Indonesia
Human Rights Committee,
Box 68-419,
Auckland
Media Release
7 November, 2004
NZ Foreign Minister should
act on the international tribunal
Indonesia frees war criminal Abilio Soares, the only person held
in Indonesia for the 1999 East Timor Crimes.
Goff urged to take action on to bring about the International Tribunal
he has previously supported
On Friday November 5, Abilio Soares, the only person to be held
in custody in Indonesia following the orgy of violence, murder and
destruction that took place in 1999 was released. Mr Soares, the
last Governor of East
Timor to be appointed by the Indonesians was released after just
111 days. At the gates of the jail to greet him was notorious militia
leader Eurico Guterres. He was also convicted in the shonky Jakarta
ad hoc Human
Rights Court but remains free while he pursues an appeal against
his five year sentence.. Based on precedent it is likely that the
court will also be exonerate him. If that happens then all of the
18 tried before the court will have been found to be innocent.
The entire Jakarta court process has been a travesty of justice
from start to finish. Terrible crimes against humanity were committed
and those responsible must be held accountable. This is not solely
a matter for the
victims of East Timor's tragedy or for their grieving families,
it is about upholding the international rule of law and about seeking
to prevent an arrogant and unaccountable military from going on
to commit new crimes against those in Aceh and West Papua who are
also seeking self-determination.
Letter urging Foreign Minister Goff to act is attached.
for further information: Maire Leadbeater -09-815-9000 or cell
phone
025-436-957
Hon Phil
Goff,
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Parliament Buildings,
Wellington.
7 November, 2004.
Dear Phil Goff,
As you will be
aware the former East Timor governor Abilio Soares was released
from jail on Friday , 5 November, after winning an appeal against
his three-year sentence for human rights abuses committed in 1999.
The news reports
about his release say that the notorious militia leader Eurico Guterres
was there to greet him at the time of his release. Eurico Guterres
recently had his 10 year sentence reduced to five years but he remains
free while another appeal is pending.
Mr Soares, who
spent just 111 days in prison, was the only person toserve any time
in an Indonesian jail for the shocking crimes against humanity that
took place in the period surrounding the United Nations-organised
independence referendum of August 30, 1999.
The appeal court
has ruled that Soares was unable to stop the violence because the
power to do so was in the hands of the Indonesian military and police.
Of course the
responsibility for the 1999 crimes should be borne collectively
by the military , police and civilian officials who were involved.
However, Governor Soares openly gave his support and backing to
the militia on crucial occasions, such as the rally on April 17
which led directly to the murders of 17 people including the son
of pro-independence figure Manuel Carrascalao.
On August 8 this
year you called for the establishment of an International Crimes
Tribunal so that there could be justice for those responsible for
the crimes committed in East Timor.
We would like
to know what steps you will take now to pursue this essential objective.
Does the Government plan to support the proposal for the establishment
of a United Nations commission of experts, charged with reviewing
the processes for prosecuting serious crimes in East Timor?
We urge you to
pursue the issue of justice for the crimes against humanity committed
in East Timor for the sake of the victims and the sake of the innocent
people in Indonesia who continue to suffer under oppression from
an unaccountable military.
Yours sincerely,
Maire Leadbeater
(for the Indonesia Human Rights Committee)
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