Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – Indonesia is set to clear the former armed forces chief General Wiranto over last year's violence in East Timor, despite intense international pressure for his prosecution.

A spokesman for the Attorney-General, Mr Yushar Yahya, has confirmed that prosecutors have no intention of including General Wiranto on a list of suspects named over atrocities committed in the former Indonesian territory. "There is no indication he was involved in the crimes," Mr Yahya said in Jakarta.

General Wiranto's escape from prosecution will intensify pressure on the United Nations to launch independent investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for the killing of more than 1,000 Timorese and the destruction within East Timor last year.

General Wiranto was the commander of Indonesian's security forces, which backed the anti-independence militia responsible for much of the violence. His soldiers at times took part in killings, looting and the destruction of the territory after most East Timorese voted to reject Indonesian rule.

General Wiranto was also in charge of the military operation that saw military planes, ships and trucks relocate – often by force – a quarter of the East Timorese population to West Timor and other parts of Indonesia. Military transportation was also used to take millions of dollars worth of looted goods from East Timor.

Legal sources in Jakarta said they believed the Indonesian Government did not have the political courage to prosecute General Wiranto for crimes against humanity. Wiranto, who has retired from active military service, remains a powerbroker in the anti-reformist faction of Indonesia's discredited and demoralised armed forces.