24 October 2001
TO: The Members of the
Security Council of the United Nations
United Nations
Headquarters, New York.
Re: Urgent Steps to Establish
Justice
for Crimes Against
Humanity in East Timor
Dear Members of the Security Council,
We are writing to you in relation to the serious plight of the entire justice process surrounding the prosecution of those responsible for the gross and systematic violation of international humanitarian law in East Timor.
After the conclusion of the national election process in East Timor, many refugees, as predicted, are returning to East Timorese soil. Present amongst those returning are known and recognized militia members. The East Timorese stand ready and willing to enter the process of reconciliation with one another, to join arms to face the difficult task of building their new nation together. As ready as the East Timor are to embark on this process of nation building and reconciliation, they acutely aware that any such process is built on a rule of law, and is founded in justice.
The East Timorese belief in justice and the rule of law, however, has not been meet by the measures taken thus far, both under UNTAET in the form of the Serious Crimes Unit and the process in Indonesia itself.
The Serious Crimes Unit, firstly, lacks jurisdiction over those perpetrators who remain outside its territorial reach, particularly those with higher command responsibility for the planned execution of the widespread murder, rape, displacement of population, destruction of infrastructure and property. Notwithstanding the limitation the Serious Crimes Unit faces in terms of territorial jurisdiction, it has failed to prosecute even those within its jurisdiction who were widely known to hold command positions, and has actively pursued only those lower ranking individuals. This has created the anomalous result of those lower-ranking individuals pleading guilty on the basis that they were instructed to carry out the crime by their militia commanders, while those very commanders, walk freely back into communities, often into positions of influence, without charge. The East Timorese people’s patience and expectation with this avenue of justice is understandably wearing thin. Meanwhile, the rule of law seems as hard to find at this stage of the process, as it was under colonial rule.
Where the Serious Crimes Unit lacked jurisdiction to prosecute those Indonesia military and government officials implicated in the serious violation of humanitarian law occurring in East Timor, faith was placed by the international community in the justice process within Indonesia itself. At this point, we all must face the reality that, likewise, this process is not capable of holding those responsible to account. After initial glimmers of hope, subsequent political turmoil and instability, and ensuing continual revisions to the mandate and scope of any Ad Hoc Tribunal which is to be establish, has clearly demonstrated that Indonesia is incapable and unwilling to take responsibility for prosecuting those culpable for the crimes against humanity in East Timor.
In the face of this dire situation, East Timorese NGOs came together on the 16 October 2001, and unanimously concluded that an international mechanism of accountability for those responsible for the death, violence and humiliation in East Timor must be urgently established. The same conclusion was reached by the International Commission of Inquiry on East Timor established by the United Nations in January 2000. However, with 2002 close at hand, neither process has brought us nearer to realizing this objective. The situation is made even more critical by the coming end of the UNTAET mission. Under the stewardship of UNTAET was the time when the impunity of the past was needed to be replaced by the rule of law and justice, necessary for the nation building process of and reconciliation for East Timor. Instead, we are facing the dark reality of such impunity characterizing our future.
We urge the United Nations not to leave East Timor alone with the consequences of the crimes so terrible that they are characterized as against all humanity. It is time to take immediate steps to establish an International Tribunal for East Timor. This is the only mechanism that could address the current need for justice, the missing element so far, in the process of nation building for East Timor and worldwide respect for human dignity.
Thank you for your considerations of our concerns.
Sincerely yours,
Yayasan
HAK
Lao
Hamutuk
FOKUPERS
Bishop
Belo’s Center for Peace and Development Kdadalak Sulimutu Institute (KSI)
Working Group for Electoral
Education (KKPP)
Judicial
System Monitoring Project (JSMP)
East
Timor Student Solidarity Council (ETSC)
Student Solidarity Council
of Oe-Cusse
Yayasan
Timor Nabilan
Nove-Nove Survivers Group
(Maliana)
NGO
Forum
Bahasa Indonesia:
Yayasan HAK - Yayasan
Hukum, Hak Asasi dan Keadilan Updated Sep 4
Maksud Umum: Yayasan Hak didirikan
untuk maksud utama dua: 1. Kerja perkara - mewakili korban dan keluarganya
di pengadilan. 2. Sokongan anjuran hak asasi manusia - melaporkan dan menerbitkan
informasi mengenai HAM, proses pengadilan.
