Notícias - 30 de Maio de 2007

Jornal de Notícias – Quarta-feira, 30 de Maio de 2007

Xanana e "Lu Olo" à con quista de votos

Orlando Castro

Xanana Gusmão, que lidera o CNRT (Congresso Nacional da Reconstrução de Timor) e "Lu Olo", cabeça-de-lista da FRETILIN, comandam as principais máquinas de campanha para as eleições legislativas do dia 30 de Junho em Timor-Leste. No terreno é já visível a azáfama propagandística destas duas forças políticas, que, contudo, deverão ter um outro forte adversário, o Partido Democrático de Fernando "Lassama" de Araújo, terceiro classificado na primeira volta das recentes eleições presidenciais, ganhas por José Ramos-Horta.


Embora concorram 13 partidos e coligações, poucos serão os que aspiram a integrar o novo Parlamento, hoje maioritariamente ocupado pela FRETILIN. Com algumas possibilidades de êxito aparece ainda o Partido Social- -Democrata, que, em coligação com a Associação Social-Democrata de Timor, que apresenta Mário Viegas Carrascalão, Francisco Xavier do Amaral e Lúcia Lobato (que foi candidata às presidenciais) como principais trunfos.


Xanana Gusmão, que conta com o apoio do actual presidente da República, prevê que será eleito primeiro-ministro com pelo menos 40% dos votos. O candidato do CNRT joga nestas eleições todo o prestígio acumulado, se bem que "Lu Olo" e o núcleo duro da FRETILIN garantam um resultado bem diferente.


Observadores acreditam que a fasquia posta por Xanana poderá até ser ultrapassada, argumentando que o apoio que lhe foi dado pelo "Grupo Mudança", formado por dissidentes da FRETILIN e que integra antigos membros do comité central, dividirá o partido de "Luo Olo" e Mari Alkatiri e canalizará muitos votos para o CNRT.


Do ponto de vista político, Timor-Leste vive uma situação peculiar. O primeiro-ministro foi eleito presidente e o presidente quer ser eleito primeiro-ministro. Além disso, muitos dos candidatos às presidenciais do próximo mês são os mesmos que lideram as listas partidárias para as legislativas.


Acresce que o protagonismo do principal partido timorense, a FRETILIN, tende a diluir-se não só por divisões internas mas porque outros políticos emergem. Talvez por isso, nesta altura, a principal preocupação de Mari Alkatiri, ex-primeiro-ministro e secretário-geral, seja reestruturar o partido.


"Entre as eleições de 2001 para a Constituinte e as presidenciais de 2007, a FRETILIN perdeu cerca de 80 mil votos, que foram para José Ramos-Horta", reconhece Alkatiri. O CNRT, criado à imagem e semelhança de Xanana Gusmão, teve a sua génese na grave crise do ano passado, sendo por isso uma incógnita quanto à capacidade técnica e política para gerir um país em convulsão social.


Apesar de atravessarem um bom momento, as relações políticas entre Xanana Gusmão e Ramos-Horta não são das mais sólidas. Em Fevereiro de 2002, o agora líder do CNRT dizia que "há muito tempo notara que Ramos-Horta também era da FRETILIN", acrescentando que "só um dedinho é que saiu mas que todo o corpo estava dentro".


Nessa mesma altura, Xanana disse a Ramos-Horta que "trabalhavam juntos há muito tempo, mas que por vezes não se ouviam um ao outro", acrescentando "não gostar de quem hoje diz uma coisa e amanhã outra".


Do ponto de vista geoestratégico, a dupla Horta-Xanana é considerada pelos países vizinhos, nomeadamente a Austrália, como a mais aconselhável. Recorde-se que foi com a chegada de Ramos-Horta a primeiro-ministro que o Parlamento timorense ratificou o acordo de exploração e partilha das receitas de dois dos maiores campos de hidrocarbonetos do Mar de Timor, Greater Sunrise e Bayu Undan, pondo fim a um contencioso que se arrastava desde 2004.


Xanana como líder do CNRT nada garante


Os cabeças de lista são os mesmos que concorrem às presidenciais. Isso revela o quê? Mais do que uma eventual imaturidade política ou falta de quadros, o problema timorense, e de todas as independências que não tiveram um período mais largo de preparação e formação de quadros e elites políticas, prende-se com o facto de os actuais políticos timorenses serem os mesmos que já existiam durante o período pré-revolucionário que antecedeu a primeira independência e terminou na ocupação indonésia.


Tudo indica que o CNRT de Xanana vai ganhar. Será?

O facto de Xanana estar a liderar o novo CNRT não lhe garante nada. Muitos dos que votaram Ramos-Horta já dizem que não votam CNRT. O eleitorado timorense gosta de castigar os políticos que não provam ter estofo nem capacidade para manter a estabilidade política.


Então a vitória será para quem?

A FRETILIN será dos mais votados. Quanto ao CNRT, tenho dúvidas. Xanana não anda de muito boas relações com a Igreja. E, quer queiramos, quer não, foi a Igreja Católica que influenciou a votação presidencial na segunda volta quando "impediu" que Lu-Olo ultrapassasse os 27,9% dos votos do primeiro escrutínio.


E os outros partidos?

Não nos esqueçamos de que PSD, PD e ASDT conseguiram na primeira volta das presidenciais um resultado muito perto dos 40%.


E do ponto de vista dos países vizinhos?

