Subject: JP: Defense Minister, TNI Hold Meeting Over E. Timor Trial

Received from Joyo Indonesian News

The Jakarta Post [online] March 18, 2002

Defense minister holds meeting with TNI over East Timor trial

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil on Monday held a closed-door meeting with officials of the Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters on the preparation of East Timor ad hoc human rights trial which is due to take place Tuesday.

The ad hoc trial on East Timor case has began last week and would continue to be staged at the Central Jakarta District Court.

Among the 17 officials and figures that joined the Monday meeting at the office of Ministry of Defense were lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution, TNI deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Tono Suratman, former East Timor governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, former Udayana military commander Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri and East Timor pro-integration leader Eurico Gueterres.

The session was closed for media coverage, but it was reported that in the meeting, lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution conveyed his resignation from the defense team.

It was said that Adnan would give an official press conference about the matter on Tuesday.

Adnan, one of the founders and patron of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), reportedly has been under pressure as fellow activists criticized him for being one of the military's defending lawyers.

It was also reported that TNI chief Adm. Widodo A.S. and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto would attend Tuesday's ad hoc tribunal session in a move to give moral support for the military/police officers being tried for alleged violence following the East Timor breakaway from Indonesia in 1999.


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