Sejarah Pendek: Yayasan Hak adalah
yayasan bantuan hukum yang didirikan pada bulan Maret 1997, dan dibiayai
oleh empat kelompok. Hak didirikan untuk menyediakan bermacam-macam pelayanan
hukum kepada masyarakat Timor Lorosae.
Alamat: T-091 Gov. Serpa Rosa St.,
Farol, Dili - Timor Lorosae
Tetum: Jun
21 2000 Y-HAK: Lopes: Rekonciliasaun Housi Lei Nia Roman
Article http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/earlyhakt.htm
English:
Yayasan HAK - Foundation
of Law, Human Rights, and Justice Updated Sep 4
Human Rights, Advocacy and Community Organising
Yayasan HAK is a registered East
Timorese non-government organization (ETNGO)
General Mission: Yayasan Hak has
two primary functions: 1. Casework - representing victims and their families
in court 2. Human rights advocacy work - monitoring, reporting and publicising
human rights information, litigation
Short History: Yayasan Hak is a
legal aid foundation set up in March 1997, co-funded by four funding agencies.
It was established in order to provide a range of legal services for the
people of East Timor.
Address: T-091 Gov. Serpa Rosa
St., Farol, Dili - Timor Lorosae
Sep 3 YHak: Elections in the Context of
Nation-Building:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/01sepyhak.htm
Jul 24 YHak: Serious Concerns re Judicial
Independence under UNTAET: http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/01julconcerns.htm
Jun 21 2000 YHak:
Reconciliation from a Legal Perspective:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/earlyhak.htm
Tetum: Jun
21 2000 YHak: Rekonciliasaun Housi Lei Nia Roman
Article http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/earlyhakt.htm
Tetum:
(the most common East Timorese
language)
La’o
Hamutuk, Institutu Timor Lorosa’e ba Analiza no Monitor Reconstrusaun /
Institut Permantauan dan Analisis Reconstruksi Timor Loro Sa'e
Updated Aug 18
Saida
mak La’o Hamutuk? La’o Hamutuk organizasaun klibur Ema Timor
Lorosa’e no Ema Internacional ne’ebe buka atu tau matan, halo analize ho
halo relatorio kona ba hahalok (actividade) instuisaun internacional ne’ebe
oras ne’e haknaar iha Timor Lorosa’e, liu-liu hahalok sira ne’ebe iha relasaun
ho rekonstrusaun fizika no social Timor Lorosa’e nian. La’o Hamutuk
fiar katak Povo Timor Lorosa’e mak tenke hakotu iha procesu rekonstrusaun
ne’e nia laran no procesu rekonstrusaun ne’e tenke demokratiku no transparante
duni.
Staf Timor oan: Inès Martins,
Fernando da Silva, Thomas Freitas; Staf Internasional: Pamela Sexton,
Mark Salzer; Kuadru Ejekutivu: Sr. Maria Dias, Joseph Nevins, Fr.
Jovito Rego de Jesus Araùjo, Aderito Soares Durubasa: Benjamin
Sanches Afonso, Tomé Xavier Jeronimo, Maria Bernardino, Manuel Tilman,
Djoni Ferdiwijaya Ilustrador: Sebastião Pedro da Silva, Nan
Porter Design Jeronimo Staf Monitoriu Projektu Judiciariu JSMP:
Christian
Ranheim, Caitlin Reiger, Rayner Thwaites
Local Contact: P.O. Box 340,
Dili, East Timor (via Darwin, Australia) Mobile fone: +61(408)811373;
Telefone Uma: +670(390)325-013
International contact: +1-510-643-4507
Email: laohamutuk@easttimor.minihub.org
Homepage: http://www.etan.org/lh
Boletim La’o Hamutuk: [Tetum PDF
format]
Vol. 2, No. 3 Junho 2001 Fundu Monetariu
Internasional (IMF) iha Timor Lorosa’e: http://www.etan.org/lh/PDFs/bulv2n3T.pdf
Vol. 2, Nos. 1-2 Abríl 2001 Vizaun
Jeral Hosi Fundu Ba Rekonstrusaun Timor Loro Sa’e: http://www.etan.org/lh/PDFs/lhbl2n1t.pdf
Vol. 1, No. 4, 31 Dejembru 2000 Banku
Mundial iha Timor Loro Sa’e: http://www.etan.org/lh/PDFs/lhbul4tm.pdf
Vol. 1, No. 3, 17 Novembro 2000 Hari Sistema
Saude Nasional iha Timor Lorosa’e: http://www.etan.org/lh/PDFs/LHbul3tm.pdf
Vol. 1, No. 2, 17 Julho 2000 Protesaun
ba meio ambiente iha TL: http://www.etan.org/lh/PDFs/bulletin02tetum.pdf
Vol. 1, No. 1, 21 Juñu 2000 Rekonciliasaun:
http://www.etan.org/lh/PDFs/bulletin01tetum.pdf
English:
La'o
Hamutuk: East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
Updated June 24
La'o Hamutuk (Tetum for Walking
Together) is a joint East Timorese-international organization that seeks
to monitor, to analyze, and to report on the reconstruction activities
of the principal international institutions. It believes that the people
of East Timor must be the ultimate decisionmakers in the reconstruction
process and that the process should be as democratic and transparent as
possible ...
