World awaits East Timor trial: UN

JAKARTA (JP): UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan applauded on Tuesday the Indonesian government's actions to investigate rights violations in East Timor, but stressed that the world is watching to see if a credible prosecution of those responsible would occur.

"I think what we would want to see is that those who are accused of crimes committed in East Timor are brought to trial and are made accountable," said Annan who arrived here for three- day visit on Tuesday.

Speaking to journalists after meeting with Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab, the United Nations chief said Indonesia had so far demonstrated its determination to prosecute those found guilty.

"If the government is mounting a credible trial and prosecuting these people, I suspect the Security Council will not rush to set up their competing international tribunal," he said.

Members of the UN security council would "obviously be keeping their eyes on developments and ... see what is happening," Annan said.

Annan arrived here a day after President Abdurrahman Wahid formally suspended former Indonesian military chief Gen. Wiranto from his post as coordinating minister for political affairs and security.

The government-sanctioned inquiry on East Timor (KPP HAM) implicated Wiranto and 32 military and civilian officials as being responsible for the violence that erupted in the run up and after the Aug. 30 ballot in East Timor.

Attorney general Marzuki Darusman has said he hopes to be able to determine within two or three weeks who of those named by KPP HAM should stand trial.

Annan praised the government in its efforts to "ensure that there is a law to prosecute these people so that it would be a deterrent to future perpetrators of such crimes."

He said that during the one-hour meeting with Shihab, the two had discussed a wide range of issues including Indonesia's "current economic and financial reforms."

"We talked about the human rights commission report and the follow up action that the government has given to it," he said.

Earlier after landing at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Annan stressed that "what is important is that we have engaged in the judicial process".

He said he was "personally very pleased" by the government's steps toward ensuring that those responsible "be made accountable and will be brought to trial."

Annan's arrival was greeted by protests earlier in the day as some 100 people hurled stones at the UN compound in Central Jakarta accusing him of being a puppet of Western countries.

The protesters threw stones, eggs and tomatoes at the UN office protesting the visit and blaming the UN for Indonesia's loss of East Timor last year.

At least one person was injured in the ensuing melee as police tried to control the crowd.

Annan also met on Tuesday with chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly Amien Rais and speaker of the House of Representatives Akbar Tandjung .

On Wednesday he is due to meet with Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono, President Abdurrahman, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights Djoko Soegianto and Marzuki.

Praise for President Abdurrahman's suspension of Wiranto also came from the United States on Monday.

"This action reflects President Wahid's government's intention to seriously address charges against individuals alleged to be responsible for human rights abuses in East Timor," State Department spokesman James Rubin was quoted by Reuters as saying from Washington.

"It is a significant step forward in the development of democracy and the rule of law in Indonesia after decades of authoritarian rule and ignoring these key values," he added.

Coup

In the latest follow-up to KPP HAM's report, the Attorney General's office on Tuesday established a special team to examine the findings of the inquiry.

Attorney General's office spokesperson Soehandoyo said the team's findings will be used as a reference for the office's joint inquiry team with the military and the police.

The team comprises of 35 people led by Deputy Attorney General for Intelligence Yusuf Kertanegara and Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes A. Rahman.

"Up to now there is no time limit given. But it will likely take a long time to examine the approximately 4,000 documents submitted," Soehandoyo explained.

While Wiranto's saga filled the headlines of all local media here, the former military chief on Tuesday kept a low profile speaking only to radio station M97.

During the interview Wiranto suggested that if there were certain military officers "whispered" to Abdurrahman to change his mind and suspend him, the truth would be revealed.

Commenting on previous rumors of a coup, Wiranto boasted that if he wanted he had several opportunities to launch one in the past.

He revealed that he was given a direct written presidential order under then President Soeharto in 1998 which gave him authority to safeguard the state for the sake of national interest, which could have been a pretext to a coup.

Another opportunity was the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly in 1999 when the TNI were in force to secure the proceedings.

When still pressed further over the coup issue, Wiranto retorted: "Do you think Wiranto is that kind of man?"

Indonesian Intelligence Coordinating Board chief Lt. Gen. (ret.) Arie J. Kumaat separately said here on Tuesday that he does not expect any security fallout as a result of Wiranto's suspension.

"There will be no problem because the military threw its weight behind the president's decision to suspend him," he said. (01/04/byg/jun/rms)