http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/timor-horror-stories-aired-at-truth-hearing/2007/02/20/1171733762814.html
Timor horror stories aired at truth hearing Mark Forbes, Denpasar February 21, 2007 TALES of blood and tears are flowing from a Commission of Truth and Friendship hearing into atrocities during East Timor's 1999 independence vote. Stories of cold-blooded killings of civilians and of the Indonesian military's role in organising and arming murderous anti-independence militia squads are emerging. But privately, participants question if the commission's goals of revealing the truth and promoting reconciliation are achievable. Yesterday, Florindo de Jesus Brites spoke of being hacked with swords by militia members who had joined Indonesian soldiers to attack the home of independence leader Manuel Carrascalao in April 1999. Mr Brites, a high school student at the time, fell next to his brother's body. "I couldn't move, I closed my eyes and everything went dark. I think that's why they left me." He named the man, who came from his village, who first stabbed him. He named the soldier he saw shoot his brother in the chest and described militia and troops firing into Mr Carrascalao's house, killing 12 adults and Mr Carrascalao's 16-year-old son. Militia and troops had surrounded the house after a radio call for those loyal to Indonesia to "find the CNRT (independence) people; we have to finish them off". This was the incident an earlier witness, Mateus Carvalho, leader of Dili's notorious Aitarak militia, discounted as a family vendetta. Mr Carvalho was an army officer ordered to return to his village and form Aitarak. He claims to have only acted to protect the community from independence fighters. "I never kill - if I did kill anyone, show me where I dispose of the corpses." Mr Carvalho's evidence contradicted Indonesian claims the military had no role in the carnage that killed more than 1400 civilians. He admitted the army funded, armed and monitored militia activities. The commission's terms of reference state it should recommend amnesties, not prosecutions. Exchanges between witness and the Indonesian-appointed members of the commission reveal a continuing gulf. Mr Brites said he was taken to a military hospital after worms infested his wounds, but could only eat if he first sang the Indonesian national anthem. Indonesian law professor Achmad Ali was indignant. "Is there something wrong with being asked to sing? Even in America they sing the anthem; I think it's quite acceptable because you were still in Indonesia." Witnesses were asked why they were attacked. They must have done something wrong, the Indonesian commissioners claimed. They questioned how victims knew the military was involved. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
