Truth and Friendship Commission members sworn in

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

A joint truth commission embarked on Thursday on an uphill task of unveiling the dark side of the history of Indonesia and Timor Leste, some of the unfinished businesses facing the two neighbors.

Both Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Timor President Xanana Gusmao, however, expressed optimism that the commission would allow the two nations to finally move forward from the 1999 carnage that has marred their ties.

Susilo called the formation of the Truth and Friendship Commission, whose 10 members were sworn-in on Thursday, as a "sign of maturity in the relationship between our countries."

"We want to foster an eternal friendship," said Susilo.

Xanana, a former guerrilla leader fighting against Indonesia's rule, hailed the establishment of the commission, as "a historical moment for the two countries."

"Instead of looking to the past with a heavy heart, it is better to look toward the future with a pure heart," said Xanana, who was once jailed in Jakarta.

The commission, which is comprised of an equal number of people from both countries, is charged with investigating human rights abuses committed during the rampage by pro-Indonesia militias in the aftermath of Timor Leste's (then named East Timor) independence referendum in 1999. The United Nations estimates that up to 1,500 people were killed by the militia groups, who were backed by the Indonesian military.

But the commission will not seek prosecution or punishment.

Susilo, a retired Army general, who once spent a stint in East Timor, said that the commission would seek the truth of who was responsible for the violence, thus allowing the two countries to establish even stronger ties.

He said the formation of the commission won support from the international community, despite a UN expert team's demand for a retrial of Indonesian military officers and civilians responsible for the atrocities.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court upheld the acquittal of Lt. Col. Sudjarwo, chief of the Dili military during the violence, and cleared him of human rights abuse charges. Sudjarwo was one of 18 men tried for the mayhem by an ad hoc human rights court established by the Indonesian government in 2002. All but one, a civilian who remains free on appeal, have been acquitted of their crimes.

The commission's co-chairman, Cirilo Cristovao of Timor Leste, affirmed that no further prosecutions should be expected.

"We will not recommend any trial, but instead recommend amnesty," he said.

The Indonesian co-chairman, Benjamin Mangkudilaga, said that the recommendation for any amnesty, which would have to be approved by the legislatures of the respective governments, could possibly be contingent on either an admission of guilt or an apology.

He added that the commission would interview current and former Indonesian military officers, including the former chief at the time, Gen. (ret) Wiranto.