Robinson calls for int'l court for E. Timor

Robinson calls for int'l court for E. Timor

Agencies, Dili

United Nations human rights chief Mary Robinson closed her three- day trip to East Timor on Sunday with a call for an international tribunal to bring those guilty of violence in 1999 to justice if Indonesia failed to do so.

During her visit, Robinson has criticized Jakarta's handling of trials for those accused of atrocities in East Timor, once ruled by Indonesia. She has also received strong demands from families of victims to fight for an international tribunal.

"Indonesia has been given an opportunity to bring justice and we are seeing this process but it has not satisfied me," Robinson said at a final news conference before flying out of Dili.

"So that's why I will bring back two recommendations made by the (East Timor) commission of inquiry that if Indonesia fails to bring justice there should be an international tribunal."

Robinson said she had met people from all walks of life during her visit to Dili, and the towns of Liquica and Suai, and most told her they wanted an international tribunal to address crimes committed at the time of the 1999 independence vote.

Indonesia has deflected international pressure for an international tribunal to try the crimes by militias and soldiers, by setting up its own ad hoc court to judge the human rights violations.

It has brought 18 officers, officials and civilians to court on charges of gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity. But it already acquitted six officers and sentenced a former governor to a mere three years despite the more than 10 years sought by prosecutors.

Robinson has said the trials were "not satisfying" by international human rights standards. She and international rights groups have said prosecution was sloppy and the evidence brought to bear, minimal.

The Bishop of Dili, Nobel laureate Carlos Ximenes Felipe Belo, earlier on Sunday said East Timorese should work to get an international tribunal.

Belo spoke after accompanying Robinson on a visit to the Santa Cruz cemetery.

Robinson told the press conference that as a sovereign country, Indonesia must bring perpetrators of gross human rights violations, including in East Timor, to court.

"If the government fails to make justice, then the United Nations will take other alternatives," she said.