Indonesia's Attorney General Criticizes Bishop Belo
TEMPO Interactive
13 September 2002
Jakarta: Attorney General MA Rachman has criticized the Bishop of Dili,
Mgr.
Xiemenes Belo, for his unwillingness to come to Indonesia to appear as
a
witness with regard to human rights violations in East Timor.
Previously, Bishop Belo made his request through East Timorese Attorney
General Longuinhos Monteiro.
He said he was willing to give evidence through a teleconference facility
but
he would not attend the Human Rights Ad Hoc court held at the Central
Jakarta
District Court because he had no guarantee of security.
Responding to this request, Attorney General said that Indonesia's criminal
law does not use such a mechanism.
Such a request does not make sense, Rachman told reporters at his office
on Friday (13/9).
Attorney General Rachman also refused to hold the court in an area bordering
East Timor.
It is just a suggestion, he said.
Previously, this was proposed because witnesses from East Timor (were)
not willing
to come to Indonesia.
Rachman said the two countries have to reach an agreement first to hold
the
court at a border area. (Bagja Hidayat Tempo News Room)