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."