CIIR: East Timor: Truth and Reconciliation Commission closes as security wo

Welcome to CIIR E-News 7 November 2005

CIIR E-News is provided by the Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR), a development agency that works for the eradication of poverty and an end to injustice. CIIR is known in some countries as International Cooperation for Development (ICD)

East Timor: Truth and Reconciliation Commission closes as security worsens

A detailed report looking into human rights violations committed during the Indonesian occupation of East Timor from 1974 to 1999 has been submitted to Timorese President Xanana Gusmão and will be made public later this month.

East Timor's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) wrapped up its three-and-half years' work on 31 October and officially submitted its final report to the president. The long-awaited report will be made public when delivered by President Xanana at a special sitting of the National Parliament on 28 November.

The CAVR report, totalling around 2,000 pages, sets out detailed accounts by victims of violations from the civil disturbances prior to Indonesian invasion in 1975 up to Indonesian withdrawal in 1999. CIIR, as part of its
women's advocacy programme, also supported efforts to also include the testimony of women victims in the commission's investigations.

The CAVR process to reveal the truth and establish accountability for rights abuses has been vitally important in helping victims to come to terms with their losses, rebuild their lives and, in some cases, reconcile with those who caused their suffering. The process has also been an important component of the nation-building process by helping to deepen and strengthen the prospects for peace, democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the new nation of East Timor.

CAVR will make recommendations for future action to protect and promote human rights and reconciliation in its report - recommendations that are eagerly awaited, given that justice for past rights violations has yet to be completed. The East Timor government is now pressing ahead with a bilateral Commission on Truth and Friendship with Indonesia as a means to address human rights violations during the occupation. But this bilateral
commission has been opposed by Timorese churches and much of civil society who fear it will not bring about legal accountability. There are concerns that this bilateral commission will never bring justice for victims of
rights abuses.

The consequences of failing to bring to account militia and the military backers responsible for the wave of violence following the referendum in 1999 has been highlighted by recent security incidents along East Timor's
land borders with Indonesia. Ex-militia members have crossed into East Timorese territory and in one instance there were violent clashes between Indonesian and Timorese border police. Militia members roam free in West
Timor and their backers in the Indonesian military remain in active service due to a lack of any real process of justice to bring these offenders to book and to prevent them from repeating the same crimes.

The CAVR report will be published on the CAVR website simultaneously with the President's delivery of it to the National Parliament

http://www.cavr-timorleste.org.

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