The Celtic League have urged the Indonesian government to assist in any judicial process that will bring to justice the killers of Scottish journalist Malcolm Rennie and his murdered colleagues.

Mr Rennie was one of a group of five British, Australian and New Zealand pressmen who were murdered by the Indonesian military in East Timor in 1975.

Last week an inquest by the New South Wales coroner, Dorelle Pinch, established that they were executed by Yunus Yosfia and Christoforus da Silva, members of the Indonesian special forces, on the orders of their commander, Maj. Gen. Benny Murdani. The report also suggests that the British, Australian and New Zealand governments were subsequently complicit in the cover-up of the murders.

The coroners report says, the five journalists killed in Balibo and thereafter referred to as the “Balibo Five,” were arrested after filming the start of the Indonesian invasion and then executed. “The journalists were not incidental casualties in the fighting, they were captured, then deliberately killed despite protesting their status,” Pinch writes in her report.

In a letter to the Indonesian Ambassador in London the Celtic League say:

"with reference to the recent judgement of the Coroner for New South Wales that five journalists were murdered by Indonesian armed forces in East Timor in 1975. I trust that the Indonesian government will cooperate with any request from British or Australian authorities aimed at ensuring the perpetrators of these war crimes are brought to justice."

Meanwhile in related correspondence (see below) to British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, the League urge that those responsible for the murders are brought to justice and that the United Kingdom cease sales of arms and military assistance to Indonesia:

"I write with reference to the decision of the Coroner for New South Wales that five television journalists, including Malcolm Rennie, a Scot, and Bristol-born Brian Peters, 26, were killed by Indonesian special forces more than 30 years ago.

I refer you to our earlier correspondence to the former Foreign Secretary (Jack Straw) 04/08/02 concerning this matter.

Can I ask if the British government will now make efforts to seek to bring the perpetrators of the murder of Mr Rennie and Mr Peters to justice.

Can I also ask if the United Kingdom government will review its shameful policy of providing military arms and assistance to Indonesia."

See related Celtic News item at:

(voir le site)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

18/11/07

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