Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bali (Agenzia Fides) – Verify and accept the truth as a fundamental, initial step towards reconciliation: with this spirit the political leaders of Indonesia and East Timor met on the island of Bali, where they accepted and signed the Final Report of the “Truth and Friendship Commission” between the two countries, having been instituted in 2005 and that contains a detailed account of the crimes against humanity that were committed by the Indonesian military against the people of Timor, following East Timor’s vote for independence in 1999.
This has been a decisive step in the history of relations between the two countries, because with the acknowledgement of past errors, a relationship of national reconciliation and healthy relations between the two states can be introduced. Indonesia is the ex-colonizer and the small nation of East Timor is the youngest country in Asia, made a Republic in May 2002 after a period of time under a UN transitional administration.
The Report drawn up by the Commission enumerates the abuses committed by a large portion of the Indonesian Army, who armed paramilitary militias, making them instruments in a widespread campaign of atrocities and destruction, which affected mostly movements, groups, and families who were targeted for being sympathetic to the independence of East Timor. In a matter of weeks, over 1,000 people were killed and hundreds were tortured during the conflicts of 1999.
At that time, the Indonesian government denied all accusations, calling the accusations against the Indonesian Army unfounded. Today, the government acknowledges that the Indonesian Army, the police, and the public officials were involved in serious human rights violations, including homicides, rape, torturing, and illegal detention and deportation.
On the other hand, the Report shows that the pro-independence militias organized by the people of Timor were also guilty of human rights abuse and violations.
The Commission’s task is to find a path to reconciliation through the truth, however without indicating individual responsibilities. The results of the report of the Truth Commission have no legal value and cannot be used to open a case against the suspects.
Now the political leaders in Bali must close the door to the past, recognize their errors and look towards the future in order to establish closer relations. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/7/2008)
