January 29, 2004
Prosecutors in East Timor made a new attempt yesterday to bring a leading Indonesian presidential candidate to justice for alleged crimes against humanity in the territory in 1999. They asked a judge in East Timor to hold a public hearing into their application for an arrest warrant for retired General Wiranto, who was Indonesia's military commander during the territory's bloody breakaway from Jakarta. Last week top prosecutor Longuinhos Monteiro accused judges in East Timor of foot-dragging in granting arrest warrants for Wiranto and five others, who were indicted for crimes against humanity almost one year ago. "From my point of view the problem is with the judges," Monteiro told AFP. Yesterday his deputy Nicholas Koumjian asked the judge for a public hearing "to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to issue an arrest warrant against General Wiranto." In his written motion released by the United Nations-funded Serious Crimes Unit, Koumjian said this would be the most transparent way to deal with an issue of worldwide interest. He said Wiranto could choose to attend a public hearing, send a lawyer or testify by video-link if he fears being arrested. Local militias organized by the Indonesian military waged a savage intimidation campaign before East Timorese voted overwhelmingly in August 1999 to split from Indonesia, and a revenge campaign afterwards. An estimated 1,000 people were killed and whole towns were burnt to the ground. Prosecutors say Wiranto failed to punish or prevent crimes committed by those acting under his effective control. He says he did his best to prevent bloodshed.
More Information on the Ad-Hoc Court for East Timor
More Information on General Wiranto
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