To whom does truth belong?

To whom does truth belong?

From Rakyat Merdeka

The report on alleged human rights violations in East Timor that the Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor presented to the Attorney General's Office has led to much debate in the community. The Indonesian Military (TNI) advocacy team, which is led by Adnan Buyung Nasution, has strongly opposed the report and is determined to file a lawsuit.

This sharp difference of opinion between KPP HAM and the TNI advocacy team has only left the public confused, especially after the names of a number civilian officials and military officers allegedly involved in human rights violations in the territory were announced.

Ordinary people have become confused because the two parties, KPP HAM and the TNI advocacy team, cite various laws in defending their findings and opinions. So it is difficult to judge to whom the truth belongs and which of these parties is more expert in the area of law and legislation, because both operate within the domain of the law in exposing human rights violations.

However, as one who has no interest in the allegations of human rights violations, I regret very much that the report by KPP HAM mentions the names of civilian officials and military officers allegedly involved in this case. In this way not only are they cornered and their reputations tarnished, but the sociopolitical situation will also become heated.

In fact, the report by KPP HAM is only a finding and is not final in nature, because the case must be investigated by the Attorney General's Office. It is with the substance of the report that our regret is concerned. It is only natural, therefore, that the TNI advocacy team has strongly protested the report.

In the meantime, if we look closely at the names of the civilian officials and military officers allegedly involved in human rights violations in East Timor, we will be surprised to find that the number is quite large and that none of these people, once posted in East Timor, could escape allegations of human rights violations.

Are these allegations correct? None of the members of the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), the National Council for East Timor Resistance (CNRT) or the proindependence groups have been considered to have violated human rights, although in fact they cannot be separated from the cases of human rights violations in the territory. Therefore, to prove that human rights have been violated, all parties, including KPP HAM, should consistently uphold the judicial aspects of the case rather than the political aspects, so that the outcome will be fair to all parties.

AGUS H.

Jakarta