Robinson zeros in on alleged rights abuses
JAKARTA (JP): United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) Mary Robinson said on Monday that military personnel should be prosecuted for any rights abuses in East Timor and recommended the formation of an international commission to investigate allegations.
Robinson said that based on reports obtained as she monitored the situation in East Timor from Darwin, Australia, the Indonesian Military (TNI) contributed to increasing violence which led to rights violations in the territory.
"I have heard reports and a preliminary assessment that there is an alleged link between TNI and the militias," she told journalists on Monday afternoon.
She said that based on those reports, the military "orchestrated the tension, and is very much involved in terrorizing the population".
She called for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry "as a step toward assuring accountability for the grave violations committed in the territory".
"I believe the first step would be to have a commission of inquiry and then to assemble what evidence there is," Robinson added.
She asserted that a thorough investigation of possible rights violations in East Timor must be taken seriously, "not just for the sake of East Timor but actually for the future of Indonesian human rights".
During her one-day stop here, Robinson met with East Timor independence leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao in the morning and later held separate meetings with the National Commission on Human Rights and President B.J. Habibie.
"The deliberate attempt to drive out the world's eyes and ears in East Timor, namely the UN presence and the media, did not prevent the collection of a great amount of evidence (including) names, places and facts," she said without giving any details.
According to Robinson, the commission, with an international committee of experts, would gather and analyze evidence of the atrocities in East Timor.
"The committee would make recommendations on how to establish accountability, including the possible creation of a special tribunal to prosecute crimes against humanity in the territory," she added. She did not say when it would be established.
She claimed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also indicated the need for a tribunal, but quickly added, "We can't elaborate further until we look into what the evidence is."
She was set to leave for New York late on Monday to present her preliminary assessment to Annan.
Habibie
During her meeting with Habibie, Robinson said she directly shared her concerns about the alleged rights abuses in East Timor.
"President Habibie stated that he was committed to supporting the process of justice and accountability for the atrocities committed in East Timor," she said.
When asked whether she expected the Indonesian Military to cooperate, she replied that she had expected to see TNI Commander Gen. Wiranto during her meeting with Habibie. However he did not appear.
Separately, the chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights, Marzuki Darusman, who accompanied Robinson in the meeting with Habibie, said the President generally responded positively to the suggestion of a commission.
"The President agreed that the establishment of such a commission should be considered," he said, adding that in the near future contacts would be made between UNCHR representatives here and Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights.
"However, on the matter, the President stressed that Indonesia should and would start from the principle of presumption of innocence," he said, adding that Habibie pledged affirmative action would be taken against guilty parties.
Marzuki added that Habibie also directed the commission to be related to the National Human Rights Commission and the Minister of Justice. (emf)