Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono defends Wiranto

Subject: Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono defends Wiranto

also Antara: TNI Chief ready for consequences of KPP`s report, UN should not meddle in matters reported by KKP, Said Muladi

Defence Minister Sudarsono responds to CTF report

Kompas, 14 July 2008

Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono said that responsibility for human rights violations in Timor-Leste were institutional in nature, which means that they are not the responsibility of the military personnel of either country. This applies also to accusations made against the former commander in chief, Wiranto.

'Therefore as I as Defence Minister and the Commander of the TNI as the successors to those who held the posts previously take institutional responsibility, not in our personal capacities. There is therefore no question of Pak Wiranto being cornered.,' he said.

The agreement reached to resolve the Timor-Leste question was political in nature and not a judicial judgement to reach a peace agreement including the formation of the Truth and Friendship Commission There is no intention on either side of taking the matter to a Human Rights Court. The two sides have agreed that both sides made mistakes and both regret the things that happened, he said.

'Proportionately speaking, as I understand it, both sides were in error, the Government as well as Timor-Leste. And Fretilin was also involved.' He therefore said that the Sydney Morning Herald report was very biased.

'It is not true that only the Indonesian government has been cornered. This was an agreement between two sides, and both sides acknowledge and regret what happened. The appropriate term is that we have feelings of remorse,' he said.

07/13/08 00:24

TNI Chief ready for consequences of KPP`s report

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Gen Djoko Santoso said he was ready to face the possible consequences, if it was true that the Indonesia-Timor Leste Truth and Friendship Commission (KPP) had declared the TNI institionally responsible for human right violations in East Timot in 1999.

"I still don`t know (about the KPP`s statement) but if the TNI as an institution is held responsible, I will be accountable. I have just returned from Lebanon, so I have not yet seen the (KPP)`s fomulations," he said at the Merdeka Palace here Saturday.

But Santoso did not explain in what way he would live up to his responsibility. "I still don`t know what the (KPP`s) has actually said. When I have received it, we will consider in what way we will show our responsibility," he said.

Santoso also said matters relating to the KPP`s report had yet to be discussed with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The KKP which began working in 2005 was expected to present its official report to President Yudhoyono and Timor Leste President Ramos Horta on Tuesday (July 15) in Bali.

But Australia`s Sydney Morning Herald daily was reported to have already published parts of the KKP`s 300-page report.

Quoting from the KPP report, the Australian newspaper said the TNI, the Indonesian police, and the then East Timor provincial government funded, armed and coordinated the anti-independence militia forces that committed crimes against humanity in 1999.

It said the Indonesian military, police and East Timor government officials were at the time involved in every stage of activities that led to gross human right violations, including murder, rape, torture, extra-judicial arrests, and forced deportaation of East Timorese people.

According to the KKP report, pro-independence militia also committed acts of violence during the referendum in 1999 but based on the available evidence, pro-Indonesian militia groups were the main and direct perpetrators of gross human right violations in East Timor.(*)

07/13/08 00:28

UN should not meddle in matters reported by KKP, Said Muladi

Semarang (ANTARA News) - National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) Governor Muladi said the United Nations should not meddle in the matters disclosed in the Indonesia-Timor Leste Truth and Friendship Commission`s (KPP) report.

"The UN should not become emotional and interfere because the KPP is set up and has worked based on an agreement between the two countries (Indonesia and Timor Leste)," Muladi said after acting as a promotor of Suparmin to obtain a doctorate at the Diponegoro University here on Saturday.

Muladi said in the Indonesia-Timor Leste memoradum of understanding on KPP`s formation, the KPP was assigned to find out the truth about the political turmoil that happened in East Timor in 1999.

"The end result is certainly friendship, so each side should make self-introspection in order not to bring it to the court. Hence the United Nations should not meddle in it as long as the two countries say the problems can be brought to a solution," he said.

As to the consequences and the results, Muladi said they would also be settled by the two countries concerned.

The KKP`s report were officially scheduled to be announced early next week but someone leaked its contents to the Australian media which on Friday published parts of it.

The report on KKP working results which had been done since 2005 will be handed over to President Yudhoyono and Timor Lester President Ramos Horta in Bali on Tuesday.

Australia`s Sydney Morning Herald and the Age dailies were reported to have already published parts of the KKP`s 300-page report.

Quoting from the KPP report, the two Australian newspapers said the TNI, the Indonesian police, and the then East Timor provincial government funded, armed and coordinated the anti-independence militia forces that committed crimes against humanity in 1999.

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