Sjafrie denies role in attack on Belo's residence

Sjafrie denies role in attack on Belo's residence

JAKARTA (JP): Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin denied on
Wednesday allegations that he was present or had anything to do
with a militia attack on Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo's
residence in Dili, East Timor, on Sept. 6.

"At that time, I was attending a regular staff meeting at the
Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters (in Jakarta)," Sjafrie
told reporters after being questioned by the Commission of
Inquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor.

KPP HAM has said that during a visit to the territory last
month, eyewitnesses told the inquiry that Sjafrie was seen at the
scene when Belo's residence was attacked by militiamen.

"I did not know about it and I was not there, so I deny this
sensational information ... I deplore the fact that one-sided
information has been announced to the public without first asking
whether it was true or not," he added.

Sjafrie, who was an assistant to former TNI chief Gen. Wiranto
when the ballot was held in East Timor on Aug. 30, said he only
visited the territory twice this year, on Aug. 27 and Sept. 11.

"I was there in August to monitor and check the readiness of
TNI personnel ahead of the ballot and I was there again on Sept.
11 as part of an advance team to prepare the arrival of UN
Security Council members," said Sjafrie, who was Jakarta military
commander during the May 1998 riots in the capital.

He was referring to the arrival of five members of UN Security
Council in East Timor, which led to the deployment of
international troops nine days later to stop the terror and
destruction ravaging the territory.

KPP HAM in its midterm report claimed that, based on
preliminary investigation and witnesses' accounts, TNI was
directly or indirectly involved in the violence perpetrated by
militias.

Former TNI chief Gen. Wiranto, who was questioned last week,
has denied the allegations, saying the violence was an emotional
outburst which was neither premeditated nor controllable.

Wiranto, who is now coordinating minister for political
affairs and security, and Sjafrie are among a number of top
military officers suspected of having prior knowledge of the East
Timor violence.

Other officers to be questioned by the inquiry in the next few
days include Maj. Gen. Zacky Anwar Makarim, Brig. Gen. Glen
Kairupan and former battalion commanders in East Timor, Maj.
Jacob Joko Sarosa and Maj. Yakraman Yagus.

KPP HAM members have said that former foreign affairs minister
Ali Alatas will be questioned next week. (byg)