Karl Clark
Encyclopedia
Osby Karl Clark, or Karl Clark (October 16, 1957) is an American
police officer from North Carolina
, and a former police chief, best known for his service on international assignments with the International Police
. Best remembered as a member of the 'UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment
' (ca 1999) in East Timor
, during which time he took part in the exhumation of several hundred victims of homicide. It was Clark that instigated the first large scale exhumations after the 1999 UN intervention in East Timor, many of which were dependent on intelligence information collected by another American police officer, Allen Williams. Clark later served in a major role for the United Nations
unit investigating human rights
violations in East Timor
. Major cases included the Liquiçá Church Massacre
and the massacre at the house of Manuel Carrascalão
.
Clark continued to serve in East Timor, playing a large role in future prosecutions of militia
members who had committed crimes against humanity, most notably members of the militia groups Besi Merah Putih
and Aitarak
. Later he would serve with the Serious Crimes Unit
, and as a Regional Commander with the International Police, for the region of Liquica, and as late as 2006 with ICITAP
, assisting in the training of the newly formed East Timorese Police Force. He has also served in Pakistan
with ICITAP.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
police officer from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and a former police chief, best known for his service on international assignments with the International Police
International Police
The International Police is the title used for an organization of police officers representing various countries throughout the world, brought together to assist in the training, organization, stabilization of a destabilized region, or creation of indigenous police forces primarily in war-torn...
. Best remembered as a member of the 'UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment
UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment
The UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment was the common title for an elite investigative unit created in the war torn and newly liberated country of East Timor in November 1999, under the direction of the United Nations mission in East Timor, consisting of International Police, Australian Military Police...
' (ca 1999) in East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
, during which time he took part in the exhumation of several hundred victims of homicide. It was Clark that instigated the first large scale exhumations after the 1999 UN intervention in East Timor, many of which were dependent on intelligence information collected by another American police officer, Allen Williams. Clark later served in a major role for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
unit investigating human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
violations in East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
. Major cases included the Liquiçá Church Massacre
Liquiçá Church Massacre
The Liquiçá Church Massacre was an atrocity that occurred in the war torn country of East Timor, in April, 1999. It was the first case to be heard by the Second Special Panel.-Events and Aftermath:...
and the massacre at the house of Manuel Carrascalão
Manuel Carrascalão
Manuel Viegas Carrascalão was an Indonesian parliamentarian and prominent East Timorese independence leader. The Carrascalão family is of mestiço ancestry; Carrascalao was born on Atauro Island....
.
Clark continued to serve in East Timor, playing a large role in future prosecutions of militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
members who had committed crimes against humanity, most notably members of the militia groups Besi Merah Putih
Besi Merah Putih
Besi Merah Putih , meaning 'red and white iron' in Indonesian, is the official name of a pro-Indonesia militia operating in the district of Liquiçá, and originating in the village of Maubara.- Acts of Murder, Torture and Intimidation :...
and Aitarak
Aitarak
Aitarak was the name of one of the most feared pro-Indonesia militia groups in East Timor during the late 1990s. On April 17, 1999, the group conducted 12 murders at the Manuel Carrascalão House Massacre in Dili. That same month members took part in the Liquiçá Church Massacre...
. Later he would serve with the Serious Crimes Unit
Serious Crimes Unit
The Serious Crimes Unit was the official title given to an elite unit of International Police investigators during the United Nations 1999 to 2004 mission in East Timor....
, and as a Regional Commander with the International Police, for the region of Liquica, and as late as 2006 with ICITAP
ICITAP
ICITAP is the acronym referring to the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program, of the Department of Justice.ICITAP was established in 1986, in response to a need the US State Department identified in the training and development of foreign police forces, at that time in...
, assisting in the training of the newly formed East Timorese Police Force. He has also served in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
with ICITAP.
External links
- Intel Officer Alan Williams, Liquica Church Massacre
- ABC Online article on negotiations with Australia about border
- Genocide Watch, Besi Merah Puti - Alan Williams
- Health Alliance International website - More information on health projects in East Timor by HAIHealth Alliance InternationalHealth Alliance International in a non-profit organization based in Seattle, Washington, USA. HAI is an international public health organization, loosely affiliated with the University of Washington, currently working in Mozambique, East Timor, Côte d'Ivoire and Sudan...