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