Aí temos a Austrália, que já se arvora, com o beneplácito dos EUA e do Reino Unido, no "gestor" das questões político-militares da região. A Austrália quer ser a potência regional em todo o subsistema do Sudeste Asiático.


E o petróleo?

Este será o grande problema timorense. Caberá ao novo presidente e ao Governo conseguirem manter a cabeça fria face às investidas australianas, e por que não dizê-lo, também indonésias.



Rádio Renascença - 29-05-2007 13:56


Arranca hoje a campanha para as legislativas


A campanha para a eleição do novo Parlamento e do partido que formará o IV Governo Constitucional de Timor-Leste começa esta terça-feira e termina a 27 de Junho.


Para o Primeiro-ministro timorense, Estanislau da Silva, é essencial garantir que tudo corra bem. “Estamos a trabalhar com as forças de segurança para garantir a ordem durante o período das campanhas e também durante as eleições”.


Treze partidos e coligações estão na corrida aos 65 lugares do Parlamento de Dili. O escrutínio está agendado para 30 de Junho.


A eleição dos deputados é feita por sufrágio universal através de um círculo nacional único, com um máximo de 65 assentos permitidos pela Constituição, atribuídos seguindo o método de Hondt de conversão dos votos em mandatos.


Já este ano, em Abril e Maio, os timorenses votaram para escolher o novo Presidente, José Ramos Horta foi eleito para suceder a Xanana Gusmão.

Declarações de Estanislau da Silva:

http://www.rr.pt/PopUpMedia.Aspx?&FileTypeId=1&FileId=325033&contentid=208663



Lusa - 29 Maio 2007 - 19.59


Timorenses recebem certificados de Português


Mais de três mil timorenses receberam hoje o certificado de aprovação em Português referente ao ano lectivo de 2005-2006, numa cerimónia simbólica que juntou o embaixador de Portugal e a ministra da Educação de Timor-Leste na Universidade Nacional.


Os certificados foram entregues a 3 100 alunos do Projecto de Reintrodução da Língua Portuguesa, dos níveis I, II e de preparação para o bacharelato, dos quais cerca de 60 por cento são professores timorenses.

No presente ano lectivo, o Projecto de Reintrodução da Língua Portuguesa tem 14.500 inscritos e cerca de 11.000 alunos frequentam as aulas, segundo o coordenador Filipe Silva - entre os 14.500 inscritos, 6.500 são professores do Ministério da Educação, o que representa uma percentagem muito alta dos 7.200 professores timorenses integrados na Função Pública.

O Projecto de Reintrodução da Língua Portuguesa iniciou-se em 2000 e durante os três anos seguintes dirigiu-se a crianças do ensino primário e secundário. Desde o ano de 2003, o projecto alterou o rumo para formar formadores, além de ensinar Português aos quadros de várias instituições e da Administração Pública.

O plano envolve a presença em Timor-Leste de 117 professores portugueses e 180 professores timorenses, estes últimos responsáveis por todos os cursos de nível I e parte do nível II.



Lusa - 29 Maio 2007 - 18:16


Timor-Leste: Jacarta reabriu fronteira terrestre


Jacarta - As autoridades indonésias decidiram reabrir a fronteira terrestre com Timor-Leste, encerrada no passado dia 26 de Fevereiro a pedido do governo timorense, anunciaram hoje fontes militares indonésias.


A fronteira foi encerrada a pedido do então primeiro-ministro José Ramos-Horta, na sequência de ataques armados contra postos de controlo fronteiriços do lado timorense, perpetrados pelo major rebelde Alfredo Reinado, de que resultou o roubo de armamento diverso.


O movimento de pessoas e bens entre os dois países voltou hoje a normal, acrescentaram as fontes militares.


Ramos-Horta, empossado Presidente da República no passado dia 20 de Maio, pediu o encerramento da fronteira para impedir as milícias armadas comandadas por Alfredo Reinado de se refugiar na Indonésia.


Reinado, que chefia um grupo de soldados desertores, é acusado de participação directa na crise político-militar desencadeada em finais de Abril de 2006, que provocaram dezenas de mortos e dezenas de milhar de deslocados.


O chefe rebelde foi detido em Julho, mas conseguiu escapar da prisão cerca de um mês depois, encontrando-se desde então em fuga.

EL-Lusa/Fim



AKI - May 29, 2007 - 16:55


East Timor: Leader Of New Party Opposes Vote Counting Changes


Dili - The president of the new East Timorese party Partido Unidade Nacional (PUN), Fernanda Borges, is against proposed changes to the country's electoral law ahead of legislative elections on 30 June on the grounds that they would hamper transparency. "It will be very difficult for people to accept this change and believe that the counting will be done transparently," she told Adnkronos International (AKI).


Under the changes proposed by the Fretilin majority party, voting slips would be transported and counted in the capitals of electoral districts rather than at polling stations as happened during the presidential elections in April and May won by Jose Ramos Horta.


Borges also said there isn't enough time to make such a change.


"To change the rules now would mean electoral officials and party agents would have to be retrained at short notice," Borges told AKI. "New security measures would also have to be put in place to stop ballot boxes from being tampered with or changed."


The legislative elections come after a year of political tension and violence which has forced a change of government and 150,000 Timorese to abandon their homes.


The 30 June vote is considered more important than the presidential election as, in the Timorese political system, power resides with the prime minister, the majority party member given the job of forming the government.


One of the new parties to be set up in the former Portuguese colony, PUN is based on Christian democracy principles and claims to have 100,000 members.


