INDONESIA: HUMAN RIGHTS COURT FINDS FORMER EAST TIMOR CHIEF OF POLICE TIMBUL SILAEN NOT GUILTY OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

Record ID: 647207

  • Title: INDONESIA: HUMAN RIGHTS COURT FINDS FORMER EAST TIMOR CHIEF OF POLICE TIMBUL SILAEN NOT GUILTY OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
  • Date: 16th August 2002
  • Summary: (W3) JAKARTA, INDONESIA (AUGUST 15, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. SLV EXTERIOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS COURT; SCU SIGN OF COURT ROOM 0.11 2. MV JUDGES ENTERING/TAKING SEATS; SCU JUDGE ANDI SAMSAN NGANRO OPENING COURT SESSION (2 SHOTS) 0.26 3. MV DEFENDANT TIMBUL SILAEN ENTERING/SALUTING/TAKING SEAT 0.36 4. MV SILAEN'S LAWYERS SEATED 0.41 5. SCU PEOPLE LISTENING TO COURT PROCEEDINGS; SLV COURT SESSION; MV SILAEN SEATED; SLV COURT SESSION; SCU/MV SILAEN SEATED (6 SHOTS) 1.14 6. SOUNDBITE)(Bahasa Indonesia) JUDGE ANDI SAMSAN NGANRO SAYING "I hereby announce the defendant Timbul GM Silaen cannot be proven legally guilty of gross human rights violations." 1.29 7. SCU SILAEN'S WIFE, NINA SILAEN CRYING AS SHE LISTEN JUDGE'S VERDICT; MV SILAEN BEING HUGGED BY SUPPORTERS (2 SHOTS) 1.52 8. (SOUNDBITE)(Bahasa Indonesia) SILAEN SAYING "I thank to media for their efforts to shows the facts that I have carried out my duty to the country." 2.10 9. SCU SILAEN HUGGED BY WIFE; SCU SILAEN SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTERS (2 SHOTS) 2.39 (W3)DILI, EAST TIMOR (FILE) (REUTERS) 10. SLV /MV BURNT BUILDINGS IN DILI AFTER INDEPENDENCE VOTE; SLV DESTROYED MARKET PLACE (7 SHOTS) 3.34 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st August 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVACQMWS2362W98K4NO5PZEUJ5UK
  • Story Text: Indonesia's human rights court has found former East
    Timor police chief Timbul Silaen not guilty of crimes against
    humanity over the territory's bloody independence vote in
    1999.

    Judge Andi Samsan Nganro read out the verdict to a
    packed courtroom on Thursday (August 15, 2002).

    "The defendant cannot be proven legally guilty of gross
    human rights violations," he told the court.

    Prosecutors had demanded a 10 1/2-year jail term for
    Brigadier General Silaen for the charge. He faced a maximum
    penalty of death.

    Supporters of the former police chief applauded and burst
    into cheers after the verdict.

    Silaen turned to the cameras and thanked his supporters.

    "I thank to media for their efforts to shows the facts that
    I have carried out my duty to the country"
    Silaen is the second of 18 suspects to be handed a verdict
    by the human rights court over the East Timor violence in
    which the United Nations estimates more than 1,000 people were
    killed.

    The court on Wednesday found former governor of East
    Timor Abilio Soares guilty of crimes against humanity and
    sentenced him to three years in jail. He faced a maximum
    penalty of death.

    Rights groups said that ruling made a mockery of justice
    and was only an attempt to appease the international
    community.

    Even state prosecutors, who demanded a 10 1/2-year jail
    term for Soares, said they would appeal against the ruling
    because the charge carried a minimum sentence of 10 years.

    Silaen, whose trial began just before 10 a.m. (0300 GMT),
    joked with reporters and photographers before he entered the
    court room on the third floor of the central Jakarta building.

    A verdict in the trial of four mid-ranking soldiers and a
    policemen is expected later on Thursday.

    East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, was formally
    declared independent on May 20 this year when the United
    Nations handed over the reins of power to former guerrilla
    leader Xanana Gusmao in an emotional ceremony.


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