Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – The United Nations and Portugal must share responsibility for violence that marred East Timor's 1999 vote for independence, a former general told a truth commission investigating the bloodshed.
Kiki Syahnakri was appointed commander of the Indonesian military in East Timor in September 1999 after pro-Jakarta militiamen went on a violent rampage in the wake of the independence vote.
Syahnakri told the Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF), set up by East Timor and Indonesia to delve into the violence, that the United Nations had conspired to sway the vote in favour of independence and should share the blame for the mayhem.
"Indonesia can't, and does not deserve to be, entirely held responsible for the riots, because Portugal, elements in the international community and the United Nations played some role in bringing about the riots," he told the commission's final hearings in Jakarta.
Indonesia, former colonial ruler Portugal, and the United Nations signed an agreement that authorised the vote.
The CTF was set up to promote reconciliation between Indonesia and East Timor, but critics say the commission is toothless because it lacks the power to punish those found responsible for abuses.
Syahnakri said international pressure on the Indonesian military was "unreasonable". "Since the beginning, the United Nations and elements in the international community had an agenda for an independent East Timor and were not interested in a fair and impartial vote," he said.
The United Nations has boycotted the commission's hearings, arguing that the body could recommend amnesty for those involved in gross rights violations. Pro-Jakarta militiamen, backed by members of the Indonesian army, rioted before and after the vote that ended 24 years of Jakarta rule, destroying much of the territory's infrastructure.
The United Nations estimates about 1,000 East Timorese were killed but Indonesian officials have told the truth commission that only about 100 people were killed. Predominantly Catholic East Timor became fully independent in May 2002 after more than two years of UN administration.
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TNI 'armed' East Timor civilians
Jakarta Post - October 25, 2007
Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – The former martial law commander in East Timor has acknowledged the existence of military-trained armed civilians in the former Indonesian province, but said they were legally justified "civilian defense groups".
Lt. Gen. (ret) Kiki Syahnakri told a public hearing here Wednesday that the wanra groups were civilians who were armed and trained by members of the Indonesian military (TNI).
In response to a commissioner's question on armed civilians, as cited in earlier testimonies, Kiki said that this probably referred to the groups of wanra (perlawanan rakyat, people's resistance), "which were part of the Indonesian defense system at that time."
"Wanra units were everywhere (in the country) including in East Timor," said Kiki. The groups in East Timor, such as Alfa and Makikit, he said, "were trained in discipline and who were bound to certain rules."
The groups "were supplied with weapons but only to safeguard their neighborhoods," Kiki told the sixth public hearing held by the joint Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF).
The right and obligation of civilians to defend the state, including through basic military training, is still recognized in the defense law.
Kiki was martial law commander in September 1999 until he handed over authority to international forces later that month. Martial law was declared in East Timor on Sept. 6 following widespread violence after the Aug. 30 referendum, which led to the independence of East Timor (Timor Leste).
Militias supporting both independence and integration with Indonesia have been accused of violence, but representatives of "pro-integration" groups testified earlier that they were trained by Indonesian military members.
Kiki said the civilian groups were formed on their own request following "intimidation" by fellow Timorese who were "pro-independence."
Commissioner Felicidade Guterres also questioned Kiki about a leader of the pro-integration militias who was a member of the army's special force, but Kiki said he had retired in 1997.
Kiki repeatedly denied the involvement of police or military officials in gross crimes against humanity in Timor Leste. "There was no evidence of such actions. So why do these allegations keep cropping up?" He cited reports in the Guardian and Washington Post denying earlier reports on massacres.
If anyone should be held responsible, he said, one party would be the United Nations, which he alleged was part of the "international conspiracy" for Timor's separation from Indonesia.
In response to commissioner Achmad Ali, who asked who he would recommend for amnesty, Kiki said it was irrelevant. "We were in East Timor on state duty, without committing any betrayal to our country," Kiki said.
The Wednesday session also heard the testimony of Col. Aris Martono, head of an army battalion deployed to East Timor's Los Palos regency in 1999. Aris denied earlier allegations that military members raped several women in the area. The commission is scheduled to wrap up with a final report in January.