ETAN Urges New Rights Commissioner to Advocate for Justice for East Timorese Victims

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul 25, 2008 -
The East Timor and Indonesian Action Network (ETAN) today congratulated Navanethem Pillay on her  nomination  as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"As human rights commissioner, Judge Pillay will become the international community's chief advocate for human rights and accountability, and we expect that she will vigorously continue the United Nations’ calls for justice and accountability for the many human violations committed in Timor-Leste during the Indonesian occupation," said John M. Miller, National Coordinator of ETAN.

“We especially urge her to follow-up on the recommendations of the UN’s Commission of Experts, which called for the creation of an international criminal tribunal within six months if Indonesia fails “to ensure that accountability is secured for those responsible for grave human rights violations and human suffering on a massive scale….” The COE report was completed in mid-2005.

“A tribunal is long overdue. The recently completed joint Indonesia/Timor-Leste Commission on Truth and Friendship must not be the last word on justice and accountability for the serious crimes committed in Timor-Leste during Indonesia’s illegal occupation,” Miller added.

Timor-Leste's leaders have often said it is the international community's responsibility to work for justice for past human rights violations committed in their country. Timor-Leste, they have said, is too near and economically dependent to press its huge neighbor on the issue.

The UN has refused to cooperate with the joint Indonesia/Timor-Leste CTF, which recently handed over its report to the presidents of the two countries. In a statement in response to the hand over of the CTF report, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on July 15 “encourage[d] the Governments of Indonesia and Timor-Leste to take concrete steps to ensure full accountability, to end impunity and to provide reparations to victims in accordance with international human rights standards.”

Judge Pillay’s nomination requires the approval of the General Assembly.

ETAN was formed in 1991. The U.S.-based organization advocates for democracy, justice and human rights for Timor-Leste and Indonesia. For more information see ETAN's web site: http://www.etan.org.