'TNI not responsible for abuses'

'TNI not responsible for abuses'

JAKARTA: Former justice minister Muladi said Wednesday that
legal military personnel stationed in East Timor before, during
and after the 1999 referendum were doing their job for the
country and therefore could not be blamed for abuses by militia
members.

"Military officers, who were just doing their duties, cannot
be held responsible for fatalities in East Timor clashes in 1999
as long as their conduct was in line with standard operating
procedures," Muladi said when testifying at a human rights trial
against former East Timor military commander Noer Muis.

Noer is one of 18 military and police officers, and civilians
brought to trial for gross human rights violations in East Timor
in 1999.

In a separate hearing, Lt. Col. Hardiono Saroso told the court
that Brig. Gen. Tono Suratman, also a former East Timor military
commander, had no prior knowledge of the April 17, 1999 rally
organized by pro-Jakarta militias.

Following the rally, tens of militia members attacked pro-
independence supporters taking refuge in the house of pro-
independence leader Manuel Carascalao, killing at least 20
people, including Carascalao's son. --JP