`Security personnel attacked church'

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An East Timorese priest testified before a rights tribunal on Thursday that Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers and policemen were among the crowd that attacked a church in Liquica, East Timor, in April 1999.

Testifying at the trial of Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, Father Raphael dos Santos said militia members, policemen and soldiers attacked the church after firing weapons at and throwing a tear gas canister into his house, located within the church complex, on April 6, 1999.

Adam Damiri is charged with crimes against humanity for failing to prevent the bloodshed. If found guilty, he would face a minimum sentence of 10 years.

Adam Damiri is the former head of the Udayana Military Command overseeing Bali, West Nusa Tengara, East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor. He is the highest ranking soldier brought before the rights tribunal for the violence in the run-up, during and after the United Nations-sponsored referendum in East Timor in 1999.

"I saw them myself, among the attackers were militia members, policemen and soldiers disguised as militia members and carrying M-16s," dos Santos told the rights tribunal from Dili by teleconference.

Dos Santos said some 2,000 people were taking refuge in the Liquica church complex when the attack took place.

"Women and children were let unharmed but the men were beaten and attacked with knives," dos Santos said.

Dozens of people were killed when militia members attacked the church.

Prosecutors said Adam Damiri knew the militias and his Army subordinates were engaged in systematic and widespread attacks on civilians but failed to stop them.

Dos Santos said his house was located 10 meters away from the church, and that he saw Indonesian soldiers "bare-chested, wearing sarongs and carrying M-16s" among the militia members.

"I was standing by the window of my house. I recognized some 'militia members' as Liquica Military Command members because, being a priest in the town for 10 years, I knew all of them," he said.

Dos Santos claimed that he was later taken to safety by the same soldiers who attacked the church and brought to the local police headquarters, seeing two dead bodies along the way.

He said that when he returned to his house, he found traces of blood everywhere.

Responding to the priest's testimony, Adam Damiri said: "I object and reject all of the witness' testimony because this testimony is not in line with the testimonies from previous witnesses," referring to evidence given by local military and police chiefs.

The court adjourned the trial until next Wednesday, at which time it will hear the testimony of former TNI commander Gen. (ret) Wiranto, East Timor President Xanana Gusmao and East Timor Bishop Filipe Ximenes Belo.

Adam Damiri is one of 18 security personnel and civilians brought to court for gross human rights violations in East Timor in 1999. Eleven have been acquitted and four sentenced to between three years and 10 years in jail, though they remain free pending appeal.