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.