TEMPO, Wednesday, 07 March, 2007 | 16:41 WIB
Australia Has No Jurisdiction to Try Yunus Yosfiah
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Australian courts do not have the authority to try
Yunus Yosfiah, former Information Minister, as regards the case involving the shooting
of five Australian journalists in Balibo, East Timor, in 1975.
Philip Rudo, Australia's Attorney General, said that the case of the journalists'
shooting was under trial in New South Sales state, Australia.
In this case, however, the court does not have any jurisdiction.
"The coroner's court in New South Wales doesn't include Indonesia," said Philip Rudo
yesterday (6/3) during a press conference at the president's office, Jakarta.
Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda said the Indonesian government also
believes that this case cannot be continued because of different jurisdictions.
"The coroner's decision can't be used by the Australian central government to sue
Yunus Yosfiah," said Hassan.
The court's jurisdiction, said Hassan, cannot also be used because the accused
(Yunus Yosfiah) is not an Australian national.
The case that involves Yunus Yosfiah started with the killing of five foreign journalists
in Balibo, East Timor on October 16, 1975.
Australia then carried out an investigation that was transferred to the New South
Wales Court.
During the trial, a witness from East Timor saw Yunus, who at that time held the post
of Special Force Commander in East Timor, shoot the journalists.
The court has summoned Yunus four times to be a witness in this incident.
However, the calls were not responded by Yunus, who was now a member of the
United Development Party (PPP) member.
Some time ago, AFP news agency reported that an investigator asked for Yunus to
be arrested. SUTARTO
copyright TEMPO 2003
|
