Wahid says top generals can be prosecuted

[Ulhas Joglekar]

15 December 1999
Wahid says top generals can be prosecuted
JAKARTA: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has given the go-ahead to
prosecute the country's top generals if there is evidence they were
responsible for the murder and destruction that gripped East Timor three
months ago, reports said Tuesday.
Wahid told journalists he would not interfere in the judicial process and
allow the courts decide the fate of the generals, including his senior
minister for security and political affairs, Gen. Wiranto, The Jakarta Post
said.
"I will not be swayed by any temptation," he said. "What is important is
that we accept the decision of the court."
State-appointed human rights investigators said military leaders may be held
accountable for the violence since evidence showed they knew it was taking
place and did nothing to prevent it.
"I believe Wiranto could be charged with omission or failure to take
action," said Albert Nasibuan, head of the investigating team.
Last month, the group dug up the bodies of 26 people - including three Roman
Catholic priests - who were massacred during September's violence. They had
been buried in mass graves after being trucked in from East Timor to
Indonesian-controlled West Timor.
In all about 200 bodies have so far been recovered.
Last week, U.N. human rights investigators visited Jakarta, after spending
nine days in East Timor gathering evidence of atrocities.
The team will present its report to U.N. Secretary-general Kofi Annan before
the end of the year. The U.N. Security Council will then decide whether to
establish a war crimes tribunal, similar to those established for the former
Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
Wahid's comments came one week after Minister for Defense Juwono Sudarsono
said the generals would escape prosecution "as they were just carrying out
state policy."
Sudarsono said only lower-ranking soldiers who committed the actual crimes
would be prosecuted. (AP)
For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
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Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 1999.