Justice For Timor-Leste: UN Dragging Its Heals While Perpetrators Walk Free

JSMP And Amnesty International Issue Joint Report

“Perpetrators of crimes against humanity and other serious crimes committed in Timor-Leste during 1999 will escape justice unless the United Nations (UN) acts to fulfil its commitment to bring them to account,” Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP) and Amnesty International said in a joint report issued today.

Two separate processes were set up to investigate and judge individuals suspected of grave breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law in Timor-Leste in 1999, but one has proved fundamentally flawed and the other is unlikely to complete its task.

The report, Justice for Timor-Leste: The way forward, is the culmination of extensive collaboration between JSMP and Amnesty International, one of the most well-respected international human rights organisations. JSMP also received support for trial monitoring from the International Platform of Jurists for East Timor.

The report details problems with the specially established ad hoc Human Rights Court in Indonesia. It concludes that the problems were so serious, and results so unsatisfactory that there should be no further proceedings in Indonesia until fundamental reforms have taken place. In the meantime, other measures must be taken by the UN to ensure there is no impunity.

The report also looks at the parallel serious crimes process in Timor-Leste which, despite recent progress, has little chance of succeeding in investigating fully the events of 1999 or bringing to trial all those responsible. Its work is hampered by limited capacity, the uncertain commitment of the Timor-Leste government to the process and, crucially, Indonesia’s refusal to cooperate with it. Over three quarters, or 281, of the 369 suspects indicted in Timor-Leste are at large in Indonesia. Indonesia has so far refused to transfer to them Timor-Leste for trial.

“In 1999, the UN and individual governments expressed horror at the violence in Timor-Leste, but four years on interest in supporting investigations and prosecutions has waned. Moreover, Indonesia appears to be under little pressure to cooperate,” JSMP and Amnesty International said.

The two organizations are urging the UN Security Council to make real its demand for justice by extending and increasing its support to the serious crimes process in Timor-Leste and by exploring effective alternatives to the ad hoc Human Rights Court in Indonesia.

“While the UN is dragging its heels, those responsible for grave crimes in Timor-Leste are free and, in many cases are in active military or police service. It is therefore no surprise that the patterns, if not the scale, of violations witnessed in Timor-Leste have since been repeated elsewhere in Indonesia.”

As a first step, the two organizations are calling upon the UN to immediately establish an independent commission of experts to assess the technical and political obstacles to achieving justice for Timor-Leste. The commission should analyse both processes and provide recommendations to the UN Security Council about what further measures are needed to ensure that credible and effective investigations and trials take place within the shortest possible time.

Among the options that the Commission must seriously consider is the establishment of an international criminal tribunal as recommended by the UN’s own International Commission of Inquiry on East Timor (ICIET) in January 2001.

JSMP and Amnesty International are also urging individual governments to take action by providing technical and financial support to the Serious Crimes Unit and Special Panels in Timor-Leste. Governments should also be prepared to arrest and extradite to Timor-Leste individuals indicted by the Timor-Leste General Prosecutor or bring them to trial in their own courts.

JSMP’s community consultation has revealed there is widespread dissatisfaction, particularly in the districts, with the serious crimes process. This is further compounded by the failure of the trials in Jakarta. It is feared that unless there is an effective mechanism to address serious crimes in Timor-Leste, communities will remain divided and existing tensions could intensify. Accordingly, it is critical that the UN immediately establish a commission of experts to analyze the unsatisfactory judicial processes for crimes against humanity in Timor-Leste and make good on its promise to provide justice for the Timorese people.

==================================================================

Keadilan Untuk Timor Leste: PBB Angkat Kaki Sementara Pelaku Kejahatan Bebas Berkeliaran

Laporan Gabungan dari JSMP dan Amnesty International

“Para pelaku kejahatan kemanusiaan dan kejahatan berat lainya yang terjadi di Timor Leste selama tahun 1999 akan terlepas dari keadilan seandanya PBB tidak memenuhi komitmenya untuk membawa mereka demi pertangungjawaban,” Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP) dan Amnesty Internasional mengatakan hal ini dalam sebuah laporan yang ditulis bersama dan diluncurkan hari Rabu, 14 April 2004.

Dua proses telah berjalan untuk menyelidiki dan mengadili para tersangka pelanggar kemanusiaan internasional dan hukum hak asasi manusia di Timor Leste pada tahun 1999, tetapi dari kedua proses tersebut, yang satu sangatlah cacat dari segi hykum secara fundamental, dan yang satunya lagi sepertinya tidak akan menyelesaikan tugasnya.

Laporan, Keadilan Untuk Timor Leste: Jalan Kedepan, adalah puncak dari suatu kolaborasi extensive antara JSMP dan Amnesty Internasional, yang merupakan organisasi Hak Asasi Manusia yang paling disegani. JSMP juga menerima dukungan untuk pemantauan persidangan dari International Platform of Jurists for East Timor.

