Balibo Five Were Killed Deliberately: Soldier

Home , Balibo, Balibo Five, Cycling Central, David Williamson, Jill Jolliffe, Robert Connolly

ABC Home Radio TV News Local Environment More Subjects… Shop Search the ABC

NewsRadio Now playing: Continuous news, finance, s Listen: Win Real

Video Audio Photos Podcasts/RSS Email

News Home Just In Australia World Business Entertainment Weather Sport The Drum Blogs

Hot tags: australia, government-and-politics, sport, law-crime-and-justice, qld, courts-and-trials, environment, sa, adelaide-5000, business-economics-and-finance

Print Email Share Add to My Stories Balibo Five were killed deliberately: soldier

By Gavin Fang for AM

Posted Mon Dec 7, 2009 6:47pm AEDT Search Updated Tue Dec 8, 2009 8:54am AEDT Slideshow: Photo 1 of 3

A former Indonesian soldier has come MY TAGS Help forward with new evidence about the environment killing of the Balibo Five, suggesting they government-and-politics were shot deliberately but not executed. health Gatot Purwanto says he decided to give his indigenous version of events after watching the offbeat controversial Australian movie Balibo, which science-and-technology depicts the newsmen being killed by Add Tag Page links here to Indonesian soldiers. follow news categories important to you. The now-retired soldier's story differs from Gatot Purwanto decided to give his version of events after watching the controversial movie View all tags | Tag cloud both the official Indonesian line - that the men were killed in crossfire - and the Video: Balibo Five widow on execution findings of an Australian coronial inquest. claims (ABC News Breakfast) MY STORIES Help Bookmark stories, video and Robert Connolly's movie Balibo is banned in Video: Balibo Five 'killed to stop news' (ABC News Breakfast) audio clips you may want to Indonesia, but last Thursday the country's access later. Independent Journalists Alliance decided to Video: Balibo five deliberately killed: screen it anyway. soldier (ABC News)

In the crowd that night was Mr Purwanto, Audio: New account of Balibo five deaths (AM) who had more than a passing interest in the events in East Timor more than three Related Story: Indonesia slams Balibo as decades ago. propaganda

The former Special Forces soldier was at Related Story: Indonesia bans Aussie film Balibo the day the five newsmen were killed. Related Story: AFP launches Balibo war crimes probe He says he was about 30 metres away when Indonesian soldiers fired on the Related Story: Federal Government 'failing' house the men were sheltering in. Balibo Five

"We knew they were foreigners, but we Related Link: Special coverage: Actor LaPaglia pushes for Balibo action didn't think about whether they were journalists or not, because in a battle, the instinct is if they're not friends, then they could kill us," he said.

The now 62-year-old says he was with Special Forces captain Yunus Yosfiah when the Balibo Five were spotted.

A coronial inquest into the deaths of the men found Mr Yosfiah, who was later an Indonesian Government minister, ordered the killings. Awaiting orders

Mr Purwanto disputes there was any order to execute the newsmen. He says the soldiers were still waiting for orders from Jakarta when the shooting happened.

But in his version of events, Indonesian soldiers were well aware of who they were shooting at, although he claims they only fired after they were provoked.

"After we surrounded them there were shots coming from their direction, so our people shot back," he said.

Mr Purwanto says after the shooting the soldiers decided to burn the bodies of the newsmen to conceal what had happened.

He says Indonesian soldiers did not want news leaking out about their invasion of East Timor. Doubts remain

But Shirley Shackleton, the widow of one of the men killed at Balibo, says Mr Purwanto's version does not add up. Ms Shackleton says she still believes her husband Greg and the other men were executed on orders from Jakarta.

"He (Mr Purwanto) says on the one hand they didn't die in crossfire, but then later on he says 'Oh we shot them because shots came from behind them', but there was no-one there shooting," she said.

"He's curious. He seems to be trying to clear his conscience. I'm only supposing that, but at the same time he is trying to stick to the old story. He's just not saying crossfire."

Despite the new claims, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah says the killings are best left in the past.

"Well this is the account from one eyewitness. The Government has already said in the past that this is a case which has been closed," he said.

Ms Shackleton says she will now be calling on the Australian Federal Police to question Mr Purwanto as part of the war crimes investigation into the killing of the newsmen.

Tags: death, government-and-politics, foreign-affairs, information-and-communication, journalism, unrest-conflict-and-war, australia, east-timor, indonesia

ARTS FEATURE WATCH Classic unearthed Panda dilemma Climate snapshots An antiques roadshow Jason Om tries to find out if Miner Jeff Drayton says through Tasmania has Wang Wang is just plain W he's hopeful the mining unearthed a painting by (r)ong W(r)ong. industry can afford to cut Australian artist Arthur its gas emissions. Streeton.

Top Stories Just In Most Popular

Body-in-suitcase mother jailed Indonesia pursues people smuggling laws Leaked agreement rocks Copenhagen One dead in bushfire chopper crash Man set alight by ex, court told Woods' mother-in-law rushed to hospital Depression counselling sessions leaked on Test selectors keep faith for Perth Swimmer 'molested by leading coach' web Qantas refuses woman with guide dog Westpac goes bananas to justify rate hikes Climate scientist sent death threats Garrett considers Torres Strait climate aid Giant iceberg headed for WA Everything up for grabs, says Joyce Everything up for grabs, says Joyce Government credit card used to buy Adelaide Test ends in stalemate doughnuts Sadistic killer gets 30 years without parole Brisbane man claims $40m lotto prize Depression counselling sessions leaked on Dodgy dolphin sparks sex in the surf fears web Sadistic killer gets 30 years without parole Giant iceberg headed for WA 161 suspects in Philippines massacre Last decade set to be warmest ever Qantas refuses woman with guide dog $60,000 grants to encourage healthy eating Fright night! Abbott's pulse-racing Posties call for stamp boycott reshuffle Police moratorium on DNA evidence Garrett considers Torres Strait climate aid Brennan sorry for family's pain Climate scientist sent death threats Steve Price quits 2UE Brisbane man claims $40m lotto prize Prince Charles taps police for loan More Test selectors keep faith for Perth

Site Map

Sections Media Contribute

News Home Video Upload This service may include material from Just In Audio Email/Mobile Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Australia Photos Conditions of Use Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World World Service which is copyright and cannot Business Subscribe Feedback be reproduced. Sport Podcasts Contact Us Entertainment RSS Feeds Corrections & AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight Weather Email Clarifications Time which is 11 hours ahead of UTC The Drum (Greenwich Mean Time) Blogs Tag Library © 2009 ABC Privacy Policy Archive ABC Home Radio TV News Local Environment More Subjects… Shop Search the ABC

Listen to Wednesday's program

The World Today is a comprehensive current affairs program which backgrounds, analyses, interprets and encourages debate on events and issues of interest and importance to all Australians.

WITH ELEANOR HALL

An hour of current affairs background and debate from Australia and the world every Monday to Friday, 12:10 pm, ABC Local Radio and Radio National. HOME ABOUT ARCHIVES CONTACT

Enter Keywords Here SEARCH

Subscribe to our Daily or Story podcast. Balibo film banned in Indonesia ALL ABOUT PODCASTING Geoff Thompson reported this story on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 12:29:00

ALL SPECIALS

ELEANOR HALL: To Indonesia where the Government has banned the screening of the Australian movie Balibo. ALTERNATE WMA VERSION | MP3 DOWNLOAD The film about the death of five Australian journalists in East Timor, allegedly at the hands of the Indonesian military, was scheduled to be screened in Jakarta last night. MORE TO ADD? ALERT US »

PRINT THIS STORY » Not only did the Government ban this screening but it has also informed the city's international film festival that it doesn't have permission to EMAIL A FRIEND show the movie next week. »

Indonesia correspondent Geoff Thompson has more. more

TOP STORIES JUST IN (Excerpt from film Balibo) Indonesia pursues people smuggling laws FILM EXCERPT: There were these five young journalists gone Man set alight by ex, court told missing...

Test selectors keep faith for Perth GEOFF THOMPSON: It happened 35 years ago but still it seems Indonesia cannot stomach a film which makes the much-supported allegation that the journalists known as the Balibo-five were not killed in a crossfire but deliberately executed by the Indonesian military.

AM Jakarta's Foreign Correspondents Club had planned to show the film last night, using a subtitled copy provided by Balibo's producers. However PM at the last minute, word was received that Indonesia's Film Censorship THE WORLD TODAY Agency planned to ban film. Based on legal advice the JFCC decided CORRESPONDENTS REPORT against showing the movie, says the club's president Jason Tedjasukmana. Program Websites 6 JASON TEDJASUKMANA: They said you'll be violating the law if you do it. It's a public space clearly. It says, you know, it'll be very difficult to defend.

We're a non profit organisation without any money. So it's like are we willing to, like, somehow bankrupt this organisation for the sake of a film about, you know, what happened in, you know, it's just the risks and the benefits really don't really add up so we had to just go with this.

But you know, we'll figure out something, you know, we'll figure out something.

GEOFF THOMPSON: Balibo's director Robert Connolly says he is disappointed by the decision and likens it to a film about World War II being banned in 1980.

ROBERT CONNOLLY: Look I'm incredibly disappointed. You know, I had high hopes for the film and the impact it may have had if it had screened in Indonesia. And you know, I always think it's a pity when, you know, even in these democratic times in Indonesia that the people of Indonesia can't see a film that deals with, you know, their history.

I feel in many ways that it's like, you know, as a film maker making a film in 1980 that deals with the events of the last year of World War II and being told you can't screen it, you know.

You know, surely if we were to think of the span of what's happened in that period of history, you know, we can scrutinise the events of '75 with some rigour.

GEOFF THOMPSON: The Jakarta International Film Festival had planned to screen Balibo next week. It has yet to be formally notified that the film has been refused classification by Indonesia's censorship board.

ELEANOR HALL: That's Geoff Thompson our Indonesia correspondent.

Crikey Home Crikey Blogs Sign Up Log in Search

Balibo film review: a dynamite Aussie exposé About July 21, 2009 – 7:44 am, by Luke Buckmaster n. cin-e-tol-og-y 1. the dangerous cult of cinema fanatacism

Cinetology is the blog of film writer Luke Buckmaster. Read more about him here.

