UN official to meet rights body

UN official to meet rights body

JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations' investigator on violence
against women, Radhika Coomaraswamy, arrived in the East Timor
capital of Dili on Friday, at the start of a 10-day trip to
Indonesia.

Marzuki Darusman of the National Commission on Human Rights
confirmed the arrival of the Sri Lankan jurist who serves as UN
special rapporteur on violence against women.

"She went directly to East Timor and is scheduled to meet
members of the National Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday,"
Marzuki said.

No details were available about her program in East Timor but
Coomaraswamy will look into riots last May, including violence
against the Chinese ethnic minority, Reuters quoted UN spokesman
Jose Diaz as saying.

Coomaraswamy reports to the UN Commission on Human Rights.
She is also due to meet officials including State Minister of
Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
Alatas, Minister of Justice Muladi as well as Gen. Wiranto, the
commander of the Armed Forces and the minister of defense.

Coomaraswamy will also meet with women's groups and other non-
governmental organizations.

Human rights groups estimate that nearly 1,200 people died in
rioting last May in Jakarta, many of whom were looters trapped in
burning buildings and that dozens of women were sexually
assaulted. (byg)