The Jakarta Post, 2/27/2007 2:59:04 PM
Australian coroner asks Yunus Yosfiah to testify in Timor probe
SYDNEY, Australia (AP): An Australian coroner investigating the slaying of a British
journalist during Indonesia's 1975 invasion of East Timor on Tuesday invited a former
Indonesian military commander to testify about the incident.
British-born Brian Peters was among five Australia-based journalists who were killed
during an attack by Indonesian special forces on the town of Balibo on Oct. 16, 1975.
The Indonesian government says the reporters were accidentally killed in crossfire,
but Peters' family insists he was murdered by Indonesian forces led by former
commander Yunus Yosfiah.
Earlier this month, the New South Wales state coroner called an inquest to examine
the circumstances of Peters' death. In Australia, a state coroner can investigate any
resident's death not due to natural causes, especially if the circumstances
aredeemed suspicious, regardless of where the death took place.
On Tuesday, Deputy State Coroner Dorelle Pinch took what she described as the
"unusual" step of reading out an open letter to Yosfiah inviting him to testify before the
inquiry at Glebe Coroner's Court in Sydney.
"In the course of the inquest, I have heard evidence that you are one of the
commanders of the Indonesian forces that attacked Balibo on 16th of October, 1975,"
Pinch said in the court.
"It seems, therefore, that you may be able to provide important evidence about how
Mr. Peters and his colleagues died and what happened to their bodies subsequently."
Pinch said she had sent an invitation to Yosfiah via the Indonesian Embassy in
Australia, but has received no response.The coroner's office cannot compel Yosfiah to
testify.
Several people claiming to be eyewitnesses have testified this month that Yosfiah
ordered his troops to open fire on the unarmed journalists and set fire to their bodies.
Responding to the allegations from Indonesia, Yosfiah dismissed the remarks as lies.
Yosfiah served as captain of Indonesia's special forces in 1975 before becoming the
country's information minister in 1998. (**)
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
