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Government still vague about release of CTF report
Despite several months of delay and mounting public pressure, the government remains uncertain as to when it will announce the findings of the Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF)
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Despite several months of delay and mounting public pressure, the government remains uncertain as to when it will announce the findings of the Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF).
Indonesia and Timor Leste established the commission in 2005 to investigate alleged human rights violations by the Indonesian Military (TNI) before, during and after the UN-administered independence vote in the former Indonesian province in 1999.
The CTF's mandate was extended until February 2008 after it failed to finalize its report in a one-year period.
The commission eventually submitted the full report to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta in mid-April after they finished their work at the end of March.
However, the contents of the report remained unknown as it was up to the government to make it public.
Not only did Justice and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalata avoid answering questions on when the government would release the report, he also expressed doubt about its validity.
"Just because the report was approved doesn't mean it's true. We can agree or not. Indonesia has its own position and Timor Leste has its own position too," Andi said in Jakarta on Friday.
CTF members have indicated that the report blames TNI officials for the 1999 violence in East Timor (now Timor Leste) and recommends the Military apologizes for the gross rights violations.
During a series of CTF meetings, it was revealed that TNI-backed militia groups were responsible for the killings of hundreds of people and the destruction of infrastructure following East Timor's vote for independence.
There are rumors some Cabinet members have rejected the demand for the TNI to apologize.
One CTF member, Lt. Gen. Agus Wijoyo, said the report reflected a unified position of both Indonesia and Timor Leste, and explained the causes and extent of the East Timor human rights violations, according to the group's mandate.
"We have submitted the results of our work. It's up to the government now," he said.
Rights activists have accused the Indonesian and Timor Leste governments of deliberately delaying the publication of the final report for political reasons.
They said there was strong public suspicion the announcement of the findings was being delayed because the report found the TNI committed gross human rights violations during the Timor Leste vote.
The activists expressed fears the delay could allow changes to be made to the report to protect certain former generals involved in the incidents.
Chairman of the House of Representatives' Commission I on defense and foreign affairs Theo L. Sambuaga demanded the government quickly disclose the findings of the report to the public.
"During our hearing with Foreign Minister Hassan (Wirayuda), we asked him to disclose the report as soon as possible to avoid arousing suspicions among members of the public," he said.
The government has claimed the delay is due only to difficulties in matching the schedules of Yudhoyono and Ramos-Horta.
