A war crimes investigation into the killing of five Australian journalists in East Timor appears in danger of stalling, with a key witness feared dead and investigators saying they are unable to obtain key information from overseas authorities.
For the past three years the Australian Federal Police has
been investigating the killings of Gary Cunningham, Brian Peters, Malcolm
Rennie, Gregory Shackleton and Anthony Stewart in the tiny village of Balibo in
East Timor's south-west in 1975.
But from correspondence seen by Fairfax Media and
information provided by Gary Cunningham's brother Greig, the investigation
appears to be facing serious problems.
Gregory Shackleton, Malcolm Rennie, Anthony Stewart and Gary
Cunningham.
Last month, the AFP wrote to the families of the men warning
that officers were ''still seeking to access material from Timor Leste [East
Timor] which may be relevant to the investigation''.
''The time frame for receiving this information is unknown and
outside the control of the AFP and other Australian agencies,'' said the
correspondence from Mick Turner, the AFP's national co-ordinator of special
references.
On Sunday, an AFP spokesman said the force had requested
information from overseas agencies. ''The AFP has no control over the time
taken to provide the information, as this is determined by those overseas
agencies,'' he said.
The correspondence gravely concerned Mr Cunningham, who said
he had heard a potential witness to the killings recently died.
''I believe the AFP officers are very genuine, but I can't
believe that this is taking this long,'' he said.
Mr Cunningham said he had been told a 62-year-old East
Timorese man who saw the journalists gunned down was reported to have died.
''They held a large funeral for him and apparently there was about 900 people
there and they spoke about how he was a witness,'' said Mr Cunningham.
''Apparently, he was a stretcher bearer for Fretilin.
''He was only 62. It's like they are almost waiting for all
the eyewitnesses to drop dead.''
Mr Cunningham called for all governments to work together to
provide the information.
In 2007, NSW deputy state coroner Dorelle Pinch found the
five men had been murdered by Indonesian special forces to cover up the
invasion of East Timor.
Ms Pinch recommended then federal attorney-general Philip
Ruddock take action. Mr Ruddock said the matter would be referred to the AFP,
which happened in January 2008.
After the referral, the AFP said the investigation would be
difficult, with witnesses and evidence overseas and considerable time having
passed since the killings.
The AFP is to refer findings to the Commonwealth Director of
Public Prosecutions if the investigation uncovers ''sufficient material'' to
compile a brief of evidence of criminality or a real possibility of
criminality.
Indonesia has denied the men were murdered and said they
died in a crossfire during the battle to take the town.
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