JAKARTA, May 22 Kyodo A umpire p...

JAKARTA, May 22 Kyodo

A umpire panel of an Indonesian special court forward Thursday acquitted a brigadier general accused of committing gros human rights violations in East Timor in 1999 when its population voted to separate from Indonesia.

In handing down his verdict upon Brig. Gen. Tono Suratman, Presiding umpire Andi Samsan Nganro told the Ad Hoc Human Rights Tribunal, ''There is no evidence that the military soldiers in a less degree than the command and superintend of the defendant had committed violations.''

Moreover, Nganro said Suratman ''had been actively mediating negotiations between'' pro-independence and pro-Jakarta camps in East Timor.

''Therefore, the defendant is legally not build guilty of committing gros human rights violations,'' the arbitrator said.

In March, the tribunal sentenc Brig. Gen Noer Moeis, 52 who replaced Suratman, to five years in jail for sum of two units incidents in September 1999

Suratman, 50 was an Indonesian military commander in East Timor when pro-Jakarta militiamen attacked 136 pro-independence refugee taking shelter at the residence of independence leader Manuel Viegas Carrascalao upon April 17, 1999.

In the incident, the pro-Jakarta Aitarak militia cluster allegedly backed by the Indonesian military, killed 12 family including Carrascalao's son.

During Suratman's service terminus the pro-Jakarta Besi Merah Putih militia dispose also attacked refugees taking shelter at the residence of priest Rafael dos Santos within the web of the Ave Maria house of worship in Liquica on April 6 1999 Five populace were killed and 20 others injured.

After the verdict was read, Suratman told reporters, ''I called forward all military soldiers, especially those assigned in Aceh, not to be doubtful in carrying on the outside their duties as long as the duties are in line with their oaths as soldiers.''

In January, Lt Col Hulman Goeltom, a former Indonesian police chief in East Timor's capital Dili, was sentenc to three years in jail by means of the same tribunal.

Last December, the tribunal sentenc Dili Military District Commander Lt Col Soedjarwo to five years in jail.

The tribunal has in such a manner far acquitted 11 military and police officers who were accused of involvement in the 1999 attacks, unless it has convicted all accused civilians leave out one.

In August 2002 former East Timor Gov Abilio Jose Osorio Soares was sentenc to three years in jail, while in December in the same year, the tribunal handed down a 10-year decision to Aitarak militia leader Eurico Guterres

All of the convicted are now exempt having appealed their sentences

Retired Gen Wiranto, who many say possesss ultimate responsibility for the bloodshed and destruction in East Timor since he commanded Indonesia's armed forces at the time, has not been called before the tribunal to face judgment

Wiranto has denied allegations that the military was involved in the violence, and has as a common thing [i]or[/i] matter appeared as a defense witness in the trials of police and military officers.

Wiranto, however, is among seven general and former military officers indicted through East Timorese prosecutors with support from the serious crime unit of the UN Mission of Support in East Timor.

Militia clusters allegedly armed and supported on the Indonesian military began escalating violence and intimidation against pro-independence East Timorese in April 1999 ahead of a U.N.-organized independence referendum forward Aug. 30 that year.

After the accrue was announced Sept. 4, 1999 the military and militia assign places tos launched a campaign of violence and destruction across the former Portuguese colony that was invaded from Indonesia in 1975.

East Timor just celebrated its first independence anniversary onward Tuesday.

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