LtCol (Inf) Sonny Widjaja

Commander, Battalion 406/ Candra Kusuma, based in Viqueque

Sonny Widjaja (serial no. 29466, military academy graduate of 1982) commanded an infantry battalion active in East Timor and has been mentioned in one report as being in need of investigation for human rights violations.[1] Battalion 406 comes from Purbalingga, Central Java, but was seconded to the East Timor territorial command and thus became a territorial combat battalion (BTT). The battalion was based at Viqueque, where the district commander was LtCol Djoko Soekarsono. This was part of Combat Sector A, under Col Sunarko and after June 1999 under Col Irwan Kusnadi. The battalion engaged in fighting with Falintil in April 1999.[2]

Battalion 406 was one of the last to leave East Timor late in September 1999.[3] On its way out, via the port of Laga near Baucau, troops including Battalion 406 reportedly engaged in 'widespread looting and property destruction by fire, as the TNI forces swept through Baucau and Lospalos.' Battalions 401 (commanded by LtCol Sukoso) and 621 (Maj Dedi Erimpi) were mentioned in the same report.[4]

Extra Information Current Status: 2 - Priority 2 for further investigation. Not included in any other formal list, but mentioned in other independent reports, bearing structural responsibility, but with minimal data so far for involvement in ET violence. See map of location This individual is also mentioned in these profiles: Maj Dedi Erimpi Col Irwan Kusnadi LtCol Djoko Soekarsono LtCol Sukoso Col Sunarko