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)