RI, T. Leste both involved in 'gross rights violations': CTF

Tony Hotland ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 07/12/2008 11:41 AM  |  Headlines

Indonesian security and civilian forces committed "organized gross human rights violations" during Timor Leste's 1999 independence vote, for which they should take responsibility, a government-backed report has concluded.

The 380-page, nine-chapter report by the Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) is to be formally submitted to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Timor Leste's President Jose Ramos-Horta in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Tuesday.

The report, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post, also concluded the Timor Leste administration was responsible for the illegal detentions constituting gross human rights violations that were committed by pro-independence groups.

CTF co-chairman Benyamin Mangkoedilaga said the commission informally shared its report with both governments after it was completed in early April this year.

"But no revisions were made," he said Friday, quashing reports the findings may have been watered down.

The commission found Indonesian Military personnel, police and civilian authorities "consistently and systematically cooperated with and supported the militias in a number of significant ways that contributed to the perpetration of the crimes".

"Viewed as a whole, the gross human rights violations committed against pro-independence supporters in Timor Leste in 1999 constitute an organized campaign of violence," it said.

The crimes included murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture, illegal detention, forcible transfer and deportation carried out against the civilian population.

Timor Leste voted to separate from Indonesia in 1999. The United Nations estimates about 1,000 Timor Leste people died during the postelection mayhem.

The two governments set up the CTF in 2005 to look into the violence, but it has no power to prosecute nor any mandate to name individual perpetrators.

The report said the two governments should apologize and work to get information or form a body about people who disappeared.

The commission, the report said, did not recommend any amnesty or rehabilitation for any persons.

A joint declaration draft to be signed by both presidents Tuesday says "both governments accept the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the commission, and recognize the truth that gross violations of human rights occurred prior to and immediately after the popular consultation in 1999 in Timor Leste".

In the draft, seen by the Post, both presidents express "remorse to all to those who suffered pain and physical and psychological wounds as direct or indirect victims".

Indonesia's highest court cleared 18 people of all charges over the violence, including ex-militia leader Eurico Gutteres.

The United Nations has boycotted the CTF, saying it would whitewash the atrocities. In 2005, it created a Commission of Experts, which recommended the creation of an international criminal tribunal on Timor Leste and that Indonesia submit dossiers on several officers, including Gen. (ret) Wiranto, for investigation.

Wiranto's name was removed from the dossiers submitted to the ad hoc human rights tribunal. Wiranto, currently an aspiring president, was the Indonesian Military chief at the time of the Timor Leste vote.

In February this year, Timor Leste signed an agreement with the UN on assisting its prosecutor's office. This agreement gives the UN Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) access to all sensitive records regarding the rights violations.

The agreement also rehashes UN resolution 1704 in 2006 ordering UNMIT to assist Timor Leste in reviving investigations.

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