East Timorese staff: Inès
Martins, Fernando da Silva, Thomas Freitas;
International staff: Pamela
Sexton, Mark Salzer Executive board: Sr. Maria Dias, Joseph Nevins,
Fr. Jovito Rego de Jesus Araùjo, Aderito
de Jesus Soares Translators: Maria Bernardino, Tom‚ Xavier Jeronimo
JSMP
staff: Christian Ranheim, Caitlin Reiger, Rayner Thwaites
International contact: +1-510-643-4507
Email: laohamutuk@easttimor.minihub.org
Homepage: http://www.etan.org/lh
La’o Hamutuk Bulletin: http://www.etan.org/lh/bulletin.html
Mar 23 2001 LH: Job announcement for La'o
Hamutuk in East Timor: http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/01marjob.htm
Activity Report: Mar 16 2001 LH:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/01marlhreport.html
Bahasa Indonesia:
Fokupers - Forum Komunikasi
Untuk Perempuan Loro Sae Updated Aug 22
Direktur: Manuela Leong Pereira
Maksud Umum: Fokupers didirikan
pada tahun 1997. Organisasi ini membantu korban politik dan juga memberikan
nasihat atau ‘counselling’ dan lain lain kepada perempuan yang menderita
sebagai bekas tapol, atau yang menjadikan janda karena perang, atau isteri
tapol. Selain dari itu, Fokupers mendorong hak asasi manusia, pada khususnya
untuk perempuan, dalam masyarakat setempat.
Kegiatan Sekarang: Sudah mengadakan
bengkel untuk mendiskusi bagaimana perempuan akan diikuti atau menjadi
lebih aktip di masyarakat Timor Loro Sa’e. · Pada saat ini, kami
memusatkan perhatian atas latihan ‘trauma counselling’ untuk pekerja Fokupers.
English:
Fokupers - the East Timorese
Women’s Communication Forum Updated Aug 22
Women's Development and Advocacy
Director: Manuela Leong Pereira
Fokupers is a registered East
Timorese non-government organization (ETNGO)
General Mission: Fokupers was founded
in 1997. It focuses on political victims and gives counselling and other
forms of assistance to women victims of violations, including ex political
prisoners, war widows and wives of political prisoners. Its mandate also
includes promoting women’s human rights among the local population, especially
the East Timorese women.
Current Activities: Conducting
workshops discussing ways to enhance or develop further women’s participation
in Timorese society. · Focusing on receiving trauma counselling
training for their staff in order to provide counsel to women victims.
Supporting women survivors of violence and to end violence against women
through advocacy and education.
Bishop Belo’s Center for
Peace and Development:
Kadalak Sulimutuk Institute
(KSI) - Flowing Stream Institute Up-dated Oct 27
KSI is a registered East
Timorese non-government organization (ETNGO)
Research: (Ethnicity, Reintegration, Land
Dispute and Impact Public Policy), Training/Workshop.
Location: Dili, Aileu, Ermera, Maliana,
Same, Ambeno,Viqueque
Contact: Antero Bendito Da Silva, Jl.
Bebonok Dili Comoro Dili Timor Lorosae (mob) 0407 186 704
Judicial
System Monitoring Programme / Program Pemantauan Sistim Peradilan (JSMP)
Updated Aug 17
JSMP is a new human rights project set
up by the East Timorese Jurists’ Association and the Timorese/international
organisation La'o Hamutuk. JSMP aims to assist the United Nations Transitional
Administration in East Timor, the East Timorese public and the international
community by making recommendations for ongoing reform of the fledgling
judicial system of East Timor.