Email Luke at bucky[at]alphalink.com.au

Director Robert Connolly advances his oeuvre from corporate thriller (The Bank) and down-and-out drama (Three Dollars) to the realm of electrifying political sizzlers with Balibo, a tight-as-a-snare-drum wartime exposé destined to shock, shame and compel Australian audiences. It’s the curtain raising opening night feature of this year’s Melbourne International Film Festival, marking the third near-brilliant Australian film of 2009 to premiere at a prestigious festival, the other two being Mary and Max at Sundance and Samson & Delilah at Cannes.

Based on the true story of five Aussie journalists (aka The Balibo Five) who were murdered by

Indonesian militia in the eponymous East Timorese town in 1975, and a sixth, Roger East

(Anthony LaPaglia), who endeavoured to find them and tell their story, the film is faithful to grab this · movies blog facts and conveys a harsh and unspeculative tone. Balibo feels so convincing the supporting Cinetology on Facebook cast, all of whom contribute solid and authentic performances, find themselves constrained by the screenplay’s matter-o-fact authenticity. There is barely a trace of sentiments and Posts Comments very little shooting the breeze: no forlorn letters to mum at home, no soapy monologues about returning to their girlfriends, no quivering moments of “crap, what are we doing in this sh*t hole.” The film of course is infinitely more credible because of it.

Where the screenplay, penned by Connolly and vet playwright David Williamson, finds elbow room for characterisations is in the two central characters: East and a young quixotic revolutionary, José Ramos-Horta (Oscar Isaac), who years later will go on to become President of East Timor. During the build up to the ’75 Indonesian invasion Romas-Horta head hunts the grumpy, world-weary East, proposing he head the national news agency, but East isn’t interested until he learns of the five missing and suspected dead journos from Channel 7 and Channel 9. They strike a deal: Romas-Horta will take East to Balibo, retracing the steps of the journalists, and East will accept the job offer.

The story cuts between time frames, presenting quick bursts of the journalists’ story. Their presence remains high-impact throughout, cursed by the inevitability of their fates. Gritty on- the-ground handheld cinematography was a must from the get-go; this is not a film conducive to classical framing and the cameras subtlety bob, jitter and pulsate, underscoring From the Latest the steady realism Connolly’s direction engenders. Connolly strips all the fat from the bone, exemplifying highly disciplined multifaceted filmmaking.

Oscar Isaac is charismatic as a vitalized and peppy Romas-Horta; it’s a flattering but nevertheless believable portrayal. But it’s Anthony LaPaglia who steals the show as Roger Westpac’s banana republic fails to bear fruit East in easily one of his most rousing performances, perhaps surpassing even his voice work as a penguin in Happy Feet (but let’s not get carried away). LaPaglia darkly inhabits the role, Some billion dollar questions about Tamiflu, his face a podgy mat of grim determination, his eyes looking like they’re underlined by the influenza policy, drug regulation shadows of death. It’s a great performance. TRY A 21-DAY FREE TRIAL » And Balibo is knock out stuff: taut as all hell, a stick of dynamite lit and tossed into the audience’s faces. If the characterisations are light on the ground, it’s for a good reason. LaPaglia’s tormented face will be savagely etched into one’s memories and the experience of watching this film will hang like lead weights in your head for a long time afterwards. Two simple words – “I’m Australian” – will take on harrowing new connotations, viewers simultaneously confronted with both their meaning and their futility. Chalk Balibo down as a must-see and take a cold shower afterwards. . Balibo is the opening night film at MIFF (which commences July 24) and will be released theatrically August 13. Now playing on Australian

screens Comments (15) | Permalink see it skip it don't rush

2012 10 Comments The Boys Are Back

The Brothers Bloom Marilyn Posted July 21, 2009 at 2:33 pm | Permalink A Christmas Carol

I was wondering if it was ever going to be released. It is surely one of the most Capitalism: A Love Story shameful kowtowing to Jakarta excercises in our history, undone only by the Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs thousands of others since. Cold Souls I have Jill Joliffe’s updated book, will read it before I see the film. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Colin Jones Julie and Julia Posted July 21, 2009 at 2:52 pm | Permalink Moon Will we ever see justice done for the Balibo Five? Not as long as we have craven Paranormal Activity politicians running the show in Canberra and an AFP not willing to pursue the guilty. Why do we bow and scrape to accomodate the Indonesians every time they throw A Serious Man sh*t in our faces or should that be faeces? The Time Traveler's Wife

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Wirdle Posted July 21, 2009 at 4:57 pm | Permalink Where the Wild Things Are

I’ve read the book and can’t wait to see the film. It’s a grim and shameful story an Film reviews archive A-Z

one that deserves to be told. Yes, it was a flattering portrayal of Romas-Horta, but . given how celebrated and well regarded the man is this isn’t surprising. Recently interviewed

Grog Phil Grabsky - director of In Search of Posted July 21, 2009 at 8:23 pm | Permalink Beethoven

Great to read this review – haven’t had such high hopes for an Aussie film since… err Jonathan auf der Heide - director of Van well since a long time. Diemen's Land Ana Kokkinos - director of Blessed

Jill Jeremy Saunders - key art designer Posted July 27, 2009 at 10:40 pm | Permalink Robert Connolly - writer/director of Balibo This film conveyed all I wanted it to, but I was really soured on it during about the first quarter of the film– there was quite a bit of seriously BAD hand-held filming when Les Chantery - star of Cedar Boys there was no need for it (and I have never ever had a problem with hand-held camera Bert Deling - director of Pure Shit work). Most notable being a dramatic scene, static seated conversation, where AP’s Warwick Thornton - writer/director of Roger East was talking with the ABC reporter who had run into the other journalists Samson & Delilah and left them behind when he evacuated. It was as if the cameraperson had a really bad case of the DTs. I don’t think it will be a critical success but the film’s heart was Sergei Dvortsevoy - writer/director of Tulpan in the right place. Adam Elliot - writer/director of Mary and Max Brunette Posted July 28, 2009 at 8:47 am | Permalink Mark Forstmann - writer/director of Monkey Puzzle Sounds like a must-see. What a year for Aussie film! .

Jason Pages Posted July 30, 2009 at 11:44 pm | Permalink l About l Film reviews archive A-Z Just got home from watching this film… undoubtedly one of the best Australian movies in a long time, and one of the best films in general this year! Recent Comments l Zombieland film review: in need of more bbrraaiinnnss – Cinetology Reviews Robot John Lang on Zombieland film review: in need of Posted August 6, 2009 at 11:22 am | Permalink more bbrraaiinnnss Saw the film last night and still thinking about it. First thought, brilliant! Second l Luke Buckmaster on Stills from the set of Karate Kid remake thought, Indonesia go to hell!, third thought, Gough you bastard! Go see this Aussies, l mishaadair on Balibo banned in Indonesia you need to see this. l mishaadair on Stills from the set of Karate Kid remake l Paranormal box office activity – Aris Cinetology on Paranormal Activity film Posted August 23, 2009 at 10:10 am | Permalink review: no frills fear Just saw this last night, what a powerful film. One of the best films I’ve ever seen. Pages Other sites and And one more thing: I am Indonesian. l About blogs Just feel like I have to say this because of the comments about Indonesia, including l Film reviews l 5 Sprocket archive A-Z some that I heard when I walked out of cinema last night in Melbourne. The l celluloid tongue l Cinema Autopsy Indonesian military has a lot to answer for, but do not generalise and blame Categories l Cinephobia Indonesians for what happened. The only way anyone can find out what really l Aussie watch l Dark Habits happened to the journalists and to the many East Timorese people is by working with l Film reviews l Eyes Wired Open Indonesians who support freedom and democracy. Demonising Indonesians (many of l Giveaways l hoopla.nu l Interviews whom were also victims of the past actions by their own government and military) will l In Film Australia l News, rumours, l Last Night With only achieve more hatred. bits and pieces Riviera l Poster Watch l Marc Fennell l Trailer Watch Tony l Melbourne Film Blog Posted September 22, 2009 at 4:42 pm | Permalink Archives l Stale Popcorn I saw this movie on the plane coming back from the USA last week. l December 2009 l Worse Addictions It is the best Australian movie I have ever seen. l November 2009 l October 2009 Crikey Blogs l September 2009 l The Stump l August 2009 l Pollytics l July 2009 5 Trackbacks l The Poll Bludger l June 2009 l The Content l May 2009 Makers l April 2009 l Culture Mulcher By Interview with Robert Connolly, writer/director of Balibo - Cinetology on August l March 2009 17, 2009 at 1:27 pm l Pure Poison l February 2009 l Rooted l January 2009 l Croakey ...] Australian journalists in East Timor in 1975. Taut, gripping and intensely l December 2008 l Plane Talking l August 2007 acted (read my review here) the film, which opened last month’s Melbourne l Johnny's in the l June 2007 Basement International Film Festival, is a [... l LiteraryMinded l Corporate Engagement By History, politics and film - Pure Poison on August 21, 2009 at 2:09 pm l The Northern Myth l Rocky & Gawenda l First Blog on the ...] For some other perspectives on Balibo, see reviews from Cinetology’s Luke Moon Buckmaster, Kevin Rennie as well as Margaret and David. Luke Buckmaster and l Jonathan Green l Crikey Sports David Stratton both conducted [... l Crikey Team

By Robert Connolly’s Balibo prompts AFP inquiry – Cinetology on September 11, 2009 at 5:27 pm

...] with half a brain will point to director Robert Connolly’s recently released political sizzler Balibo as the impetus behind the AFP’s new investigation. It is a timely example of the film [...

By Pacific.scoop.co.nz » Jakarta view of two books on East Timor journalist killings on October 19, 2009 at 6:35 am

...] An Australian review – A dynamite exposé [...

By Balibo banned in Indonesia – Cinetology on December 2, 2009 at 6:38 pm

...] my review of Balibo here. Comments (0) | [...

Post a Comment Register now to join the conversation instantly, or log in to post a comment now.

« Beautiful Kate MJ movie in the works »

CRIKEY HOME CRIKEY BLOGS

Copyright © 2008 Private Media Pty Ltd, Publishers of Crikey.com.au. All Rights Reserved. Sitemap About Advertise Free Trial Contact Corrections Independent news, blogs and commentary on politics, media and business. Privacy Subscribe Unsubscribe Podcasts RSS Feeds

Editor: Jonathan Green. Code of Conduct Terms & Conditions FAQs Publishers: Eric Beecher, Diana Gribble.

