TIMOR-LESTE: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS PRAISE--AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001416 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/ANP, DRL, DRL/AWH, NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM ID TT SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS PRAISE--AND CRITICIZE--COMMISSION REPORT REF: A. JAKARTA 1385 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. DILI 183 AND PREVIOUS JAKARTA 00001416 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Local human rights groups have praised the GOI's support for the Commission on Truth and Friendship (CTF) report documenting violence in East Timor. That said, they say the report--which was released last week--does not go far enough. They urge that the GOI hold individuals responsible for the violence and prosecute them. The Indonesian government plans to invite activists to a meeting to discuss the report. A high-level GOI official told us that the government is reviewing the report's recommendations and plans to implement them. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) REACTING TO THE REPORT: Local human rights activists are reacting to last week's release of the CTF report. (Note: The CTF findings and recommendations were formally accepted by Indonesian President Yudhoyono and Timor-Leste President Ramos-Horta on July 16. The report acknowledged Indonesia's responsibility for gross human rights violations committed in East Timor--see reftels.) Activists with non-governmental organizations expressed concern re the report in a meeting with diplomats which was attended by poloff on July 22 and in other discussions. (Note: The activists represented various groups, including Human Rights Working Group, the Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence and the International Center for Transitional Justice.) ¶3. (C) The activists--while noting that there were positive aspects to the report--expressed concern that it did not go far enough in addressing accountability for perpetrators of gross human rights violations. They urged that the GOI hold individuals responsible for the violence and prosecute them. Activists told poloff that while the findings of the CTF report were largely accurate and constructive, it was the case that the process remained "incomplete." ¶4. (C) They also asserted that the CTF report "marginalized" the victims of human rights violations because the CTF process limited witness testimony during public hearings. Thus, they claimed, not all the victims were allowed to express and document their concerns. They said they were pleased the report identified pro-Jakarta militia groups as the main perpetrators of crimes and also acknowledged the material and financial support provided by the Indonesian military (TNI). ¶5. (C) GOI REACHES OUT: The GOI is reaching out to the human rights community. One activist told us that Foreign Minister Nur Hassan Wirajuda had plans to invite members of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU),CTF commissioners, journalists, and human rights organizations to DEPLU for a dialogue regarding the implications of the report. No date has yet been scheduled for the meeting. ¶6. (C) NEXT STEPS: In a July 23 meeting, a GOI official told Pol/C that the government is reviewing the report's recommendations and plans to implement them. (Note: The report's recommendations include mandated human rights training, creation of a commission to investigate disappeared persons and the establishment of support services for victims.) Ambassador Albert Matondang of the Coordinating Ministry of Political, Legal and Security Affairs, related that the CTF report was "very constructive." He believed that it had helped set the stage for better relations with Timor-Leste. JAKARTA 00001416 002.2 OF 002 ¶7. (C) Pol/C noted that the USG welcomed reconciliation, too, and thought positively about the report. Pol/C asked whether the GOI was taking the next step and was moving to implement the report's recommendations. Matondang said the government plans to do so, but needs to do further review of modalities. This process would take time, he concluded. HUME