Truth commission expects tough task ahead<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post\/Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
Newly elected co-chairman of the Commission of Truth and
\nFriendship Benjamin Mangkoedilaga is expecting an uphill battle
\nin uncovering gross human rights violations in Timor Leste after
\nthe former Indonesian province voted for independence in 1999.<\/p>\n
Benjamin, who is a former Supreme Court justice, described on
\nFriday the body as judges who are hearing an unprecedented case.<\/p>\n
\"Frankly speaking, the time limit of two years given by the
\ntwo governments may be not sufficient,\" Benjamin said on the
\nsidelines of a commission meeting which ended on Friday.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, the 10 commission members elected Benjamin
\nand Timor Leste's Cirilio Cristovao Varadales the co-chairs of
\nthe commission, which will start working after Indonesian
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Timor Leste President
\nXanana Gusmao inaugurate its secretariat in Denpasar next
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Benjamin said the commission would first of all examine all
\ndocuments related to the alleged crimes against humanity,
\nincluding the charges, defense arguments and court verdicts in
\nthe trial of 18 Indonesian Military (TNI) officers and civilians
\nat the ad hoc human rights court in Jakarta last year.<\/p>\n
All but one of the defendants were acquitted by the court or
\nwon appeals at the higher courts. The 18th defendant Eurico
\nGuterres, former leader of East Timor pro-Indonesia militia group
\nAitarak, remains free pending his appeal.<\/p>\n
In an expression of distrust in Indonesia's judicial system, a
\nUnited Nations team of experts has recommended a retrial of the
\ndefendants in accordance with international standards.<\/p>\n
\"Apart from the trial documents, we will also examine around
\n11,000 documents presented by the Timor Leste Supreme Court,\"
\nBenjamin said.<\/p>\n
He refused to identify individuals who will be interviewed by
\nthe commission members, but said they would come from the TNI,
\nEast Timor resistance group Falintil and pro-Indonesia militia
\ngroups like Aitarak.<\/p>\n
The commission is granted the right to interview all people in
\npossession of information considered relevant and guarantee their
\nconfidentiality if necessary.<\/p>\n
When asked if the TNI officers to be interviewed would tell
\nthe truth, Benjamin said he chose not to speculate.<\/p>\n
\"We rely on our belief that every TNI officer will have the
\ncourage to tell the truth as they have taken an oath to do so,\"
\nBenjamin said.<\/p>\n
The UN has claimed at least 1,500 people were killed in the
\natrocities when military-linked militia groups went on a rampage
\nafter the East Timorese voted for independence in a UN-
\nadministered ballot.<\/p>\n
Instead of punishment, the commission will recommend amnesty
\nfor those responsible for the atrocities, which Indonesian
\nforeign minister Hassan Wirayuda described as \"the dark chapter
\nin the history of the two countries.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/truth-commission-expects-tough-task-ahead-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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