Precedence: bulk
PORTUGUESE LAWYERS DEMAND SOEHARTO'S EXTRADICTION
(ITAR/TASS; 12/26/98)
MADRID, December 27 (Itar-Tass) - Portuguese lawyers on Saturday demanded
the extradition of Indonesia's ex-president Suharto to bring him to court for
genocide of the population of East Timor, Portugal's former colony.
The Portuguese Law and Justice Association, which is part of the
International Jurists' Commission said in a statement that Suharto is to
face trial in Portugal for his role in genocide of a third of East Timor's
population. East Timor was seized by Indonesia in 1975 after Lisbon
announced granting independence for its colony. Over 200,000 civilians were
killed in East
Timor since that time.
In formal terms, these people were Portuguese citizens since East Timor is
still recognized as being Portuguese by the United Nations which granted
Portugal the right to rule the territory until its status is finally
determined, the document said.
The association expressed disagreement with the position of Portugal's
Attorney-General who said that Suharto's case did not fall under the
jurisdiction of Portuguese law.
The association, however, maintains that the country's law provides for
punishment for those who violate the rights of Portuguese citizens.
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