UN Secretary-General Urged to Lead for Justice and Accountability for Timor-Leste

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 13, 2007 – A worldwide coalition of human rights and other organizations has written an open letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, calling on him to work to achieve substantive justice for the people of Timor-Leste.  

The letter reminds the Secretary-General that the East Timorese people "suffered countless war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Indonesian invasion and 24-year occupation of their homeland." The letter rejects Indonesian government attempts to escape accountability.

The letter is signed by representatives of more than 70 organizations in 14 countries, who call on the Secretary-General to ensure that justice prevails over impunity, including through implementation of the relevant recommendations of  East Timor's Reception, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CAVR).

The letter applauds the Secretary-General's refusal to grant legitimacy to the bilateral Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF). According to the letter, the CTF and Indonesia's Ad Hoc Human Rights Court "have proven manifestly unsuitable in both design and implementation to the task of delivering justice in accordance with international law." Instead, he should work to create an international tribunal to prosecute those most responsible for the many crimes committed during the 24-year occupation, not just in 1999.

"The Secretary-General should use his visit to launch an effort to achieve genuine justice and accountability for crimes committed in Timor during the Indonesian invasion and occupation,” said John M. Miller, National Coordinator of the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network /U.S., an organizer of the letter. “The Secretary-General should actively work with member states to establish an international tribunal."

The letter observes that most people in Timor-Leste, particularly in the church and civil society, strongly support measures for substantive justice,  and insists that the international community share the responsibility to address crimes which violated international criminal law and the UN charter and resolutions.

The letter is timed to coincide with Ban Ki-Moon's visit this week to Timor-Leste, the first time he has visited the country as Secretary-General.

"The aftermath of the recent Security Council delegation to Timor-Leste indicates that the international community may suffering from a form of amnesia when it comes to the many crimes against humanity committed during 24-years of brutal Indonesian occupation in Timor-Leste," said Miller. "Indonesia's membership in both the Security Council and Human Rights Council should stimulate all UN members' resolve to ensure that those responsible do not to unpunished and to ensure that the new, democratic government in Jakarta upholds its international human rights obligations," he added.

Signers include human rights groups from Indonesia, Timor-Leste, elsewhere in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Europe. The full text of the letter with a complete list of signers can be found at   http://www.etan.org/news/2007/12unsgltr.htm.