Chapter 12 - Secretaria de Estado da Cultura - Timor-Leste

Chapter 12 

From East Timor to Timor-Lcste: A De monstration of the 

Limits oflnternational Lalv in the Punuit ofJusticc 

L lntrodlctio. 

\ÁIhcn thc Rome Staruteolthc Intcrnational CriminrlCoun cntcrcd into lorce onr 

July:oo: the Secretan-Gcneral oí thc Unitcd Nations (SC) strtcd n rra-. r hctori. 

occasion rs the Statutc rcallrmcd'thc ccotralin ofthc rolc oflai! in inrcnàtirlrll 

rclations' and cspou scd thc purisc of a rvorld ín rvhich the pcrtetretors oi ger o 

cide, crimc". agrínÍ hummiÍxnd{d crimes are prosecured${en individ!il Stxtes 

are unable or u.$'illing to bÍi.g then ro justi.e. l-imLln rccording to thc SCl, it rlso 

pÍovided'the woÍld r potcntixl dctcrrcnt to ftfluc atrocitics.' Whilc thr SG rvrs 

pcrhaps bcine orcrll optimistic, his vic$s rcflect recent derelopments in the cer 

tio! ofa slstcm ofintcrnrtional criminaljL6tice.'nle adoption ofthe Rone Strtute. 

thc crcation ofth. ad hoc tribunals for rhe firrmeÊYugoslavia xnd Rlranda, valnnrs 

doncstic cffons to remor nnfunim d the actions ofdre inteÍrationrl communit1 

ln phces such as Sieía Leone, C.rnrbodia, and lGsovo, hare all contfibuicd io thc 

riew th.u those resp.,nsible fo. seÍious violnions ofintcrmtional laiv rdll bc brought 

It is dso possiblc to tdd East Timo/Timor Lcste to this list oleramples i. 

uppon of thc dcvclopmcnts in intcrn.tionrl criminil iusii.e xs the everts rrhich 

unfoldcd in thc tcrritoc during 1999 shocked t11e conscience ofmÀ.ki..l hÍ their 

senseles bntalio and brought about e nnge ofintennionÈl responses thrt vcrc 

iiiti l) intended to ensrre those respo.sible rrere brought tojusticc. Howcvcr, thc 

situntion in llst limor in 1999 ard thc cfforts rakcn to prcsccutc thosc resplsible 

also shorv thc limitations ofany advanccs in intcrnrtioMl clnnha1 lxr{ Destite tle 

cristcncc ofclcar oidcncc ofscrious violation s ofnrrerniiional hurnar rights lrd 

humenituien la\l along with thc spccific idcnrilication of those lndiliduals who rre 

criminrLllr. rc sponsiblc, vcry 1in1c has bccn donc to biing ccrtÀin individu.ls 1,r jus 

r 'lLere nust be no reienting in Àghr agxnsr imtnniqt sxv! Sccrcin Cene.J ds 

lnrnxtbn,l Crinin,l Cou.r Romc ShnÍc con,cs inro forcc. UN Pre$ Relexse SG./ 

S-\ll/str!I rJxlt zooz. x\anxble xr hftt:/^t\srun.ofs/Nov!Pr$s,/do.s12oo:/sgsm829j- 

r 'ILe Í.te ol lnnor L6r Í6 decLded.n ro Xlxr'2oo2. in rhis !r!d tr urirory 1vill 

be .ie,igDated l-.$ l nnor prior t. rhc dft ind Timor Lsf ftcr thi. datc. \\rherc rhe 

diso,sion inmlres stnts i! the tefit{)Ir b.t]r |.io. xnd xírd th dxft ofindeleidcice 

Ein Tnnor/Tmor Leste {il1be used. 

