VERGONHA EURICO GUTERRES CONDECORADO

INDICTED WAR CRIMINAL EURICO GUTERRES HONOURED BY PRESIDENT JOKOWI

At the Istana Negara yesterday (12/8/21), Indonesia’s President Jokowi honoured Eurico Guterres with a Bintang Jasa Utama (First class service star, customarily given ‘for civil bravery and courage in times of adversity’). Guterres was previously awarded a patriot medal on 15 December 2020 by Defence Minister, Prabowo Subianto, who recruited Guterres to the feared Gardapaksi in 1994 in East Timor. The President made no reference to Guterres’ appalling human rights record in East Timor as the most feared militia leader or to his being twice indicted by the UNTAET Serious Crimes Unit for crimes against humanity and related murders, persecution, destruction of property and forcible transfer of population in 1999. It is unthinkable that the President, once applauded for championing ordinary people, would not have been briefed on Guterres criminal record. Is it also unlikely that Jakarta would not have cleared the award first with the authorities in Dili or ignored their protests? What is this really all about? Why are victims and justice being treated so shabbily by Jokowi’s government for which such high hopes were once held?