Marzuki urges probe into E. Timor rights violations
Marzuki urges probe into E. Timor rights violations
JAKARTA (JP): A thorough investigation into human rights
abuses and the lifting of the cloud of public fear are
prerequisites to a comprehensive solution in East Timor, leading
rights campaigner Marzuki Darusman said yesterday.
The deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights
told a seminar that any talks seeking the best solution for the
disputed territory would otherwise be useless.
He pointed out how East Timorese, just like the Acehnese and
Irianese, were still haunted by fears of killings, shooting,
tortures and arrests.
"If we want to seek a comprehensive solution to the East Timor
issue, the government should first investigate human rights
violations and bring the province back to normal ... this
exercise would take a long time."
He said the recent withdrawal of combat troops from the
province would not count as progress if human rights protection
was not respected.
"Solution is in the hands of the East Timorese, including
those living in exile overseas. Their political and human rights
should first be reinstated and it is their right to determine
their future."
Tripartite talks
Marzuki hailed the recent tripartite talks between Indonesia
and Portugal under the auspices of UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan, which broached Indonesia's offer to grant more autonomy to
the former Portuguese colony. He suggested the talks should
ultimately involve all East Timorese groups.
F.X. Lopes da Cruz, ambassador-at-large on East Timor affairs,
said in the same seminar the offer for special status would be a
better alternative than staging a referendum on independence, a
demand of anti-integration East Timorese groups.
"Granting special status with more autonomy is expected to be
accepted by pro- and anti-integration groups," he said.
He warned a civil war could break out if the anti-integration
group insisted on a referendum.
"East Timor does not need a referendum since it staged one
when a majority of its people declared their integration into
Indonesia in 1976 with the so-called Balibo Declaration."
East Timorese students Johannes Abby and Gabriel da Costa
called for attention to the people's wish for peace.
Gabriel said that amid the reform era, the government should
be more flexible in its stance on East Timor and let the
province's people decide their future.
"I believe that a majority of the East Timorese people want
special status with more autonomy and they want an immediate,
comprehensive solution to the prolonged issue."
Abby said most East Timorese had no concern for politics, but
merely wanted reconciliation to let them live in peace and
harmony. (rms)