J^. Dri t .i. li:). 11\. L.Ei Rcgnr. ol th. lCC: E*:,r! n, Honou .i Pr.t l.P Bhh.le.to 

OKni lit. Btll \ L h intti ir nt !\Íht.tdnt\ rx|:9.3e..t róJ.,r9,tl Í1 !r 

Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1343420

256 RitÀdrd ButÀil 

ticc. I! particuiar indiliduals locatcd in hdoncsia, in.ludins politicd ind miiitan 

lerden, rvho havc bccn idcntific.t as bcarnig rcsponsibiliq for thc dcrth and dcstructio. 

drai !?s broueht ullon thc tcritd] in 1999 rcmÀin at libcrt\:Thc intcrnaiional 

re$orse to rhe viole.ce in 1999 brought about internrilonaiizcd or h]órid crlminil 

Íibunalu'hich can be see! as ar lnnomtiv€ tool i! th. Êght agelnst im|unihri\i ihe 

sllme tiJne the context Nithln \rhich thc intcrnitionalized iribunel operàted mxde 

cled rh!r, dependlnguton ihe cír.umstarces at the time,ímpunih stillprevrils. 

'lhe 6ght,giinst inpunl$ for rhose responsible ràr internationd .Íimes is ! 

complcx process ànd deslite the rh€tóÍi. on the imfortance of ensuÍj.g jl1stice. it 

is far from an absolutc proccss. lhc purnit ofjLrsticc jn intcrn.ltiond crimhxl he', 

undcrstood manrlv as tirc rcmoial of nnpuih fo. thosc rcsponsiblc,lus to compctc 

s'ith a rangc of othcr paths h rhc rcsolutior of conflicts.'Ihc usc ollarv andjudicirl 

frocesses is not Jxays fic most cíIcctivc wav of dc.lins vith posÈcooflicr situations. 

SoDeiimcs it is dccmcd ncccsary to blpas thc usc of1cgal prcsccuiions às lt 

is felt the tursuit of frosccution 1vil1 potcntiallï crcatc morc conflict and prevent anv 

tnte long teín resolution. Á lso the fllrsuit ofjustice does not occur in a vacuum and 

the rcàlities ofthe suÍÍou. ding .ircumsran.es and frevxiling i.ieÍest in the internr 

tional rystcmÍilhavc x m.rjor influerrce. lt is eàsv to sry thàt prosecutions rhouid be 

pursued*hcn therc ue scrious liolations of intcrnatjonal hlman rights and hunin 

itxrian 1ai{ But the pursuit ofiusti.c involv.s a rangc ofoften competing priorities 

thÀt miv reslilt in tÍoseNdon beíng sidehred in favour ofother neans of dealing 

qith the pÀst and prving rhe wal tàr dre tumre. 

As Nith most áre.rs olinternationÀl1arv there erist r rumber ofpotentially con 

tradictdv 6rccs at Íork in the pursuit ofjustice.ln the 6eld of internàtioD.] crininaljusticc 

formcrUnitcd Státcs Presidcnt Bill Clinton dticulatcd thc contradictions 

rrel] r-hen he stated ''Iherc must bc pcacc forjusticc to prcrail but thcrc must beju* 

tice vher texce tieYalls ', 'Ihe problcm ls horv can rou achíevc p€ace rnd o\€rlook 

the denxnds ofjusticel Oi itpexce is xchieved lvhat is the point ofpursuingjustice 

if th.u Í only going to upset ihe Uere?'Ihe events surrolLndiig East Timoi derl 

onst te the interphy ofthese cortÍ.]dictions xnd fuÍtheimore show thlt the íin|l 

outcomc is likclv to bc dictàted more about eDsuring pelcetul rclations among statcs 

o\er rhe d€mrnds oijusdcc for individuals. thc ocnts and thc intcrnational rcac 

tion shows clearlï rhrt impunitl has ver to bc dcfcatcd in thc internatioral svstem, 

solnethi.g any proponert otinternàtlonal criminÍiuÍicc should pause and ielleci 

on belore ,rÍticulallng anÍ claims ofthc dcvclopmcnt of intcrnarional 1xv in frvour 

At the silJJre tim e, one co!]d perhaps arpe that East Tinr or/Timor Leste is ao 

rnomàh:, àn €xception to rhe gereÍ,i trend. Bur then thls rvould le,td to Írore worwing 

conclusions about thc abiliti oi intcrnrtional lxi{ to bc a forcc for jLrsticc .s 

its xpflicxtion ro the teÍitol Timor alvrys secms to inrolve erccptions to rvhat are 

peÍceived to be donimnt piin.iples gliding internatioral behaviour'IIe pist xnd 

present historr ofErst Timo/Tinor Leste tells us i lot abou! dre histot ofinter 

nnionàl hs ànd ÍeLàtions and the lvavs h \4rich rhe inteÍests ofthe porverful pre 

vdl. evei h the face ofgrave nijustnres. Pet€r CaÍe) has connented thàt with lir.t 