Level 7, 22 William St, Melbourne, 3000. Ph: 1800 985 502 Fax: (03) 8623 9975 UPDATED ON: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2009 08:19 MECCA TIME, 05:19 GMT

WATCH NOW NEWS ASIA-PACIFIC FRONT PAGE ARTICLE TOOLS AFRICA Indonesia army 'killed Balibo Five' AMERICAS Email article

ASIA-PACIFIC Print article CENTRAL/S. ASIA EUROPE Send feedback MIDDLE EAST Share article FOCUS BLOGS TOP NEWS BUSINESS SPORT Iraq blasts 'will not halt Gatot Purwanto said Indonesian troops thought the journalists had filmed the invasion [AFP] US exit' PROGRAMMES Leaked climate draft WEATHER A former Indonesian army officer has admitted in a magazine interview that five sparks anger YOUR VIEWS foreign journalists were deliberately killed during Indonesia's 1975 invasion of East China attacks rich states at summit Timor. SEARCH Philippine clan 'killed 200 ARABIC more' ABOUT US Gatot Purwanto, a former Indonesian special forces commando and veteran of the Afghan army 'in need of Timor invasion, was quoted in weekly news magazine Tempo as saying that the US funds' reporters, known as the "Balibo Five", were shot because they were thought to have ASIA-PACIFIC NEWS filmed the invasion. China attacks rich states at summit Purwanto, who said he was a lieutenant in Philippine clan 'killed 200 the special forces team that overran Balibo more' on October 16, 1975, but did not say who US nuclear envoy in actually carried out the shootings. Pyongyang Cambodia sentences Thai spy The admission is the first by an Indonesian Indonesia army 'killed military official involved in the operation, Balibo Five' adding to the controversy over how the two Australians, two Britons and one New MOST EMAILED Zealander died when Indonesian troops In fear of 'Eurabia'? entered the town of Balibo. Europe's waning liberalism The explosive claim is likely to strain Climate change: Minority report diplomatic tensions between Indonesia and Exporting healthcare to Australia over the killings. Africa Afghan rape victim lives In September Australian federal police in fear launched a war crimes investigation into the deaths of Gary James Cunningham, Gregory John Shackleton, Malcolm Harvey Rennie, Anthony John Stewart and Brian Raymond Purwanto said the journalists were killed to Peters. keep the East Timor invasion a secret [AFP]

Indonesia's military has always maintained that the five were accidentally killed in crossfire.

Secret

In the Tempo interview Purwanto said the journalists were shot to keep Indonesia's military involvement in East Timor a secret two months before a full-blown invasion of the former Portuguese colony.

"The situation was difficult for us. If they were not "If they were not executed, they could have testified that there was indeed executed, they could an invasion by Indonesian troops," Purwanto said, adding have testified that that the bodies were burned to hide the evidence. there was indeed an invasion by He said there was "shooting from the direction of the house Indonesian troops" where they were hiding", prompting Indonesian soldiers to return fire. Gatot Purwanto

"Maybe there [was] someone who wanted to rescue them. Our members immediately fired in that direction and the journalists were all dead."

Purwanto said that Yunus Yosfiah, who was then an army captain and later a government minister, had been waiting for instructions from Jakarta on what to do with the reporters but they were killed before Jakarta could respond.

In 2007, an Australian coroner found that the journalists were killed on Yosfiah's orders. He has denied it.

'Cost of war'

Commenting on Purwanto's comments, Sagom Tamboen, an Indonesian military spokesman, said the ex-officer's explanation made sense but the military did not admit to murdering the men, saying the deaths were "the cost of war".

"In a war, as was explained by him [Purwanto], that kind of situation is normal," he said.

The men's families have campaigned unsuccessfully for years for the Indonesian officers alleged to be responsible to face justice.

Indonesia withdrew from East Timor a decade ago after the territory voted overwhelmingly for independence in a UN- The five journalists were hiding in this house in Balibo town when they were killed [EPA] backed referendum.

The incident was recently turned into a feature film, "Balibo", directed by Robert Connolly and starring Anthony LaPaglia, which depicts Indonesian soldiers shooting and stabbing the unarmed journalists.

Indonesia banned the film last week, with the censorship board saying that the script was based on testimony of witnesses of "questionable nature".

Purwanto told Indonesian reporters after a private screening of the movie late on Monday that he stood by what he had told Tempo, adding that the movie was sensationalised and that only half the events in Balibo as depicted in the movie were accurate.

He then appeared to contradict his earlier interview by suggesting that the journalists' deaths were accidental.

"If you say that it was the Indonesian army who shot (the journalists), I can't accept that because there were also shots fired simultaneously by other armed members of the team [who were not Army]," he said.

Source: Agencies

WATCH NOW AFRICA SEARCH FRONT PAGE AMERICAS ABOUT US BLOGS ASIA-PACIFIC PODCASTS FOCUS CENTRAL/S. ASIA MOBILE SPORT EUROPE ARABIC PROGRAMMES MIDDLE EAST RSS

news.com.au FOXSPORTS Newspapers CareerOne carsguide TrueLocal RealEstate MySpace AU

News Sport Entertainment Business Money Travel Lifestyle Video Opinion Tributes Shop CARS JOBS CLASSIFIEDS NEWS NETWORK

Confidential Movies Music TV

Last Updated: December 09, 2009 Melbourne 11°C - 25°C . Mostly sunny.

More awards for Balibo

AAP November 03, 2009 12:14PM Share

POLITICAL thriller Balibo has already impressed the critics, now the music from the film has been honoured at the 2009 Screen Music Awards in Sydney.

East Timorese-born composer Ego Lemos took out the honour for best original song composed for the screen, for his title track Balibo, while composer Lisa Gerrard received the best feature film score award.

Both were performed on the night for guests at the event hosted by The Chaser's Chris Taylor and Andrew Hansen. Musician Ego Lemos and Balibo Director Robert Connolly at the Screen Music Awards 2009, where Lemos' Balibo, which tells the true story of five Australian soundtrack was honoured. Picture: Getty Images journalists murdered in East Timor in 1975, is up Source: Getty Images for 13 awards at this year's AFI awards - including best original music score.

The music from the telemovie The Last Confessions of Alexander Pearce, about the Australian 1. Playgirl offered 'naked Tiger pics' cannibal convict, was also recognised. 2. Man killed with iron bar 3. Wrong Holly at Christmas Related Coverage 4. Costa to query Ablett 5. Girlfriend heard cabbie being stabbed SA films push for elite acclaim Adelaide Now, 4 days ago Top News

Indonesian journos defy Overland bans DNA evidence Balibo film ban The Australian, 6 days ago 2:49PM Mark Buttler VICTORIA'S top police officer The man has soil and has ordered his forensic soul scientists to cease giving DNA Courier Mail, 27 Nov 2009 evidence in court cases.

CDs of the week 9 comments on this story The Australian, 20 Nov 2009 Attempted murder: Man set alight in love feud, court Sam's stunning girl told steals IF Awards Albert Park: Man killed with iron bar Daily Telegraph, 18 Nov 2009

Print Email Share

Top Sport Enter your comment here * 5 1200 Selectors gamble on Siddle characters left 3:51PM Ben Dorries AUSTRALIA looks set to take a punt on the fitness of Peter Siddle after naming an 6 unchanged squad for next week's Test against the West Indies.

NBA: Bucks waste Bogut's big night How to make Electricity Twenty20 Big Bash : Tanvir to play for Bushrangers $49 kit has energy co's execs calling for a ban on its sale. IOC to decide: Thanou misses out on silver medal www.Power-4-Homes.com World Cup: Central role for hungry Harry

How to Build Solar Panels More Sport I Did it & Now Save $168/Month! Shocking How Simple It Was www.Power4Home.com

Law Enforcement Jobs Search Law Enforcement Jobs For all Your Online Services! giftsbygold.com

Posh fears being home alone Student killed by 'exploding gum' 4:42PM 10:13AM By staff writers VICTORIA Beckham is reported to A CHEMISTRY student has be scared of living alone in LA reportedly been killed by what may while her football star husband be exploding chewing gum. makes his dream move to play in Italy next year. Elton wants George to go-go clean Funeral 2.0 comes with webcasts SIR Elton John and partner David By Staff Writers Furnish are "worried" about BEREAVED families in Australia George Michael's mental health, now have the option to broadcast after being contacted by the video of the funeral service online. superstar singer's friends. 6 comments on this story 8 comments on this story Sapporo Breweries: Space brew one giant leap for beer Bad influence: Jacko's plastic persuasion 'to blame' Auckland: Orgasm, swearing during play for kids Engagement over: Uma splits the Bill with fiance Auckland: Missing Aussie man found at pub 10:39AM Confrontation: Lola caught in 'gay-bash' brawl London: Prisoner allowed to grow dope in cell Carols : Newton to spread some cheer More The Other Side More Confidential News

More related coverage

Seaman Dan creates ARIA history Nic and Hugh snubbed Daily Telegraph, 10 Nov 2009 Daily Telegraph, 10 Nov 2009 Balibo wins two prestigious awards Full list of AFI Awards nominations Courier Mail, 2 Nov 2009 Courier Mail, 2 Nov 2009 Balibo wins two prestigious awards More related coverage Adelaide Now, 2 Nov 2009 Related Searches Soundtrack to Balibo scoops awards John Maynard, East Timorese, Seven Network, Jonathan The Australian, 2 Nov 2009 M, Brandon Walters, Hugh Jackman, East Timor, Regent Theatre, Robert Connolly, Tony Stewart

Top Entertainment News

Nerves spur on stars Aretha still earning respect Patricia's a Middle class act ACTOR Kate Ritchie is a Logie ARETHA Franklin has topped a list 3:03PM Erin McWhirter and Darren Awards veteran, but she and new of the hottest 100 female singers Devlyn talent Sophie Lowe will be in the for her signature song Respect. PATRICIA Heaton, renowned for her same boat at their first AFI Awards. long-running role in sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, is a rarity in the image-obsessed world 8 comments on this story of TV. Creative disagreements: Bourne again in jeopardy The list: Hummingbird100 1 comment on this story Big screen: Entourage headed for big screen Pictures: Top 100 female artists Children's classic: Jonze seeks out the wild things Accident-prone: Guy's trouble staying in Gear Harrelson hits gold: Woody steps into a strange land Coldplay: Rockers go back to church The Cleveland Show: In his master's voice More Movies 10:30AM Idol push: Stan boxed up for stores early Cooking up: Poh cooking up a storm Top team: Veronicas to rock with Suzi Guantanamo: Hicks story to be telemovie Waterloo: Abba tops hit-and-miss karaoke list More TV More Music

Mobile RSS Feeds Newsletters Send Stories Send Your Photos

Help About Us Contact Us Get your Newspaper Delivered Advertise with us Link to Us Cadetship Job Opportunities Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Accessibility Sitemap

News Sport Entertainment Business Money Travel Lifestyle Video Opinion Tributes Shop CARS JOBS CLASSIFIEDS NEWS NETWORK

Breaking News Victoria National World Learn Special Reports Sunday Herald Sun Photo Galleries Weather Archives

Last Updated: December 09, 2009 Melbourne 11°C - 25°C . Mostly sunny.