The main objective of the programme
is to improve the quality of justice provided by the newly established
judicial system, and to promote human rights and the rule of law in a meaningful
and transparent manner for the people of East Timor through:
Bahasa Indonesia:
(English
below)
East Timorese Student
Solidarity Council (ETSSC) Added Mar 8
Sejarah Pendek:
ETSSC didirikan pada bulan Juni 1998,
sesudah Suharto turun dari posisinya. Mahasiswa-mahasiswa mengadakan beberapa
pertemuan umum, demonstrasi dan dialog, asalnya di Dili dan kemudian di
seluruh Timor Loro Sa’e. Sebelum referendum, informasi HAM disebarkan oleh
mahasiswa ini, dan mereka menjadi terlibat dalam pendidikan pemberi suara.
ETSSC termasuk mahasiswa yang sebelumnya duduk di UNTIM, bersama dengan
pelajar dan sarjana.
Keadaan Sekarang Lsm Dan Kebutuhan
Utama:
ETSSC terletak di Dili, dan ada jaringan
yang kuat di seluruh Timor Loro Sa’e. Hubungan di antara cabang-cabang
ETSSC (misalnya di antara Baucau dan Dili) memang tak mungkin pada saat
ini, karena ETSSC di luar Dili tak ada telepon mobil, dan garis telepon
tanah belum didirikan lagi. Peralatan kantor juga diperlukan (misalnya
fax, komputer dll).
Kegiatan Sekarang:
ETSSC di Dili sudah menulis usulan proyek,
judulnya ‘Framework 2000’. Usulan ini termasuk benkel ‘capacity building’
dan kelompok pelajaran masyarakat. Di Baucau dan Viqueque, mahasiswa terlibat
dalam membangun kembali SMP dan SMA, dan juga bekerja sebagai guru di SD.
Rencana:
Dua anggota ETSSC akan mengunjungi kota
Melbourne pada bulan Februari/Maret (berhubungan dengan USET untuk perincian
lain). Kemungkinannya bahwa ETSSC akan mendirikan koperasi persahabatan
dengan universitas Australia. Salah satu prioritas ETSSC ialah kesempatan
untuk menyelesaikan kursusnya yang sudah dimulai di Universitas Indonesia,
UNTIM atau tempat lain.
English:
East Timorese Student
Solidarity Council (ETSSC) Added Mar 8
Civil Society, Culture, Informal Education.
ETSSC is a registered East
Timorese non-government organization (ETNGO)
Short History:
ETSSC emerged in June 1998 responding
to the window of opportunity for a free East Timor following Suharto’s
resignation. Prior to this new period of freedom of speech, students had
been organising clandestinely as part of the wider resistance movement.
The students organised a series of public meetings, demonstrations and
dialogues, originally in Dili and later spreading throughout East Timor.
During the lead up to the referendum, the students disseminated information
on human rights, and were involved in voter education in all regions of
East Timor. The Council includes students who previously attended UNTIM,
as well as high school students and academics.
Current Situation And Three Primary
Needs:
The ETSSC is based in Dili, but has a
strong network throughout East Timor. Communication between branches of
the ETSSC (eg between Baucau and Dili) is currently impossible, as branches
outside Dili have no access to mobile phones, and land-lines have yet to
be re-established. General office facilities (such as computer, fax equipment)
are desperately needed.
Current Activities:
The Dili ETSSC have put together a project
proposal entitled ‘Framework 2000’ which provides for capacity building
workshops and Community Study Groups. In Baucau and Viqueque the students
are involved in rebuilding secondary schools. Members are currently involved
in various community activities including teaching in primary schools.
Plans:
Two members of the ETSSC will be visiting
Melbourne in Feb/March (contact USET for details). Possible friendship
unions with Australian universities are being pursued. The ability for
ETSSC members to complete university courses begun in Indonesia, UNTIM
or elsewhere is a priority.
Bahasa Indonesia:
Yayasan Timor Nabilan
(YATINA) - Shine Timor Foundation Up-dated Oct 27
Maksud Umum: Pada tahap I Yatina
berpartisipati aktif dalam program pemerintah yang berkaitan dengan kepentingan
dan kesejahteraan rakyat. Pada tahap II, ikut ambil bagian dalam pengelolaan
potensi ekonomi guna menciptakan lapangan kerja dan peningkatan kesejahteraan
masyarakat.
