News Briefs (February 2006)

East Timor Briefs Indonesia on its Stance on Atrocities Report

The leaders of Indonesia and East Timor met Friday to discuss a report that details atrocities committed by Indonesia during its long occupation of the tiny nation. East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao briefed his Indonesian counterpart President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a meeting attended by members of East Timor's truth and reconciliation commission. The report, presented to the United Nations last month, triggered anger in Indonesia. East Timor, which is keen to maintain good ties with its giant neighbor, has also sought to distance itself from its contents.

The report says at least 102,000 East Timorese were killed, abducted, starved or died of illnesses under Indonesia's occupation from 1975-1999. The report also describes sexual violence, and the use of napalm and torture by Indonesian forces. The 2,500-page document was prepared by East Timor's truth and reconciliation commission, which was set up with the assistance of the United Nations. East Timor has repeatedly shunned calls for an international court to be established to try Indonesian military officers. Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and ruled the former Portuguese colony with an iron fist until 1999, when a UN-organized plebiscite resulted in an overwhelming vote for independence. A final orgy of violence by retreating Indonesian troops left more than 1,500 dead. No Indonesian official has been punished for crimes committed during the occupation.

Ex-Khmer Rouge Couple Receiving Medical Treatment in Thailand

Two former members of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot's inner circle are undergoing medical treatment in a Thai hospital, their son said, raising concern among rights groups who want the leaders put on trial. Ieng Sary, 76, a former foreign minister, has been hospitalized with heart problems, and his 77-year-old wife, Khieu Thirith, who was minister of social affairs under the brutal regime, had an operation for a broken hip, said the couple's son, Ieng Vuth. “They are not well yet and are still receiving treatment” in Thailand, said Ieng Vuth, deputy governor of the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Pailin. Advancing age and declining health of the few remaining Khmer Rouge leaders has caused concern that they may die before being tried for crimes committed during their 1975-79 rule over Cambodia. Their leader Pol Pot died in 1988.

Youk Chhang, director of an independent group documenting Khmer Rouge crimes, said the hospitalized couple could be candidates for the trials, adding that he is hopeful their illness will put pressure on the United Nations and the government to start the proceedings. “We are racing against time,” he said. Cambodia and the UN agreed in 2003 to jointly convene trials of the leaders blamed for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people from starvation, disease, overwork and execution. Under the 2003 pact, Cambodia and the UN agreed to establish a special court for the Khmer Rouge leaders, but funding problems in Cambodia have delayed the trials. Many of the leaders still live and move freely in Cambodia. Earlier this month, the UN opened an administrative office for the trials but no date has been set for the trials to begin.

Thai Media Critic Rejects Company's Offer to Drop Lawsuit

A media critic who was sued for defamation by Thailand's biggest telecommunications conglomerate for hundreds of millions of baht on Friday turned down the company's offer to drop its legal actions. Supinya Klangnarong, from the advocacy group Campaign for Popular Media, is being prosecuted for suggesting that Shin Corp PCL had profited from its connections with the government. Shin Corp was at the time of her remarks owned by close relatives of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They sold it last month to a Singaporean firm. The case has drawn international attention, with press freedom groups speaking up on Supinya's behalf and claiming the lawsuit has had a chilling effect on freedom of speech.

Supinya said that Shin Corp's lawyer had called her lawyer and offered to drop its legal action, citing the company's sale. She did not say if there were any conditions attached to the offer.