Balibo lies 'nailed'

Herald Sun December 09, 2009 12:00AM Share

AN Indonesian special forces commando's admission that soldiers deliberately killed the Balibo Five to cover up the East Timor invasion was another "nail in the coffin of lies", one of the journalists' widows says.

Gatot Purwanto, who took part in the 1975 assault on Balibo, is the first senior Indonesian military figure to contradict the official line that the

Australia-based journalists died in crossfire. "If we let them leave they would say that this was the Indonesian invasion," Mr Purwanto told Indonesia's Tempo magazine.

"If we let them go there would be evidence."

The admission was acknowledged by Shirley Shackleton, widow of Channel 7's Greg Shackleton, as a "milestone."

"It's another nail in the coffin of lies," she said. 1. Playgirl offered 'naked Tiger pics' 2. Man killed with iron bar Speaking after seeing Robert Connolly's Balibo, 3. Wrong Holly at Christmas the Australian film about the killings that has been Old friends: East Timor's Jose Ramos-Horta was with 4. Costa to query Ablett banned in Indonesia, Mr Purwanto said he and his Shirley Shaackleton's husband Greg not long before he 5. Girlfriend heard cabbie being stabbed fellow soldiers had been surprised to find the five was killed in Balibo. Picture: Mike Keating Source: Herald journalists at Balibo. Sun Top News

Related Coverage Mr Purwanto says his Overland bans DNA evidence 2:49PM Mark Buttler Commando refuses to superior Yunus Yosfiah - who's been accused of ordering the give evidence on Balibo killings - asked Jakarta whether his special forces squad, Team VICTORIA'S top police officer The Australian, 17 hours ago has ordered his forensic Susi, should execute or capture the men. scientists to cease giving DNA Balibo killings evidence in court cases. 'deliberate' But the soldiers were forced to take action before the government Perth Now, 1 day ago could respond because they were "provoked" by gunfire from the 9 comments on this story Balibo Five death story direction of the house where the journalists were hiding, he says. Attempted murder: Man set alight in love feud, court 'doesn't add up' told Herald Sun, 1 day ago "Probably, it was someone trying to save them," said Mr Purwanto, Albert Park: Man killed with iron bar who later became Indonesia's intelligence chief in East Timor. We killed Balibo five - soldier Adelaide Now, 1 day ago "But our members immediately fired in that direction, and all the journalists died." Readers' Comments: Balibo killings 'deliberate' - PerthNow Ms Shackleton said that claim was "bulls---". Perth Now, "He's saying it wasn't crossfire. He also says that the troops fired after a shot came from behind the journalists. (But) there was no Top Sport one in that village - it was completely deserted. That's bulls---. Selectors gamble on Siddle "Team Susi was an assassination squad sent to shut them up. This was bloody murder." 3:51PM Ben Dorries The federal police began a war crimes inquiry this year, almost two years after an inquest in AUSTRALIA looks set to take a punt on the fitness of Peter Sydney concluded Indonesian forces deliberately killed the journalists. The inquest dismissed Siddle after naming an Australian and Indonesian government claims that Shackleton, Brian Peters, Malcolm Rennie, unchanged squad for next Gary Cunningham and Tony Stewart died in crossfire, and linked Mr Yosfiah to the deaths. week's Test against the West Indies.

NBA: Bucks waste Bogut's big night Twenty20 Big Bash : Tanvir to play for Bushrangers Print Email Share IOC to decide: Thanou misses out on silver medal World Cup: Central role for hungry Harry Back to top of page More Sport Enter your comment here * 5 1200 characters left

Electricity on the Cheap? $49 kit has electricity company exec's seeing red! Calling for ban. Eco.Power4Home.com

How to make Electricity $197 DIY kit has energy co's execs screaming for a ban on its sale. www.Power-4-Homes.com

NanaWall Systems Use NanaWall folding glass doors to help achieve LEED credits. www.NanaWall.com

Girlfriend heard cabbie being stabbed Student killed by 'exploding gum' 6:32AM Wayne Flower 10:13AM By staff writers UPDATE 10.12am: THE girlfriend of A CHEMISTRY student has a taxi driver stabbed in an apparent reportedly been killed by what may road rage incident heard the vicious be exploding chewing gum. attack on her mobile phone.

Audio: Click here for the police press conference Father's plea: Tell me where you killed my daughter Funeral 2.0 comes with webcasts Yandoit: Cops hunt man over farm shooting By Staff Writers BEREAVED families in Australia Soccer, AFL in World Cup stalemate now have the option to broadcast 10:25AM Matthew Schulz video of the funeral service online. UPDATE 11.40am: AUSTRALIA'S World Cup bid has scored another own-goal after the AFL ruled out 6 comments on this story using Etihad Stadium for games. Sapporo Breweries: Space brew one giant leap for beer Auckland: Orgasm, swearing during play for kids Video vox pop: AFL vs the world game Auckland: Missing Aussie man found at pub In depth: Socceroos road to World Cup London: Prisoner allowed to grow dope in cell Address to MPs: Premier absent as Dalai Lama visits More wacky news Elderly victim: Woman jailed for ATM stab attack Royal Commission: DSE rethinking evacuation, inquiry told Kinglake West: Man dies in Kinglake West crash More Victoria

More related coverage

Indonesian journos defy Balibo film ban Balibo Five case closed, says Indonesia The Australian, 6 days ago The Australian, 6 days ago 'Balibo journalists pleaded for their lives' Balibo exposes bloodshed Herald Sun, 1 Nov 2009 Herald Sun, 1 Nov 2009 General 'behind' Balibo killings 'annoyed' More related coverage Herald Sun, 10 Sep 2009 Related Searches Balibo Five get war crimes probe Federal Police, Colonel Purwanto, Dorelle Pinch, NSW Herald Sun, 9 Sep 2009 Deputy Coroner Dorelle, New Zealander Gary Cunningham, East Timor, Foreign Affairs, East Timorese, Brian Peters, Malcolm Rennie

More News

In his master's voice Thousands sign greedy banks petition Share market closes lower 2:33PM Geoff Shearer 2:58PM Staff writers 5:01PM FAMILY Guy gets its own spin-off WE'VE been inundated with THE share market closed lower for the fourth session in show with The Cleveland Show, messages from customers who a row, as weaker commodity prices and disappointing with Kevin Michael Richardson at are fed up with greedy banks hiking Japan growth figures weighed down shares. the helm. Doesn't sound familiar? interest rates to boost profits. Think again. Residents warned: Home lost in bushfire, others under 1 comment on this story threat Mercury soars: Aussies suffer hottest 6 months ever Xmas rush: Salvos' plea for help after arson attack It's pistols at dawn Nigel Brennan: Freed Aussie knew Somalia risks Tourism: Fewer overseas visitors 'after horror year' Back on screen: Patricia's a Middle class act Copenhagen speech: It's freezing in Perth - climate sceptic Interest rates: Rudd warns Westpac after banana stunt Cooking up: Poh cooking up a storm Greg Rogers: Olympian's sexual abuse claims More Breaking News Idol push: Stan boxed up for stores early More National More Entertainment Mobile RSS Feeds Newsletters Send Stories Send Your Photos

Help About Us Contact Us Get your Newspaper Delivered Advertise with us Link to Us Cadetship Job Opportunities Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Accessibility Sitemap

Hot Topics: Swimming scandals | Climate change | What's hot right now Hotmail Messenger Mobile Sign In

05.27 pm, Wednesday December 09 2009

Front page Headlines National World Entertainment Technology Health Weather Finance Sport Video PHOTOS OUR TEAM MORE

Search the news site World home Archives RSS Feed

Balibo killings deliberate: ex-colonel

20:05 AEST Mon Dec 7 2009

By Adam Gartrell

Indonesian soldiers deliberately killed the Glance: The news in pictures Balibo Five to cover up their 1975 invasion More world news: of East Timor, a retired Indonesian army Indonesia to outlaw people smuggling colonel has admitted. Antarctic nations eye visit controls Malaysian, Thai PMs in landmark visit Gatot Purwanto, a special forces commando when he Balibo probe still in 'early stages' took part in the 1975 assault on Balibo, is the first Kiwi to row from Australia to NZ senior Indonesian military figure to publicly contradict Indonesian rallies draw thousands the official explanation that the Australia-based Philippine clan 'killed 200 others' journalists were killed in crossfire. Police lent Prince Charles money: report Cancer survivor killed in cliff fall "If we let them leave they would say that this was the Copenhagen early draft irks poor states Indonesian invasion," Purwanto told Indonesia's Tempo magazine.

"If we let them go there would be evidence."

Speaking after seeing Robert Connolly's Balibo, the Australian film about the killings that has been banned in Indonesia, Purwanto said he and his fellow soldiers had been surprised to find the men in the small East Timorese border town.

Purwanto claims his superior Yunus Yosfiah - who has been accused of ordering the killings - asked Jakarta whether his special forces squad, known as Team Susi, should execute or capture the men.

But the soldiers were forced to take action before Jakarta could respond because they were "provoked" by gunfire from the direction of the house where the journalists were hiding, Purwanto said.

"Probably, it was someone trying to save them," said Purwanto, who later became Indonesian intelligence chief in East Timor.

"But our members immediately fired in that direction and all the journalists died."

