Australia starts war crimes probe

September 09, 2009 09:25:04 PM

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Australian police on Wednesday said they had launched a long-awaited war crimes investigation into the deaths of the "Balibo Five" journalists gunned down by Indonesian troops in 1975.

The move comes nearly two years after a coronial investigation ruled the five Australia-based men were murdered as they tried to surrender to Indonesian forces, and called for war crimes charges against a number of generals.

"Allegations of war crimes committed overseas give rise to complex legal and factual issues that require careful consideration by law enforcement agencies before deciding to investigate," the Australian Federal Police said in a statement.

Jakarta has always maintained the reporters died in crossfire as Indonesian troops fought East Timorese Fretilin rebels, a version of events accepted by successive Australian governments.

If sufficient material was uncovered to show "criminality or a real possibility of criminality," the AFP said it would ask Australia's chief prosecutor to consider whether war crimes charges should be laid.

"The standard of proof in a criminal proceeding is high, and differs from that of a coronial inquiry," it added.

The inquiry follows the recent release of a hard-hitting movie, "Balibo," depicting the deaths of Australians Greg Shackleton and Tony Stewart, Britons Brian Peters and Malcolm Rennie and New Zealander Gary Cunningham.

The five were covering Indonesia's advance into East Timor. Sydney Coroner Dorelle Pinch found that they were murdered to keep the invasion a secret.