VOA常速英语2008年-East Timor Militia Leader Aquitted by Indonesia

By Marianne Kearney
Jakarta
05 April 2008

Indonesia's Supreme¹ Court has overturned the conviction of a former pro-Jakarta militia² leader, ruling that he did not commit gross human rights violations³ during East Timor's vote for independence in 1999. Marianne Kearney has more from Jakarta.

Eurico Guterres, the leader of the Aitarak (Thorn) militia, was given a ten-year sentence for his role in attacks on pro-independence supporters in East Timor in 1999.  During one famous attack on the house of a former governor, Guterres and his men killed at least 12 people, including the former governor's son. The attack was witnessed by dozens of survivors⁴, and documented in independent investigations⁵.

But on Friday, the Supreme Court announced that it has squashed that conviction. It said it has new evidence to prove that the militia leader, Eurico Guterres, did not lead the attacks.

The Court's decision means that not a single military or police chief, or militia member has been found guilty of human rights violations in East Timor by the Indonesian legal system.

The court decision came despite an earlier Supreme Court ruling that upheld Guterres' conviction by an ad-hoc human rights court.

The ad-hoc court was specially⁶ convened⁷ after the United Nations threatened to set up an international human rights tribunal to try individuals accused on involvement in months of deadly violence before and after the country's vote for independence in 1999.

At least 1,400 people were killed, and around 70 percent of the country's infrastructure⁸ was destroyed by military backed militia groups.

Usman Hamid, from the rights group Kontras, criticized the ruling, saying it sends a message that human rights violators will be given impunity⁹ in Indonesia's courts.

"It is a bad sign, it is a very disappointing decision that can bring no hopes for many victims of past human rights abuses, that is currently pursuing justice and accountability for past human rights abuses in many places in Indonesia," he said.

Apart from Guterres, the ad-hoc human rights court tried 18 suspects, including police and military chiefs, and East Timorese civilians¹⁰ in 2001. However only a handful were convicted, and these rulings were later overturned by a higher court.

Guterres has served just under two years of the ten-year sentence.  A court judge said he is expected to be freed next week.

The judge said that Guterres was found not guilty, because he did not have structural¹¹ command of the militia, and therefore could not have the led attacks.

East Timor, a former Portuguese¹² colony, was invaded by Indonesia in 1975.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

3 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

4 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

5 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

6 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

7 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

10 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

11 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

12 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。