RI not to extradite East Timorese

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Indonesia will not extradite East Timorese Domingos dos Santos, who is wanted by the neighboring country for his alleged role in a riot early December 2002.

National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said here on Friday Domingos would be prosecuted in Indonesia on charges of immigration violations after his arrest on Dec. 23 for illegally entering the country.

Da'i said Indonesia has no obligation to comply with Dili's request that the man be transferred to East Timorese authorities, as no extradition treaty exists between the two countries.

Domingos sneaked into Indonesian territory in a bid to escape arrest by East Timorese police, who accused him of provoking the December riot that left three people dead in Dili.

Da'i's statement contradicted the remarks of Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Agus Suyitno, who recently said that Indonesian security authorities would hand Domingos over to East Timor to boost ties between the two countries. -- Antara