Letter to Kofi Annan

Letter to Kofi Annan

We welcome your visit to Indonesia to learn firsthand about
the efforts that the people of Indonesia are making to account
for the atrocities experienced by the men and women of East
Timor. The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas
Perempuan) was established in 1998, in the aftermath of the mass
rapes of Chinese-Indonesian women during the May 1998 riots. Our
mandate is to work for the elimination and prevention of all
forms of violence against women.

As you know, in situations of armed conflict, women experience
violence, dislocation and other violations of their basic human
rights. We have witnessed in Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia and
other parts of the world, how rape, forced prostitution, sexual
slavery and other forms of sexual violence are used as a tool of
war. Now, we in Indonesia are learning with horror and agony of
the massive and continued violence experienced by our sisters
and their communities around Indonesia and in East Timor.

As part of the Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights
Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor, Komnas Perempuan and other
women's organizations in East Timor and Indonesia have documented
women's experience of systematic rape, sexual slavery, sexual
harassment and domestic violence in East Timor and in the refugee
camps of East Nusa Tenggara. East Timorese women were tortured
and murdered as part of the mass killings and represent the
majority of those who were dislocated, through direct force or
fear.

Mr. Annan, in your discussions with decision makers here in
Indonesia, we urge you to ensure that these women are not
forgotten. We ask that you take every opportunity to push for the
inclusion of violence against women in all attempts to further
investigate and to prosecute the perpetrators of gross human
rights violations. It is imperative that these women not be made
invisible and that their voices are heard. This, of course, will
also require gender-sensitive measures to protect and support
victims/witnesses whose testimonies will be essential to bringing
justice.

Komnas Perempuan, with its partners, are developing protocols
for investigation and for the protection and support of
victims/witnesses which will include the needs of victims of
gender-based violence. For this purpose, we are building on the
precedents of the international tribunals and the negotiations
for the International Criminal Court. We hope you will provide
leadership that will support these efforts and the overall goal
of equal justice for women and men.

PROF. DR. SAPARINAH SADLI

Chair

KAMALA CHANDRAKIRANA

Secretary General

Komnas Perempuan, Jakarta