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Indonesian General accused of war crimes in East Timor appointed Kopassus chief
Free West Papua Coalition (UK) Comment - June 13, 2008
Brig. Gen. Pramono Edhie Wibowo, now appointed chief of the Indonesian Army's notorious Special Forces (Kopassus) by his father-in-law, President Yudhoyono, is accused of training and directing pro-Indonesian militias in East Timor in 1999. (See report by East Timor and Indonesia Action Network http://www.etan.org/etanpdf/2008/Background%20on%20Kopassus%20and%20Brimob.pdf)
Kopassus is notorious for its severe human rights violations, especially in suppressing Indonesia's independence movements, but also against civilians including trade unionists, students and human rights activists. In West Papua, which remains largely closed to journalists and independent monitors, its forces have been implicated in human rights violations including kidnapping, rape, and violent sweeping operations to root out members of the ragtag Papuan independence movement (OPM) or those who express opposition to the central government.
In 2001, Kopassus forced abducted and murdered Theys Eluay, the most prominent Papuan leader. In 2003, four members of Kopassus were convicted for the killing in a military court. The court decisions were criticized for not focusing on those who had ordered the killing, but rather those who had followed orders. Those convicted of the murder received light sentences of 42 months in jail.
Among the military officers with Kopassus links who trained and directed militias in 1999: Major General Adam Damiri, Brig. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon, Brig. Gen. Amirul Isnaeni, Col. Gerhan Lentara, Lt. Col. Wioyotomo Nugroho, Gen. Subagyo, Maj Gen. Zacky Makarim, Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Syamsuddin, Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri, Col Sunarko, Col. Pramono Edhie Wibowo, Lt. Col. Noer Muis Col. Pramono Edhie Wibowo assumed command of Kopassus Group V (anti-terrorist) in 1999. The group was deployed in East Timor in that year - for example in Baucau, through a unit called Detachment 81 (D-81). It slipped into Dili on 5 September 1999, the day before Bishop Belo's house was attacked.
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