Timor two plead for war crimes probe

By CNN Correspondent
Atika Shubert

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- East Timor leaders Xanana Gusmao and Ramos Horta have pressed the U.S. for an international war crimes tribunal to resolve atrocities committed under Indonesian rule of the territory.

Their request came in a closed-door meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

After the meeting, nobel-prize laureate Ramos Horta voiced his "profound frustration and unhappiness" with the Indonesian justice system.

"There is no alternative but for the Security Council and the Secretary General of the United Nations to push for a war crimes tribunal," Mr. Horta said.

Hundreds were killed and whole towns destroyed in a violent militia rampage after East Timor's vote for independence from Indonesia in 1999.

More than 250,000 people were forced across the border into Indonesia-controlled West Timor by militias and supporting elements of the Indonesian military.

But Indonesian courts have yet to bring one case to trial. Pressure is increasing on Indonesia to bring alleged human rights violators to justice or face an international tribunal.

UN officials were shocked, however, at a recent sentence handed down by an Indonesian judge over the killing of U.N. workers in West Timor.

Three militia members admitted to stabbing the victims in a gang attack, but were charged with "mob violence" instead of manslaughter.

They were sentenced to between 16 and 20 months in jail.