ABC AUSTRALIA, 08/10/2002 22:04:25
Indonesian army implicated in 1999 Dili attack
An East Timorese man wounded in an attack on a refugee-packed compound in Dili in
1999 has told a court Indonesian soldiers were among the attackers.
Florendo de Jesus told the Central Jakarta District Court that he is certain Indonesian
armed forces launched the attack because he recognised several people among the
attackers as being Indonesian army members.
Mr de Jesus, 21, a student from the East Timor capital Dili, testified at the trial of
Lieutenant Colonel Endar Priyanto, a former East Timor military chief accused of
human rights violations in the former Indonesian-ruled territory.
He also insists the incident on April 17, 1999 could only be described as a one-sided
attack, and not a clash between two East Timorese factions as the defendant had
alleged.
Mr de Jesus says a car tried to ram the main gate of the residence of
pro-independence leader Manuel Viegas Carascallao, where about 200 other refugees
had sought protection.
When this failed, a truck broke down the gate allowing the attackers to storm the
house.
At least 12 people were killed in the attack.
08/10/2002 22:04:25 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
