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.