Laporan tersebut membahas secara rinci masalah-masalah pada Pengadilan Ad Hoc HAM yang secara khusus didirikan di Indonesia. Kesimpulanya, bahwa masalah-masalah yang ada sangatlah serius, dan bahwa hasil-hasil yang sangat tidak memuaskan, kenyataan ini harus dihentikan segera sampai ada perubahan yang mendasar. Sementara itu, PBB dapat mengambil tindakan yang dianggap perlu untuk mencegah dibebaskanya para tersangka dari hukum.

Laporan tersebut juga melihat pada proses kejahatan berat di Timor Leste, walaupun kemajuan akhir-akhir ini menunjukkan adanya kesempatan yang kecil untuk menuntaskan penyilidikan secara penuh kejadian pada tahun 1999 atau menyeret mereka yang bertangung jawab ke pengadilan. Pekerjaan Serious Crimes Unit dihambat oleh kapasitas yang terbatas, dan tidak tentunya komitment dari pemerintah Timor Leste akan hal ini, dan yang lebih penting lagi, pemerintah Indonesia menolak untuk bekerja sama. Lebih dari tiga per-empat, atau sekitar 281 orang dari 359 orang yang didakwa di Timor Leste sebagian besarnya berada di Indonesia. Indonesia sendiri sejauh initelah menolak untuk menstransfer mereka ke Timor Leste untuk persidangan

“Pada tahun 1999, PBB dan pemerintah dari banyak negara telah menyampaikan rasa duka yang dalam akan kekerasan di Timor Leste, tetapi dukungan mereka untuk melakukan penyilidikan dan tuntutan telah berkurang banyak sejak empat tahun terakhir ini. Lebih lagi, Indonesia kelihatanya tidak begitu ditekan untuk bekerja sama,” demikian disampaikan JSMP dan Amnesty Internasional.

Kedua Organisasi tersebut medesak Dewan Keamanan PBB untuk merealisasikan tuntutan mereka akan keadilan dengan memperpanjang dan memperbesar dukungan untuk proses penyelesaian kasus-kasus kejahatan berat di Timor Leste dan dengan mencari kemungkinan atau alternatif lain yang lebih efektif untuk Pengadilan HAM ad hoc Jakarta.

“Sementara PBB mengangkat kakinya, mereka yang bertangung jawab untuk kejahatan berata bebas berkeliaran, dan lebih lagi bahkan masih aktif dalam tugas, misalnya sebagai polisi. Oleh karena itu, janganlah terkejut jika kejahatan-kejahatan yang telah terjadi di Timor Leste terulang kembali di beberapa bagian Indonesia di Indonesia”.

Sebagai langkah awal, kedua organisasi tersebut menghumbau agar PBB segera membentuk suatu Tim ahli independent untuk membahas dan menganalisa hambatan-hambatan yang baik dari segi teknis maupun politik, yang menghambat proses tercapainya keadilan untuk Timor Leste. Tim Ahli Independent tersebut harusnya menganalisa kedua proses tersebut dan pada akhirnya menyediakan rekomendasi kepada Dewan Keamanan PBB tentang langkah-langkah apa yang diperlukan kedepan untuk menjamin kredebilitas dan efektifitas penyilidikan dan persidangan yang dapat dilaksanakan dalam waktu sesingkat mungkin.

Tim Ahli tersebut juga harus secara serius melihat akan kemungkinan di bentukanya tribunal kejahatan internasional seperti yang direkomendasikan oleh organisasi milik PBB, International Commission of Inquiry on East Timor (ICIET) pada bulan Januari 2001.

JSMP dan Amnesty Internasional juga menhimbau pemerintah negara-negara terkait untuk segera mengambil tindakan yang perlu dengan menyediakan dukungan keuangan dan dukungan sarana-prasarana lainya kepada Serius Crimes Unit dan Special Panel di Timor Leste. Pemerintah dari negara-negara tersebut juga dhimbau untuk mengekstradisi para pelaku kejahatan yang didakwa oleh Jaksa Penuntut Umum Timor Leste, atau menyeret mereka ke persidangan di pengadilan mereka.

Konsultasi JSMP dengan masyarakat umum menunjukkan bahwa terdapat rasa ketidak puasan yang besar di dalam masyarakat akan keadilan, lebih-lebih di distrik-distrik dengan masalah kejahatan berat. Hal ini juga diperberat dengan pengadilan ad hoc di Jakarta yang masih jauh dari memuaskan. Hal ini sangatlah menkhawatirkan kecuali terbentuk suatu mekanisme yang lebih efektif untuk menyelesaikan masalah kejahatan berat di Timor Leste, maka masyarakat akan tetap terpecah-belah dan ketegangan yang ada bias menjadi lebih parah. Sejalan dengan itu, sangatlah penting bagi PBB untuk membentu sebua komisi ahli yang khusus betugas untuk menganalisa hal-hal yang tidak memuaskan mengenai proses peradilan kejahatan terhadapa kemanusiaan di Timor Leste dan dan juga membuat janji yang lebih baik untuk menyediakan keadilan untu masyarakat Timor Leste

===========================================================

Justiça para o Timor-Leste: ONU caminha lentamente enquanto Responsáveis estão em Liberdade

Relatório JSMP e Amnistia Internacional

“Os responsáveis pelos crimes contra a humanidade e outros crimes cometidos no Timor-Leste durante 1999 sairão ilesos da justiça ao menos que as Nações Unidas (ONU) tome alguma ação a fim de garantir que estes sejam responsáveis por seus actos” o Programa de Monitoramento do Sistema Judicial (JSMP) e Amnistia Internacional disseram hoje no seu relatório conjunto.

