Monday, July 14, 2008
TNI Chief Ready for Consequences of KPP's Report
Source: Antara News

Jakarta - 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 Timor 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 formulations," 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 deportation 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.