Indonesia: Militiamen will not be extradited

Indonesia today said it will not extradite 17 pro-Jakarta militiamen and soldiers indicted by the UN for crimes allegedly committed during East Timor’s secession in 1999.

Ninety-nine people have been charged with crimes relating to the UN-supervised independence referendum that ended Indonesia’s 24 year military occupation of East Timor.

Among those charged is Eurico Gutteres, a notorious militia commander who now heads a youth wing of President Megawati Sukarnoputri’s ruling party in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.

‘‘We do not have an extradition treaty with East Timor,’’ said a foreign ministry official. ‘‘Indonesia’s position is that we will put on trial the men who allegedly committed crimes in East Timor through our own court system.’’

Under an agreement signed in 2000, Indonesia committed itself to cooperate with UN investigations in East Timor.

However, Jakarta has always said the accord contains no provision for extradition of suspects.

East Timor is currently under temporary UN administration. It is due to gain full independence in May.