John McBeth – Western governments and human rights groups could not hide their anger following a decision by an Indonesian appeals court to overturn the convictions of four security officials implicated in the killing and destruction that accompanied East Timor's independence vote in 1999.

The ruling means that out of 18 Indonesian nationals tried for involvement in the blood-letting, only two people have been convicted. Both of them are ethnic Timorese who received sentences below the 10-year minimum set by Indonesian law. The appeals court halved the sentence of one of them – former militia leader Eurico Guterres – to five years. The acquittal of Maj.-Gen. Adam Damiri, the highest-ranking officer to face trial, former East Timor commander Col. Nur Muis, ex-police chief Hulman Gultom and army Lt.-Col. Soedjarwo, has already led to calls for the convening of a United Nations tribunal to bring those responsible for the violence to justice.

The ruling could also undermine efforts by the administration of United States President George W. Bush to restore military-to-military relations with Indonesia.

US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli joined the chorus of criticism over the acquittals. "We are dismayed by this decision, and we are profoundly disappointed with the performance and record of the Indonesian ad hoc [human rights] tribunal," he said.

But East Timor argued against setting up an international tribunal, saying it would harm improving ties with Indonesia.