Paqo Episcopal
Avenida dos Direitos Humanos
Lecidere - DILI

5 December 2005

Dr. Kofi Annan
UN Secretary-General
UN Headquarters
1st Ave., 46th St.
New York, NY 10017

Excellency,

Thank you for mandating the Commission of Experts to Review the Prosecution of Serious Violations of Human Rights in East Timor in 1999 and for submitting the Experts Report to the Security Council for its consideration.

We understand that the Secretary General is also in the process of preparing a Report to the Council on this matter. It is to this end that we write to reiterate the importance of justice to the people East Timor and to our nascent and fragile democracy.

The reluctance of political leaders to issue the CAVR Report to the people is confirmation that politicians want to bury The truth to ensure that there is no accountability for those responsible for the atrocities committed in 1975 to 1999.

The people of East Timor want to build this nation on the durable values and principles that other democratic nations around the world uphold. Foregoing justice and consenting to impunity will send the message to the international community that the United Nations Charter on Human Rights and the Security Council Resolution 1272 is of little consequence and not binding to the Member Nations.

We entrusted our right to self determination to the United Nations throughout our struggle for independence. Once again, we entrust to the United Nations, this basic fundamental human right to justice for the people of East Timor.

We therefore urge the Secretary General to recommend that the Security Council adopt a Resolution under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter to create an international tribunal for East Timor

We remain in prayers that the outcome puts human rights and the dignity of man above all.

Please accept, Excellency, our highest consideration and esteem.

Yours Sincerely

Dom Alberto Ricardo da Silva
Bishop of Dili

Contactos: Tel./ Fax: (+670) 33.22.308; Cel.: 723.53.83

see also ETAN Calls for Release of East Timor Truth Commission Report Urges Full Discussion of Its Findings and Recommendations
Catholic Church of ET Position on Justice Presented to COE 
Reconciliation with Jakarta without justice is meaningless, says bishop of Baucau

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