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.