Robinson zeros in on alleged rights abuses
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)