Its president Borges, who was part of the first post-independence government but resigned in 2001 accusing the political establishment of corruption, accused Fretilin of "manipulating the electoral law for its own purposes and breaking the trust of the people once again."


East Timor's president is examining Fretilin's draft law and has the power to send it back to parliament. Indeed the change could be postponed till after the June vote considering that the electoral campaign kicked off on Tuesday.



Indonesian officer told journalists "completed"- inquest

Kim Arlington


Sydney May 29 (AAP) - Two days after five Australian-based journalists were killed at Balibo, an Indonesian naval officer was told they had been "completed", or finished off.


The evidence emerged today at Sydney's Glebe Coroners Court during an inquest into the death of one of the journalists, British national Brian Peters.


Mr Peters, Greg Shackleton, Gary Cunningham, Tony Stewart and Malcolm Rennie - known as the Balibo Five - died in the East Timorese border town on October 16, 1975. According to official reports they were killed accidentally in crossfire between invading Indonesian troops and Timorese militia.


But the inquest has heard evidence the five were deliberately gunned down by Indonesian soldiers.


A former sergeant with the Indonesian navy today appeared as a witness at the inquest, telling the court he heard about the journalists at Balibo on October 18, 1975. Identified only as Glebe 11 for his own protection, he gave evidence through an Indonesian interpreter.


He said on October 18, while trying to make contact with a friend in the Indonesian army, he used a marine's radio to speak to another marine in Balibo.


In a written statement to the inquest, Glebe 11 said the radio operator in Balibo told him: "The Indonesian Army has met with the five journalists and they (the journalists) showed their ID and ... the Indonesian Army finished them off."


He said the Indonesian word used by the operator in relation to the journalists was "diselesaikan", or completed.


This may have been translated in his statement as "finished off", he said. "I was told that when the troops moved forward there were five Australians and ... that they were completed," he told the court.


Asked by counsel assisting the coroner, Mark Tedeschi, QC, whether the word "completed" could mean "executed", he replied: "I don't know."


Mr Tedeschi: Can it mean eliminated?


Glebe 11: It may well be.


Mr Tedeschi: Can it mean kill?


Glebe 11: Maybe.


Mr Tedeschi: Can it mean finished off?


Glebe 11: Yes.


The radio operator had used a different word to describe the death of his friend, who was killed in conflict with East Timorese Fretilin forces, Glebe 11 said.


Mr Tedeschi will make final submissions to Deputy State Coroner Dorelle Pinch when the inquest continues tomorrow.



Indonesian witness completes fate of Australian media


Sydney, May 29 (AFP) - An Indonesian marine said five Australian-based journalists killed in East Timor in October 1975 had been "completed" or finished off by the military, an inquest was told Tuesday.


The testimony came at a probe into the death of TV cameraman Brian Peters, one of five British and Australian journalists killed in the East Timor border town of Balibo on October 16 that year.


The Bhasa word "diselesaikan" became the focus of questioning as it was used to describe the fate of the media men to the witness at the time.


Via an interpreter a variety of meanings including "completed", "eliminated" and "finished off" were used to explain the word to the inquest.


Officials maintain the so-called "Balibo Five" died in crossfire during a skirmish ahead of Indonesia's invasion of East Timor, but their families insist they were murdered and that there was a cover-up by Canberra and Jakarta.


The witness, a former Indonesian naval sergeant, told the inquest that two days after the newsmen were killed, he made radio contact with a marine because he was trying to learn the fate of a friend involved in military action in East Timor.


The witness, identified only as "Glebe 11", said the radio operator told him the journalists were "completed" after showing their identification.


"I was told that when the troops moved forward there were five Australians and ... that they were completed," he told the court through an interpreter.


He was questioned by counsel assisting the coroner Mark Tedeschi about the exact word, "diselesaikan", used by the operator to describe the fate of the journalists.


Glebe 11 did not know whether it could be used to mean executed but said other possible interpretations aside from "completed" were "eliminated", "killed" or "finished off".


The inquest has heard testimony from several East Timorese witnesses who said they saw the five journalists deliberately killed by Indonesian forces during the attack.



EFE – 30 Maio 2007 - 02:39


Investigação conclui que Exército indonésio matou jornalistas


Sydney - As provas apresentadas no tribunal que investiga a morte de Brian Peters, um dos cinco jornalistas mortos no Timor-Leste há mais de 30 anos, demonstram que todos eles foram assassinados pelo Exército indonésio, disse hoje o advogado Mark Tedeschi, conselheiro da investigação.

Tedeschi explicou ao tribunal de Sydney que os jornalistas tentaram se entregar às tropas do capitão Yunus Yosfiah na praça do povoado de Balibo. O militar, porém, ordenou a seus homens que atirassem nos cinco jovens.


Yosfiah também disparou contra os jornalistas, acrescenta Tedeschi em suas conclusões. Ele se baseou nas provas levantadas pela investigação, aberta em fevereiro, e apresentadas ao tribunal presidido pela juíza Dorelle Pinch.


Os britânicos Brian Peters e Malcolm Rennie, os australianos Greg Shackleton e Tony Stewart e o neozelandês Gary Cunningham foram os únicos jornalistas estrangeiros que ficaram no Timor para cobrir a invasão indonésia de 1975, que causou a morte de mais de 200 mil timorenses.


A versão oficial da Indonésia é de que os cinco ficaram presos entre o fogo do Exército indonésio e o dos independentistas timorenses em Balibo, onde começou a invasão.


A versão foi desmentida durante a investigação, disse Tedeschi, graças ao testemunho de vários indonésios, timorenses e australianos.


