Dili – An Indonesian man allegedly involved in crimes against humanity in East Timor when the country voted for independence has been released from a Dili prison, the United Nations said.

East Timor's government has attracted strong criticism from rights groups over its policy of pardoning convicted ex-militia and pursuing a conciliatory approach with Indonesia, its neighbor and former ruler.

Louis Gentile, the East Timor representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the release of Martenus Bere, who was wanted for militia attacks on pro-independence civilians, sent the wrong signals.

"His release is contrary to the Security Council resolutions which set up the UN mission" in East Timor "and completely undermines the principle of accountability for crimes against humanity globally," Gentile said. "This has global significance."

A former Portuguese colony, East Timor was invaded in 1975 by Indonesia. An estimated 180,000 died during the occupation, and the UN estimates about 1,000 East Timorese died in mayhem attending the 1999 independence vote.

According to a document archived on the Web site of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Bere was a member of a militia that attacked and killed pro-independence civilians, including priests, in September 1999, in what became known as the Suai massacre.

"He was believed to have been involved in directing the attack. He was not one of the junior ones, so that's why this is so serious," Gentile said.

Bere was recently arrested near the Indonesian border on an outstanding warrant for crimes against humanity, but was released from Dili's Becora prison on Sunday on instructions from Gusmao, Gentile said. A spokesman for the East Timor government was unable to confirm immediately whether Bere had been released.

On Friday, President Jose Ramos-Horta mounted a spirited defence of his decision to oppose a UN Crimes Tribunal in East Timor. "I know what suffering is," said Ramos-Horta, who lost four siblings in the conflict.

"But I repudiate the notion that we do not care about justice. Indonesian democracy has progressed. Indonesians are the ones who will bring justice to Indonesia, in their own time."