RI still committed to rights tribunal, challenges remain

RI still committed to rights tribunal, challenges remain

CANBERRA (JP): Top Indonesian officials here on Tuesday
pleaded for international patience and understanding on the
delicate domestic complexities involved in their efforts to bring
the perpetrators of alleged human rights abuses in East Timor to
trial.

Speaking after a meeting with Australian Prime Minister John
Howard, President Abdurrahman Wahid insisted that Jakarta was
committed to seeing justice being done.

"They have to be brought to justice and the law enforcement
will take place in Indonesia," Abdurrahman told journalists.

However he was quick to caution that despite his unbending
commitment, the process "needs time because everything in
Indonesia is slow."

"There are so many obstacles we have to face," Abdurrahman
added.

Indonesia is under international pressure to bring those
allegedly responsible for the wave of violence in East Timor in
August 1999 to trial.

The Attorney General's Office has named three members of the
military top brass at the time as being among the 23 suspects
named for alleged human rights violations in the former
Indonesian province that took place after a UN-sanctioned
plebiscite there resulted in an overwhelming vote for
independence.

Recently the government passed a law providing for the
establishment of a tribunal to try those responsible for human
rights crimes.

The Attorney General's Office is also completing its
investigation of several suspects, including senior military
officers, in connection with alleged rights violations in East
Timor.

When the President, who is on a state visit to Australia, was
again pressed if Indonesia was committed to upholding justice in
this regard, he replied: "There should be law enforcement on this
matter and prosecution as well."

"But we need time to do that!"

The issue of East Timor and the bringing of alleged rights
violators to trial continued to be a major theme of Abdurrahman's
visit to Australia.

Prime Minister Howard himself on Tuesday expressed confidence
that the Indonesia government would stick to its commitment of
seeing justice being carried out.

"We take a positive view of the commitment made on the
establishment of tribunals to deal with allegations concerning
conduct both before and after the 1999 ballot," he said.

Commitment

Separately after meeting with his Australian counterpart
Alexander Downer, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi
Shihab also underlined Jakarta's commitment to convening a rights
tribunal "as soon as possible."

However Alwi warned about the extent to which Australia and
the international community should try to compel Indonesia to
carry out this commitment.

"Australia should also recognize that there are (domestic)
elements which feel that if the tribunal goes too far, it could
disrupt the delicate balance inside the country," he said.

He warned that should this happen "the government, despite its
commitment, may not be able to optimally fulfill the expectations
of the international community."

In a related development, Alwi said he had also discussed with
Downer the issue of the East Timor refugees still living in camps
in East Nusa Tenggara.

Alwi said that Indonesia should not have to bear the burden of
helping the refugees alone.

"The international community should also take responsibility,"
he asserted.

"I asked Australia to take an active role, not only in terms
of financial contributions, but also supporting Indonesia by
voicing it in the international community," Alwi said.

According to Alwi, Downer said he could understand the
Indonesian position. (mds)