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Ramos-Horta rejects calls for war crime probe

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East Timor's president Jose Ramos-Horta says he resents suggestions his country doesn't care about justice for human rights abuses in his country. [AFP]

Last Updated: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:26:00 +1000

East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta says bringing the perpetrators of human rights abuses to trial isn't a priority for most people in his country.

An Amnesty International report says there's been no real justice for the victims of human rights abuses in East Timor during the Indonesian occupation.

It recommends an international tribunal be set up to bring the perpetrators to account.

But Dr Ramos-Horta is opposed to the recommendations in the report.

He says Indonesia is making progress dealing with problems in its past.

"Indonesians in their own time, on their own agenda...they're the ones who eventually will bring to trial those in Indonesia responsible for crimes in Indonesia, in Aceh, in Irian and in East Timor," he said. 

Dr Horta also says a tribunal is not what many people, particularly the poor in his country, want.

"Not one raised the issues of '99. Not one talk about putting Indonesians on trial, all they ask me again and again. Mr President when are we going to have electricity, when are we going to have a telephone network here, we need water into our village," he said. 

source:http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200908/2670117.htm?desktop