Kailako Case, Arrest Indicted via Interpol
Suara Timor Lorosae 8 February (translation)
The Timor Lest Government has been carrying out "high level diplomatic
approaches via the UN" to pressure Indonesia to immediately extradite
32
perpetrators of violence in the Sub District of Kailako, Bobonaro District,
reported STL on Saturday. According to the newspaper, the case dossier
of
the perpetrators who would be now still at large in Indonesia, has been
submitted to the Dili District Courts. However, the courts cannot open
the
case, because the people are living in another country. "There is
no other
way than to arrest them and extradite them to Timor Leste (TL) to be tried.
This can be done via the International Police (Interpol)." Said Sergio
de
Jesus Hornai, General Coordinator of Public Defenders on Friday cited
by
STL.
The 32 indicted have been accused of perpetrating crimes against
humanity in the area of Kailako between March-April 1999.. To extradite
them to TL the government needs to negotiate continuously with the UN
so as
to pressure Indonesia to extradite, or via the Interpol method. It is
said,
the government can cooperate with TL Interpol and Indonesia via a mutually
beneficial cooperation. And there are still many opportunities for the
government to make use of the UN strength so that the criminals can be
taken to court in the region of TL because the
place of events was in this country. He said, his side does not want
to submit the case dossier of the 32 indicted to the court just to
chase numbers to show that the attorney generals is working at maximum.
"I do not meant to criticize the Attorney General for serious
crimes, but the submission of the indictment should be followed up with
the arrest of the indicted.
"I know bringing them needs time however they are in the list the
country is searching for thus they should be immediately arrested,"
he
said. Meanwhile the Anmeftil member, Cirilio Jose Cristovão, SH
added, it
is difficult to arrest the 32 indicted due to a weak MoU (Memorandum of
Understanding) that was signed by the Head of the UN Transitional
Government (UNTAET), Sergio Vieira de Mello with the former Attorney
General RI, Marzuki Darusman a few years ago. Because of this there needs
to be political will between the Indonesian and TL governments to jointly
push this case to the courts. Because whatever happens we do not want
the
relationship of the two countries to be disrupted just because of the
actions of these 32 people. However for a smooth process there needs
to be serious efforts from the TL government in cooperation with UNMISET.