UN responsible for E. Timor unrest, says Gen. Damiri

UN responsible for E. Timor unrest, says Gen. Damiri

Tiarma Siboro and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An Indonesian Military (TNI) general said on Wednesday that the
United Nations had a share of the blame in the violence and human
rights violations before, during and after the UN-organized
referendum in East Timor in August 1999.

Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, former chief of the Udayana Regional
Military Command which then oversaw the Bali, East and West Nusa
Tenggara and East Timor provinces, told a hearing at the Central
Jakarta District Court that the United Nations Mission in East
Timor (UNAMET) was responsible for the unrest which erupted.

"The UN civilian police force was the only party responsible
for and having the authority to maintain security and order in
East Timor during the transitional period. But, none of its
members were present when unrest broke out in the former
Indonesian province," Adam told the human rights tribunal,
presided over by Judge Emmy Marni Mustafa.

Testifying as a witness in the trial of former East Timor
governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, the two-star general cited
the clash between the pro-integration and pro-independence camps
in the East Timor capital of Dili on Aug. 25, 1999 during the
final round of campaigning before the referendum.

"Members of the pro-integration camp was holding its campaign
in the Becora area when they were attacked by the pro-
independence camp. There were many fatalities in the clash, but
no members of the UN civilian police were there to control the
situation," he said.

Abilio, 54, is being tried for alleged human rights violations
in East Timor before, during and after the 1999 referendum. He is
charged with responsibility for violations by the civilian
regents of Liquica and Covalima, Leonito Martins and Herman
Sedyono respectively.

Adam, who is now assistant for operations to the TNI chief of
general affairs, said that unrest in East Timor was also incited
by alleged irregularities committed by UNAMET.

Speaking about the attack on the residence of Dili Bishop
Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo after the referendum, he said it was
reportedly triggered by the information that the ballot boxes
were kept there, instead of at the UNAMET office.

Meanwhile, former Dili mayor Mathius Maia accused the
prosecution of lacking fairness, saying that it had only
prosecuted Indonesian civilian and military officials.

"It's unfair as the alleged rights abuse has os only been
directed at Indonesian officials, while UNAMET was supposed to be
responsible for the situation there during the transitional
period," Maia told the prosecution.

UNAMET, so far, has yet to appear in the trial although the
prosecutors have requested the UN body present witnesses.