RI criticizes UN team's report

RI criticizes UN team's report

Indonesia rejected the United Nations team of experts' report on
the trials of alleged human rights violators in the then
Indonesian province of East Timor and accused the UN commission
of "distracting" reconciliation efforts between Indonesia and
Timor Leste.

"If the reported contents of the report are accurate, then
clearly that sort of recommendation is one that we cannot
support," foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa told AFP.

An international tribunal should happen only in "the most
exceptional and extraordinary cases where there's an abject
failure on the part of the countries concerned (to ensure
justice)," Natalegawa said.

"This is not the case as regards Indonesia and Timor Leste."

In its report, a copy of which was seen by AFP, the experts
said Indonesia's ad hoc human rights court was "manifestly
inadequate" and "shows scant respect for -- or conformity to --
relevant international standards".

The three-member panel recommended that the UN Secretary
General require Indonesia to account for its prosecutions within
six months or allow an international tribunal to bring those
responsible for the violence to justice.

The UN commission visited Indonesia in May to assess the
country's efforts after earlier visiting Timor Leste to review
the work of a parallel prosecution body tasked with indicting
human rights violators.

Jakarta had argued that the United Nations panel was redundant
in light of the creation of a joint reconciliation panel with
Timor Leste, called the Commission of Truth and Friendship, but
later agreed to cooperate.

But the UN experts said some aspects of the reconciliation
body's remit "contradict international standards on denial of
impunity for serious crimes".

Timor Leste leaders, meanwhile, have said they do not support
an international tribunal, preferring to focus on good ties with
the tiny state's giant neighbor.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said last month
that the country's human rights tribunal was "imperfect" but
stressed both Jakarta and Dili were "trying to move forward".

Timor Leste gained full independence in May 2002 after more
than two years of UN stewardship.

Pro-Indonesian militia gangs, allegedly directed by Indonesian
army officers, went on a rampage before and after East Timorese
voted for independence from Jakarta in a UN-sponsored ballot in
August 1999. -- AFP