Agence France Presse
August 6, 2002 Tuesday
Former Dili mayor says militias received no govt aid
JAKARTA, Aug 6
The former mayor of the East Timor capital Dili denied Tuesday that
pro-Jakarta militia groups during Indonesian rule received any aid from
the
government or the military.
Matheus Moie told a human rights court that the militias, formed in
each of
East Timor's 13 districts in early 1999, were independent and voluntary
groups
which did not receive pay from the government.
"There was no aid or assistance whatsoever from the government
for the PPI
because there was no official decree concerning their existence,"
Moie said.
He was testifying at the trial of Lieutenant Colonel Sujarwo, a former
Dili
military commander accused of gross human rights violations during the
militia
violence in the territory in 1999.
The PPI is the Indonesian acronym for the Integration Fighters' Force,
an
umbrella organization for the various militia groups.
Moie said that the militias also received no guidance from the
military. But
some members were former partisans and soldiers who had the experience
to
train
them.
Many parties, including the United Nations, have said the militias were
set
up, nurtured and supported by elements of the Indonesian armed forces
to
foil an
independence vote.
The militias launched a campaign of terror and intimidation before the
vote
on August 30, 1999, and a revenge campaign after East Timorese voted
overwhelmingly to split from Indonesia.
At least 1,000 East Timorese are estimated to have died that year and
whole
towns were burnt to the ground.
subordinates from involvement in two cases of violence in Dili on September
5
and 6.
Some 15 people were killed in attacks by army-backed militias on the
refugee-packed Dili diocese and the residence of the bishop.
Suwarjo is one of 18 soldiers, policemen or civilians now facing trial
at the
rights court for crimes against humanity in East Timor. First verdicts
are
expected next week.
Indonesia set up the rights court to deflect pressure for a UN tribunal
into
the slaughter. It is being closely watched by the world for proof that
Jakarta
will punish those behind the violence.