Suspected Murderer of UN Peacekeeper Requests Trial at International Court
19 September 2003 11:07 WIB
Dere's lawyers, Suhardi SH, Nicholay AB, SH andSunaryo Saruddin, SH, requested that the presidingIndonesian justices accept this demurrer and withdrawthe charges against the suspect.
“In our opinion, Timor Leste is yet to obtain itsjudicial or political sovereignty. So, let’s be fair,this case should be tried at an International Court,”one of Dere’s lawyers, Nicholay, said to the pressafter the trial today (13/11).
Apart from the issue of 'locus delicti' (the locationof the murder - Ed.), Dere’s lawyers also questionedthe incorrect description of the suspects occupationin the prosecutor’s letter of accusation. In theletter it was said that Dere worked as a farmer. Infact, Dere is still listed as the member of thePro-Integration Fighters (PPI).
According to Nicholay, the government have prioritizedthis case as a gesture to the international world thatthey are serious about bringing people to justice forthe atrocities in East Timor post-IndependenceReferendum. Suhardi, another lawyer for Dere, addedthat the prosecutor's charges did not detail the areawhere the Indonesian Military (TNI) and NationalPolice (Polri) troops were on guard at that time. These troops, he said, were supposed to guard theborder area of West Timor of Indonesia and East Timor.Suhardi also questioned why the security apparatuspermitted Dere to carry his weapons in the firstplace.
Public Prosecutor M. Syafei denied that the case wasnot in accordance with the locus delicti principle. “I will prove otherwise during my statement in thenext trial,” Syafei said.
Dere was named a suspect in the premeditated murder of Leonard William Manning, a New Zealander peacekeeperstationed at Debululik Hill, East Timor, on July 24,2000. Prior to the murder, Dere and five of hisassociates were involved in an armed clash with UNpeacekeepers. This clash then led to Manning'smurder.
Dere's arrest was made on July 4, 2001. His trial hasbeen adjourned until Tuesday next week (20/11) whenthe prosecutor will deliver his demurrer.