The ghosts of East Timor

"Don't go around digging up old skeletons," so an old Indonesian saying goes.

Six-and-a-half years after the turmoil that swept the former province of East Timor (now Timor Leste), Indonesia has not respectfully laid to rest the skeletons of that fateful tragedy.

To this day, full accountability has not been rendered. Who was to blame for the crimes inflicted on the people of the territory?

Most Indonesians are unaware of the true extent of what happened in East Timor. The culture of leaving skeletons hidden in our closet is seemingly much more comfortable than facing the harsh truth of our own inhumanity.

The general public's lack of concern for the violence in East Timor is matched by the government's apparent indifference to the crimes committed in its name.

Despite the rhetoric, Indonesian governments -- both past and present -- have shown a distinct lack of political will in exposing to the fullest what happened in 1999, and in punishing those responsible.

When faced with demands for justice from East Timor, it has responded with protestations about national sovereignty and face- saving solutions.

There would appear to be an unseemly eagerness to move on without saying "we're sorry".

The ad hoc rights tribunal here that tried those suspected of orchestrating the East Timor violence was completely unsatisfactory. No sense of justice was served by the process, which lasted over two years. Two civilian suspects were convicted, one of whom had his conviction overturned by the Supreme Court. The other is waiting for the results of his appeal.

It was, in the end, an exercise in futility.

Once a mere pebble in Indonesia's shoe, the failure to uphold justice has made East Timor an embarrassing albatross hanging around the neck of Indonesia's international image.

Indonesia may have embraced democracy since 1999, but it remains stubbornly incapable of ensuring that justice is done.

But we should not be surprised. This nation has rarely been able to come to terms with its past and its mistakes, or to accept responsibility for its transgressions.

Whether it be the social upheaval that occurred in the wake of the alleged 1966 coup attempt, rights violations in Aceh and Papua, the Trisakti I and II shootings, or the May riots of 1999, justice has never been fully served, and impunity reigns triumphant.

It is, therefore, no surprise that any new initiative on the East Timor issue from the government will be seen be many as another attempt to once against sweep our blemished past under the carpet -- business as usual and no lessons learned!

The Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) is the latest initiative undertaken by Jakarta in cooperation with Dili.

Skeptics lament the CTF as a face-saving strategy designed to allow the two neighbors to look to the future while ignoring the specters of the past.

How the CTF will work remains unclear. Its terms of reference are still being drafted as we speak. While the public may have little say on the matter, it is imperative that pressure is exerted to ensure that the twin goals of seeking truth and ensuring accountability become the primary objectives of the CTF. Otherwise, it will evolve into just another instrument to perpetuate the impunity currently enjoyed by guilty Indonesians and Timorese.

Justice must not prostrated to political interest.

The need for justice on the East Timor issue has was again been brought to the fore by the scheduled arrival here today of a UN-sanctioned Commission of Experts, who are due to report to the UN Secretary General on this very issue.

This shows that the search for justice in East Timor remains very much on the international agenda.

We welcome the government's cooperation with the expert commission and hope that the working relationship will continue.

Given that Jakarta and Dili -- the two principal parties involved -- have agreed to resolve the issue through the CTF, it will obviously be difficult for the international community to intervene in an area where it has no political legitimacy. Nevertheless, the oversight of the UN is necessary to ensure that the CTF truly serves justice for Indonesia and East Timor. The assistance of the international community -- financial and technical -- could also help influence the scope of the CTF's work.

Maybe this time justice can be served. It all depends on the transparency and accountability of the CTF's terms of reference, and an earnest intent on the part of all those involved.

The success of the CTF could serve as a point of reference for similar "truth" commissions investigating other historical crimes, while its failure could well be a harbinger that many skeletons will never be laid to rest.