RI, E. Timor set to discuss rights abuse acquittals

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The foreign ministers of Indonesia and East Timor are likely to discuss matters related to the 1999 human rights violations in East Timor, including the possible establishment of a commission of experts, when the two meet in Bali on Sunday.

Foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda said that both Indonesia and East Timor rejected any such commission.

"Minister Horta (East Timorese foreign minister Ramos-Horta) himself has said that he rejects the idea of UN setting up such a commission," Hassan said on Friday.

International human rights organizations have demanded that the United Nations create an International Commission of Experts to review the work of the ad hoc Human Rights Tribunal in Indonesia and the UN-established Serious Crimes process in East Timor.

Hassan brushed aside the idea of the UN setting up a commission, saying it was too early to react as the judicial process concerning alleged human rights abuses in East Timor was still under way.

In a separate development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said the two ministers would mainly discuss issues of mutual concern and human rights violations in East Timor.

Marty said the possibility of the UN setting up a commission could worsen relations between Indonesia and East Timor.

He said not even the Indonesian and East Timorese governments could intervene in the judicial process of the ad hoc human rights tribunal.

"If we accept the UN idea, it would set a precedent that the UN can place itself in a position to evaluate the judicial process of a sovereign country," he said.

International human rights and justice organizations recently sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in June to express appreciation for the plan to establish the commission of experts to hold those accountable for human rights abuses in the world's youngest state. However, to date the UN has made no announcement concerning the establishment of a commission.

The issue gained currency following the acquittals of Indonesian Army generals by the ad hoc human rights appellate court.

On June 29, the appeals court acquitted four military and police officers -- Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri (the former Udayana Military commander), Col. Noer Muis, Lt. Col. Sudarwo and Sr. Comr. Hulman Gultom -- of gross human rights abuses linked to atrocities that followed the separation of East Timor from Indonesia.

Since then, only two of the 18 tried for the abuses have been convicted: former governor Abilio Soares and pro-Jakarta militia leader Eurico Guterres, both of whom are civilian and ethnic Timorese.

The verdicts also drew criticism from foreign countries, such as the United States and New Zealand.