| Press Statement (Revised) Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC August 19, 2002 Indonesia -- Human Rights Tribunal for East TimorIndonesia’s Ad Hoc Human Rights Tribunal for East Timor handed down its first verdicts on August 14 and 15, acquitting six of seven defendants of committing gross human rights violations. Without commenting on the specific verdicts, which are subject to appeal, the United States is nevertheless disappointed that prosecutors in these cases did not fully use the resources and evidence available to them from the United Nations and elsewhere in documenting the atrocities that occurred in East Timor. As the Secretary indicated during his recent visit to Indonesia, the United States is committed to building a closer relationship with Indonesia, including its military, on the foundations of our common interests as democracies that respect the rule of law and account for human rights. Indonesia’s establishment of the Ad Hoc Tribunal represented a bold step towards punishing the perpetrators of past atrocities, as well as warning those who might consider new violations of human rights in Aceh and elsewhere. We strongly encourage the Indonesian government to build on that positive step by mounting effective and credible prosecutions of the remaining cases that meet international standards of justice and utilize the wealth of available evidence to bring to justice perpetrators of atrocities in East Timor. The United States has supported the Tribunal’s establishment, and also stands ready to do what it can to assist further. |
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