Wiranto’s
resurrection: Indonesia names controversial former general as security minister
- Indicted war
criminal says he is a man of peace
Wiranto, a former general who was head of the
military in 1999 when Indonesia’s army committed serious human rights abuses in
East Timor, was named the minister for security, political and legal affairs in
a key role that oversees five ministries including foreign, interior and
defence
A controversial former
military chief accused of atrocities during Indonesia’s brutal occupation of
East Timor was appointed top security minister Wednesday, with activists
calling it a step backwards for human rights.
Wiranto, named to the powerful
post in a cabinet reshuffle, was among senior officers indicted by United
Nations prosecutors over gross human rights abuses during the 24-year
occupation of tiny East Timor.
Around 100,000 people are
estimated to have been killed, mainly by Indonesian forces and their proxies,
or to have died of starvation and illness during the occupation, which occurred
during dictator Suharto’s three-decade rule.
“It is a setback,” Andreas Harsono, Indonesia
researcher for Human Rights Watch, said.
“The message might be that
Jokowi [Widodo] is not going to be as progressive as before in pursuing his
human rights agenda.”
Widodo was likely trying to
balance his unwieldy ruling coalition, said Keith Loveard, a senior risk
analyst at Jakarta-based Concord Consulting.
Wiranto, a former general who
was head of the military in 1999 when Indonesia’s army committed serious human
rights abuses in East Timor, was named the minister for security, political and
legal affairs.
Wiranto’s Hanura party, a
small partner in the coalition, lost two other ministers in the shake-up, which
saw 13 changes to the cabinet and was the second reshuffle under Widodo.
Wiranto, who like many Indonesians
goes by one name, was head of the armed forces when the Indonesian army and
paramilitaries went on a bloody rampage in East Timor after it voted to become
independent in August 1999. The country formally became independent in 2002.
Wiranto and other military men
were indicted for crimes against humanity in 2003 by a UN tribunal but
successive Indonesian governments have ignored its findings. He denies any
wrongdoing and has never faced court over the atrocities.
He replaces Luhut Panjaitan in
the key role of chief security minister, overseeing five ministries including
foreign, interior and defence.
Observers suggest Panjaitan
caused concern among the military elite and Islamic groups by taking unprecedented
steps to probe a bloody 1960s purge of communists and their supporters.
Cabinet Secretary Pramono
Anung defended the appointment of Wiranto, describing him as “tested and
experienced”. He has previously held the posts of defence and security minister.
Despite the claims against
him, Wiranto has managed to retain a prominent position in public life. He has
been a presidential candidate in two elections and in 2009 was the running mate
of Jusuf Kalla, the current vice president.
This article appeared in the South
China Morning Post print edition as:Controversial former general named security
minister
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