UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Visits Indonesia Amid Calls for East Timor Tribunal

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday, one day after President Abdurrahman Wahid suspended former military chief Wiranto over his alleged involvement in atrocities in East Timor. Annan welcomed Wahid's move but stated that a global tribunal to try those responsible for the violence in East Timor will not be set up at this stage. The U.N. Human Rights Commission had recommended an international tribunal, but Indonesia rejected the calls, opting to let its own legal system handle the case.

Key Takeaways:

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed President Abdurrahman Wahid's decision to suspend former military chief Wiranto over his alleged involvement in East Timor atrocities.
Annan stated that a global tribunal to try those responsible for the violence in East Timor will not be set up at this stage, citing Indonesia's determination to try those accused in its own legal system.
The U.N. Human Rights Commission had recommended an international tribunal to try those responsible for the East Timor atrocities, but Indonesia rejected the calls.
Wiranto was military chief when armed pro-Indonesia militias mounted a campaign of terror and destruction in East Timor in September after the territory's vote for independence from Indonesia.
Hundreds of people were killed and hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes in the post-election violence.
Indonesian soldiers have been accused of taking part in some attacks and allowing others to happen.
Annan is scheduled to meet with Wahid, Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri, and other government leaders to discuss the East Timor issue.
Annan will also meet with chairman of the national human rights commission, former president B.J. Habibie, and former foreign minister Ali Alatas.

Statistics:

Hundreds of people were killed in the post-election violence in East Timor.
Hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes in the post-election violence in East Timor.
Wiranto was suspended by President Abdurrahman Wahid over his alleged involvement in East Timor atrocities.

Sources:

"JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 15 (UPI) United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Indonesia Tuesday, one day after President Abdurrahman Wahid suspended former military chief over his alleged involvement in atrocities in East Timor last year."