| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Indonesian generals on watch list |
| 2004-01-18 |
| A significant move to ratchet up the pressure on human rights abusers. EFL The US State Department is to put several serving and former Indonesian military officers, including a leading presidential candidate, on a watch list of indicted war criminals, effectively barring them from entering the US. The list includes General Wiranto, former head of the armed forces and a leading presidential candidate in the elections this year, whom the Defence Department once considered a reform-minded professional. General Wiranto and others on the list were among eight Indonesian army officers indicted last year on war crimes charges in Dili District court by East Timor’s Prosecutor-General, using evidence gathered by the UN serious crimes unit. A member of General Wiranto’s presidential campaign team played down any damage the US move would cause to his presidential aims and said a ban on visiting the US would not apply if General Wiranto was elected president. I wouldn’t bet on it! The State Department move comes as the UN remains under pressure from human rights groups and some governments to take action against Indonesia for its perceived failure to seriously pursue those responsible for crimes in East Timor. The UN is a failed organization. Forget about them. Some senior officers, including General Wiranto, head of the armed forces at the time of East Timor’s independence vote, were not investigated or prosecuted. The refusal to prosecute has angered State Department officials, who believe the tribunal disregarded the evidence. The decision to deny those individuals visas to enter the US was an attempt to show the Administration’s disapproval, an official said. "Had there been a generalised perception that the prosecution was vigorous and a reasoned judgment was made," the visa process "would have been looked at in a different light," said a US Government official. The names will be added to a State Department watch list. Interesting spin from WaPo. State good! Defence Bad! |
| Posted by: |