Wiranto gives testimony before House committee

Wiranto gives testimony before House committee

JAKARTA (JP): Former chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI)
Gen. Wiranto starred in a House of Representatives hearing on
Wednesday, convincing legislators of his innocence in last year's
East Timor violence.

Dressed in a dark suit, a cool and neat looking Wiranto
fulfilled the House's invitation without the presence of a troupe
of his defense lawyers.

He was well prepared for the session, as he showed a film
picturing his role in bringing peace between rival factions in
East Timor before a self-determination poll that resulted in the
territory's independence.

"I hope the House can believe the truth. I'm just telling the
truth," Wiranto told House Commission I for defense, foreign and
political affairs.

Wiranto, who was suspended as the coordinating minister for
political affairs and security in connection with the post-ballot
mayhem in East Timor, denied allegations he had done nothing to
avoid the violence.

The government-sanctioned Commission of Inquiry into Human
Rights Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor listed Wiranto among
the TNI military top brass allegedly responsible for the East
Timor debacle. The commission said in its report that Wiranto,
the TNI chief when the violence erupted, was morally responsible
for the human rights violations.

Wiranto fought back on Wednesday, labeling the commission as
unfair.

He also denied the moral responsibility over the human rights
violations until the formal investigation declared him a suspect.

"There has been no legal decision on the issue. The term of
political and moral responsibility remains unclear," he said.

Wiranto said he suspected the role of foreign countries,
particularly Australia, in intensifying an anti-Indonesia
campaign prior to the ballot.

"We recorded 14 illegal (Australian) flights above East Timor
during April and July last year. Our officers saw them and there
was satellite detection of the flights," he said.

Wiranto said Australian intelligence officers had been seen
with proindependence Fretelin troops, who were supported with new
weapons and clothes before the ballot.

The hearing was originally aimed at quizzing Wiranto over his
role in the East Timor atrocities, but several times the focus
changed.

When it came to his stand-off with President Abdurrahman
Wahid, who, while on a 16-day overseas trip, asked him to resign
over East Timor, Wiranto told the House commission that he was
not a defiant officer in his refusal to meet the President's
call, saying he was just awaiting the President return.

Abdurrahman finally suspended Wiranto on Feb. 13 and installed
home affairs minister Surjadi Soedirdja as the acting
coordinating minister.

Wiranto did not lose his popularity despite his removal,
thanks to talk shows on a radio station and two television
stations.

In its latest edition, the Tempo weekly magazine reported that
Wiranto "bought" the air time for Rp 100 million per slot in
order to set up the shows at his request. Wiranto dismissed the
report.

"I have no money to buy the programs. The stations were
helping me to explain the truth," Wiranto said.

On rumors of a military coup, Wiranto said former TNI chief of
territorial affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had
suggested he assume power during the chaos in May 1998, which
forced then president Soeharto to step down.

"Pak Bambang Yudhoyono suggested I take over power, but I
refused to," he said.

Bambang is now the minister of mines and energy.

Wiranto was also asked about his relations with former chief
of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo
Subianto, who is Soeharto's son-in-law.

Wiranto said he rejected Prabowo's proposal that Kopassus buy
a helicopter and 72 tanks from Jordan. (jun)