Truth commission set for traumatised East Timor
By Dean Yates
JAKARTA, Jan 16 (Reuters) - East Timor will formally open a truth and
reconciliation commission next week in a major step toward shedding light
on
widespread human rights abuses committed during Indonesia's brutal rule
over
the territory.
Similar in principle to the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission
that probed apartheid-era crimes, officials said the East Timor body was
vital to helping Timorese traumatised by the past deal with their suffering.
"Many Timorese want answers from those who caused their loss and
suffering,"
Xanana Gusmao, East Timor's independence hero and the man expected to
become
the territory's first president, said in remarks carried in commission
documents obtained by Reuters.
"With answers, people can start the healing process and close the
horrible
chapter in their lives."
The establishment of the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation
in East Timor comes as Jakarta moves closer to putting 19 suspects, including
three generals, on trial over alleged major human rights abuses in East
Timor
linked to the territory's vote for independence in 1999.
The vote prompted Pro-Jakarta militias, with support from the Indonesian
army, to go on a rampage in which the U.N. estimates more than 1,000 people
were killed.
East Timor, currently administered by the United Nations, will become
formally independent on May 20.
Indonesia's 1975 invasion and subsequent 24-year occupation of the former
Portuguese territory left more than 200,000 people -- a quarter of the
population -- dead from fighting, famine and disease. The United Nations
never recognised Jakarta's rule.
The commission, being set up by the U.N. administration with widespread
support from Timorese political leaders, will operate for two years. It
can
extend for a further six months if needed.
It has no judicial function but has strong powers to probe abuses, and
any
evidence of serious crimes will be referred to Timorese courts.
Evidence can also potentially be used in Indonesia or by the international
community to prosecute people, the documents said.
The commission documents said the truth would be sought especially about
events leading up to and after the independence ballot; the period before
and
after the Indonesian invasion in December 1975; and the overall impact
of
Jakarta's presence.
Pat Walsh, commission project coordinator, said seven Timorese national
commissioners were scheduled to be sworn in on Monday but hearings would
not
start immediately.
"Through its truth-seeking function, the (commission) will lend
an official
ear to people's stories," Walsh told Reuters by telephone from the
East Timor
capital Dili.
The commission will look at reconciliation within communities, allowing
people who carried out lesser crimes such as theft, minor assault or killing
livestock to admit wrongdoing and make amends.
The word "reception" in the commission title refers to a role
offering
Timorese who fled to West Timor after the independence vote an orderly
way of
being received back into their communities.
Jakarta has been under strong pressure from foreign donors over its own
delayed trials of those accused of rights abuses in East Timor in 1999.
Officials have said a special court should convene this month, although
a
date has not yet been set.