RI, Timor may seek foreign funds for peace commission

RI, Timor may seek foreign funds for peace commission

Agence France-Presse, Dili

Indonesia and its former territory East Timor may seek foreign
funding for their Commission of Truth and Friendship
investigating past bloodshed, East Timor's foreign minister Jose
Ramos-Horta said on Monday.

Horta said that for the initial six months, the two countries
had raised US$1.5 million to fund the commission, which was set
up in August to investigate the 1999 violence surrounding East
Timor's push for independence from Jakarta.

Horta said this was more than the commission had sought for
the first six months, but after that there would be a review of
whether it needed more cash.

"If needed, Indonesia and Timor Leste (East Timor) will
subsidize it and also if needed we will seek support from the
international community," Ramos-Horta said.

The 10-member commission is similar to South Africa's post-
apartheid body. It has said it plans to talk to former East
Timorese rebel leaders, top Indonesian Military officers and
former pro-Jakarta militiamen.

Militias, which the United Nations said were recruited and
directed by the Indonesian Military, went on an arson and killing
spree before and after East Timorese voted for independence in a
UN-sponsored ballot in August 1999.

They killed about 1,400 independence supporters and laid waste
to much of the infrastructure in the half-island that Indonesia
invaded in 1975.

An Indonesian court set up to try military officers and
officials for atrocities in East Timor has drawn international
criticism.

Of the 18 people tried by the rights court, 17 have been
acquitted and one is still appealing.

East Timor gained full independence in May 2002 after more
than two years of United Nations stewardship.

Its government opposes calls for an international tribunal for
suspects, saying the priority is reconciliation with its giant
neighbor.