Two RI soldiers indicted in E. Timor

Two RI soldiers indicted in E. Timor

JAKARTA: Twelve people -- including two members of Kopassus (the Army's Special Force) -- have been indicted in East Timor for the 1999 murder of a village leader ahead of the country's vote for independence, the United Nations said on Friday.

All 12 were charged with crimes against humanity for allegedly killing Verissimo Dias Quintas in the village of Lospalos on Aug. 27, 1999, U.N. spokesman Brennon Jones said.

The incident occurred three days before voters approved an independence referendum.

The defendants include a former district administrator, seven members of a pro-Indonesian militia gang, and two soldiers from Kopassus.

Nine of the 12 live in Indonesia, including the soldiers, who are identified as Rahman Zulkarnean and Syaful Anwar. A Dili court has issued arrest warrants for all nine.

Dozens have been indicted in Dili for the bloodshed. In Jakarta, 18 TNI and police officials have been charged with war crimes. So far, six of the defendants have been acquitted. --AP