"O Governo indonésio e os chefes militares sabiam bem, em outubro de 1975, que qualquer informação que aparecesse na imprensa sobre a participação de soldados indonésios nos ataques na fronteira com o Timor-Leste levariam a Austrália a objetar formalmente", argumentou.


Tedeschi acsou os governantes indonésios de "entrar num magistral jogo de poderes, utilizando os líderes e funcionários australianos como peões".


As testemunhas, assim como as famílias dos jornalistas mortos e o presidente do Timor-Leste, José Ramos Horta, disseram que os cinco homens, que morreram desarmados, foram brutalmente assassinados pelos militares indonésios.


A antiga colônia portuguesa foi formalmente anexada pela Indonésia em 1976. Em 1999, o Timor celebrou um plebiscito para se emancipar da Indonésia, mas as forças invasoras só se retiraram após uma onda de violência que forçou a entrada de tropas da ONU e destruiu quase todas as infra-estruturas do território.



Antara - 30 May 2007 13:32

DPR criticizes Australia

Jakarta - The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) on Wednesday strongly criticized the Australian police’s arbitrary act against Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso in Sydney recently.


"We strongly criticize such an arbitrary act," House Speaker Agung Laksono said, adding that the Australian government should offer an apology to Indonesia for the incident.


Sutiyoso arrived in Sydney on Sunday to revive "sisterhood" between Jakarta and New South Sales but Australian police barged into his room at Shangri-La Hotel without permission and summoned him to testify at an inquiry in the death of five Australian journalists in East Timor in 1975.

Accompanied by a hotel employee, the Australian police entered Sutiyoso’s room with a duplicate key.

Commenting on the incident, the Indonesian House speaker said the Australian police act was seen as an insult to the dignity of the Indonesian nation.


Agung noted that the incident could disturb the existing good relations between the two neighboring countries.


He opined that Indonesia should file a protest to the Australian government against the incident.

"Australia has to openly apologize to Indonesia for the incident which has befallen the governor of Jakarta," Agung said.


Following the incident, the Jakarta governor and his entourage canceled their plan to visit Canberra and cut short their trip to return to Jakarta on Tuesday evening.


JMSP – Press Release - 28 May 2007


44 Perpetrators involved in the riots of 20th May 2007 temporarily detained in Becora prison


The Dili District Court conducted a hearing in the case of the main perpetrators of the riots that occurred on the 20 May 2007 in front of the ASDT office which resulted in the death of one individual. These riots coincided with the anniversary of independence for the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste and the swearing in of a second president after Xanana Gusmão completed his five year tenure.


The hearing was presided over by international judge Ivo Nelson de Caires Rosa Batista, the prosecution was represented by international prosecutor Felismino Cardoso, and the defendants were represented by their respective public defenders, namely: Augosto dos Santos, Arlindo Sanches, Rozinda Tilman and Jose da Silva. The defendants were held under tight supervision by international police which included the Portuguese Rapid Response Unit (GNR) who were granted permission by the presiding judge to enter the court room with pistols at their sides.


The first session commenced at 11:00am and was adjourned at 12:30 pm. At this interval JSMP legal researcher Roberto Pacheco asked the international prosecutor Felismino Cardoso about the decision to permit the presence of armed GNR in the courtroom. In response, the aforementioned prosecutor stated that the presiding judge has exclusive authority to request that the police provide security to prevent any interruption to the hearing, considering the 47 defendants who are involved in this case.


It is clear that the presiding judge has exclusive authority to request that the police keep a tight watch over the hearing. However, this does not mean that it was necessary for them to enter the court room with pistols at their sides, as JSMP legal researcher Roberto believed that this would have a psychological effect by intimidating the defendants who were relatively young. Also, this could influence the way the defendants and the community perceive the interests of justice. The defence also expressed similar sentiments before the hearing began.


The second phase of the hearing commenced at 14:00 and continued until 20:30, and each defendant in turn was summoned by the presiding judge to his chambers to provide testimony about the case.


Recalling that the prevailing climate in the capital was one of instability, the judge decided to adjourn the hearing until the following day, scheduled for 9.30am sharp, to hear the testimony of approximately 8 defendants who were yet to be examined by the court.


After the hearing continued on Thursday 24 May 2007, the judge decided at 3:30pm that 44 defendants had been involved in the confrontation resulting in the death of one individual, injuries to several UNPOL members and serious damage to 7 UNPOL vehicles, and sentenced them to temporary detention in the Becora Prison. 3 defendants were released due to a lack of sufficient evidence to support the charges against them, as well as taking into account their young age.


The announcement of the decision was met with dissatisfaction by the families of the defendants who tried to protest against the judicial authorities, as they believed that their children or family members had not been involved in the confrontation, but rather had been working when they were arrested by UNPOL. This dissatisfaction culminated in an outburst of grief in front of the court, however after being advised by their lawyers that they had 15 days in which to lodge an appeal against the court’s decision, their demeanor changed to one of optimism in anticipation of having their case reheard in the near future.


JSMP hopes that all parties will respect the decision handed down by the judge in the aforementioned hearing. JSMP also advises those families that feel aggrieved to seek redress through the proper legal channels and lodge an appeal, rather than taking any action above the law that would have stern ramifications and would be to their own detriment.


