Written question asked by Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 9 September 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 16 September 2009. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 September 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Indonesia

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the Indonesian Government taking steps against former members of the Indonesian Kopassus Special Forces named in 2007 by the Coroner of New South Wales in her findings in relation to the deaths of British citizens Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters in 1975 in East Timor; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The Australian Federal Police have announced their intention to launch an investigation on the basis of the findings of the 2007 inquiry by the Coroner of New South Wales. We shall consider our position carefully in the light of the results of the Australian Federal Police investigation. The British Government hopes that the investigation may succeed in shedding light on the circumstances in which Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters died, thereby bringing some comfort and greater certainty to their families. We do not intend at this stage to raise the issue with the Indonesian authorities.

Secondary information