Rights committee to probe rape

DILI: The National Commission on Human Rights plans to investigate allegations that military personnel raped a young woman in November last year, a local activist said here yesterday.

"The investigators are due here for a two-day visit after the Idul Fitri holiday, possibly Feb. 11th," head of the East Timor committee branch Alex Rifialy told The Jakarta Post.

The committee has already received depositions by the 23 year- old illiterate farmer from the Ermera district, Alex said. The case caused an uproar in Jakarta.

He said the team of Clementino dos Reis Amaral, Marzuki Darusman, Sugiri and Soetandyo Wignjosubroto would not only investigate the alleged rape, but also probe the murder of chief corporal Alfredo dos Santos outside Dili cathedral last year prior to a Christmas Eve service.

The investigation follows closely on the heels of statements by Bishop of East Timor Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo here Wednesday about continued abuses of human rights in Indonesia's youngest province.

In addition to the new cases, the rights committee would investigate an old case concerning the shooting of Thomas da Costa, 35, in Betano village, Same district, Alex said.

The authorities have denied the reports on the rape of the farmer. (01)