For further information, please contact: Roberto Pacheco, Coordinator of Legal Researchers, JSMP
E-mail: bebeto@jsmp.minihub.org




The Australian – May 30, 2007

Diplomats knew of Timor invasion, coroner told
David King

The final witness at the Balibo Five inquest said Australian diplomats had detailed knowledge of the Indonesian military's plans to invade East Timor prior to the October 1975 attack.
Former Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade assistant secretary for Southeast Asia, Lance Joseph, confirmed yesterday that the Indonesian invasion commander, Major General Benny Murdani, had given diplomats precise details of when the attack would take place.

But Mr Joseph told Glebe Coroners Court in Sydney that he and other departmental officials had not known that five Australian journalists were operating near or in the town of Balibo.

He said that after reading an Indonesian military transmission about the death of "four white men", he initially though those killed were either Portuguese soldiers or Fretilin officers.

Mr Joseph did not agree with the suggestion put to him by counsel Mark Tedeschi QC that the knowledge of the invasion had compromised Australia's political and diplomatic response.

According to official reports, the five Australian-based news men - Brian Peters, Greg Shackleton, Gary Cunningham, Tony Stewart and Malcolm Rennie - were killed in crossfire between invading Indonesian troops and Timorese militia. But evidence to the inquiry suggests they were deliberately killed by Indonesian special forces.

Mr Tedeschi is expected to make his closing submissions today.



ABC - Wednesday, May 30, 2007. 3:41pm (AEST)

Police deny using master key to access Indonesian politician
The New South Wales deputy coroner, Dorell Pinch, says she has been advised police did not use a master key to enter the hotel room of an Indonesian dignitary to invite him to attend the Balibo inquest.

The Sydney inquest is investigating the death of Brian Peters, one of five Australians killed in East Timor in 1975.

The Indonesian embassy says the Jakarta Governor and former General Sutiyoso was offended by what he described as intrusive and inappropriate behaviour by police.

He has since left the country in protest, cancelling meetings that were scheduled today in Canberra.

The embassy says he was very offended and has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade seeking clarification over the incident.



Associated Press – May 30, 2007


Indonesia summons Australian ambassador after governor's hotel room allegedly entered


Jakarta, Indonesia: Indonesia summoned Australia's ambassador for an explanation after police allegedly entered the Jakarta governor's hotel room in Sydney during an official visit.

Gov. Sutiyoso, who goes by a single name, said he was enraged when authorities issued him with a summons to testify Wednesday at an inquest into the deaths of five Australia-based journalists covering Indonesia's 1975 invasion of East Timor.

"They barged into my room after forcing the hotel to give them a duplicate key," Sutiyoso told reporters after cutting short his trip and returning home. "I feel harassed as an official state guest from a sovereign country."

Authorities in Sydney, however, denied police let themselves into the hotel room.

Deputy State Coroner Dorelle Pinch who ordered the subpoena said she had spoken to the police officer who delivered the request and received assurances that no unauthorized entry was made into Sutiyoso's hotel room.

Sutiyoso, who is serving a second and final term as governor of the city of 12 million, said he will request a formal apology from the Australian government for "its improper acts."

The governor's trip, aimed at building stronger ties between the Indonesian capital and New South Wales, had been scheduled through Sunday.

The Jakarta Post - Wednesday, May 30, 2007


Sutiyoso Cuts Short Visit Over 'Impudent' Aussies


A visit to revive "sisterhood" between Jakarta and New South Wales is threatening to erupt into an international controversy after Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso cut short his trip Tuesday after "discourteous" Australian officials served him with a summons.


In what the Indonesian side is likening to "illegal entry", officials from the New South Wales coroner's office reportedly barged into the governor's room at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney without permission, thrusting a summons toward Sutiyoso to testify at an inquiry into the 1975 deaths of Australian journalists in East Timor.


"They entered the room using a duplicate key accompanied by a hotel employee," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday night about the incident, which occurred at around 4:15 p.m. local time.


The Jakarta governor, who had been in Sydney since Sunday, canceled plans to continue his trip to Canberra, instead taking the first flight back to Jakarta in anger over the incident.


Sutiyoso refused to accept the summons presented to him.


It reportedly sought Sutiyoso's testimony in a coroner's inquest into the deaths of Australian journalists in Balibo, East Timor, in October 1975.


The Indonesian government considers the case closed, with the official explanation that they were caught in a crossfire. Families and advocates of the slain journalists claim they were murdered by the Indonesian military.


Prior to his appointment as governor in 1997, Sutiyoso served in the military for some three decades, including as part of the 1975 Flamboyan military operation in East Timor.


He received the Seroja medal given to veterans of the East Timor campaign.


However, he has never before been linked to the Balibo incident.


Sutiyoso was in Australia at the official invitation of New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma to revive a dormant sister state/province cooperation.


The fallout in both national capitals was immediate and is likely to continue in the coming days.


Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer was immediately summoned by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda, while Indonesia's Ambassador in Canberra, Hamzah Thayeb, was also instructed to seek official clarification.


Sutiyoso is expected to arrive back in Jakarta early Wednesday morning.



The Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday, May 30, 2007


Indonesian Officer Dodges Inquest

by Hamish McDonald


Feted … General Sutiyoso, far right, receives a gift of wine at Parliament House yesterday. Jacky Ghossein


A powerful Indonesian politician visiting Sydney yesterday had an awkward reminder of an event in his past he must have thought long buried: the death of five Australian newsmen at Balibo, East Timor, in 1975.


Retired Lieutenant-General Sutiyoso, 62, for the past decade boss of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, found a NSW police officer, Detective Sergeant Steve Thomas, at his hotel room door inviting him to appear at a Sydney inquest into the deaths.