Afterwards, soldiers took the bodies to another house to be burned, Purwanto said. Disco dunce Singer holds microphone upside "To make it easier we tried to make them disappear," said Purwanto, who now works in private security. down during live television performance ... read more "We would say that we didn't know anything.

"That was our spontaneous reaction at that time."

Nonetheless, Purwanto - who was discharged from the military over his involvement in the 1991 Santa Cruz From the front page Cemetery massacre in Dili - said Connolly's film overdramatised the killings. Murder mum jailed Meanwhile, Indonesia's chief censor Mukhlis Paeni has finally formally explained the reasons for the Film Woman gets 19 years for killing son and dumping his Censorship Agency's ban. body in Sydney pond One dead in chopper crash The film was based on verbal testimony of a "questionable nature", Paeni said in his written explanation. Computer 'dark age' sparks health risks Tiger 'had affair with second porn star' "We deemed that Balibo is not proper to be screened because it contains subjective issues which will View the latest headlines potentially open old wounds of questionable objectivity," he said. Yosfiah is likely to be a firm focus of the Australian Federal Police war crimes investigation into the Balibo The Flock killings.

The AFP launched the probe earlier this year, almost two years after a coronial inquest concluded Indonesian forces deliberately killed the journalists.

The inquest dismissed claims by successive Australian and Indonesian governments that Greg Shackleton, Brian Peters, Malcolm Rennie, Gary Cunningham and Tony Stewart were the victims of crossfire and linked Yosfiah to their murders.

News alerts: Get breaking news first. Download free ninemsn news alerts now.

Recommend this article. 126 Flocks so far

SHARE: MESSENGER FACEBOOK MORE ? Latest videos Share, bookmark, and save your favourite ninemsn articles and features. Learn more.

Most popular

Article Video Search Mariah Stars out for Rove quits Carey's diva Twilight show after 10 demands premiere years Five more Tiger Woods CGI videos released Iceberg a 'once-in-a-lifetime' sighting

Cancer survivor killed in cliff fall Lotto winner comes forward to claim $40m

Woman jailed for murdering toddler son Singer holds mic upside down on live television

Bikie gets 30 years in jail for killing Long-term health risk tied to computer use

Families of two kids sue Catholic church Man set alight by his ex-lover: court

Newsroom latest Summit chaos Elton 'devastated' Tiger tale twist A quick hit of the top Leaked agreement Singer heartbroken Golfer's mother-in-law stories making news stirs fury at climate after adoption hospitalised as nude online today. meet in Copenhagen. rejection, partner says. pic claims emerge.

National Nine News - news.ninemsn.com.au Services and tools

Latest news Headlines Weather Photo galleries RSS Podcasts Mobile National news World news Video Vote archive

Business news Entertainment news News blog Send us your stories Alerts Newsletter Sport news Technology news Contact us Lotteries

Health news News at a Glance

News Entertainment news Newswatch Also on ninemsn Travel Breaking news Sports news Today Show Money Video

Weather 60 Minutes Business news Entertainment TV guide

Australian news A Current Affair Science and technology Movies Mobile

Home News Sports Money Lifestyle Entertainment Video Travel Cars eBay Jobs Dating Property More Search the web

About ninemsn Careers at ninemsn Advertise Contact Us Help Terms of Use Privacy Policy Hotmail Messenger Mobile Get ninemsn toolbar

Watch Full Episodes On TV News Sport Documentary Film Food Radio Shop More Video Podcasts Blogs

Popular : Movie Trailers | New DVD Releases

Watch Video In Cinemas Coming Soon On DVD On SBS Films We Love Film News Blog Forums

Featured Films

IN CINEMAS 5 1. The Informant 2. Paranormal Activity 3. The Strength of Water 4. Zombieland 5. Where The Wild Things Are 6. The Private Lives of Pippa Lee 7. Amreeka 8. The Twilight Saga: New Moon 6 COMING SOON ON DVD ON SBS Balibo FILMS WE LOVE 1 Comments Join the discussion ADVERTISEMENT Transmission Films | 111 mins

A tense political thriller, Balibo recreates events surrounding the Director Search Movie Session shooting of five Australian journalists during Indonesia's invasion of Robert Connolly Browse by movie title & suburb East Timor in 1975. BALIBO is told through the eyes of a sixth Australian, Roger East, who is lured to East Timor by Jose Ramos- Cast All Movies 6 Horta to investigate the truth behind the death of the five men, who Anthony LaPaglia were supposedly "caught in cross-fire" during the invasion. Oscar Isaac enter suburb Gyton Grantley

Tom Wright Nathan Phillips On SBS TV & Radio

Film Radio

This Week Related Articles 5 In the line of fire Friday 11th December 2009, 9:00PM Home grown stars shine bright at French festival Water Balibo tops AFI noms The plight of two child widows in India who are forced to lead a life of poverty. (SBS TWO) Read more READ REVIEW WATCH TRAILER Watch Trailer Bold and defiant filmmaking wrapped up in a tense political thriller. 24 July 2009- By Fiona Williams Friday 11th December 2009, 11:10PM Lolita's Club MELBOURNE FILM FESTIVAL: An overwhelming sense of urgency and immediacy hangs over Robert A cop returns home to save his Connolly’s Balibo in its depiction of events that took place 34 years ago, which have never been adequately disabled brother from a relationship acknowledged, much less explained. with a prostitute.(SBS ONE) 6 Read more Balibo depicts the 1975 Indonesian invasion of East Timor, during which five Australian-based journalists were > View the SBS schedule for full listings killed for having filmed the illegal annexation. It is bold and defiant filmmaking that achieves in just 111 minutes what 34 years of politicking couldn’t: it exposes a shameful episode in Australia’s history during which principles gave way to pragmatism, and does so with confrontational, provocative, and above all, deeply affecting scenes that hold their own against some of the best moments of Australian cinema. SBS Films Shop

Connolly and co-writer David Williamson owe much to author Jill Jolliffe, whose book ‘Cover Up’ (newly Katherine Jenkins: Ultimate republished as ‘Balibo’) first pieced together the truth about the deaths of the newsmen, in a direct challenge Collection (CD) the prevailing Indo-Australian line that their deaths had been accidental (despite insurmountable evidence to Cherished recordings from the the contrary, including eyewitness accounts). world's favourite mezzo-soprano.

Connolly and Williamson place this searing indictment of Australian foreign policy, complicity and cover up within the confines of a conventional political thriller. There's ample suspense, fast-paced action sequences, Miracle Of Berlin (DVD) and a budding ‘buddy’ sub-plot to satisfy a broad range of tastes, particularly with audiences unfamiliar with the The fall of the Berlin Wall is story of the Balibo Five. captured in the dramatic story of

rebellious young Marco. Connolly bookends his film with a young woman’s testimony at the 2001 Timor-Leste Commission For Reception, Truth and Reconciliation; her childhood recollections provide a conduit to flashbacks of the tumultuous period leading up to the invasion. The technique also paves the way to a closing montage that charts the successful outcome of her tiny half-island’s struggle for independence.

The story centres on the work of Roger East (Anthony LaPaglia), a fellow Australian journalist whose SBS Film News Headlines investigations into the disappearance of the five men have (like so much associated with these events) Monday 07 December 2009, 12:00 AEST previously gone unacknowledged. East is the reluctant hero of Balibo, a flawed man fighting his own demons Spielberg abandons 'Harvey' until confronted by the chilling prospect that five of his colleagues have been murdered during an assignment in the strife-torn former Portuguese colony. Steven Spielberg has withdrawn from “Harvey.” He spent the past half year When we meet East in December 1975, the Darwin-based former newshound has long-since lost the taste for developing the pic, hi... Read More chasing leads and sniffing out stories; he wants nothing to do with the pushy East Timorese foreign minister Ashley Judd joins Fox's 'Tooth Fairy' who shows up to offer him a posting as head of the tiny nation’s media unit. East tells the young Jose Ramos Guillermo Del Toro booked thru 2017 Horta (Oscar Isaac) where to go, in no uncertain terms. However, in a demonstration of the diplomatic skills that Liberty Media splits stake in DirecTV would eventually see him installed as President of the free East Timor, the canny Ramos Horta appeals to East’s dormant professional curiosity and gives him the scoop about a group of journalists who have gone NBC tops final week of summer missing in recent weeks around the sea port of Balibo. Ramos Horta suspects foul play on the part of the Weinstein Co. hires David Glasser Indonesians, whose warships are stationed in the waters off the coastline. Intrigued, East accompanies Ramos Horta to Timor in a search for the missing men.

Connolly and Williamson introduce the young journalists in a parallel narrative that paints them as eager, inquisitive, cheerful and competitive young men, tragically ignorant of the dangers that await them as they embark on their assignment. In many of the film’s lighter moments, Channel Seven’s Greg Shackleton (Damon Gameau), Gary Cunningham (Gyton Grantley) and Tony Stewart (Mark Leonard Winter) trade barbs with their network rivals, Nine’s Malcolm Rennie (Nathan Phillips) and Brian Peters (Thomas Wright) as they try to outfox each other for a scoop in their coverage for their competing networks. Their competitiveness knows no bounds; despite a retreating ABC journalist’s warnings against making the trip to Balibo, their primary focus is on trumping their commercial TV rivals to get the first pictures of the Indonesian warships that dot the horizon from the Portuguese garrison in the coastal town.

As East learns the truth about the newsmen’s fate, we see the events unfold; scenes in which the journalists capture crucial evidence of the illegal landing and when pursued, mistakenly believe the militiamen might recognise the freedoms of the press, are nothing short of devastating. The events are depicted absent any ADVERTISEMENT underscore, which makes the frenzied aftermath, including the desperate breaths of winded asthmatic Shackleton, frighteningly claustrophobic and heartbreakingly real.

Balibo is an outstanding film that doesn’t buckle under the burden of its own importance; it is also highly entertaining and immensely emotional and signals a welcome return to powerful filmmaking that speaks to the Australian psyche. Indeed, the tragic heroes of Gallipoli and Breaker Morant share much in common with the spirited men of Balibo.

Your Comments

< 1 >

29 Jul 2009 | 12:47 AEST Viva Shirley S and Jill Joliffe graham williams Lets hope that the atrocities commited by the TNI from 75 to 99 will now be brought perth wa wider to the worlds attention by this great expose.Dear Jill Joliffe`s gathering of personal stories project may well be the basis for a future film and lead eventually to the commital and conviction of Yunus Yosfia and numerous other evil B`s.