Sejarah Pendek: YATINA didirikan
pada tanggal 30 Januari 1999 atas inisiatif sarjana, untuk mengambil bagian
dalam usaha swasta. Mengingat perubahan status Timor Leste maka tahap masa
transisi Yatina ingin terlibat dalam program Pemerintah.
Kegiatan Sekarang lsm dan Kebutuhan
Utama: Semakin banyak LSM memang itu bagus, tetapi kebutuhan utama:
1. Belum tersediaannya dana operational untuk realisasi program 2. Mengatasi
kondisi rakyat yang menghadapi sulit 3. Mempersiapkan SDM dan pembangunan
swasta, sosial, HAM, lebih penting kebutuhan fasilitas transportasi, dana
operasional dan anggaran
kebutuhan organisasi.
Kegiatan Sekarang: Pemerataan distribusi,
pengembalian mental rakyat, rehabilitas sarana dan prasarana, ketersediaan
semboko dan barang kebutuhan lainnya, dan peningkatan produks pangan.
Rencana: Persiapan program, kerja
dan anggaran untuk merealisasikan kegiatan sekarang termasuk mencari sponsor
milik mendukung masalah pendanaan.
Alamat (Mar 2000): Mrs Geborah
di belakang SMKK Becora, Jln STM, Dili Timur
Contact: East Timor: Filipe da
Silva, Asrama Gereja Geborah, Bekora, Depan STM Bekora, Jl. STM Bekora
Indonesia: Sister Avelina Simbolon, SUSTERAN
FCJM (SUMUT) Jl Viyata Yudha-Bah Kapul, Pematang Siantar 21139 SUMUT
English:
Yayasan Timor Nabilan
(YATINA) - Shine Timor Foundation Up-dated Oct 27
YATINA is a registered East
Timorese non-government organization (ETNGO)
General Mission: Yatina aims to
develop East Timor’s economic potential by creating employment.
Short History: Yatina was established
on 30 January 1999 on the initiative of academics, to take part in private
enterprise. Considering the change in East Timor’s status and its transition
to independence, Yatina wishes to be involved in government
programs.
Current situation and primary needs:
The situation of NGOs is improving, but our primary needs are: 1. Operational
funds 2. Transport facilities 3. Human resources and private development
Current Activities: Agriculture,
non-formal education (English, Portuguese and computer) and emergency services
including social rehabilitation, provision of tools and basic foodstuffs
and other goods.
Plans: The preparation of programs
and budgets to realise our current activities, including finding a sponsor
who can support us with funds.
Location (Mar 2000): Home of Mrs
Geborah behind the Becora SMKK, Jl STM, East Dili
Contact: East Timor: Filipe da
Silva, Asrama Gereja Geborah, Bekora, Depan STM Bekora, Jl. STM Bekora
Indonesia: Sister Avelina Simbolon, SUSTERAN
FCJM (SUMUT) Jl Viyata Yudha-Bah Kapul, Pematang Siantar 21139 SUMUT
East
Timor National NGO Forum / Forum Nacional ONG Timor Lorosa'e
Updated Sep 3
Umbrella agency for East Timorese Non-Government
Organisations (NGOs)
VISION: To contribute to the building
of a pluralist, democratic, just and sustainable East Timor through the
development of a strong, independent and responsible civil society committed
to upholding and making real in the daily life of the community, both village
and urban, the full range of human rights so that all East Timorese, particularly
the poor and disadvantaged, can enjoy the fruits of liberation and development
in an East Timor forever free.
MISSION: To realise its vision
by promoting a culture of learning, cooperation, partnership with the community
and respect for human rights and good practice amongst East Timorese NGOs
and between them and other development actors, both domestic and international,
and by serving as a collective, independent voice for the rights and needs
of the community.
VALUES AND PRINCIPLES: a rights
approach to development; inclusiveness, participation; accountability;
gender balance; respect for the environment; non-party political; non-sectarian;
good governance; volunteerism.
Kaikoli Street, Dili-East Timor
Telephone +670(390)322772
E-mail: etngocentre@hotmail.com
Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/etngoforum/index.html
See: BD:
East Timor National NGO Forum / Forum Nacional ONG Timor Lorosa'e (FONGTIL)
/ LSM-LSM Timor Loro Sa’e - A collection of recent media releases, position-statements,
speeches, petitions, reports, and news
See also:
BD: Calls for International War Crimes Tribunal - A collection of recent reports, articles and news