RI refuses entry to UN experts probing violence
RI refuses entry to UN experts probing violence
Chris Brummitt, Associated Press/Jakarta
Indonesia will deny entry visas for three legal experts tasked by
the United Nations to investigate why Jakarta failed to punish
any military officers over the violence that accompanied East
Timor's independence vote in 1999, a government spokesman said on
Monday.
Marty Natelegawa said that allowing the three to visit
Indonesia would "not be in order" because East Timor and
Indonesia have formed their own commission to investigate the
violence and promote reconciliation.
He denied that refusing entry to the three would anger the
United Nations.
"Indonesia is a respected member of the United Nations," he
said. "We do not see ourselves as on a collision course with the
United Nations."
It is doubtful whether the UN team will be able to produce a
meaningful report if it has no access to court documents or
witnesses in Indonesia.
With the alleged support of military forces, pro-Indonesia
militia killed hundreds of people in the aftermath of a UN-
organized plebiscite in 1999 that ended Indonesia's 24-year
occupation of East Timor. About half of East Timor's 700,000
people were forced to flee their homes during the bloodshed,
which only ended with the arrival of peacekeeping troops.
In response to international pressure, Indonesian courts
charged 18 people, most of them police and military officers.
Twelve were acquitted, and five others had their sentences
overturned on appeal. An appeal in the final case - a senior pro-
Jakarta militiaman - is still pending.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed the commission of
experts to review Jakarta's prosecutions and explain why a 1999
Security Council resolution to try those responsible for the
bloodshed failed. The three experts are from India, Japan and
Fiji.
Indonesia and East Timor's Commission of Truth and Friendship
was inaugurated last month. The body consists of lawyers and
human rights figures from both nations. It will issue a report
describing the cause of the bloodshed, but will not recommend
legal action against those responsible.
Human rights groups want the United Nations to oversee an
international tribunal for East Timor like those in Rwanda and
the former Yugoslavia. They say the joint commission is an
attempt to absolve Indonesia's generals of responsibility for
crimes in East Timor.
The situation is complicated because East Timor says it is no
longer interested in pursuing war crimes cases against the
Indonesia generals, saying it is more interested in improving
ties with its giant neighbor.