Dois mecanismos foram estabelecidos para investigar e julgar indivíduos suspeitos de violarem direitos humanos e humanitário no Timor-Leste em 1999; um destes processos mostrou-se fundamentalmente problemático e o outro parece que não poderá cumprir seus objectivos.

O relatório, Justice for Timor-Leste: The way forward, é o resultado de uma prolongada colaboração do JSMP e Amnistia Internacional, uma das organizações de direitos humanos mais respeitadas em todo o mundo. JSMP também recebeu ajuda da Plataforma Internacional de Juristas para o Timor-Leste (International Platform of Jurists for East Timor) durante o monitoramento dos casos no Tribunal Ad Hoc de Direitos Humanos em Indonésia.

O relatório mostra detalhes dos problema do Tribunal Ad Hoc dos Direitos Humanos na Indonésia. O relatório conclui que os problemas foram tão sérios, e os resultados tão insatisfactórios que não deve haver mais nenhum processo na Indonésia até que alguma grande reforma seja efectuada. Até que esta seja realizada, é fundamental que outras acções sejam tomadas pela ONU a fim de garantir que não haja impunidade.

O relatório também analisa o processo paralelo que está sendo feito no Timor-Leste que, mesmo que possam ser identificados recentes progressos, há poucas chances que este processo obtenha sucesso nas investigações dos acontecimentos de 1999 ou que traga os responsáveis perante a justiça. O Painel Especial para os Crimes Graves tem encontrado vários obstáculos em seu trabalho causado por limitações em sua capacidades, incerteza do grau de involvimento do governo Timorense e, crucialmente, a completa falta de cooperação da Indonésia. Mais que três quartos, ou 281 dos 369 suspeitos do Timor-Leste estão actualmente na Indonesia. Indonésia até o momento vêm recusando a transferência dos suspeitos para serem julgados no Timor-Leste.

“Em 1999, a ONU e governos de alguns países expressaram sua opinião sobre o horror da violência que aconteceu no Timor-Leste. Porém, quatro anos de interesse e apoio às investigações e acusações já passaram. Ademais, o governo da Indonésia parece que não está sob nenhuma grande pressão para cooperar” disse o JSMP e Amnistia Internacional.

As duas organizações estão pedindo ao Conselho de Segurança da ONU para que este peça justiça através da extensão e aumento de apoio para o Tribunal no Timor-Leste e também através de outras alternativas de maior eficácia que o Tribunal Ad Hoc de Direitos Humanos na Indonésia.

“Enquanto que a ONU está caminhando de forma extremamente devagar, os responsáveis pelos crimes no Timor-Leste estão livres e, em muitos casos, estão exercendo funções na polícia e no exército militar. De forma alguma é sem surpresas que as formas e a escala da violações que se viu no Timor-Leste já viu-se repetida em outras partes da Indonésia”.

Como o primeiro passo, as duas organizações estão chamando a ONU para imediatamente estabelecer uma comissão de peritos para avaliar os obstáculos técnicos e políticos que se encontram na tentativa de trazer justiça para o Timor-Leste. A Commissão deve analisar os dois processos e fazer recomendações para o Conselho de Segurança da ONU sobre que medidas são necessarias para garantir, o mais rápido possível, que investigações e julgamentos sejam feitos de forma séria e efectiva.

Entre as opções que a Commissão deve considerar encontra-se o estabelecimento de um tribunal criminal internacional; como já foi recomendado pela Commissão Internacional da ONU de Investigação no Timor Leste (ICIET) em Janeiro de 2001.

JSMP e Amnistia Internacional também estão pedindo para governos tomarem acções através de apoio técnico e financeiro para a Unidade de Crimes Graves e Painel Especial para os Crimes Graves no Timor-Leste. Governos devem também estar preparados para prender e enviar ao Timor-Leste indivíduos sob acusação provinda do Procurador-Geral do Timor-Leste, ou realizar julgamentos contra estes indivíduos nos seus próprios países.

A consulta do JSMP na comunidade mostra que há uma grande insatisfação, principalmente nos districtos no Timor-Leste, com o processo do Painel Especial para Crimes Graves. Esta percepção ainda aumenta com o conhecimento geral do fracasso do processo em Jakarta, na Indonésia. Se um mecanismo efectivo para julgar os crimes que ocorreram no Timor-Leste não for estabelecido, comunidades continuarão divididas e tensões que já existem actualmente podem intensificar-se. É fundamental que a ONU estabeleça imediatamente uma comissão de peritos para analisar os processos judiciais para os crimes contra a humanidade no Timor-Leste e garantir que a sua promesa de trazer justiça ao povo Timorense seja cumprida