Rights group urges US, UN action over Indonesia's 1999 atrocities

Subject: LUSA: Rights group urges US, UN action over Indonesia's 1999 atrocities

05-03-2003 14:18:00. Notícia nº SIR-4745078

East Timor: Rights group urges US, UN action over Indonesia's 1999 atrocities

Washington, March 5 (Lusa) - A US rights group has urged Washington and the United Nations to press Jakarta to colaborate with East Timor in trying Indonesian officials accused of crimes against humanity in the formerly occupied territory and called for the creation of an international criminal court.

John Miller, a spokesman for the East Timor Action Network (ETAN), recalled Tuesday that many of the alleged crimes were committed against the UN mission overseeing the 1999 independence plebiscite, including the killing of 10 Timorese UN workers.

"The nature of the crimes committed, the incapacity of the new nation of East Timor to seek justice by its own means and the violence that targeted the UN require the involvement of the international community", Miller said.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Security Council should set up an international court with "the authority and sufficient means" to try those responsible for the atrocities committed in East Timor, he said.

ETAN's call came after Jakarta announced it would not recognize indictments issued last week by Dili's attorney general's office against eight senior Indonesian officials, including General Wiranto, the former defense minister and armed forces chief of staff.

JP/SAS Lusa

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