UN closes in on killers of NZ journalist in Timor

1:00 PM

United Nations investigators are seeking international warrants to arrest three men for the murder of New Zealander Gary Cunningham - killed on assignment as a journalist in East Timor 25 years ago - according to reports posted on the Sydney Morning Herald website.

Mr Cunningham was killed along with his Channel 7 colleagues Greg Shackleton and Tony Stewart, and Channel 9 journalists, Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters, in the town of Balibo on October 16, 1975.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that after a seven month investigation, UN investigators believe they now have sufficient evidence to prosecute.

The paper quotes sources close to the UN administration in East Timor as saying that "the UN Prosecutor-General in Dili has been asked to organise the arrest of Mohammad Yunus Yosfiah, the former Cabinet minister; another Indonesian, Mr Christoforus da Silva; and Mr Domingos Bere, an East Timorese".

In 1975, Mr Yunus was an Indonesian Army captain who commanded an elite special forces unit. Mr da Silva and Mr Bere were members of that unit.

The paper said a decision on the warrants is expected in "about a week".

- HERALD ONLINE STAFF

Herald Online feature: Timor mission

UN Transitional Administration in E Timor