Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Berlin

On the 15 July 2008 in Bali, the Leaders of the Republic of Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste received the report of the Commission of Truth and Friendship created by the two nations.

Based on the two countries’ shared experience, and motivated by their strong desire to move forward, Indonesia and Timor-Leste are determined to bring to a closure a chapter of their recent past through joint efforts, including through the establishment of the Commission of Truth and Friendship.

Being the first ever bilateral commission established in the world, the Commission’s membership comprised of ten commissioners, five from each country, as well as six alternates, three respectively. The composition of the Commission was diverse; they ranged from various legal and human rights backgrounds, academics as well as community and religious leaders.

As mandated by the two countries’ Leaders, the Commission was set with the task of establishing the conclusive truth in regard to the events prior to and immediately after the Popular Consultation in 1999, with a view to further promoting reconciliation and friendship, and ensuring the non-recurrence of similar events.

The mandate was carried out in accordance with the principles of inter alia, the complexity of the transitional situation in 1999; non-judicial process; and an emphasis on institutional responsibility. It had the mandate to (i) reveal the factual truth of the nature, causes, and extent of reported violations of human rights that occurred in the period leading up to and immediately following the popular consultation in East Timor in August 1999; (ii) issuing a report, to be made available to the public; and (iii) devising ways and means as well as recommending appropriate measures to heal the wounds of the past, to rehabilitate and restore human dignity.

In their efforts to reach agreement on the conclusive truth, the Commissioners admitted that moral courage, humility and wisdom were essential in enabling them to release their emotional ties. The Commissioners realized that they did not intend to state their findings as absolute truth since their belief was that the truth belongs to God. The Commissioners also reached a conviction that in looking at events of the past, no one could claim absolute righteousness and attribute to other parties absolute blame or wrongdoing, including international community. They also underlined that it takes courage to accept and admit past wrong doings and to turn them into valuable assets for the better future of the both nations.

On the occasion of the Hand-over of the Report, the Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste delivered their remarks and signed a Joint Statement. Those inter alia stated that they were inspired by a strong determination to move forward in order to strengthen peace and friendship as well as with the spirit and noble resolve to learn from that past. The Leaders of the two States are determined to bring to a closure the countries’ recent past through joint efforts.

The Leaders of Indonesia and Timor-Leste expressed their acceptance of the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Commission. On the same occasion, the Governments of the two countries recognized that violations of human rights occurred prior to and immeadiately after the popular consultation in 1999 in East Timor. The Leaders also expressed their remorse to all those who suffered immeasurable pain and physical and psychological wounds as direct or indirect victims of violations of human rights that occurred in the period leading up to and immediately following the Popular Consultation in East Timor in August 1999.

The Leaders committed themselves to the faithful implementation of the Commission’s recommendations and to taking other necessary initiatives to further friendship and reconciliation between the peoples of the two countries. The implementation of the Commission’s recommendations will be integrated in a Plan of Action with emphasis on victims’ oriented programs in the framework of the existing bilateral cooperation mechanism.

Denpasar, 15 July 2008

Source : Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia