The Age (Melbourne) October 12, 2000

Dili seeks Guterres' extradition

By MARK DODD DILI

An East Timor court has issued an arrest warrant for militia leader Eurico Guterres, alleging his involvement in two massacres of independence supporters last year.

It is the first arrest warrant East Timor, currently under UN administration, has issued over last year's violence.

But Indonesia quickly rejected the request, saying Mr Guterres would remain under arrest in Jakarta in relation to separate investigations.

The warrant was delivered to the Indonesian diplomatic mission in Dili. Another was hand delivered to Indonesian Attorney-General Marzuki Darusman in Jakarta.

The warrants were issued by the District Court of Dili, UN spokeswoman Barbara Reis said yesterday."We're asking for him to be surrendered so he can be brought to face justice in East Timor."

Ms Reis said under an extradition treaty signed between Indonesia and East Timor in February, Indonesian authorities are required to hand over Mr Guterres.

The warrants name Mr Guterres as a suspect in the attack on the Dili home of independence activist Manuel Carrascalao last April in which at least 12 people were murdered, including Mr Carrascalao's son.

He is also named as a key suspect in directing an attack on the Liquica church earlier that month, that left as many as 60 people killed, including women and children.

Mr Guterres is not charged with a crime but named as a witness. The warrants allege he was involved in planning and executing both attacks.

More warrants are expected to be issued within a fortnight naming senior Indonesian military and militia commanders for their involvement in the violence.

In Jakarta, police spokesman Brigadier-General Saleh Saaf said police would ignore the warrant.

"We can't hand him to another country," he said. "If they want him they can't just issue a warrant."

Mr Guterres is in detention in Jakarta, charged with inciting resistance to the Indonesian police. -with REUTERS

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