This is a report on the trial of Mr Xanana Gusmao, in the District Court at Dili, the capital of East Timor. Fredun De Vitre, an Advócate of the High Court, Bombay, India observed the trial on behalf of the ICJ. The observer’s essential concern was the fairness of the trial process adopted against Xanana Gusmao.
Xanana Gusmao, the East Timorese resistence leader, was arrested by the Indonesian military authorities on 20 November 1992 in Dili. The trial commenced on 1 February 1993 and concluded on 21 May 1993, when the court sentenced Xanana to life imprisonment. The life sentence was reduced to 20 years, on the orders of President Suharto, on 12 August 1993.
East Timor-trial of Xanana Gusmao-trial observation report-1993-eng (full text in English, PDF)