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Leaders to admit East Timor abuses
Indonesia's president expressed regret on Tuesday for the crimes against humanity committed during East Timor's 1999 independence ballot, BBC has reported.
- Agencies
- Published: 11:52 July 15, 2008
Nusa Dua, Indonesia: Indonesia and East Timor expressed regret yesterday for violence surrounding Dili's 1999 independence vote after a joint probe blamed state institutions for "gross human rights violations".
The report by the Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) went further than many had expected in blaming Indonesian security forces for the mayhem, although Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stopped short of an apology.
The two governments set up the CTF in 2005 to look into the violence, during which the United Nations estimates about 1,000 East Timorese died, but it has no power to prosecute, prompting criticism that it serves to whitewash atrocities.
It has been boycotted by the UN
"On behalf of Indonesia and the East Timor governments, we convey deep regret to all parties and victims, who directly or indirectly suffered physical and psychological wounds after serious human rights violations that occurred ahead of and soon after a ballot for independence in East Timor in 1999," the countries said in a joint statement.
Handshake
The statement came after the truth commission submitted its report on the violence to Yudhoyono, East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta and East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in Bali.
"We convey very deep regret at what happened in the past that has caused the loss of lives and property," said Yudhoyono, who shook the hands of Ramos-Horta and Gusmao, and promised that Indonesia would continue to reform its security forces.
Indonesian security and civilian forces had a major role in systematic, widespread "gross human rights violations", while a small number of East Timor's pro-independence groups also played minor parts in the violence, the report said.
These violations included murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and illegal detention, it said.
Ramos-Horta, in a black suit with a Mandarin-style collar, said he understood the strains on Indonesian security forces.
"Expecting a security force to behave with absolute neutrality and without emotions in providing security for the popular consultation was unrealistic given that these forces lost many of their men in East Timor," he said.
End Result
Troubled history
- Indonesia and East Timor expressed regret yesterday for violence surrounding Dili's 1999 independence vote after the release of a joint report by the Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF).
Here is a background on the issues:
- Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975, at the end of almost three centuries of Portuguese rule. Indonesia annexed the territory later that year as its 27th province, maintaining a heavy military presence.
- The United Nations never recognised Indonesia's claim to sovereignty. In 1999, East Timorese voted overwhelmingly to split from Indonesian rule in a UN-sponsored ballot. Some pro-Jakarta voters and officials argued the referendum was rigged but the UN Independent observers concluded it was largely fair.
- The UN estimates about 1,000 East Timorese died during post-vote mayhem, blamed largely on pro-Jakarta militias backed by elements of the Indonesian army. Indonesian officials say only about 100 people were killed.
- Several Indonesian military officials were tried in Indonesian human rights courts following the 1999 violence, but none were convicted.
- After several years under UN administration, East Timor became fully independent in 2002. In the same year it set up a Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation to look at abuses under Indonesian rule.
- In 2005, the two nations set up the CTF to investigate the bloody events before, during and after the 1999 independence ballot.
- The United Nations, and neighbours such as Australia and New Zealand, have repeatedly sent peacekeeping missions, following requests from the fledgling democracy after outbreaks of violence and instability.
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