Indonesian militiaman found guilty of Private Manning's murder

Indonesian militiaman Jacobus Bere, 37, was last night found guilty of the murder of New Zealand peacekeeper Private Leonard Manning in East Timor nearly two years ago.

Bere was sentenced in the Jakarta Central District Court to six years' jail for the killing.

He had been tried with three others, Yohanes Timo, Gabriel Halenoni and Fabianus Ulu for the murder. The court is expected to deliver its verdict on them later this month.

Prime Minister Helen Clark tonight welcomed the guilty verdict, but says the sentence is too light.

Miss Clark said the New Zealand Government would ask Indonesian authorities whether or not they would appeal the length of sentence. It was understood that they had seven days in which to lodge an appeal.

"It has been over a year and a half since the killing of Leonard Manning. I know the family will be relieved that the killer has been successfully prosecuted," she said in a statement.

"We are disappointed at the short length of sentence given the gravity of the crime, and will ask the Indonesian authorities whether they will look at grounds for an appeal. The maximum sentence for second degree murder is 15 years, and the prosecutor had recommended that Bere receive 12 years. We agree that the killing warranted a longer sentence."

Manning was shot during an attack in the jungles close to the border between East Timor and the Indonesian province of West Timor, on July 24, 2000.

He became the first New Zealand soldier to die in combat since the Vietnam War.

- NZPA

Feature: Indonesia

CIA World Factbook: Indonesia (with map)

Dept. of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia

Antara news agency

Indonesian Observer

The Jakarta Post

UN Transitional Administration in E Timor

East Timor Action Network