Human rights in East Timor

If we really want to uphold human rights in East Timor, we should not treat the matter in a fragmentary manner. Rather, we should give the same treatment to whoever might have been involved in human rights violations in East Timor, beginning from the moment the territory was integrated into Indonesia in 1975.

After all, if humanitarian causes are the issue, what difference can there be between violations committed in 1975 and those after the independence referendum?

We therefore support proposals to investigate officials, whether civilian or military, who were in charge of East Timor at that time -- like General Benny Moerdani and Lt. Gen. Theo Syafei -- as well. The public is certain to approve of such an investigation, since it would be fair and benefit human rights, not just political cosmetics.

-- Republika, Jakarta