The Jakarta Post

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Timor Leste Conflict Convict Appeals

JAKARTA: The trial reviewing the case of former pro-Indonesia militia leader Eurico Gueterres, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2002 for leading a campaign of destruction in East Timor in 1999, opened Monday.

Defense team lawyer Suhardi Somomoeljono said in Central Jakarta District Court he would present four witnesses, two of which are experts, to counter testimony against his client.

"We hope that you could present Guterres to support the new evidence," presiding judge Andriani Nurdin told the defense team lawyer.

The lawyers argue that the judges made a mistake when issuing the verdict against Guterres in 2002. They also argue that Guterres' case could not be separated from that of former East Timor governor Abilio Osorio Soares, who was released in 2004.

Guterres was convicted for human rights crimes while leading pro-Indonesia militia before and after the 1999 UN-sanctioned referendum that gave East Timor independence.-- JP

------------------------------------------ Joyo Indonesia News Service