QlLoÈd n, Dlvid Sdrfd, Irtdn.ti.nil lldi.id intrvcntion. -Falc'lr /r'li.r, Sfrnig 

Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1343420

Fran Ldn TitnoÍ ta T;t".r L. 25i 

'fiftor'the veí n,lnc has no{ becone s}.o.vtuous Nith cthnocidc, 'Ihi.d World 

coionirLism and the crushing of a people in thc intcrcsts oí aalTalrn}.' 'Ilis statc 

mcnt camc bcforc thc ciuts of i999 but unfortunatch ir rcnains cqualll'peni 

ncnt todal: dcmonstrating thc limirs ofintcrnational law to bring about change that 

farcurs thc nrrcrcsts ofindnidud liuman bciqs ovcr thc intcrcsrs ofpovcrtul and 

'Ihis contribution will cxaminc the otnts taking placc in 1999 and the response 

of thc intcrnrtional comnuniry in thc puruit of internxtlon.l .rimlnal juÍice. The 

response to the viohibn! ol internxthnx! lNr in 1999 is pert of a long pettern of 

iidiÊèrence shoNn bi ihe interDationxl srstem to events in Eàst Tinror/ l inoÊ Lestc 

inloiving behÀviouÍ thf rur corÍlr! to Àccepted ihternrdond lcErl principlcs.This 

co.tribution beejns Í.ith r bricíe\!hination ofthc histon oíLast Timor rLp ro 1999. 

highlighting thc vrriois in5ranccs $-hcrc ii is íclt iDtcrnational lxN tài1cd to rddr.ss 

thc scvcrc iliusticcs brouglt upon thc rcriton Thc discusion will thcn morc to 

thc erenti oí 1999 rnd the responses ràich folloircd, conccntrating on thc appar 

crt rmilJingness oI thc UN" and kcy strtcs to rddrcs ihc issuc of lnpunih with 

rcgard to thosc írthclndoncsirn nilitar and gorcrnncriÍ'lro hàvcbeer fou.d to be 

direcilï responsible for a cxtalogue ofserious liolrtiorrs ofirteÍnarional crínirnl l.r$r 

fl:rroughout the papeÍ it uill be kept jn mind th.n thc.c cxists a bxsic tcnsion in thc 

internrtionrl systcm bmvecn tle find.uncntxl conccpts of statc sovcrignh and th€ 

puruit oiconmunal goals uch rs jrmticc and human riglits protcction- Bui inÍead 

oijLst acccptinq this tcnsion rs inclitablc, quostions wil1be raised about the level of 

commitment there is in thc so called 6ght agínst nnpmiqr Pr*icular focus ril1be 

given to the role ofrhe LN in rhis UÍocess rs it rot on\ represe'rts the conscien.e of 

tlie internatjon.rl syste'n it rlso hrs a Íole of ensurhg uliversal standarrls arc ncr ci-cn 

$'hen pojiticd interests de hcld to be nore hportant than thc pursuit ofiusticc. 

II- HistoÍical Rackground 

thc history ofEast Timor arld its posítlon in the lvorld hN, ior rhe most part, been 

sculpted b,v other states, à trerd whi.h cortirues to the tresent teÍiod ofjndcpcndence. 

lÏroughout thn hiÍo.) the Íbility of intcrnatioD.l hiv to rcsÍ.h thc sc]fintcrcstcd 

bch:ryioLr ofoutsidcrs xnd support thc wishcs and dcsircs olth€ people 

ofEast Thor/Timor-Lcstc hrs bccn scvcrclv limitcd.lrom its position in the Far 

D.st spicc tndc !p to its crcnturl indcpcndcncc thc fortuncs and r sfortuncs ofthe 

territorr hor bccr licarilr dcpeldent upon thc proailing attitudcs and aciions of 

oursidc actors, whosc bchaviour has not bccn mukcd b] anl' dl"qccrdlte principled 

bellefs or adherence to legal stendrds. 

