The Guardian (London)
September 15, 2001
Militiaman to accuse Jakarta generals
By John Aglionby in Jakarta
One of the most prominent commanders of the militias created by the
Indonesian army to sabotage East Timor's independence vote in August 1999
said
yesterday that he was ready to name the generals who ordered the violence.
Cancio Lopes de Carvalho spoke on a day when nearly 1,000 East Timorese
terrorised into exile by militias like his returned to their homeland.
They were among the tens of thousands of refugees who have been living
for
two years as virtual hostages in squalid camps in Indonesian West Timor
since
the militias, having tried to intimidate voters before the poll, virtually
destroyed East Timor after the majority voted against Indonesian rule.
It was the largest number to return on a single day since March last
year,
and East Timorese officials believe it may have been the first wave of
a
homeward by refugees reassured by the country's first free general election,
which passed peacefully a fortnight ago.
The independence leader Jose Alexandre Gusmao welcomed them home in
the
border town of Salele and told the 80,000 estimated to be still in West
Timor
but anxious to return that it was safe for them to do so.
Yesterday' return was a very important step for the future', he said.
This event is a practical way to show to refugees what they can do to
live
together with other East Timorese and develop our country.'
The refugees, mostly from the Covalima district south of the capital
Dili,
returned with whatever they could carry, including stoves, pigs, chickens
and
bedding.
Most have nothing to return to and will have to rebuild their lives
from
scratch.
About 140,000 have returned since the United Nations established a
transitional administration in East Timor less than two years ago.
In a patch of no man's land between the east and west of the island,
Mr
Gusmao met Mr Carvalho, who led the main militia in Covalima.
His group, which continues to control the camps in the west where
yesterday's returnees were living, is called Mahidi (Dead or Alive in
Indonesia) .
Mr Carvalho, who is accused of murder, rape and forcible expulsion,
announced that he would return to the east with his militiamen in about
three
months' time, to face justice.
And, worryingly for Jakarta, he promised to identify the Indonesian
generals
who ordered and coordinated the 1999 devastation.
When I come back to this side I will reveal all the Indonesian generals
who
gave the orders,' he said.
It is my moral duty to declare we've done something in the past. I declare
it openly and I'm ready to face justice,' he said.
I have killed and I have destroyed in East Timor. I am the commander
of
Mahidi so I am responsible.'
His brother Nemecio, a deputy commander of the Mahidi, was at the meeting
and said he was too ready to return home for trial.
The brothers had a brief meeting with senior UN officials in the serious
crimes unit in Dili before their meeting with Mr Gusmao.
Their father Mateus and older brother Francisco were among those who
went
back to the east yesterday, but they are not liable to be arrested in
connection
with the 1999 militia violence.
Indonesia has charged only one general, Adam Damiri, in connection with
the post-ballot violence and has shown no urgency in bringing him or any
other
officers charged to trial.
Its most senior generals, including the man who was the armed forces
commander at the time, General Wiranto, have not even been named as suspects.
Six minor militia fighters have been convicted of being involved in
the
murder of three members of the UN refugee agency UNHCR in West Timor last
September. They were jailed for less than year, and are due to be released
soon.
Despite Indonesia's failure to rein in the militias in West Timor, the
UNHCR announced on Wednesday that it would soon revive its West Timor
operation.
Soren Jasson Petterson, an assistant high commissioner, said during
a
visit
to the area that a new team would go in with the aim of giving better
service
to
the refugees and at the same time relieving the burden on the Indonesian
government'.
Its goals would be to give humanitarian aid and accelerate the return
of
refugees.