Global Policy Forum

By Jill Jolliffe

Indonesian presidential candidate Wiranto has agreed to give evidence to a hearing of war crimes charges against him, according to East Timor's chief prosecutor. Longuinhos Monteiro said he met the former military chief's lawyers in Bali on Saturday. "They told me the suspect is available and will testify, by video link," he said, adding that he took the initiative "because our people are waiting for justice". The retired general is facing charges of crimes against humanity, including murder and persecution, for his role in Indonesia's scorched earth withdrawal from East Timor in 1999. Towns were burnt, more than 1000 independence supporters were killed, and 250,000 people were deported to West Timor by soldiers and militiamen under Wiranto's command, after the East Timorese voted overwhelmingly to reject Indonesian rule. Nicholas Koumjian, head of the United Nations-funded Serious Crimes Unit, petitioned Dili's special panel of international judges last week for a public hearing to assess evidence against Wiranto, after they had stalled on an arrest warrant in the politically sensitive case. Mr Koumjian stressed that the hearing would not be a trial, and invited Wiranto to give evidence, using a video link. The judges have not yet pronounced on the request, or set a date. Mr Monteiro said he travelled to Bali knowing Wiranto would be there, but did not meet him. Instead he met his advisers under chief lawyer Muladi, who served as justice minister under president B.J. Habibie. "It is my duty to ensure that all parties participate to be just, the accused needs to defend himself. His lawyers accepted the proposition," Mr Monteiro said. Timorese leaders, including President Xanana Gusmao and the Foreign Minister, Jose Ramos Horta, are opposed to trying Wiranto, seeing war crimes trials as prejudicial to the country's increasingly friendly relationship with Indonesia.

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