Jl. Ir. Juanda no. 2, Renon, Denpasar, Telephone/Fax: (0361) 263535

Press Release
Number 04/PR/II/06

Indonesian-Timor-Leste Commission Of Truth and Friendship (CTF)

Visits Timor-Leste,
20 -26 February 2006


CTF had conducted the first working visit to Timor-Leste from 20 until 26 February 2006. The official visits were made to President Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, Minister of Foreign Affairs José Ramos-Horta, President of Parliament Francisco Guterres “Lu-Olo”, President of Court of Appeal Claudio Ximenes, Prosecutor General Longuinhos Monteiro, Minister of Defense Roque Rodrigues and Commander of F-FDTL Taur Matan Ruak.

CTF also had made the visits to Bishop of Dili Diocese Mgr. Alberto Ricardo and Special Representative of United Nations Secretary General in Timor-Leste Sukehiro Hasegwa, and had dialogues with them.

During those meetings, CTF had the chance to update on the development of its works and its future work plan. Generally, both Parliament and the Government of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste warmly welcomed the visit of CTF and expressed their support in carrying its mandate in search of ultimate truth.

During the meeting with CTF, Bishop of Dili, among others, suggested that CTF should always hold intensive dialogue with the victims for telling the truth in accordance with the expectation of Timor-Leste’s public.

During CTF’s meeting with SRSG Hasegawa and his staff at Obrigado Barracks, there had been discussions on the possibility for the United Nations to assist the realization of CTF’s work. SRSG also had provided suggestions on its realization.

President of RDTL’s Parliament welcomed the existence of CTF and expressed his support. He also expressed his hope that CTF would be able to present recommendations which will meet the hope of people of the two countries.

CTF also carried out field visits to Liquica for meeting with representatives of the community who became victims and witnesses of serious violations of human rights in order to obtain direct information and clear picture on the essence, the cause and the range of serious violations of human rights in Timor-Leste in 1999.

During its visit to Timor-Leste, CTF also held informal meetings with various institutions such as NGOs, Diplomatic Corps and academics. The primary objective of these visits was to provide information on the existence, mandate and the progress which had been made by CTF for the last six months, and the future work plan as well as the strategies to be set up in revealing the ultimate truth.

Since its establishment, CTF had had a series of meetings with various entities in Indonesia such as Head of Indonesian Human Rights Commission, Head of Commission of Inquiry for Human Rights Violations, National Commission on Non Violence against Women, Public Prosecutor and Judges who were in charge of handling the serious human rights violations cases in Timor-Leste in 1999.

END