INDICTMENTS FOR ‘CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY’ FILED IN TIMOR-LESTE

INDICTMENTS FOR ‘CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY’ FILED IN TIMOR-LESTE

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

In Timor–Leste today, an indictment for crimes against humanity was filed against five Indonesian soldiers, charging them with rape and torture.  This was the second indictment this week.  Earlier in the week, 16 others, including eight Indonesia Military District Commanders, were indicted for crimes against humanity, committed in the year 1999.

The United Nations attaches the highest importance to the successful completion of the investigation and prosecution of serious crime cases, as mandated by the Security Council.  The indictments are prepared by international staff who report functionally to the Prosecutor-General of Timor-Leste, and are issued under the legal authority of the Timorese Government.

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