'llre teÍitorv \1,as colonlsed by the Portuguese and the Drtch h thc crrry rjoo! 

rvith the initiàl exploitrtion ofthc trdc in smddwood s'hich ms a dcsncd conmod 

P*er Cder, 'Ile Èrging of x tr.tbn: Êst'fi!ror'in Cdev rnd C. CÍd BoÍhr, cds. 

LrjTi"w at tÀ. Cns".atl::7b. l:rtgins,í d j-rtia iLonàol: Casell, 1995) p. r. 

See Bruce BroomhdL,1,i.',dti'ndl.fus!b dnd tÀt Ltlendtí."d|Cti nln Ca"É lO'1.Íá: 

Orford llnjversiÍ Pre$, róo:); Sinon Clesteman, 'Rough inÍice: eÍablishins thc rule 

olrlt l.f inrosr coliicr ieÍrrotrei )a aÀia Stdk kx dtor Di$ut? tuvtlti."$aót)r.

itï t;on thc nhnd. The r8j9 Tre.rtr of Lisbon senled the c.'lonirL contol over thc 

ishrLl ofTinor giring t|e Dut h the \Veltern pdt rnd the Pormgucsc the Ëest.Ihc 

qcoqr.rfhical posirjon oirl)e rcdton Ias nant that conceh! olcr intcrnrtioliàl secn 

ri$ in the r€gior l^rt Ud a drcct iorprct or thc tcriÍ'nr DuiDg thc Sc.lid \\'"íLl 

\\i.. the reritorvrv.6 as stfÀrcgiullv i.nportant due i(, iti proxmitl to -{uitrilir, 

"eÈn 

mi(irlg it a pimc lo.ation {or stopping rnl Japrnese adr-mce. Aftcr the lprnesc 

rttaek on Pe!Í1 llafbouÍ, Dutch xn.l AuÍÍrliàn hoops occufied Erst Timo. a! p.rrt of 

fr. fmptive movc agxirst theJxpancse. DL,nngWoÍld War lJ Portugal hrd dechÍed 

nextrili$ $'hich e\rcrdd to rnl' colonirl ÍerÍitorics undcr its control'Ihc ncutÍirl 

stÀnr. olPoixqll ,nexrt rhàr its ternofl Nis Dot to be xscd b1 rhe heillg.r.nt\ rr tl)( 

.onii.t, somcthing $hich rvr! ignóred b! th€ Allies srdr dre .trfnrtoithe Dur.h and 

Austrxlirn tioops. ln responsc thc lrtan.se uscd thc tÍesen.e oithc ÀlLied iorr. rs 

a prctext for aD invashn in Fcbrulrr r9ar.lhc Jrprnese o.c(picd the ie.riroi.r lrnti1 

Scptc'nber ig+i and tl'e occlpation tegine rvas brutal rs tlrr: pcoplc of East Trmor 

pàiJ the fÍicc for whri i|c Japancse conrlJcrcd to bc aci. iD slrpport of the -Ules. 

Apnin),rtel) io - óo,ooo Tímorese hid lost drcir live' is i 'ennt ofthe Jilpoer 

o..upari,rn.md dr.r. $a5 widÈsfrctrJ.lcÍru.tian ol1-ilhg.s'-lhe corrribuídr oi the 

E,L\rTmorcse to the {]licd w elïort1us onh recei!€d cursorr ackno$4edgme[t. 

,{r rhe conclusnrn of \\\\u Il the European colonirt powers assuncd thcy 

lv.n,ld Íegxin control of thcir o\-erseas teritorics, $'hile the tcrritories i. qucstion, 

cmboldened bl thc rlrenric of sclf-deterrrination emrnaÍir{ from the reell .rc- 

!rcd trN. fuJsued indcpeDdence.In rhe crse ollndoÍc\ià, the Devl].indcpetd.Dl 

strre consisted oirhc Èrmer teÍiro.ies !atire Dutch Eisr Indies xnd d ooi ntrlude 

Erst Timor $.hich ..naincd under P.rnLg!6e control. ln 1960 the governmcnt oi 

In.Lon€sia sratcd i! th. LN Gcreral Assembly (GÀ) 

