Reflection: Admid, regret but no apology? http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/indonesia-admits-guilt-over-timor/2008/07/15/1215887628565.html
Indonesia admits guilt over Timor Mark Forbes in Denpasar July 16, 2008 Other related coverage a.. Murder, mayhem: Jakarta to blame b.. Report bites harder than expected c.. Officers named in Timor report d.. Truth out of Indonesia's scorched earth e.. Downer diplomacy: if you don't succeed, bully again THE Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has endorsed a truth commission's statement that his nation was to blame for gross human rights abuses against the East Timorese in 1999. But he stopped short of a formal apology and rejected prosecution of those responsible. Stating that he felt the "deepest regret" for those murdered, raped and tortured in the bloody aftermath of East Timor's 1999 independence vote, Dr Yudhoyono emphasised that the Commission of Truth and Friendship report was about institutional rather than individual responsibility. He was flanked by East Timor's independence figureheads, the Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmao, and the President, Jose Ramos-Horta. The trio agreed the report should be used to move on from the atrocities. The 300-page report was formally given to the leaders at a ceremony in Bali yesterday. It says more than 1000 East Timorese died after the independence vote, and they were victims of a campaign of terror and destruction orchestrated by Jakarta. Most abuses were carried out by local militias who were funded, armed and directed by Indonesia's military, the TNI, the report says In a speech sure to anger nationalists and human rights activists, Dr Yudhoyono pleaded for both nations to move on. "Only the truth can release us from the handcuffs of the past," he said. A joint declaration signed by the leaders referred to the events as "an unfortunate chapter of our shared past" and stated "we are determined to bring a closure to a chapter of our recent past". Such events should never be allowed to recur, it said. The declaration expressed the remorse of both governments to "all those who suffered immeasurable pain and physical and psychological wounds". Both said they were committed to "the faithful implementation of the commission's recommendations". The commission's report calls for Indonesia's military to accept civilian control and respect for human rights. The commission - which had no mandate to recommend prosecutions and was designed to promote amnesties for those who gave truthful evidence - made no recommendations of amnesty or rehabilitation. Most Indonesian officials who appeared before the inquiry denied an orchestrated campaign of violence was undertaken. Until now, Indonesia had blamed local militias, and no Indonesian commander or official had been successfully prosecuted. But Dr Yudhoyono said he deeply regretted "what happened in the past, which caused casualties . to the people of Indonesia and East Timor". He said he accepted the commission's findings and recommendations. The commission found the Indonesian army, police and Government encouraged and participated in crimes including murder, forced displacement, illegal detention and rape. "Viewed as a whole, these attacks constituted an organised campaign of violence," its report says. "Individuals from the [pro-Indonesia] militia, police, local civilian administration and TNI participated in various phases of this campaign of violence and political repression conducted against civilians." Dr Yudhoyono said Indonesia could take a deep lesson to avoid repeating the mistakes. Mr Ramos-Horta said East Timor was not seeking an international tribunal to punish those responsible. "Justice is not and cannot be only prosecutorial in the sense of sending people to jail; justice must also be restorative," he said. "We as leaders of our people must lead our nations forward. The events of 1999 are known to all. I shall not dwell on them," he said. "Justice must take into account the many factors that influence the behaviour of individuals and states."