Agree (17 people agree) Disagree (9 people disagree)

< 1 >

Add your Comment

Your Name

Your Location

Your Website

Subject

Message 5

Validation

SBS Film Search

Film Home On DVD Film News In Cinemas On SBS Blog Coming Soon Films We Love Forums ADVERTISEMENT

News & Current Affairs Television Documentary I want to...

Dateline SBS TV Home SBS Documentary Provide feedback Insight SBS TV Schedule About Men About Women Make a complaint Living Black About Men About Women Bi Polar Bears know what SBS tells me about World News Australia Adbc Dave in the Life Australia Bogan Pride Global Village have a say in what SBS is doing Sport Costa's Garden Odyssey Last Chance Saloon get my program on SBS Dave in the Life Law and Disorder get my program commissioned by SBS Sport SBS Dead Set Secrets and Lives Tour de France Advertise on SBS TV or Online East West 101 The Nest The Ashes Advertise on SBS Radio Entourage Who Do You Think You Are? The World Game have a project translated First Australians Cycling Central have a project subtitled Flight of the Conchords Food Speedweek find SBS media kits Global Village Dakar Rally SBS Food know why SBS introduced Inspector Rex Feast Bazaar commercials in programs Radio John Adams Feast Greece learn about digital TV Life's a Zoo Radio Home Feast India license an SBS program Mad Men World View Food Investigators receive SBS TV or Radio Monster Auditions Alchemy Radio Food Lovers' Guide to Australia Read SBS Codes of Practice Mr Firth Goes To Washington Radio Podcasts Food Safari see who is on the board of SBS mY Generation Radio Schedule Gourmet Farmer Read SBS Publications and Reports RocKwiz Heston's Feasts Read SBS Media Releases Watch Video Shameless Luke Nguyen's Vietnam Skins My Family Feast Key Information News & Current Affairs Squiz Taste Le Tour The World Game About SBS Swift and Shift Vasili's Garden Jobs at SBS World Food Thalassa Contact SBS Sneak Peek TV The Circuit Shop Read SBS Charter Download Podcasts The Nest SBS Shop Using this Website Top Gear Australia Film Cycling Central Shop Top Gear UK SBS Film Trawlermen Other Sites Who Do You Think You Are? Who Do You Think You Are UK? SBS Blogs SBS Forums

NEWS MYCAREER DOMAIN DRIVE FINANCE MOBILE RSVP TRAVEL WEATHER network map member centre

Politics Society & Culture Business Columnists Contributors Editorials Letters Column 8 Blogs Cartoons

Home » National Times » Politics » Article Search here... National Times Search Mobiles RSS Newsletters High contrast

Advertisement True culprits in sight as silence over Balibo killings breaks JILL JOLLIFFE Comments 2 Join the conversation December 9, 2009 You're the only person reading this now. Tell your friends The emergence of retired Comment on SMH. colonel Gatot Purwanto as a 2 comments. whistleblowing Indonesian Comment on Twitter. Read tweets. officer in the Balibo five case has revealed the first cracks in Jakarta's military monolith after Related Coverage 34 years of stubborn silence The Balibo Five: how over the true cause of the they died deaths of the ill-fated reporters - Featured advertisers Greg Shackleton, Gary Top National Times Cunningham and Tony Stewart Retired Indonesian army special forces from Channel Seven and Brian colonel Gatot Purwanto uses the word articles execution to describe what happened Peters and Malcolm Rennie 1. A five-letter word for banks' to five Australian journalists in 1975. from Channel Nine, shot dead in Photo: AFP rush to fatten profitability New iPhone Deals: Windows 7 2. Celebrities are not beacons of the East Timor border town of iPhones are back in Simplifies everyday virtue Balibo in October 1975 as they filmed Indonesian troops stock. Get $50 off the tasks iPhone and other iPhone 3. Tony is the Gomez of the advancing into the village. deals. Abbott Family 4. The bruiser goes after the The former special forces officer attended a clandestine viewing battlers of Robert Connolly's film Balibo, which was banned in Jakarta, a Copenhagen Calling 5. Buying into the greening of ban defied by the Alliance of Independent Journalists who invited Africa Gatot Purwanto to its screening. Buying into the greening of Africa More National Times articles Bob Geldof: It's now 25 years Colonel Purwanto had been prominent in key events of since the Ethiopian famines of the Politics Topics Indonesia's 24-year occupation of East Timor. He had not 1980s and the public's Legal Affairs (911) previously been mentioned in relation to Balibo, but told unprecedented outpouring of generosity to their fellow human All Legal Affairs (911) Indonesia's Tempo magazine that he was present at the killings. beings on another continent. The Minister (515) He used the word ''executed'' to describe them and said the question I'm always asked, of Opposition (348) bodies had been deliberately burned to conceal the crime and all course, is: was it all worth it? Election (333) State (321) evidence of Indonesia's presence in what was then Portuguese Comments 8 Parliament (249) Timor. Goanna Tracks More Legal Affairs The Australian Federal Police is now re-examining the case with l More than a mere mad monk Issues (886) a view to prosecuting Indonesia's former information minister l Standing by your man, no matter who he is People (866) Yunus Yosfiah and Christoforus da Silva - both special forces l Will Abbott kill the curse of the budgie smuggler? operatives described by witnesses as leaders of the operation - World Affairs (746) under the Fourth Geneva Convention, for the wilful killing of Political Parties (719) protected persons in a theatre of war. Most commented Articles Blogs Gatot Purwanto, who said he was a first-lieutenant when he 1. Abbott's real trouble is the sisterhood 156 Latest Comment witnessed the killings in 1975, told Tempo that he had been part 2. Copenhagen backlash hits a government in 135 And there's not a of the attack force, and named his superior as Yunus Yosfiah, denial damned thing we can commander of a unit known as team Susi. 3. Westpac executives are jumpy 128 4. ETS may be for Rudd what Work Choices was 124 do about it. The testimony on Balibo by the 62-year-old retired officer could for Howard Misha, Selby well result from his unusual military career in East Timor during 5. Abbott's climate change policy is bullshit 96 See comments (2) successive tours of duty, with the possibility that his intervention has been planned as part of a thaw on the Indonesian side 6. I love Tony Abbott - and who wouldn't? 96 Story Tools towards ending the impasse between Australia and Indonesia Sponsored links Share on Facebook over the prosecutions. Term Deposits soar to 6.81% Email this story Purwanto rose to prominence in March 1983 when he brokered a Hate rate rises? Visit Mozo Print this story ceasefire with Xanana Gusmao, then a young guerilla Pump up your savings - 5.51% commander, which held for several months. He was then a Best balance transfer offers colonel, and the officers who worked with him, such as Willem Consolidate loans into 1 fixed payment da Costa and a Captain Iswanto, were considered liberal-minded Apply online for credit cards in the Indonesian military spectrum. Win a $5,000 Queensland holiday $1,000 weekly holiday giveaways The ceasefire talks were held at Lari Guto, south of Baucau. The ultimate Queensland getaway There was even a football match in Baucau between Indonesian soldiers and guerillas; it was a period of brief relief in a long and Advertisement ugly war. WIN a Sony Vaio Laptop! Set up a Job Alert or register The ceasefire broke down after an uprising in the Viqueque with Head Hunter, and you will region some months later, after which Indonesian military chief automatically go into the draw to Benny Murdani poured in reinforcements, accompanied by win 1 of 5 Sony Vaio Laptop packs. Register with MyCareer president Suharto's brutal son-in-law, Prabowo Subianto, then a for your chance to win! junior officer. Stay flexible Act the part Colonel Purwanto slipped from view and Timorese resistance sources suggested he had been disciplined and sent from Timor Advertisement for his role in the ceasefire.

He reappeared as a Dili-based commander, still with the rank of colonel, in the period before the 1991 Santa Cruz massacre, when political mediation was once again the order of the day, with a UN-organised visit planned by a Portuguese parliamentary delegation.

It did not occur and resulted instead in the massacre, film of which changed the world's perception of the East Timor problem, eventually paving the way for independence.

Under immense pressure from world opinion, Indonesia held a series of nominal trials and disciplinary hearings of its military commanders in Dili, which resulted in Colonel Purwanto's ''honourable discharge'' from the army. Another man sacked, Editor's picks who had been considered by Timorese leaders as a rather liberal figure before the massacre, was provincial military commander Rudolf Warouw, leading to speculation that some of the ''better'' military commanders in East Timor took the rap for the true culprits.

Jill Jolliffe is the author of Cover-Up: The inside story of the Balibo five.

Source: The Age

Ads by Google Is Jesus Really God? Time lapse Scholars examine the factsabout Jesus' claims to be God Ozone's changing size and shape www.Y-Jesus.com/JesusFacts These images, supplied from NASA's Earth Observatory, CMMS/CAFM Software display the size and shape of the ozone hole since 1979. Web-based integrated CMMS/CAFMMaintenance, Asset & Space mgmt Prev Next www.manageengine.com Electricity on the Cheap? $49 kit has electricity companyexec's seeing red! Calling for ban. Eco.Power4Home.com

To advertise your business on Google...click here Comments 2 comments so far

It is strange that Gatot Purwanto has never been mentioned before given he was a first-lieutenant actually present at time. The story about the killings being carried out to prevent the news of the Indonesian action has never rang true. With numerous journalists from Australia, Portugal and elsewhere covering the activities including the battle for Batugede which took about 3 days to capture, involving sea, air and land bombardment, and even Radio Australia reporting on such activities, reports that were monitored by both sides, the news was already out. Perhaps the possibility that the Fretilin had monitored such broadcasts and were able to prepare to ambush the Indonesians at Batugede had more to do with the events that followed. Nobody seems to want to examine the events of the week prior to the killings, perhaps such examination might challenge the views most people hold dear of innocent but dead heroes, and nasty villains everybody loved to hate.

johnd | victoria - December 09, 2009, 7:21AM

And there's not a damned thing we can do about it.

Misha | Selby - December 09, 2009, 1:41PM

Would you like to comment? Sign up for a free account Already a Fairfax Digital Member? Log in

More Related Coverage The Balibo Five: how they died As the NSW Coroner's Court began an inquest in 2007, we asked Asia-Pacific Editor Hamish McDonald to explain how the Balibo Five were killed.