We arc dcclaring thc right olthe Indoncsian people to be sovcrcign ,rnd indc 

pcn dent withni r1lt|É r€rrltorr. forneÍlr .ovcrcd bv the tr-etherlands Ilasthdies.Wc 

do not mlke afl. clàin) Lr ar1} otheÍ pàrt ni tlic Indonesià. rr.hipciago. IndóDesia 

.\irL.itll .loes ii,r nrle rnr.lam xt xll t.r reÍnon s!.h 15 rhrt in DoDfo or'fiDor 

d\rt Lics ivjthin dr€ Indonesian archLpchgo, but rvas nor Frft of fic Nerhlrlands 

For EastTimor the continuàtion oiPortugrc\e nennt rh. continued exflonetio'r 

oltheland forcrlh crops and the use ofcompulsorr LrboLu írom the indigeDous 

pofuhtjon, no rcal c|rrge from the t),ree hundrcd )'er. oi.oloni.l rule rhlr pre 

ccdeJ t|t rvar Pormi.rl was not wcll bo\LD lirr its cllr,ni.l !\rli.ics rnd ther. rv.s 

tinic r1Írrn at dcvrL.'pirg rnr ofits !ï.'sens territo.ics rnd throughout rhc eoLonirL 

fc.nd theÍe vis $il-!(ale bur sustanr.d resistmcc to thc Po.tugucsc. CljltrL the 

rcnrotcrcss olÈast Tnnor dre ieritofl \ras certainlv loiv orr the ]ií oftrioÍitics foÍ 

lM\ \r LrÍ /-;nr 11 tlt. C,?$rr,/,,l. !: Joln Tiylór, I ei"-ttri' .Íà\!atíl" Dr.: I/t. 

:1 /'.-h.t. /F':1.. I.C{ i/.JB l ó/l , 

S.c,lohn I'il€Í, D!'n,/ t t. (Lo..1.n, VLntJge ,994) ft..r_ :j3. 

(rN. G,{OR, rí1, Sss., (88811tlcn. mrg.r atr, Í aj,, U.N. t)o.. h96.1 

^/IJ\'.33i 

TNLlltulut:iiji[aíttn tdr, p. Í a 

O i tl[ .onrnial p od scc l:^.\lat, InnoÉia\ .f.tgrÍte n u r d, Td Il lian.o Noi:! ci.x. 

11. Ltniítd Ndtn'ni n,n P.ttugdl.l i\tr,i n Áfti C,1r,tdr,,i íl,ordo!: Sid$rcl rnd

ft.n tdí Ti,t./ la'finot Lttte:Á Dffió|+:li6:totlafthèJ:trí41Í ,59 

PoÍtugal. Poriugal hrd d€.lucd its oversers posscssnrns to be prolinccs and therefr,Íe 

n.Í coloni.s. in attcmpl ro rejecr tlic ob|grrions thaiw.rc energing ii Íb( intcrnàtion.l 

:15rédi .t)n,1ininr (le.ol.n;srrio.. I. rhe r9a)os l,-..r1 iiíolrp! i. Ilssr TimdÍ 

began ègiÈting rnor€ \oritcr.usiv for dr( eud ofcolonirl aLc od in r9;+ r n€w governmcnt 

cxne to powcr in Pornigal and bcgan the procesr ofdccolonisrtioD. 

Às the decolonisatior process got uDdcr 1và\'in Easr Timor à vrrie$ ofpoliÈ 

ical faction' lormcd. Tf,e lerding gronps to emerge nrhrdcd FRETII.IN, r'hich 

:dromtttl irdependcrcc li)r lai,t TiÍnori IrDl', wlrirlr rr lirst preicrred corrinucJ 

.ssociatu'n with PortugJ $'idr a gradul morc to inJcp.nd.ncc bui lxter lharg.d 

its posltior and àlig'red li.Lth a third grout ,q?ODD'I'I. \'hich fa\ourcd niregrlrion 

Nith Indor€sia. As tensioDs among these eÍoups incrersed rluough r9;a and 1975 

e spljt enerqcd bctÍecn I--RETILIN Ar)d i IIDT/APODEI'j coalition In 1975 a 

.nil Nàr brokc ounrirl) ÈRETILIN clcriruilh overpowfrjng rle I JDT,\PLIDETI 

coalitiod. A FRETII,IN l.d governmcft Jc.lared índcpfndence toi rh. IJ.mo.ràtjc 

Rcpublic ofËast Timor oq ,8 Novembc. l(nd the nex'sLltc rcportedlÍ r€.en-cd rccognition 

flon ri stircs at the time. ' 

