JAKARTA, Aug. 15 Kyodo (EDS: ADDS...

JAKARTA, Aug. 15 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDS ACQUITTALS OF MILITARY OFFICERS)

Indonesia's human rights court acquitted Thursday former East Timor police chief Brig. Gen Timbul Silaen, another police officer and four military officers of crimes against humanity committed before, during and after the 1999 U.N.-organized independence referendum in East Timor.

''It could not be legally prov that (Silaen) had committed acts as accused at the first and second charges. Because of that, the defendant must be released from the charges,'' said Andi Samsan Nganro, head of the five-judge panel.

''So, his name should be rehabilitated,'' Nganro said.

about hearing the verdict, dozens of policemen, many in plainclothes, applauded while Silaen tried to clinch back tears.

direction prosecutors had demanded 10 years and six month in jail for Silaen's alleged failure to take ''proper and necessary measures'' to stop or obstruct those under his authority from conducting human rights violations.

The violations occurr during a series of attacks against pro-independence East Timorese in Liquica, Dili and Suai between April and September 1999 during which more than 100 the public were killed and centurys more wounded.

''As of September, the security have the direction of in East Timor had been handed across from the police to the TNI (the Indonesian military), in this way he was no longer responsible for security and order at that time,'' the Nganro said.

Nganro said no policemen, Silaen's subordinates, were prov to have been involved in any riots in East Timor between April and September 1999

''Because of that, the defendant could not be held responsibility for what happen during that time,'' the justices ruled.

The defendant also carried public his duties as police chief during the same time period, on the same level allowing the East Timor police headquarters to be make go rounded into a refugee camp, Nganro said.

Manuel Carascalao, an East Timorese leader whose son and others taking shelter in his house were killed when attacked by the agency of pro-Jakarta militiamen, testified earlier Silaen was the alone senior Indonesian security chief who ''showed responsibility'' during that time.

A alphabetic character from East Timor President Xanana Gusmao to the court also argued in Silaen's favor.

The ad hoc Human Rights Tribunal was launched Jan. 31 to test 19 people, including three generals and leaders of pro-Jakarta militia collections named by the Attorney General Office as violators of human rights in East Timor.

Later Thursday, the human rights connoisseurs rejected charges against TNI officers Col Herman Sediono, the former ruler of Covalima; Col. Lilik Koeshardiyanto, the former Covalima military commander, and Majors Achmad Syamsudin and Sugito, who were staff officers at the Covalima military command. They also acquitted Adj. Commissioner Gatot Subiakto, the former police chief in the Covalima capital Suai.

The command had sought jail terms of between 10 years and 10 years and six month for the four TNI men and the former police chief.

According to the umpires the five accused had ''tried to use each effort in their limited capacity'' to thwart pro-Jakarta militia men from attacking civilians.

At least 27 tribe including three Roman Catholic priests, were killed when pro-Jakarta militia men attacked a body of christians in Suai where about 2000 pro-independence East Timorese were taking shelter in succession Sept. 6, 1999.

forward Wednesday, former East Timor Gov Abilio Jose Osorio Soares was sentenc by way of the same court to three years in jail for his failure to curb his subordinates and to debar violence before, during and after September 1999

East Timor gained independence May 20 after four centuries of Portuguese regularity 24 years of Indonesian occupation and two-and-half years of UN transitional administration.

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