Police chief accused of crimes in Dili

Prosecutors in East Timor charged 50 people yesterday, including a former police chief and a notorious militia leader, with crimes against humanity during the territory's independence referendum in 1999.

The charges followed indictments issued against eight people earlier this week including General Wiranto, head of the Indonesian armed forces during the violence that swept East Timor before and after the vote for independence from Jakarta.

The arrest warrants, issued by the fledgling nation's chief prosecutor, were the latest attempt to bring the perpetrators to justice. But Indonesia refuses to hand over any of the indicted men for trial, and East Timor's President, Xanana Gusmao, criticised the legal process yesterday as counter to national interests.

Mr Gusmao, who spent years fighting a guerrilla war against Indonesian rule, said it was essential for the country to have good relations with Jakarta. "I still believe ... more dialogue is necessary, especially on sensitive issues such as this one," he said.

The latest suspects, including Eurico Guterres, former leader of the Aitarak militia, and Timbul Silaen, the former police chief, were charged with "crimes against humanity, including murder, enforced disappearance, inhumane acts and deportation". They are accused of attacking the Catholic diocese office in Dili, where hundreds of people had taken refuge. Fifteen people died. The next day, they attacked the home of Bishop Carlos Belo.

Indonesia is staging its own human rights trials, but has so far convicted only four people.