Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, Jakarta – An ex-Indonesian Military (TNI) officer has told the Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission of Truth and Friendship that the TNI complied with Indonesian law at the time of Timor Leste's 1999 referendum.

"We (TNI) were there in Timor Leste to make the referendum a success," Maj. Gen. (ret) Zacky Anwar Makarim, who was the deputy head of the East Timor referendum task force, said Wednesday.

"The central government at the time ordered us to suppress any potential clashes because we knew that unrest was going to happen despite the result," he said at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

He said he never received orders from B.J. Habibie, the Indonesian president at the time, to destroy residential areas and facilities.

Habibie said Tuesday that former UN secretary general Kofi Annan had prematurely announced the referendum's result, prompting violence in the area.

Zacky, who was a member of the Army's Special Forces Command, added that the now defunct United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) was mostly to blame for the violent clashes.

"UNAMET, which was not neutral, triggered the unrest by recruiting only those who were pro-independence, released false reports on the brutality of Indonesian soldiers and police and only transferred its members who were ill-behaved," he said.

"Some of them were found hanging out with Free Papua Movement (OPM) members in Papua. Moreover, a member of UNAMET raped a girl in Timor Leste but only got transferred as punishment."

Zacky also claimed that UNAMET failed to respond promptly when Indonesia wanted to send more troops to the territory in 1999. "They (UNAMET) allowed more soldiers to enter the area belatedly, so a violent eruption was hard to control."

Zacky's statements were echoed at an "alternative" public hearing, held by several human rights NGOs at the same hotel. The NGOs accused UNAMET of having a patchy record during the time it ran East Timor's administration.

Earlier in the day, the commission heard the testimony of former pro-integration militia leader Eurico Guterres. He has served 10 months of a 10-year prison sentence given to him by the Supreme Court for his role in the violence following the referendum.

Guterres said that Timor Leste unity should be promoted. "For me, Timor Leste's independence or integration is not an issue. It's how to unite East Timorese, who have been against each other since Portuguese colonization," he said.

Guterres, who is serving his sentence at Cipinang Prison in East Jakarta, said that he became an Indonesian citizen by choice. "I'm ready to face death row if Timor Leste's people want to bring me to their court and sentence me so," he added.

The joint commission, which does not have the power to bring any of its speakers to court, plans to make recommendations to both countries after it has gathered testimonials from victims, witnesses and actors in the event.