Wiranto grilled for 7 hours over Timor violence

Wiranto grilled for 7 hours over Timor violence

JAKARTA (JP): Former Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret)
Wiranto said he was relieved to "spell out the truth" of last
year's violence in East Timor while being interrogated on Tuesday
by a special Attorney General's Office investigative team.

Wiranto was questioned for nearly seven hours over his alleged
role in the East Timor mayhem as the then military chief/minister
of defense and security before, after and during the historic
Aug. 30 ballot.

Speaking to journalists after the questioning, a coy Wiranto
spoke about the questioning, which was conducted in a "relaxed"
atmosphere.

Wiranto admitted that the violence which occurred was not
totally unexpected but was almost unavoidable.

"It had been estimated that whichever party lost in the ballot
there would be dissatisfaction and outrage at the result. I had
warned the government of this critical risk given the situation
in the restive area," he said.

While the destruction in East Timor following the ballot was
immense, Wiranto maintained that he had largely done what was
required as spelled out in the May 1999 New York Agreement which
laid the grounds for the UN-supervised ballot and obliged the
National Police to insure a secure climate for the ballot to take
place.

"Truthfully speaking, the Indonesian government, in this case
the military and police, did its job successfully in safeguarding
the ballot and in taking full responsibility for the United
Nations (UN) personnel's safety there."

During the questioning led by Deputy Attorney General for
General Crimes M.A. Rahman, Wiranto was asked 14 questions.

"After waiting for months, I am relieved because today I have
spelled out the truth," Wiranto remarked.

Wiranto is among 21 officers and officials to be summoned in
the case.

This is the first time Wiranto has been summoned by the
Attorney General's Office investigative team. He was previously
questioned in December by an inquiry established by the
government-sanctioned National Commission on Human Rights.

The inquiry's final report alleged that Wiranto and several
senior officers should be held accountable for the violence in
East Timor.

Wiranto is due to be questioned again on Tuesday.

Wiranto's alleged involvement resulted in his suspension in
February as coordinating minister for political affairs and
security.

Wiranto himself on Tuesday also confirmed that he had no
intention of retaining the Cabinet post.

"After contemplating for the last four months, I've decided to
leave the Cabinet for good. I will tell this to the President the
first chance I get to meet him," he said reading a written
statement, which he later admitted had been prepared a day
before.

One of the consultants of the legal defense team employed by
Wiranto and other military officers to represent them, former
minister of justice Muladi, said the resignation was Wiranto's
own personal decision and not taken under duress.

"He considers that this country needs a solid ministry to
stabilize the political and security situation. That is the
reason for his resignation," Muladi announced.

"He will become an ordinary person and will abandon his
official residence and other facilities provided," he added. (01)