But for last-minute doubts about its enforceability – and risking a major diplomatic row with Indonesia - Sergeant Thomas would have delivered a subpoena signed by the Deputy State Coroner, Dorelle Pinch, compelling General Sutiyoso to appear in her court in Glebe this morning.


According to books by an Indonesian war correspondent, Hendro Subroto, the then Captain Sutiyoso was a member of "team Susi", the Indonesian special forces unit that attacked the border town of Balibo on October 16, 1975.


Like other Indonesian soldiers taking part in the covert invasion across the Timor land border, he took an alias - in his case "Manix", a misspelled version of the Telly Savalas character popular in the 1970s.


Evidence given to the inquest by Timorese partisans attached to Team Susi said the five newsmen from Channel Nine and Channel Seven were captured while trying to surrender, then quickly executed, and their bodies burnt - though none has mentioned any particular action by General Sutiyoso.


Up until late yesterday afternoon, General Sutiyoso's visit to Sydney with a 25-strong business delegation had gone swimmingly. There had been a reception at State Parliament on Monday night, hosted by the NSW Tourism Minister, Matt Brown, and yesterday an Australia-Indonesia business lunch in the same place, after which he was presented with a bottle of fine NSW wine.


Then a nap in his hotel room, from which he was awakened by Sergeant Thomas.


General Sutiyoso is understood to have replied that he was unable to attend the court, because of his busy program of engagements in Canberra today.


Last night guests at a reception in the Indonesian Consulate-General were told that the guest of honour was unable to attend "due to the onset of sudden illness this afternoon".


Whether General Sutiyoso continues his program remains to be seen. While he is understood not to be travelling on a diplomatic passport, the subpoena was thrown in doubt by legal advice on federal legislation protecting visiting foreign leaders from domestic court orders.


Otherwise, General Sutiyoso would have been the first Indonesian military participant in the Balibo attack to appear at the inquest.


The only Indonesian military appearance came yesterday when a retired Indonesian navy petty officer, whose name was suppressed, said he talked by radio from his tank landing craft to a soldier at Balibo on October 18. The soldier said "the Indonesian army has met the five journalists, and they showed their ID and we finished them off".


General Sutiyoso was the military commander of the Jakarta region in the last years of the Soeharto regime. He has been governor of the capital for the past 10 years, and is now mentioned as a strong candidate for the 2009 presidential elections.



ABC – Wednesday, May 30, 2007. 9:33am (AEST)

No Balibo guarantee for Indonesia: Downer
The Federal Government has dismissed reports it assured Indonesia it had nothing to worry about from a coronial inquest into the Balibo five killings.

Glebe Coroners Court is looking into the death of cameraman Brian Peters, who was one of five Australian journalists killed in the East Timorese town of Balibo in 1975.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda has said Australia basically guaranteed his Government there would be no fall-out from the inquest.

But this morning Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told the ABC's AM program that was not the case. "I wouldn't put it in those terms, we had a very brief discussion about this quite some time ago," he said.

When further pressed, Mr Downer denied he had offered any such assurance. He said the discussion was to advise the Indonesian Government that there was an inquest into an event that occured 32 years ago.

Mr Downer said he would not speculate on whether the Australian Government would take action against Indonesia if the Deputy Coroner recommends charges be laid in relation to the inquest.

Mr Downer says his department has provided documents to the inquiry but he is not personally involved. "This has not been a focus of my work, particularly this deputy coroner's court, because it's not something that I've ever had any involvement [in]," he said. "These are events of many years ago, and Hassan Wirayuda and President Yudoyono haven't had anything to do with it either."


ABC - Transcript AM Programme - Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 08:14
Downer responds to Balibo five reports
Reporter: Tony Eastley


Tony Eastley: Reports from Indonesia say the Australian Government has given a guarantee that Jakarta has nothing to worry about from a coronial inquest into the Balibo five.


An inquest in Sydney has been raking over the events in 1975 that led to the deaths of five Australian journalists and cameramen, at Balibo in East Timor, just as the Indonesian military invaded. According to local wire reports, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda says the Australian Government has more or less guaranteed that in relation to the coronial inquiry, Indonesia doesn't have to worry.


Joining me now is the Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. Good morning Minister.


Alexander Downer: Good morning.


Tony Eastley: Did you or the Australian Government give Hassan Wirajuda or the Indonesian Government, such an assurance?


Alexander Downer: Well I wouldn't put it in those terms. We've had a, from my recollection, a very brief discussion about this quite some time ago, not that it wasn't anything to worry about, but this was an investigation into events that occurred over 30 years ago and obviously we will just take it as it comes.


We as a government have been cooperating, or my department have been cooperating with the coronial inquiry in terms of the provision of documents from 32 years ago and there's not much more we can do. Of course, I don't have any myself and in particular knowledge of those events.


Tony Eastley: If I can just clarify that. You didn't give an assurance, but you gave something like an assurance?

Alexander Downer: No, if I may say so with the greatest of respect, I have had, from recollection, a very brief discussion in the context of discussing many other issues with the Indonesian Foreign Minister, there's a brief discussion about this coronial inquiry, and just explained the facts of the inquiry to him.


Tony Eastley: Did anyone on your behalf have conversations with the Indonesians in regard to that quote that I mentioned there, that Mr Wirajuda was told that there was nothing to worry about?

