Former TNI Chief Wiranto Testifies in Ad Hoc Human Rights Trial

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Former Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) chief and Minister of Defense and Security Gen. (ret.) Wiranto has said that it was impossible for the TNI and the National Police (Polri) to settle a 23-year conflict between East Timorese pro and anti-integration groups within just a one-month period at the time of the 1999 ballot. “They must be reconciled as at that time, they started to enter a different policy,” Wiranto told the judges, led by Andi Samsan Nganro, in the ad hoc trial on East Timor human rights violations that was held at Central Jakarta District Court in Jakarta on Thursday (4/4). Responding to the judges’ questions on violations committed by TNI and Polri personnel, Wiranto said that he had ordered local police and the military to investigate the involvement of TNI/Polri personnel in incidents that taking place during the post-ballot period. “If there were Polri members who committed any violations during that time, they must be under the command of the local police. This therefore was the responsibility of the command chief at that time,” said Wiranto. During the three-hour trial, Wiranto also said that law and public order during the post-ballot period was in the hands of the Polri and the TNI was in charge of security. (Fitri Oktarini--TEMPO News Room)