DATE=1/31/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA - WIRANTO (L-O)
NUMBER=2-258613
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Indonesian human-rights investigators say
former Minister of Defense and Armed Forces chief
General Wiranto is among six commanders responsible
for the bloodshed that erupted in East Timor after an
independence vote in September. But as Patricia Nunan
reports from Jakarta, it remains unclear what type of
legal action will be taken against the general, who
remains a member of Indonesia's cabinet.
TEXT: Indonesian human-rights investigators say
General Wiranto was "fully conscious" of the violence
that was carried out in East Timor before and after
the September independence ballot. They said as head
of the Armed Forces at the time General Wiranto bears
the responsibility for the bloodshed.
The team from Indonesia's National Commission on Human
Rights for East Timor recommended the country's
Attorney General further investigate General Wiranto's
actions. The team also recommended investigation of
five other top military commanders.
General Wiranto was Indonesia's Armed Forces chief and
Minister of Defense during the East Timor vote on
whether the territory should remain part of Indonesia.
Violence erupted after the independence vote was
announced. Armed anti-independence militia groups
allegedly supported by the Indonesian military went on
a campaign of terror, killing hundreds of people,
forcing hundreds-of-thousands to flee, and burning
hundreds of buildings and homes.
The inquiry also revealed evidence of sexual crimes
against women in East Timor and in refugee camps in
neighboring West Timor. Investigators also found
evidence of people being tortured before they were
killed, and attempts to destroy evidence of mass
graves.
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman says despite the
findings, it would be premature to suggest that
General Wiranto would leave his cabinet position as
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs.
/// DARUSMAN ACT ///
We are of course going out from the universal
principal of the presumption of innocence.
Therefore, if and when, the requirement arises
to summon General Wiranto for further
investigations, it would be done in a manner
that would facilitate the Attorney General's
office to take such action. Whether or not that
would entail General Wiranto stepping out of the
presidential cabinet is entirely the prerogative
of the president.
/// END ACT ///
Other military commanders to be further investigated
include Indonesia's head of military intelligence,
General Zacky Anwar Makarim, and General Kiki
Syahnakri, military liaison between Indonesia and
international peacekeeping troops deployed in East
Timor.
The release of Indonesia's own human rights report on
East Timor comes a day ahead of the formal release of
a report prepared by U-N investigators.
U-N sources say the report also blames the Indonesian
military for the humanitarian disaster in East Timor.
U-N investigators want the Security Council to form an
international human-rights tribunal to bring to
justice those responsible for the bloodshed.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister has rejected the U-N
findings. Alwi Shihab says it would be completely
unacceptable for an international court to consider
human-rights abuses in East Timor, because at the time
East Timor was a part of Indonesia. (SIGNED)
NEB/MPN/RAE
31-Jan-2000 08:11 AM EDT (31-Jan-2000 1311 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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