Global Policy Forum

East Timor has rejected calls for the creation of a United Nations tribunal to deal with Indonesia's failure to punish any military or police personnel over the carnage unleashed in the period surrounding the territory's 1999 vote for independence. The establishment of an international tribunal to try Indonesian troops could jeopardize relations between the two nations, cause political instability in Indonesia and threaten the war on terror, East Timor Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta said Monday.

"The government of East Timor does not contemplate lobbying for an international tribunal to try the crimes of 1999 because we know this would undermine the existing relations between the two countries," he was quoted as saying by Reuters. "We know it could be manipulated by certain elements in Indonesia itself and create a backlash against the United Nations and the international community, even against the government of the day in Indonesia," he added. His comments come after an Indonesian appeals court overturned the convictions of three soldiers and a policeman found guilty of crimes against humanity. The ruling, details of which were announced late last week, means Indonesia has failed to punish any of its security forces for the 1999 violence that resulted in about 1,500 deaths.

Local and international human rights groups, including New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), have urged the UN to form a tribunal to deal with the abuses. "The support of the United States, Japan, Australia and the European Union countries will be essential in this effort," HRW said a statement over the weekend. Ramos-Horta said East Timor would prefer to see the creation of an international truth and reconciliation commission, rather than a court. "At least it would give some comfort to the victims that truth is acknowledged by the international community," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.

"We are certainly touched by the concern and the care of these NGOs, members of the US Congress and others that are demanding justice through an international tribunal… [But] they must also understand the enormous difficulties and predicament that Timor is in. That in this current climate of the fight against international terrorism, and the need to avoid further exacerbating the tensions that exist in Indonesia itself, the Timorese side would prefer not to push for an international tribunal," he added.