Alexander Downer: I haven't seen the quote and I haven't seen the context of the quote and it's attributed to a foreign minister, so I'm not getting into a micro-analysis of the quote, I'm just explaining to you what our position is and our position is this, that here is an inquiry by the Deputy Coroner of New South Wales into events that took place 32 years ago, way, way beyond my time, I have nothing personally to offer on this issue.


We've fully cooperated with that investigation, and when that investigation is complete the Coroner produces a report and recommendations for action, if that has any implications for my portfolio, we'll have a look at it. But that hasn't happened, it's all entirely hypothetical.


Tony Eastley: So if we take these local wire reports in Indonesia as being true, you have no idea how Mr Wirajuda got the impression that an assurance had been given by Australia?


Alexander Downer: Well look, I haven't even seen the reports to be honest with you. It's not a way to conduct diplomacy, to just say well here's the report that somebody says something and who said this to that person and so on. I mean, I haven't seen the report, let alone be able to provide you with any particular information over and above what I have provided you with.


I mean, this has not been a focus of my work particularly, this Deputy Coroner's inquiry, because it's not something that I have ever had any involvement with, of course. These are events of many, many years ago and Hassan Wirajuda and President Yudhoyono haven't had anything to do with it either.


So, you know, we will let the Coroner's report, inquiry, take its course and when its report is concluded, if there are recommendations, if they have any bearing on foreign policy, we will have a look at them.


Tony Eastley: The inquest has heard from an international law expert, Ben Saul, who says if the Coroner recommends charges be laid against any Indonesians that it's very much in the Government's hands to decide whether to pursue such action. Are you committed to helping this inquest seek justice for the families of the five journalists who were killed?


Alexander Downer: Well we've provided information to the Coroner or the Deputy Coroner to assist with the coronial inquiry. I mean, over and above that, to be honest with you, I have no idea what the report is going to conclude.


These are events that took place 32 years ago. This isn't an investigation into something a year or two ago. I mean I don't know that all the dramatis personae, or alleged dramatis personae, are even alive anymore let alone are people who could be charged somehow under New South Wales' jurisdiction.

All of those sorts of legal issues would have to be looked at if the situation ever arose. But, you know, it's all entirely hypothetical and one of the lessons of foreign policy is not to get into the hypothetical.

Tony Eastley: Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.



AAP – May 30, 2007 03:42pm´


Official demands apology over Balibo

By Karen Michelmore in Jakarta


A senior Indonesian politician has demanded an apology alleging NSW police confronted him in his Sydney hotel room and asked him to testify at the Balibo Five inquest

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso was so incensed by the incident that he returned to Indonesia last night, cutting short his visit to Sydney, made at the invitation of the NSW Government.

Sutiyoso said today he was owed an apology and felt "very harassed" after a NSW police officer confronted him in his room, requesting his testimony at the inquest into the deaths of five Australia-based reporters at Balibo in East Timor on October 16, 1975.

The retired lieutenant-general was allegedly a member of a special Indonesian military unit that attacked Balibo that day. It was during that assault that the five were killed.

Sutiyoso alleged a NSW police officer and a court official entered his hotel room yesterday afternoon using a master key, as the governor was resting before a planned official function last night.

"I feel very harassed as an official, officially invited by the NSW government," Sutiyoso said in Jakarta today. "I want them to apologise. If they don't apologise is it good to continue a good relationship with them (Australia)?"

Sutiyoso said the police officer showed him his identification and asked him to sign a letter requesting he attend a coronial inquest.

Deputy State Coroner Dorelle Pinch is hearing the Sydney inquest into the death of Brian Peters, one of five killed.

According to official reports, Peters, Greg Shackleton, Gary Cunningham, Tony Stewart and Malcolm Rennie were killed accidentally in crossfire between invading Indonesian troops and Timorese militia.

But the inquest has heard evidence the five were deliberately gunned down by Indonesian soldiers. "They brought a summon letter ... but I didn't want to sign it," Sutiyoso said today.

He confirmed he was in East Timor the year the five men died, but denied any involvement in their deaths. "Yes I was in East Timor in 1975 but I never entered Balibo," Sutiyoso said. "Me and my soldiers never entered Balibo."

Ms Pinch today told the Glebe Coroner's Court that the police officer involved had been delivering a personal invitation from her for Sutiyoso to attend the inquest.

She had earlier decided to issue the politician with a summons, but abandoned the plan after receiving additional advice about whether she could compel Sutiyoso to attend.

Ms Pinch said she decided to press ahead with her invitation, saying she was seizing a small "window of opportunity" after learning only yesterday that Sutiyoso was visiting Sydney.

The officer assisting the inquest, Detective Sergeant Steve Thomas, then went to Sutiyoso's hotel to convey the coroner's invitation.

"Mr Sutiyoso declined to attend the inquest, citing previous engagements and commitments," Ms Pinch told the court.

Sutiyoso said his commitments would continue for the duration of his stay in Australia and therefore he would not attend the inquest, Ms Pinch said.

However, the governor later cut short his program of official engagements and flew home last night. "There now appears to be some suggestion that Detective Sergeant Thomas gained unauthorised entry to Mr Sutiyoso's hotel room," Ms Pinch said. "I spoke to to Detective Sergeant Thomas and he assures me that that is not so."

Ms Pinch said that according to evidence, Sutiyoso had allegedly been part of "Team Susi", one of the Indonesian military units that advanced on Balibo the day the journalists were killed.

Indonesia has since asked Australia's ambassador to explain why Sutiyoso was approached to testify.

Australia has a law that protects visiting foreign officials from court orders related to domestic matters.



