The Wire

Former Indonesian military chief, General Wiranto, has come closer to facing trial for gross human rights abuses committed against the East Timorese both before and after East Timor’s referendum of independence in 1999. A UN publication released this week provides damning evidence of Wiranto’s involvement in the 1999 atrocities, supporting allegations that he was largely responsible for the murder and persecution of hundreds of East Timorese. Wiranto has been indicted by the UN-funded Serious Crimes Unit in East Timor but an arrest warrant has not yet been issued. Although Indonesia has already warned that it will not allow Wiranto to be extradited to East Timor if an arrest warrant is issued, the warrant could be forwarded to Interpol and he could be detained in a third nation. For now, Wiranto remains at large. He is currently a prominent presidential candidate in the up coming Indonesian election, but all of this could change if UN findings lead to an arrest warrant. Deputy Prosecutor of the Serious Crimes Unit in East Timor, Nicholas Kuomjian spoke to Hannah Churton.