Dili undecided on 'expert commission'<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayudha met with
\nhis East Timorese counterpart Jose Ramos Horta here on Sunday to
\ndiscuss human rights and the borders between the two countries.<\/p>\n
Hassan told reporters after the meeting that the two countries
\nexpected to reach an agreement on their land border before
\nOctober.<\/p>\n
Only \"10 percent\" of the issue remains to be resolved, he
\nsaid. The discussion followed an agreement on border issues in
\nJuly.<\/p>\n
The two foreign ministers, however, revealed little on the
\nsensitive issue of demands for an international tribunal -- or
\nthe latest, an \"international commission of experts\" -- to try
\nIndonesian Military and police officers for alleged human rights
\nabuses in the aftermath of the 1999 independence referendum in
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
Hassan simply said Indonesia and East Timor were pursuing a
\nbilateral relationship \"in the spirit of reconciliation\".<\/p>\n
Horta would only say that East Timor was adopting a wait-and-
\nsee attitude on the call by several international human rights
\norganizations for the United Nations to set up an \"international
\ncommission of experts\" to review efforts to attain justice for
\nEast Timor, including those by the special crimes unit at the
\nDili District Court. The idea was raised by the office of UN
\nSecretary-General Kofi Annan.<\/p>\n
\"We have not received any specific detailed information, such
\nas the terms of reference of this initiative of the secretary-
\ngeneral .... The Timor Leste government will look at this and
\nwill respond to this,\" Horta said.<\/p>\n
The UN has yet to respond to a letter signed in June by
\nseveral non-governmental organizations, including Amnesty
\nInternational and Human Rights Watch.<\/p>\n
East Timor's leadership has repeatedly said that it needs good
\nrelations with Indonesia. Last week Horta was quoted as saying
\nthat calls for an international tribunal to try the 1999 crimes
\n\"could be manipulated by certain elements in Indonesia itself\"
\nand could cause a \"backlash\" against the international community.<\/p>\n
Calls for an international tribunal follow the latest
\nacquittal of four Indonesian security officers last month by an
\nad hoc human rights court for rights abuses following the 1999
\nreferendum.<\/p>\n
Horta praised Indonesia's success in organizing its
\nlegislative and direct presidential election, saying this was a
\npositive sign for continued \"constructive\" bilateral relations.<\/p>\n
\"So whenever we deal with this issue of the past, we have to
\nbear in mind the reality of today, of the relationship of Timor
\nLeste with Indonesia,\" Horta said.<\/p>\n
He said he would attend a ceremony to mark the 59th
\nanniversary of Indonesia's independence in Kupang, East Nusa
\nTenggara, on Tuesday at the invitation of Governor Piet A. Tallo.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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