Money Essential Baby Video EssentialBaby Holiday Rentals

Term deposit war is peace of Young mums retain shape Jordan does a u-turn The threat of Santa Hot specials on NSW mind accommodation!

l Compare All Saving Accounts l Ovulation calculator l Life & Style videos l Ovulation calculator l Stayz gift certificates l Compare All Home Loans l Due date calculator l Entertainment videos l Due date calculator l Blue Mountains holidays l Compare All Credit Cards l Discuss pregnancy l Business videos l Discuss pregnancy l WIN a prize each day

Compare and Save Broadband Energy Mobile Home Loans Savings Accounts

Safety first. High Interest Accounts Christmas Wine Specials Mobiles - 3 Months Free TV on Broadband in 2010 Take a risk-free Watch your savings Moet & Chandon NV Get a holiday from TV Networks release 6.81% on your take off with the best just $49.99 per bottle paying your new plans for ‘catch up’ savings performing accounts. sold by the dozen phone bill for 3 TV on the internet. months. We’ve got You’ll need a big the plans... broadband plan..

Compare Term Compare Savings Compare our prices Compare Mobile Big Broadband Deposits Accounts today Phones & Plans Offers

Readers' most viewed

Videos 1. Tiger Woods TV skit is bad Top 5 National Times Top 5 National Times Top 5 National Times Top 5 National Times taste articles articles articles articles 2. Huge Hawaiian swell building 1. I love Tony Abbott - and who 1. Tony is the Gomez of the 1. Tony is the Gomez of the 1. A five-letter word for banks' 3. Westpac's bananas about wouldn't? Abbott Family Abbott Family rush to fatten profitability rates 2. Middle-aged and in the mosh 2. Not in our interest 2. I love Tony Abbott - and who 2. Celebrities are not beacons of 4. Athletes and sex addiction pit for 6 hours, what a pearler wouldn't? virtue 3. True culprits in sight as 5. Woods' mother-in-law in 3. Tony is the Gomez of the silence over Balibo killings 3. A five-letter word for banks' 3. Tony is the Gomez of the hospital Abbott Family breaks rush to fatten profitability Abbott Family 4. Tony Abbott could be a great 4. I love Tony Abbott - and who 4. Leader courts the revived and 4. The bruiser goes after the prime minister wouldn't? the survived battlers 5. Celebrities are not beacons of 5. We can afford to reduce our 5. We can afford to reduce our 5. Buying into the greening of virtue emissions now emissions now Africa

SMH Home National World Opinion Business Technology Sport Entertainment Life & Style Travel Weather

Sydney Morning Herald Products & Services Classifieds Other Sites Sitemap Newsletters Accommodation The Age About Us RSS News Feeds Cars Sydney Morning Herald Contact Us Mobile Dating WA Today Privacy Text Jobs Brisbane Times Copyright © 2009. Fairfax Digital Conditions Subscribe Real Estate Business Day Member Agreement Money Manager Advertise with Us Essential Baby Fairfax Digital Network

NEWS MYCAREER DOMAIN DRIVE FINANCE MOBILE RSVP TRAVEL WEATHER network map member centre

Multimedia The Diary Environment Education Obituaries

You are here: Home » National » Article Search here... smh.com.au Search Mobiles RSS Newsletters High contrast Balibo Five executed, soldier Advertisement admits TOM ALLARD Join the conversation December 8, 2009 You're the only person reading this now. Tell your friends JAKARTA: An Indonesian officer Comment on Twitter. present when five Australian- Read tweets. based newsmen died in Balibo in 1975 says they were Related Coverage executed and their bodies The Balibo Five: burned to hide evidence of the how they died invasion of East Timor.

Balibo witness hard to pin down The account by Gatot Purwanto, JAKARTA: As they cowered in a a former Kopassus officer and Featured advertisers flimsy shack in a banana grove, the ... intelligence commander in East Timor, is the first time a senior Top National articles Indonesian has admitted there was intent behind the killings of 1. Mile-high Qantas fling sent Fiennes's lover into emotional the so-called Balibo Five and the tail spin destruction of their bodies. 2. Sick man 'denied a doctor' in Gatot Purwanto ... Australians were detention ''If we let them live, they would "captured alive". Photo: Tempo 3. $40m Lotto winner found tell everyone it was an 4. Brisbane's $40 million lotto Indonesian invasion,'' Colonel Purwanto told Tempo magazine. mystery Latest Video 5. One killed as firefighting ''If they died and we abandoned them there would be evidence chopper crashes More video that they were shot in territory controlled by Indonesian guerillas. National News Video More National articles So the simple way was to eliminate everything. We just claimed Albert Park bashing death

National Topics not to know anything.'' Places (16917) Colonel Purwanto was a junior officer in a special forces unit All Places (16917) Sydney (7961) when the five newsmen - Greg Shackleton, Tony Stewart, Gary Melbourne (4259) Cunningham, Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters from Channel Featured Products Victoria (1972) Nine - were killed. Adelaide (1663) Eee PC T91MT The Eee PC™ T91MT’s multi-touch ACT (1614) The newsmen from the Seven and Nine networks were in the functionality makes interacting with More Places border town of Balibo to record the secret invasion. the computer ... People (11463) More products « Prev | Next » Organisations (3707) Colonel Purwanto's comments came amid intense interest in the killing of the newsmen in Indonesia after the banning last week of Current jobs Story Tools the movie Balibo. Prev | Next

Share on Facebook The action of the censors ensured an otherwise obscure film Senior Project Manager -... Email this story became headline news. Sydney Metro, NSW Print this story Wednesday, 2 December The interview also coincides with an Australian Federal Police 2009 investigation into possible war crimes committed at Balibo. 12 Month Contract Exciting, Dynamic The investigation is targeting Yunus Yosfiah, the Kopassus Organisation View Job commander who was accused by the NSW coroner in 2007 of ordering the murders and personally undertaking some of the Sponsored links killings.

Colonel Purwanto's interview is, at times, contradictory and full of gaps.

He says Jakarta did not approve the killings and that General Yosfiah is innocent.

He insists that, contrary to the findings of the NSW coroner, gunfire came from near the building where the five Australians were being held. This is part of the official Indonesian account that the men were caught in crossfire. Advertisement

But Colonel Purwanto repeatedly uses the Indonesian word dieksekusi - to execute - to describe the deaths and reveals that the newsmen were ''captured alive''. This contradicts the Indonesian version of events.

He also talks frankly of the motivations of the Indonesian forces. ''If they were not executed, they could be witnesses to the fact that the Indonesian Army had invaded Timor.'' Advertisement He also tells of the gruesome job of disposing of the bodies to destroy any evidence that the newsmen had been in Balibo.

Ads by Google CMMS/CAFM Software Web-based integrated CMMS/CAFMMaintenance, Asset & Space mgmt www.manageengine.com Is Jesus Really God? Scholars examine the factsabout Jesus' claims to be God www.Y-Jesus.com/JesusFacts Telco TV Information Telco TV News, Technology UpdatesIPTV Newsletter, Free Subscription www.fierceiptv.com

To advertise your business on Google...click here

More Related Coverage The Balibo Five: how they died As the NSW Coroner's Court began an inquest in 2007, we asked Asia-Pacific Editor Hamish McDonald to explain how the Balibo Five were killed. Balibo witness hard to pin down JAKARTA: As they cowered in a flimsy shack in a banana grove, the Balibo Five were killed by ferocious volleys of gunfire from Indonesian soldiers and their Timorese allies in a lengthy assault on their hideout, Gatot Purwanto says.

Money Essential Baby Video EssentialBaby Holiday Rentals

Term deposit war is peace of Young mums retain shape Jordan does a u-turn The threat of Santa Hot specials on NSW mind accommodation!

Compare and Save Broadband Energy Mobile Home Loans Savings Accounts

Compare Term Compare Savings Compare our prices Compare Mobile Big Broadband Deposits Accounts today Phones & Plans Offers

Readers' most viewed

Videos 1. Tiger Woods TV skit is bad Top 5 National articles Top 5 National articles Top 5 National articles Top 5 National articles taste 1. Help us bury our dead, family 1. Mile-high Qantas fling sent 1. Hunt for Albert Park attacker 1. Mile-high Qantas fling sent 2. Huge Hawaiian swell building pleads Fiennes' lover into emotional after man bashed to death Fiennes's lover into emotional tail spin tail spin 3. Westpac's bananas about 2. Rebates, not taxes: Abbott 2. Mile-high Qantas fling sent rates 2. Impulse buy lands lotto man Fiennes' lover into emotional 2. Sick man 'denied a doctor' in 3. Balibo Five executed, soldier 4. Athletes and sex addiction admits $40m fortune tail spin detention 5. Woods' mother-in-law in 4. Home rates 'to hit 8.5%' 3. Japan threatens Australian 3. Cabbie may have been 3. $40m Lotto winner found humpbacks stabbed in road-rage attack hospital 5. Mile-high Qantas fling sent 4. Brisbane's $40 million lotto Fiennes' lover into emotional 4. One killed as firefighting 4. Home rates 'to hit 8.5%' mystery tail spin chopper crashes 5. Percy in vicinity when girl 5. One killed as firefighting 5. Balibo Five executed, soldier went missing, deputy state chopper crashes admits coroner rules

SMH Home National World Opinion Business Technology Sport Entertainment Life & Style Travel Weather

NEWS MYCAREER DOMAIN DRIVE FINANCE MOBILE RSVP TRAVEL WEATHER network map member centre

Investigations Environment Education Multimedia Photos

You are here: Home » National » Article Search here... theage.com.au Search Mobiles RSS Newsletters High contrast Lament at Jakarta ban on Balibo Advertisement film KARL QUINN Join the conversation December 3, 2009 You're the only person reading this now. Tell your friends THE producer-director of the Australian movie Balibo has said he Comment on Twitter. is surprised and disappointed that the Government in Jakarta has Read tweets. banned his film from screening in Indonesia.

