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Ex-governor Abilio opts for international tribunal

Source
Jakarta Post - October 18, 2000

Jakarta – The last governor of East Timor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares said on Tuesday that he preferred an international tribunal to try human rights violations which occurred after the referendum in the former Indonesian territory, saying it was fairer that the country's judicial system.

"I'd rather have the case tried by an international tribunal in Den Haag, the Netherlands so that I can also disclose what really happened in East Timor during the self-determination ballot and after that," Abilio said as quoted by Antara in Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara. "If my testimony is revealed here, who will listen to me? I don't think the government now want to hear my voice. I'm just a refugee now."

Abilio vowed that before an international tribunal, he would disclose the role of the United States government and United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) in the unfair ballot last year. He alleged that the US had been one-sided as they closed their eyes to the fact that thousands of prointegration supporters were killed by the pro-independence armed groups.

Abilio was named as one of the suspects by the Attorney General's Office in crimes against humanity in East Timor. "I can accept what I am blamed for with an open heart but I have a strong belief that the truth will speak by itself," Abilio added.

The government objected to the international call to hold an international tribunal for the suspects of the human rights abuse in East Timor saying Indonesia would uphold justice within it sown judicial system.

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