Truth commission expects tough task ahead
Truth commission expects tough task ahead
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post/Denpasar, Bali
Newly elected co-chairman of the Commission of Truth and
Friendship Benjamin Mangkoedilaga is expecting an uphill battle
in uncovering gross human rights violations in Timor Leste after
the former Indonesian province voted for independence in 1999.
Benjamin, who is a former Supreme Court justice, described on
Friday the body as judges who are hearing an unprecedented case.
"Frankly speaking, the time limit of two years given by the
two governments may be not sufficient," Benjamin said on the
sidelines of a commission meeting which ended on Friday.
During the meeting, the 10 commission members elected Benjamin
and Timor Leste's Cirilio Cristovao Varadales the co-chairs of
the commission, which will start working after Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Timor Leste President
Xanana Gusmao inaugurate its secretariat in Denpasar next
Wednesday.
Benjamin said the commission would first of all examine all
documents related to the alleged crimes against humanity,
including the charges, defense arguments and court verdicts in
the trial of 18 Indonesian Military (TNI) officers and civilians
at the ad hoc human rights court in Jakarta last year.
All but one of the defendants were acquitted by the court or
won appeals at the higher courts. The 18th defendant Eurico
Guterres, former leader of East Timor pro-Indonesia militia group
Aitarak, remains free pending his appeal.
In an expression of distrust in Indonesia's judicial system, a
United Nations team of experts has recommended a retrial of the
defendants in accordance with international standards.
"Apart from the trial documents, we will also examine around
11,000 documents presented by the Timor Leste Supreme Court,"
Benjamin said.
He refused to identify individuals who will be interviewed by
the commission members, but said they would come from the TNI,
East Timor resistance group Falintil and pro-Indonesia militia
groups like Aitarak.
The commission is granted the right to interview all people in
possession of information considered relevant and guarantee their
confidentiality if necessary.
When asked if the TNI officers to be interviewed would tell
the truth, Benjamin said he chose not to speculate.
"We rely on our belief that every TNI officer will have the
courage to tell the truth as they have taken an oath to do so,"
Benjamin said.
The UN has claimed at least 1,500 people were killed in the
atrocities when military-linked militia groups went on a rampage
after the East Timorese voted for independence in a UN-
administered ballot.
Instead of punishment, the commission will recommend amnesty
for those responsible for the atrocities, which Indonesian
foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda described as "the dark chapter
in the history of the two countries."