Aderito was responding to Jakarta’s comments over the weekend, after Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Melo had met Indonesian House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, that and ad hoc committee had been formed to look into the human rights cases.
While the Sahe Institute supported the initiative, Aderito, however, doubted the ability of the Indonesian legal system to deal with cases concerning crimes against humanity.
He said the Indonesian legal system was still developing and leaders in the country did not have the political will to deal with such cases. With the current political turmoil in Indonesia, said Aderito, the ad hoc committee will be given least priority.
“Let me be straight. Though I value Serio de Mello’s efforts in Jakarta, I still think in order to be effective the UN must give Indonesia a deadline to deal with the cases,” said Aderito.
Feb 14 SMH: UN credibility at
risk over war crimes, says Horta News
"If Indonesia fails to deliver justice then I don't see how the Security
Council can get away from creating a war crimes tribunal for East Timor.
... I am confident a war crimes tribunal remains a strong option.'' Jose
Ramos Horta, cabinet member for foreign affairs, UN-chaired East Timor
Transitional Administration (ETTA)
Feb 5 JP: James Dunn interview on
perpetrators of war crimes in Timor Interview
"As long as no one is made accountable
for war crimes in Timor, the blame will continue to be placed on Indonesia"
James Dunn, expert on crimes against humanity, UNTAET
Feb 2 ICG: Indonesia: Impunity
vs. Accountability For Gross Human Rights Violations Report
"The international community has a particular obligation to ensure
accountability for Indonesian perpetrators of serious crimes committed
in East Timor in 1999. It has a more general concern for accountability
because of its stake in democratisation and stability in an important country.
This requires a higher degree of international engagement in Indonesian
processes than might otherwise be normal or tolerable." International Crisis
Group (Brussels)
Feb 1 ETAN/U.S.: East Timor Still
Awaits Justice A Year After UN Call for International Tribunal
Release
"We are deeply disturbed that a year has passed since both [crimes
tribunal] inquiries and no steps have been taken to address these severe
human rights abuses with an international tribunal and no one has been
prosecuted in Indonesia," John M. Miller, East
Timor Action Network/U.S. (ETAN)
Jan 31 TAPOL: East Timor - Crimes
against humanity must not go unpunished Release
"Speedy justice and the ending of impunity are essential for peace
and reconciliation in East Timor and for democracy and stability in Indonesia,"
Paul
Barber, TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights
Campaign
Jan 30 CSM: Conviction in East
Timor Falls Short of Calls for Justice Article
"But no one in East Timor, thirsty for justice after a 24-year occupation,
is satisfied with the result. "We reject this verdict," said Catalina Pereira,
the victim's daughter, outside the courthouse. "So many men were slaughtered,
and this is it?" The dissatisfaction of Ms. Pereira and thousands of other
East Timorese illustrates how the effort to build a credible international
justice system is faltering across the globe. A combination of weak political
will, high costs, and poor coordination are hampering justice efforts from
East Timor to the former Yugoslavia." Dan Murphy
Dec
13 2000 SMH: East Timor - Empty Justice Editorial
"Indonesia is supposed to be bringing suspects to account for some
of the worst human rights abuses, including the massacre of priests, women
and children sheltering in a church in Suai and the murder of a Dutch journalist,
Sander Thoenes. The former armed forces chief, General Wiranto, has been
named by Jakarta as "morally responsible", but no charges have been laid
or cases mounted. This leaves East Timorese prosecutors with a credible
legal process but no significant suspects to try, and Indonesian prosecutors
with all the big suspects but no credible process. Jakarta is not willing
to extradite suspects to East Timor, and would have serious problems in
protecting witnesses in any trial of senior military officers in Indonesia."
Editorial, Sydney Morning Herald
Dec
6 2000 Times: Bishops call for international
tribunal to try war crimes in East Timor
Letter
"In Indonesia efforts
are being made to set up trials. But the conditions for them to be conducted
according to international standards do not exist and are unlikely to in
the near future. ... No healing process can start in the knowledge that
perpetrators will go unpunished. Justice is vital to East Timor's future,
and to the future of Indonesia, which is struggling to found a democratic
state based on the rule of law." David Konstant, Bishop of Leeds, Chairman,
Catholic Bishops' Conference Department of International Affairs &
Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford
Dec
2 2000 CCET: Christian churches call for justice and peace in East Timor
Statement
"The fabric of East Timorese society has been
torn and weakened by years of warfare waged by an occupying power. The
result is a society which is in desperate need of justice, in order to
build a lasting, and peaceful culture for the future based on democratic
principles, human rights and national reconciliation. In order to give
this a chance of success, the crimes against humanity perpetrated by the
East Timorese militias and their instigators in the Indonesian national
army (TNI) must be adequately prosecuted and the guilty brought to justice
without further delay." Christian Consultation on East Timor (statement
signed by 36 Christian organisations and churches)
Nov 29 2000 GLW: UN goes soft on
militias Article
"When asked about the security situation and the Indonesian government's
steps to try those responsible for human rights abuses, Andjaba replied
the government "has tried its best" and that "I don't think it is time
now for an international criminal tribunal". Andjaba's comments echo those
of UN representatives and Western governments throughout the year: in the
face of mounting evidence to the contrary, they are defending the Indonesian
government's position that it alone should conduct investigations into
the post-ballot violence in East Timor and bring those responsible to justice.
It looks unlikely that those ultimately responsible, including former TNI
head General Wiranto, will face trial. Or if they do it will be a long,
drawn out process open to manipulation." Jon Land