Military

DATE=03/03/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=INDONESIA TIMOR (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-300241

BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN

DATELINE=JAKARTA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: East Timor's foreign minister is defending his government's stance on bringing human rights violators to justice. As Patricia Nunan reports from Jakarta, Jose Ramos-Horta says East Timor's highest priority is eradicating poverty, not jailing people.

TEXT: Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta says his government respects the work of the United Nations investigators who have indicted several Indonesian officials for human rights abuses in East Timor. But, he says, East Timor has different priorities.

/// ACT - RAMOS HORTA ///

But President Xanana Gusmao has stated time and again - the priority for East Timor is our efforts to eradicate poverty, to bring about peace and stability in the country.

/// END ACT ///

Last week, an East Timor court, aided by the U-N Serious Crimes Unit indicted five generals, three other officers and East Timor's former governor. They are charged with crimes against humanity for the destruction of East Timor in 1999.

Among the indicted is the former head of Indonesia's Armed Forces, General Wiranto. The general called the charges false, and Indonesia's government says it will ignore the indictments.

East Timor's President Gusmao also has indicated he is not eager to pursue the case. Last week, Mr. Gusmao said he regretted that the indictments were issued.

East Timor, the president said, is more interested in building strong relations with its former enemy, Indonesia.

The U-N Serious Crimes unit works under East Timor's human rights court. Its job is to investigate crimes that occurred in 1999, during a crescendo of violence leading up to the August vote by East Timor to break free of Indonesia.

Most of the violence was the work of anti-independence militias - which the new indictments charge had the backing of the Indonesian Armed Forces. Hundreds of people died in the violence. Hundreds of thousands were forced to flee their homes.

Indonesia has its own tribunal to try those accused of crimes in East Timor. The tribunal has come under fire from human rights activists for not indicting senior military officers.

After meeting with Mr. Ramos-Horta on Monday, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda dismissed the criticism as premature.

/// ACT - WIRAJUDA ///

It is a process which has not been completed. And to pass judgment on the extent of the full performance of the ad hoc human rights court is of course premature.

/// END ACT ///

After three years under U-N administration, East Timor became fully independent last May. Indonesia is likely to be one of its largest trading partners. (SIGNED)

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