Tuesday during proceedings in The Hague, the state prosecutor said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia has complete immunity from prosecution in the Netherlands as an incumbent president.
Dutch state lawyer Wemmeke Wisman said there was a precedent, citing a similar case in which the immunity of a president kept him free from prosecution in the Netherlands, ANP reported.
The proceedings were initiated by John Wattilete, a Dutch resident and president-in-exile of the Republic of the Southern Moluccas (RMS), and a movement seeking independence for South Moluccas from Indonesia. The aim of the proceedings was to have Yudhoyono arrested as soon as he stepped on Dutch soil during his visit to the Netherlands, which was to last from Wednesday until Friday.
According to the RMS, Yudhoyono should be held responsible for crimes against humanity in their country executed under his responsibility. The lawyer for the RMS stated that the crimes have been going on since 1950, but at present are very serious. He refers to reports of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and mentioned Yudhoyono could count on legal resistance by the RMS everywhere he goes.
The RMS asked for the support of the Netherlands to appeal to Yudhoyono to free RMS prisoners and initiate research into those responsible for torture. The court will rule on Wednesday at 9 a.m.
However, Yudhoyono canceled the visit on Tuesday morning. It would have been the first state visit from a president of the former Dutch colony to the Netherlands in 40 years.
Dutch state lawyer Wemmeke Wisman said there was a precedent, citing a similar case in which the immunity of a president kept him free from prosecution in the Netherlands, ANP reported.
The proceedings were initiated by John Wattilete, a Dutch resident and president-in-exile of the Republic of the Southern Moluccas (RMS), and a movement seeking independence for South Moluccas from Indonesia. The aim of the proceedings was to have Yudhoyono arrested as soon as he stepped on Dutch soil during his visit to the Netherlands, which was to last from Wednesday until Friday.
According to the RMS, Yudhoyono should be held responsible for crimes against humanity in their country executed under his responsibility. The lawyer for the RMS stated that the crimes have been going on since 1950, but at present are very serious. He refers to reports of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and mentioned Yudhoyono could count on legal resistance by the RMS everywhere he goes.
The RMS asked for the support of the Netherlands to appeal to Yudhoyono to free RMS prisoners and initiate research into those responsible for torture. The court will rule on Wednesday at 9 a.m.
However, Yudhoyono canceled the visit on Tuesday morning. It would have been the first state visit from a president of the former Dutch colony to the Netherlands in 40 years.
