U.S. slams RI court decision, seeks action on Timor abuse

U.S. slams RI court decision, seeks action on Timor abuse

P. Parameswaran, Agence France-Presse/Washington

The United States sharply criticized on Monday an Indonesian
court decision acquitting four security officials convicted over
1999 atrocities in East Timor and said it was seeking
international action to bring to justice those behind the
appalling violence.

Jakarta announced last week that the four, including Maj. Gen.
Adam Damiri, the most senior military officer to face trial for
the bloodshed during East Timor's UN-backed independence vote,
were cleared by an appeal court on July 29.

A 10-year jail term imposed on a pro-Jakarta militiaman who
oversaw the murder and torture of independence supporters was
also slashed.

No reasons were given for the decisions, which had been
condemned by human rights groups crying for justice for the
estimated 1,400 people killed when Indonesian troops and their
local militia proxies waged a savage intimidation campaign.

"We are dismayed by this decision, and we are profoundly
disappointed with the performance and record of the Indonesian ad
hoc tribunal," Adam Ereli, deputy spokesman of the State
Department, told reporters.

All four security officials had been earlier found guilty of
crimes against humanity by the ad hoc Human Rights Court in
Jakarta, which Indonesia created in an attempt to shield itself
from calls for an international tribunal.

"In our view, as a result of this appeals decision, only two
of the 18 defendants have been convicted, and both individuals
are ethnic Timorese and received sentences below the 10-year
minimum set by law," he said.

"We think that the overall process was seriously flawed and
lacked credibility."

Asked whether the department had conveyed its views to
Jakarta, Ereli said: "We are consulting with the governments
concerned and international organizations on how to ensure a
credible level of justice for these abuses."

U.S.-based rights groups have charged that the courts in
Indonesia are not independent, calling for a UN inquiry to punish
those behind the murderous rampage across East Timor.

Brad Adams, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Asia
Division, said on Friday the United Nations should help create a
judicial process over the atrocities.

He said support from the United States, Japan, Australia, and
European Union (EU) countries for such a UN effort was essential.

In a recent letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Human
Rights Watch and other human rights groups urged the world body
to immediately establish a Commission of Experts "to resolve the
impunity gap created by the Indonesian ad hoc Court in Jakarta."

The East Timor Action Network (ETAN), which had been calling
for an international tribunal to prosecute crimes against
humanity in East Timor since 1975, also sought UN intervention.

ETAN spokesman John Miller urged the U.S. administration and
Congress to strengthen restrictions on assistance to the
Indonesian military "until there is meaningful justice."

East Timor, which won full autonomy in 2002, has downplayed
the importance of the trials, insisting that forging good ties
with Indonesia is a greater priority.

Indonesia invaded East Timor in December 1975, shortly after
Dili declared independence from centuries of Portuguese colonial
rule.