A-N-T-I
THE
TIMOR-LESTE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR AN
INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
Aliansa Nasionál Timor-Leste ba Tribunál Internasionál
Tel: +670-3321040 or +670-77234330 or 77367518 /
77237176/77402231
e-mail:
lanarra.del@gmail.com
or atino@laohamutuk.org ,
or
moniz@jsmp.minihub.org
We are very sad because you are starting to forget and ignore the history
of suffering and the past that is still painful ..!
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ANTI is aware that every act of murder committed against Timorese citizens
was done by those who were following instructions of their commander, namely
Prabowo.
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Today is the third day of the Development Partners Meeting in Timor-Leste.
ANTI notes that the agenda for the Development Partners Meeting did not touch on
the issue of justice, especially past human rights violations. We consider that
the donors have only demonstrated a "half-hearted approach" or have not shown
that they are serious about dealing with development issues in a comprehensive
manner. Therefore gaps/inequalities continue to be created in society.
In
accordance with news announced by the
Antara News Agency on 10 June 2013 a meeting took place between Prabowo Subianto, Wiranto and
Mari Alkatiri in Jakarta, Indonesia. Timorese leaders and the principal
perpetrators of human rights violations have already met on numerous occasions
since 2004. According to the aforementioned news report Mr. Mari Alkatiri
visited the GERINDRA Party to meet with Prabowo and the GERINDRA Party
leadership. Prabowo said that this visit was a special visit for Prabowo and his
leadership. This news shocked the Timorese community because it reminds us of
the atrocities committed by the Indonesian military, especially
KOPASSUS,
against innocent civilians in Timor-Leste during the occupation by the military
regime.
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Alkatiri (left) meets with
Prabowo (right) |
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We are reminded of the human rights violations committed by Indonesia,
especially those committed by KOPASSUS.
The CAVR report indicated that there was
a sharp increase in sexual violence during the mass arrests that took place
between 1978-1983. After 1983 Kopassandha/Kopassus (Indonesian Special Forces)
committed more than 100 arrests and incidents of torture in Mauchiga (Hatu
Builico, Ainaro) and Kraras, Bibileo, (Viqueque). Prabowo was directly involved
in the Craras Massacre in Bibileo. In addition, Prabowo?s men were also involved
in the Santa Cruz Massacre (1991).
A number of cases involving sexual violations occurred in military posts or on
military bases. In 1976, Prabowo was the platoon commander of the Group 1 Sandhi
Yudha Troop Command (Kopassandha) that started to lead operations carried out by
the
Nanggala Team in Timor-Leste.
We know for sure that he was involved in human rights violations committed in
1983, and at that time he was a captain.
It is very strange that Prabowo was a commander at that time and that he has
not been held accountable for human rights violations that he committed together
with his men. ANTI is aware that every act of murder committed against Timorese
citizens was done by those who were following instructions of their commander,
namely Prabowo.
Based on the CAVR report, approximately 102,800 people died as the result of
murder, hunger and disappearances that occurred during the conflict. However,
there are several estimates that are much higher than the one mentioned in the
CAVR report. In addition, approximately 250,000 people were forced to flee to
Indonesia and more than four thousand children were taken by Indonesia and until
now their families don't know about their circumstances. More than 800 people
were victims of forced disappearances and until now their whereabouts are
unknown.
At the end of "Black September" in 1999, the UN Commission for Human Rights held
a plenary session to discuss human rights violations in Timor-Leste. This
special plenary session was the fourth special session conducted in the history of the
Commission. The Commission strongly condemned the planned and systematic "crimes
against humanity and violations of international humanitarian law" and called
for the perpetrators of these crimes to be prosecuted. The Commission also
requested to the UN General Secretary to set up a Commission of Inquiry. Not
long after, Kofi Annan set up an
International Commission of Inquiry on East
Timor (ICIET). ICIET was able to fulfill its mandate by visiting Timor-Leste and
Indonesia between November ? December 1999. ICEIT concluded that "a wide range
of human rights violations and crimes against humanity and crimes against
international humanitarian law had occurred over a long period of time that
included intimidation, terror, destruction of property, violence against women
and forced removal" At the same time the UN sent three special rapporteurs to
Timor-Leste in December 1999. These special human rights envoys recommended for
the UN to establish an International Court if the Indonesian government fails to
effectively bring the main perpetrators of crimes to justice.
When the ICIET released its report, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mary Robinson stated that "the report of the Commission of Inquiry has sent a
message to the people of Timor-Leste that the international community has not
forgotten their suffering. I hope that those that are responsible for the
atrocities committed in Timor-Leste are held accountable so that there is no
impunity"
However, until now the perpetrators have not yet been held accountable for the
human rights violations that they committed. More disappointingly, cases
involving serious crimes are starting to be forgotten and ignored. How can the
chain of impunity be broken if there is no formal process to try the main
perpetrators of human rights violations that occurred in Timor-Leste during the
occupation?
Therefore, ANTI calls for and demands the commitment of the international
community to provide accountability for violations that occurred in Timor-Leste
during the Indonesian occupation via a fair and credible process.
- We request for the international community, including the people of
America, England, France, Holland, Norway, Germany, Australia and Latin
America, Africa and Asia to be morally responsible in accordance with
international humanitarian law. ETAN and Amnesty International in particular
need to keep focusing attention and following up on serious crimes cases
that occurred in Timor-Leste.
- We urge the donors to pay attention to crimes against humanity that
occurred in Timor-Leste during the occupation by the Indonesian military to
ensure that there is a legitimate process to break the chain of impunity
because problems from the past will reflect on the development of democracy
now and in the future.
ANTI considers that it is unfair for the international community to once again
abandon us, and make that people of Timor-Leste the ones who have to be
responsible for demanding accountability for human rights violations that
occurred in Timor-Leste.
Dili, 20 June 2013
Members:
- Asosiasaun HAK
- JSMP (Judicial System Monitoring Program)
- Fokupers
- Asosiasaun Chega ba Ita (Acbit)
- MDI
- CDI
- Luta Hamutuk
- Kadalak Sulimutu Institutu (KSI)
- Asososiaun Vitima 74-99
- Timor-Leste Student Front
- Forum Tau Matan (FTM)
- Sek. Fongtil
- Haberan Institute
- Asean Justice and Rights (AJAR) - Timor-Leste
see also Human Rights & Justice page