ABC -Transcript The World Today Programme - Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 12:21
Balibo five inquest wraps up
Reporter: Emma Alberici


Eleanor Hall: The coronial inquest into the death of Brian Peters, one of the five journalists killed in Balibo in East Timor in October 1975, is hearing final submissions today.


Seven earlier inquiries into the men's death all concluded they'd been killed in crossfire between Indonesian invading forces, and the Fretilin defenders at Balibo.


But the Counsel Assisting the Coroner, Mark Tedeschi, stunned the court by stating that there's incontrovertible evidence that the five Australians did not die in crossfire, but were deliberately killed by the Indonesian Special Forces, acting on the command of their superiors in Jakarta.


Emma Alberici is at Glebe Coroner's Court in Sydney, and she joins us now.


So Emma what evidence is Mr Tedeschi using to back up this scenario?


Emma Alberici: Well, Mark Tedeschi, Eleanor, was referring to both eyewitness accounts and the second-hand accounts of people who had been close by and had spoken to those who did actually see the events as they took place.


He conceded that none of the witnesses were in a position to give a full account of the sequence of events. Their stories all varied slightly because they were members of what was known as the partisan troops, the East Timorese soldiers that were fighting alongside the Indonesian invading forces. They came into Balibo behind the Indonesian Special Forces and indeed the partisans never actually fired a shot themselves.

The conclusion reached this morning was that the two members of the Channel Nine crew, including Brian Peters, were filming at the fort at about four am on October 16th, 1975 and three members of the Channel Seven crew were in Balibo Square, in the vicinity of what was know as the Chinese house, not the house that was painted with the Australian flag.


By the time the Indonesian troops reached the town square, all five were around that Chinese house and they were rounded up by the invading forces. One fell to the ground. It's assumed that was Brian Peters, who was filming at the time. The others fled - and he was shot - and the others fled inside the Chinese house where three of the others were shot and the fifth man try to hide in a bathroom but was forced out and then stabbed to death.


The bodies were then clothed in military uniforms, placed around the captured Fretilin guns and photographed, to give the impression that these men were fighting alongside Fretilin and to be used for propaganda purposes and they were then, their bodies burned repeatedly over the ensuing four days. So that was what left, a member of the Australian ambassadorial offices, later was said was unrecognisable as human remains.


And it's got to be said that there was no firing. Mark Tedeschi said there had been no firing whatsoever in the Balibo town square. So that absolutely negates any possibility of crossfire, because Fretilin had already retreated by the time the Indonesian Army had moved into Balibo and the journalists themselves were not armed so there was no fire.


Eleanor Hall: So does Mr Tedeschi explain why he thinks the Indonesians made this decision to kill these men?


Emma Alberici: Yes. Well the Indonesians were very sensitive, of course, to the international reaction of their attempts to overthrow East Timor. Indeed, they wanted the appearance at least to be that this was an act of, to be achieved by an act of self-determination. So there was to be no evidence to the contrary that this was by any means a forced takeover of the country.


Eleanor Hall: And what's been said about the Australian Government's involvement in all of this?

Emma Alberici: Well, extraordinarily at the conclusion of his first bit of submission, he says the only conclusion, and I'll read you this because it's explosive, he says, "the only conclusion that one can reasonably reach is that the Indonesian plan to compromise Australia's reaction to the invasion was spectacularly successful". Because, of course, the Indonesians gave the Australian Government advanced warning, through absolutely specific, detailed advanced warnings, of what they were intending to do in Balibo and Maliana - those border towns.


"If Your Honour accepts" Mark Tedeschi goes on this, "it's apparent that the Indonesian leaders engaged in a masterful power-play worthy of an international chess grandmaster, using Australian leaders and departmental officers as their pawns. The plan depended entirely upon the Indonesian Government and the Indonesian military being able to maintain the facade in public, particularly for the benefit of the Australian public, that there troops were not involved in the deaths of the journalists."


"The whole gambit, however, depended upon no reliable news getting into the public arena about an Indonesian involvement in the attacks on Balibo and in particular no film footage", which is exactly what these men were collecting.


Eleanor Hall: So, Emma, is there any indication yet as to what recommendations the Coroner might make?


Emma Alberici: Well, Eleanor, we've heard from Ben Saul, an international law expert who didn't actually front the inquiry but gave the Coroner some evidence, that the Commonwealth Department, the Director of Public Prosecutions is within his rights to pursue any of the men responsible in Indonesia, but then it will become a matter between our two Governments and of course a diplomatic nightmare, you would have to assume, as to what happens next, whether they might be tried in Indonesia or brought to Australia, or indeed whether nothing happens at all.
The Indonesian Foreign Minister in fact yesterday claimed that the Australian Government had given him assurances that the Indonesians had nothing to worry about regarding this inquest and this is what Foreign Minister Alexander Downer had to say on that matter on AM this morning when asked about those claims.


Alexander Downer: Well I wouldn't put it in those terms. We've had from my recollection a very brief discussion about this quite some time ago. Not that it wasn't anything to worry about but that this was an investigation into events that occurred over 30 years ago and obviously we will just take it as it comes.


We as a government have been cooperating, or my department has been cooperating, with the coronial inquiry in terms of the provision of documents from 32 years ago and there's not much more we can do of course. I don't have any myself any particular knowledge about those events.


Eleanor Hall: And that's the Foreign Minister Alexander Downer speaking this morning about the coronial inquest and Emma Alberici down at the Glebe's Coroner's Court in Sydney.