Military

10 March 2005

U.S. Welcomes Formation of Indonesia-East Timor Truth Commission

State Dept. says joint effort can achieve accountability, reconciliation

The United States welcomes a decision by the governments of Indonesia and East Timor to form a joint commission to investigate human rights violations committed when the East Timorese voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a March 9 statement.

"The Commission [on Truth and Friendship] can be an important component of the overall effort to achieve accountability and reconciliation," Boucher said. 

He encouraged the new bilateral commission to coordinate with the United Nations Commission of Experts, which is expected in May to complete an investigation of the atrocities.

Following is the text of the State Department statement:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC

March 9, 2005

East Timor and Indonesia Form Commission on Truth and Friendship

The United States welcomes the formation by East Timor and Indonesia of a Commission on Truth and Friendship (CTF).  We support the countries' desire to strengthen their democracies, promote reconciliation, and bring closure to the human rights violations committed in East Timor in 1999.  The Commission can be an important component of the overall effort to achieve accountability and reconciliation.  The recommendations of the United Nations Commission of Experts, which is expected to complete its work in May, will be another key element in this endeavor. 

We encourage the two commissions to coordinate closely.  There needs to be a partnership between East Timor, Indonesia, and the international community.  Internationally recognized accountability for the 1999 human rights violations, including finding the truth and identifying the perpetrators, will assist these two new democracies to move forward and achieve their many shared objectives.  The United States will follow the work of the two commissions with great interest. 

2005/303

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)