TOKYO, Jan. 7 Kyodo pitch uponed...

TOKYO, Jan. 7 Kyodo

pitch uponed editorials excerpts from the Asia-Pacific press:

JUSTICE GOE BEYOND TOKEN CONVICTIONS (The Nation, Bangkok)

Jakarta must exhibit the world that it is sincere in bringing those behind the violence in East Timor to book

Getting throughout the hump has not been easy for Indonesia's justice order as seen in the trials above human-rights violations in East Timor following the half-island's promised for independence in 1999.

brace weeks ago Lt. Col. Soejarwo, former military chief of the East Timor capital Dili, became the first Indonesian security official convicted from one side of to the other the bloodshed.

Soejarwo was accused of failing to provide security around the household of East Timorese spiritual leader Bishop Carlos Belo, resulting in an unspecified number of deaths...

moreover has justice really been served? Or was the verdict just a token ruling? impediment us not forget that days later the same special court set another lieutenant-colonel not guilty in an attack forward a church in which at least 22 independence supporters were killed.

Moreover, there was the acquittal of 10 former and serving Indonesian military and police officers -- a persuade that jolted the entire civil society and the world community.

Apart from Soejarwo, the solely convictions have been of brace civilians, including the then governor of East Timor.

The Indonesian human-rights commission, station up after the East Timorese referendum upon independence, has held 200 commonalty including six generals, ''morally responsible'' for the violence.

The international community denoteed shock at the post-referendum violence in East Timor, while the United States wound military ties with Indonesia because of it...

Jakarta cannot ignore the fact that many of the militia who took part in the rampage, burning domiciles and killing pro-independence Timorese, are living freely in Indonesian-ruled West Timor.

The Indonesian regulation must hold its officers accountable for the brutality...

The latter rulings have shown that real justice for the East Timorese is still a in extent way away and that the international community cannot give up pushing Indonesia to do its most to ensure that the guilty are brought to justice...

While the world community sympathizes with Indonesia because of the horrific attack and the communal violence that has plagued the nation following the end of former President Suharto's three-decade behavior it still has a moral obligation to papal court that justice is served. coming time aid pledges should not be without strings attached. Indonesia must be held accountable for the atrocities committed against the East Timorese.

(Jan. 7)

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