---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 -0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 Free Email @KotakPos.com visit: http://my.kotakpos.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------- ANTARA, FEBRUARY 16, 2000 ANNAN: NO NEED FOR INT'L TRIBUNAL IF RI ITSELF CAN UPHOLD JUSTICE Jakarta, Feb 15 (ANTARA)-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was quoted as saying the world body need not and would never ask Indonesia to bring those responsible for the atrocities in East Timor to an international tribunal so long as Jakarta was able to uphold justice based on its own judicial sovereignity. Annan made the remarks during a 30-minute meeting with Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amien Rais at the latter's office here late on Tuesday. "Now there is only one question left: Do we have the courage to uphold justice and law toward our own citizens, regardless of whether they are civilians or soldiers," Amien said commenting on his meeting with the UN secretary general. Annan arrived here Tuesday for two days of talks with Indonesian leaders before making his first visit to the devastated territory of East Timor. East Timor has been under UN administration since November last year following a ballot in which the majority to East Timorese voted for independence. During his meeting with the MPR chief, Annan expressed the hope that the process of democracy taking place in Indonesia would run smoothly, and the question of East Timorese refugees still camped in various parts of Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province could be settled properly. "He also asked what I though about Wiranto's suspension and I told him that the step (to suspend Wiranto) was hopefully a correct one. But I also hope Pak (Mr) Wiranto will get legal protection and have a change to defend himself," Amien said. In a surprise move, President Abdurrahman Wahid suspended Wiranto as Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs as of Monday <Feb 14> and appointed Home Affairs Minister Surjadi Soedirdja as his interim replacement. The UN secretary general later met with the House of Representatives <DPR> leadership at around 4 pm. Annan and the House leaders discussed the question of East Timorese refugees still camped in East Nusa Tenggara and the legal settlement of human rights violators in East Timor. Meanwhile, House Speaker Akbar Tanjung called for UN assistance to solve the question of East Timorese refugees being sheltered near the East Nusa Tenggara-East Timor borders. "Anyway, the refugees will return to their home land some time in the future. Hence, the question should receive attention not only from the Indonesian government but also from the UN," he said. Tanjung also told the UN secretary general that the DPR had fully supported any effort to uphold human raights. "Those found guilty of violating human rights must be dealt with in accordance with the law," he said. He said the House also favored the KPP HAM's recommendation to the Attorney General's office to investigate those allegedly involved in the atrocities. "On the accasion I told him that nobody is immune from the law, be they military officer or civilian officials. President Abdurrahman Wahid's step to suspend Wiranto from his post as Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs is part of efforts to uphold the supremacy of law," Tanjung said. <T.PU08/NN01/21:12/IAJM-21:50/ri2/21:54/TB02> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 17 Feb 2000 jam 06:17:38 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
