E Timor defends Indonesian’s pardon

President justifies pardon for man indicted for war crimes during violence of 1999.

east timor independence fighters memorial
Ramos-Horta, right, has come under fire for putting diplomacy ahead of justice [EPA]

The move came in advance of national celebrations commemorating 10 years since East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, won independence from Indonesia in a UN-backed referendum.

Bere was detained about five years after being indicted in 2003 for his role in the Suai church massacre in which up to 200 people were killed.

The move to free Bere drew strong criticisms from the UN and human rights group who said that it sent out the wrong signals.

Violations

Marie Okabe, the spokeswoman for Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, said Bere’s release would be in violation of Security Council resolutions.

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The UN estimates about 1,000 people were killed during the 1999 referendum [AFP]

“The UN’s firm position is that there can be no amnesty or impunity for serious crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide,” she said.

Observers say the pardon may help ease tensions with Indonesia but it will increase domestic anger over impunity.

East Timor’s opposition Fretilin party criticised the move saying many people continue to demand justice for gross human rights abuses committed during the 1975-1999 Indonesian occupation.

Jose Teixeira, an MP and Fretilin spokesperson, told Al Jazeera the government had capitulated to diplomatic pressure from Indonesia by interfering with the judicial process.

“We believe that is a totally wrong and counter-productive way of addressing these issues… which should have been pursued through legal channels” instead of violating the court order for Bere to remain in jail pending trial, he said. “There are very serious legal ramifications.”

East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, was invaded by Indonesia in 1975. An estimated 180,000 people died during the bloody occupation, and the UN estimates about 1,000 died in the mayhem that surrounded the 1999 vote for independence.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies