The Indonesian Human Rights Court has convicted the former governor of East Timor for his role in the devastating violence in the region in late 1999, sentencing Abilio Soares to 3 years in prison. The prosecutor had requested a 10-year prison sentence. Soares was accused of failing to take any action during the atrocities committed by Indonesian militia and rogue soldiers following the East Timorese people's vote for independence from Indonesia. Soares is one of 18 Indonesian officials being tried for crimes in East Timor. After hearing the court's verdict, Soares stated he would seek an appeal. Human rights groups dismissed the court's ruling, describing the imposed sentence as very minimal.
Former Governor of East Timor Convicted
Abilio Soares, the former governor of East Timor, was convicted of crimes against humanity related to violence in 1999 and sentenced to 3 years in prison. The ruling has been criticized by human rights groups as insufficient. This case highlights ongoing accountability issues for Indonesian officials involved in past human rights violations.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Indonesian court convicts former East Timor governor for inaction during violence post-independence vote.
- Indonesian Human Rights Court indict Abilio Soares
- Indonesian Human Rights Court sentence Abilio Soares
- prosecutor request Abilio Soares
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The minimal sentence raises concerns about justice for victims of violence.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%