Timor governor's sentence upheld

Abilio Soares has argued that he tried to stop the bloodshed

The Supreme Court in Indonesia has upheld a three-year jail sentence against an ex-East Timor governor for failing to stop the violence in 1999.

The verdict means he will be the first Indonesian official to be punished for the bloodshed, which swept East Timor during its vote for independence.

Jose Abilio Osorio Soares is accused of crimes against humanity, but critics say he has been made a scapegoat.

Several other Indonesian officials have been acquitted over their role.

"The verdict against Soares is illogical," said Agung Yudhawiranata, from local human rights group Elsham.

"It was the Indonesian military, not civilians like Soares, who were responsible for security at the time of the violence."

Some critics have alleged that Soares is being made responsible for the violence because he is ethnically East Timorese, and does not have the support of the military leaders.

Rampage

The Indonesian human rights court which initially convicted Soares has been dismissed by the international community as a sham.

Of 18 defendants, 12 have been acquitted. Three others have had their sentences overturned by the high court.

Rulings against two remaining defendants are expected soon.

Elements within Indonesia's powerful military did what they could to derail East Timor's 1999 referendum on independence.

Their actions included setting up militias to try and intimidate the East Timorese into voting to stay part of Indonesia.

After it became apparent that the vote was overwhelmingly in favour of independence, the militias and their sponsors went on a rampage.

The United Nations estimates more than 1,000 people were killed at the time.