Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA1416
2008-07-23 09:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
TIMOR-LESTE: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS PRAISE--AND
how-toVZCZCXRO4055 PP RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #1416/01 2050930 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 230930Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9618 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5233 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2814 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1148 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1116 RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 0972 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2040 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 3887 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4766 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2269 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2875 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 2831 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 0982 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7808 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0933 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
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).
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
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