Timor general on trial in Jakarta

Damiri (left) has denied any wrongdoing

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- The Indonesian general who was in charge of East Timor during the violence that surrounded the territory's 1999 independence vote has gone on trial accused of torture and failing to halt a series of massacres.

Major General Adam Damiri is accused of crimes against humanity and could face the death penalty if convicted.

Appearing in court in Jakarta Wednesday, Damiri sat silently as prosecutors read out the charges against him.

He is the highest-ranking military officer so far to face trial in Indonesia's new human rights court.

Dozens of members of the armed forces, all of them in uniform, attended the trial's opening day in a show of support.

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In 1999, from his command post on the island of Bali, Damiri was in charge of the Indonesian military sector that included East Timor.

Among the charges he faces are that he failed to prevent his subordinates from killing dozens of people in five separate massacres and that he failed to prevent torture -- a charge that in itself carries a maximum penalty of 20 years jail.

Failure of duty

"The defendant didn't take the proper action in his jurisdiction to prevent the incidents or take into custody the perpetrators for investigation," prosecutor Abdul Hamid told the court.

Damiri has denied any wrongdoing and says he was not in the territory when pro-Jakarta militias -- backed up and armed by elements within the Indonesian military -- launched their campaign of terror.

"I can't accept the accusations. I wasn't on the ground at that time and the military members weren't involved, as accused," he told reporters after the hearing.

U.N. investigators say more than 1,000 East Timorese were killed during the 1999 violence

Damiri is one of a several military officers facing trial over the 1999 violence in East Timor, during which the United Nations estimates more than 1,000 people were killed.

Despite the bloodshed and intimidation, East Timorese voted overwhelmingly to cut ties with Indonesia in the U.N.-sponsored referendum held on August 31, 1999.

The result sparked an even more violent backlash from the militia and Indonesian soldiers in the territory, which was only brought to a halt by the arrival of an Australian-led intervention force.

Human rights groups have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the trials, pointing to the failure of government prosecutors to bring any charges against the former head of the military, General Wiranto.

East Timor was formally declared the world's newest nation on May 20 this year.