Jakarta Post February 03, 2000

E. Timor findings 'must go to trial'

JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said on Wednesday that the findings of a national inquiry into last year's violence in East Timor, in which top military generals, including former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Wiranto, were implicated, must result in a trial.

"It must reach (the courts). We cannot just let it hang," Marzuki told reporters before a Cabinet meeting which was also attended by Wiranto.

Marzuki said it would take about three months to decide whether the Attorney General's Office would file charges against the TNI top brass.

He said, however, if the formal investigation was not completed in three months, it then could be extended by another three months.

Marzuki said that Wiranto's status as a Cabinet member would not hamper his office in starting an investigation.

Wiranto is currently coordinating minister for political affairs and security.

The government-sanctioned Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor implicated Wiranto and four other senior officers in the campaign of terror and destruction which erupted after the Aug. 30 ballot in the ravaged territory.

Later in the day, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, Soehandoyo, told reporters that Marzuki had instructed Deputy Attorney General for Intelligence Yusuf Kertanegara and Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes Rahman to study the commission's report.

The commission listed a total of 33 people, including former East Timor commander Brig. Gen. Tono Suratman, his immediate superior Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, who was former chief of the Udayana Military Command which oversaw East Timor, former East Timor Police chief Brig. Gen. Timbul Silaen, former intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Zacky Anwar Makarim and several prointegration militia leaders.

In response to his entry in the roster, Timbul said he was "okay with the findings".

"They have to prove it in court. Up to now, the police do not see me as a violator of human rights here," Timbul told reporters on the sidelines of the induction of Maj. Gen. Bimantoro as the new National Police deputy chief at National Police Headquarters.

National Police chief Lt. Gen. Rusdihardjo said on the same occasion the police would not accept the commission's report without proper analysis.

The government has rejected calls for an international tribunal to try those involved in the violence, and has appealed to members of the UN Security Council to allow Jakarta to handle the issue domestically.

Meanwhile, Antara reported later in the day that former justice minister Muladi called on the House of Representatives to reject the government regulation in lieu of the law on human rights tribunals as it could not try past human rights abuses.

Muladi is now coordinating the defense team for the TNI generals. (01/ylt/byg)

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