch authorities have carried out their own investigation
into of the murder of Financial Times reporter Sander Thoenes and
identified a serving Indonesian soldier as a prime suspect.

Holland said it was disappointed and confused by Indonesia's
decision.

"We don't think there is any reason to drop this case," Bart
Jochem, a Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman, told AP.

"We know what the evidence is and we think there is more than
enough reason to bring this case to court."

Thoenes was forced off his motorbike and killed in East
Timor's capital Dili soon after he arrived in the city to cover
the arrival of an international peacekeeping force and the
withdrawal of Indonesian troops in 1999.

Peacekeepers were deployed in East Timor after the Indonesian
military went on a rampage following a UN-sponsored vote for
independence. Hundreds of people were killed and much of the
territory was left in ruins.

Indonesia had pledged to prosecute Thoenes' killers in
cooperation with UN investigators in East Timor. Dutch police
have been conducting a separate investigation but have shared
their findings with Indonesia.

Dutch police said earlier this year several eye witnesses had
told them that Second Lt. Camillo dos Santos was Thoenes' killer.
Dos Santos has denied any involvement.

At the Hague, Dutch officials said Thursday they were not sure
what to believe. They said Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister
Hassan Wirayuda assured them during a visit to the Netherlands
last week that the case was not closed.

The Dutch Embassy in Jakarta received a letter Thursday from
Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad A.R. Rachman stating the
case was closed.

"These two communications are contradictory," said Jochem, the
Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman. "We'd like to know what is
really happening on this case. Is this a misunderstanding or
what? That is what we are trying to find out."