''I don't know why I felt this way, but I'd been optimistic that it Top National articles would play,'' Robert Connolly said. ''You hope in the new era of 1. Hunt for Albert Park attacker after man bashed to death Indonesian democracy, political censorship may have been 2. Mile-high Qantas fling sent tempered.'' Fiennes' lover into emotional tail spin His highly-acclaimed tale about the deaths of six Australian Featured advertisers 3. Cabbie may have been stabbed journalists during the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975 in road-rage attack was due to be screened to a private session of the Jakarta 4. Home rates 'to hit 8.5%' 5. Percy in vicinity when girl went Foreign Correspondents Club on Tuesday night. It was also missing, deputy state coroner slated to screen at the Jakarta International Film Festival on rules December 6 and 10. More National articles But shortly before Tuesday night's screening, the JFCC received National Topics word from the film festival that Indonesia's censorship board had Places (18395) refused to classify the film, making it illegal to screen it in public. All Places (18395) Melbourne (7123) The JFCC sought legal advice, and was informed that screening Latest Video Sydney (5814) the film would expose individuals to the risk of arrest. After about Victoria (3999) 90 minutes of deliberation, the journalists voted narrowly against National News Video More video Adelaide (1694) proceeding. Canberra (1682) Albert Park bashing death

More Places ''It came down to the JFCC being a very small organisation People (12211) without any funds, and the fact it would be up to a small number Organisations (3768) of people to carry the can if they were charged,'' said Geoff Thompson, the ABC's Indonesia correspondent. Story Tools Featured Products

Share on Facebook The film has now been dropped from the Jakarta film festival. Eee PC T91MT The Eee PC™ T91MT’s multi-touch Email this story ''It's a great pity for those people at the Jakarta film festival functionality makes interacting with the computer ... Print this story who've championed it,'' said Robert Connolly. More products « Prev | Next » According to Jill Jolliffe, whose book Cover-Up inspired the movie, the Government's decision comes as a disappointment Current jobs but not a surprise. ''This heavy-handed attitude isn't in line with Prev | Next those more liberal sounds we heard coming from [Indonesian Social Worker President] Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,'' she said from Dili. Melbourne Metro, VIC Wednesday, 9 December 2009 Ads by Google MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL Is Jesus Really God? Social Worker Grade1 (SW1) Two Scholars examine the factsabout Jesus' claims to be God year fixed-term (29/12/2011) This www.Y-Jesus.com/JesusFacts position will be... View Job Stress Management Tips Stress can affect your health.Learn simple ways you can manage it Sponsored links www.MoreThanMedication.ca 1 Tip of your flat belly: Cut down your belly fat everyweek by using this 1 weird old tip. Fatburningfurnace.com

To advertise your business on Google...click here

Advertisement Advertisement

Money Essential Baby Video EssentialBaby Holiday Rentals

Term deposit war is peace of Young mums retain shape Jordan does a u-turn The threat of Santa Stuck on a Christmas gift? mind Get a Stayz voucher

l Compare All Saving Accounts l Ovulation calculator l Life & Style videos l Ovulation calculator l Holiday in The Grampians l Compare All Credit Cards l Due date calculator l Entertainment videos l Due date calculator l WIN a prize each day l Compare All Home Loans l Discuss pregnancy l Business videos l Discuss pregnancy l Stayz gift certificates

Compare and Save Broadband Energy Mobile Home Loans Savings Accounts

Compare Term Compare Savings Compare our prices Compare Mobile Compare Broadband Deposits Accounts today Phones & Plans Plans

Readers' most viewed

Videos 1. Huge Hawaiian swell building Top 5 National articles Top 5 National articles Top 5 National articles Top 5 National articles 2. Tiger Woods TV skit is bad 1. Help us bury our dead, family 1. Mile-high Qantas fling sent 1. Mile-high Qantas fling sent 1. Hunt for Albert Park attacker taste pleads Fiennes' lover into emotional Fiennes's lover into emotional after man bashed to death 3. Athletes and sex addiction 2. Rebates, not taxes: Abbott tail spin tail spin 2. Mile-high Qantas fling sent 2. Impulse buy lands lotto man 2. Sick man 'denied a doctor' in Fiennes' lover into emotional 4. More flesh for swim 3. Balibo Five executed, soldier competitors admits $40m fortune detention tail spin 5. Copenhagen talks under way 4. Home rates 'to hit 8.5%' 3. Japan threatens Australian 3. $40m Lotto winner found 3. Cabbie may have been humpbacks stabbed in road-rage attack 5. Mile-high Qantas fling sent 4. Brisbane's $40 million lotto Fiennes' lover into emotional 4. One killed as firefighting mystery 4. Home rates 'to hit 8.5%' tail spin chopper crashes 5. One killed as firefighting 5. Percy in vicinity when girl 5. Balibo Five executed, soldier chopper crashes went missing, deputy state admits coroner rules

The Age Home National World Opinion Business Technology Sport Entertainment Life & Style Travel Weather

The Age Products & Services Classifieds Other Sites Sitemap Newsletters Accommodation The Age About Us RSS News Feeds Cars Sydney Morning Herald Contact Us Mobile Dating WA Today Privacy Text Jobs Brisbane Times Copyright © 2009. Fairfax Digital Conditions Subscribe Real Estate Business Day Member Agreement Money Manager Advertise with Us Essential Baby Fairfax Digital Network

news.com.au FOXSPORTS Newspapers CareerOne carsguide TrueLocal RealEstate MySpace AU Search for: Search

THE AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS AUSTRALIAN IT HIGHER EDUCATION POLITICS VIDEO CARS JOBS CLASSIFIEDS NEWS NETWORK

Breaking News The Nation The World Features Opinion Galleries Blogs Sport Health & Science Executive Lifestyle The Arts Travel In-Depth Weather Balibo great but dangerous, says Indonesian film censor LATEST NEWS Jakarta to pursue people-smuggling laws AAP December 03, 2009 3:59PM Share Fairfax, Singo fight for radio prize Abbott warns of $400bn climate bill Police chief orders DNA evidence halt INDONESIA'S film censor says Balibo is a great film VIDEO IMAGE but he had to ban it because of its potential to spark trouble. INDONESIA STANDS BY BALIBO CALL

(no votes yet) Mukhlis Paeni, head of Indonesia's Film Censorship Indonesia stands by Balibo call Agency (LSF) - which banned the acclaimed Indonesian has defended its decision to ban Balibo, labelling Australian film just hours before its Jakarta the Australian film 'negative... premiere this week - said Balibo was artistically extraordinary but politically dangerous.

"Let's sit together and think about the future, not look back at the past,'' he told local news portal VIVANews.

Dwelling on the past would only create "commotion'', he said. LATEST BUSINESS Organisers of the Jakarta International Film Fairfax, Singo fight for radio prize Festival, which had planned to show the film, said Sharemarket falls amid light trading on Thursday they were still waiting for the LSF to Caltex slumps on profit concerns officially explain its reasons for the ban. BHP sells Ravensthorpe to Canadians Views today: 0 Balibo depicts Indonesian soldiers brutally LATEST SPORT murdering the five Australia-based newsmen in Siddle stays for Perth the East Timorese border town in 1975, contradicting the official explanation they were killed World Cup bid sparks turf war in crossfire. Owen's hat-trick breaks Wolfsburg Long wins big wave title

Paeni denied the Indonesian military, known as the TNI, had pressured the LSF into the ban: "The LSF ADVERTISEMENT is independent and could not be pressured by anyone.''

But the TNI applauded the LSF's decision, saying the film would only reopen old wounds.

"For us, the Balibo case is over,'' TNI spokesman Sagom Tamboen said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's Independent Journalist Alliance has vowed to defy the ban and stage a series of screenings, starting on Thursday night.

"Our motivation is basically freedom of expression,'' the alliance's Ezki Suyanto said.

"There's nothing Indonesia should be afraid of in that film.'' LATEST GALLERIES Asked if the group feared a police response, Ezki said: "There is some fear. But we are more afraid Copenhagen prepares Copenhagen prepares on the eve that democracy in this country is dying.'' of the United Nations Climate Change Summit. Indonesia's tourism minister on Thursday agreed the film was unsuitable for Indonesian audiences. Greatest moments in science Australia v West Indies day four "Come on, we don't have to question what happened in the past,'' Jero Wacik said. Editor's choice

"What happened in the past, it's closed.''

The film's release in Australia earlier this year came just weeks before federal police announced they would conduct a formal war crimes investigation into the killings.

The AFP probe follows a 2007 coronial inquest that concluded Indonesia deliberately killed the journalists to cover up their East Timor invasion.

AAP

Print Email Share

ADT ® Security Systems Help Protect your Home from Crime, Fire & More. Learn More Today! www.ADT.com Criminal Record Lookup Search criminal records by person. The criminal records directory. CanadaRecordsHub.com Criminal Records Checks Search multiple engines at once for criminal records checks www.webcrawler.com

IN THE AUSTRALIAN TODAY

BUSINESS NEWS AUSTRALIAN IT HIGHER EDUCATION

Fairfax, Singo fight for radio prize New IT minister for NSW Poor students top performers at elite unis JOHN Singleton and Fairfax Media have taken off the THE NSW government has named its fourth minister in 32 STUDENTS from poor backgrounds are less likely to gloves in the fight for Melbourne's radio audience, and months to handle the state's technology expenditure. attend the nation's prestige universities, but those who Steve Price is in the ring. Vic Police 'lost $120 mil' do are likelier to finish their degrees. Sharemarket falls amid light trading Cisco planning move to platform provider Gillard warns unis over results-based funding Caltex slumps on profit concerns Program just what doctor ordered

ALSO IN THE AUSTRALIAN

THE WORLD THE NATION OPINION

Jakarta to pursue people-smuggling laws Killer 'nearby' when Stilwell vanished Rudd an astute manager of US alliance JAKARTA hopes to bring people-smuggling legislation NOTORIOUS child killer Derek Ernest Percy confessed to KEVIN Rudd has matured as an astute manager of the US before parliament as soon as next year, with penalties an old school friend that he was in St Kilda the day alliance in the contemporary Australian tradition. of up to 10 years' jail. Linda Stilwell vanished from the St Kilda foreshore. Climate claims fail science test Obama moves to stimulate job creation Firefighter dies in helicopter crash Shift likely to spook the electorate Pepsi drops Tiger Woods sports drink Court rejects ASIC's second AWB move

Register Subscribe Online Archive Mobile/PDA Digital Edition Contact Us Advertise Sponsorship Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Accessibility Sitemap Copyright 2009 News Limited. All times AEST (GMT +11)..