Earlv on in the nrdqrrndence movÊD(nt lndonesn .ontinucd tó e\pre$ thc 

\ie!Í Ilst iI ÍrpportÉd s.L:dct.rminrrió. for East Tinr-r iDd bld no rnrcniio.! 

of inte dt nnrg. ' José 

R rrnos Hota, rur r ent Forci3r }linister of Tnnof- L.Íc, hÀ 

writtelr àL)out hls mcctiriss in 1974 vith rhe thcn Indoncsi.n \linister of Forcign 

An'aÍs. Adrm Malik rvhere he rvas givcn rerssrranccs thatlndonesia lvould suppo.t 

rhe FRETI IJN eftrts. lhljk fro\'ídcd i letteÍ tha! {is larcr trànsnitlcd io dic 

ExstT'morese plul.Íi{)n thrl stlrted: 

Thc G.rgnmenr ofI1,J.n6i. untjl no( nrll.dhere! ro ihe folloNins frin. Ltles: 

I. th i ndcpeldence of cydv c.nltq is tlt risht of sE) nxrion, eit! no q.eption 

foi tl,. fcode ofTimor 

II 'Di. G.ferllreDt j! \.ll .. tLe róplÈ !iItulonc"n hle no irtentio,, Í, xrcr.ije 

oi t!.xtldd then i.Ínorj,.r to or.upt (thrr tctri!.rici \rrhc. rnu s'h.( '. Íi|ulated 

Ld th.ir Consdntrr,n. 

IIL ... whoev{ rviLl eo\rrn i! TnDor in thc tuture a1i{ n,dtpcidence,.nn be ósuicd 

that dk Gor{nnenr oflidole,ia lvill ihlds Írn€ i! nràinr.in go.d rlarins, 

lrieiJ\l,j!.. rnd coopd.(ron ír the bcnrlir.firoih Íi,nrÈs. 

Holcver, dre emer.rcncc .,f I,-RETILIN $ rhe lerding poliricrl ficrn),r in thc tcr 

ritory crerted a good dc.tl of.oncern t-or Indoresià "nd rts icrding dhi $e LrSÀ.Ir 

$as t-clt tf,rt FRETILIN Md communisr tcndc.cies x.d Indoncsix, which hrdjust 

Í ar.tr.riltr sec Noskirtr. k. Urn..!.\itn)., and P.:ti r.t,:. 

D Tr.r1, Í, Intldtsk: jàt.!arot ttt, zbzi. 

rl RogcrCIÈL'The de.oLoniTltio,i'of Ebt Tiror ind tlc Udted Nnions r.ims.n rlf 

derenn inltioÀ xnd aggre$iri n 7 \ilt .hai t tdt .l LLind Prt)11.. Or,l'r Geso) t. s, n.r rr. 

r4 See rncn'cns tn la\)'Í. lnt'n6;d\ l,rte, a!f, :ó:r. there n ilv, .idcn.e ot' 

Iid,rsj.D j,teFd in ir,c rd.iron r thir 1jfic, Roqd ClÍl- EN TiiD.Ird.!e\ià, 

d.l ihc inknrxi nrl nnnm@tn r] ThlL ktÈna1toltt dulCor,?tt.d!. Ldti.Jrn-nl 

ri J osó RdG H.rtr, L, u 7h. U)i;n{hed Snsn aJ LdÍ 7 ir"r (La\rren.ciLlc: ïrc ltcd Sex 

PÉs!, re$7) m.4,-aj

26D Ri.bard E,rthil 

undc.txke! :1 m$sive puíge oi.,)mmunisc, lvas unscttled b]'thc pÍostcct ol.r corn 

nNnist teÍrihí on its boÍder. This posltion wrs sup|o|ted by thc USA \}.ho w.rs srili 

je.liDs the snn.g oÍirs losscs in Vicr Nin ind conrj'nrcd Ír l).n'c sÍareric íntcrÉÍs 

in the rcglon. Whilc ttLe polrticalagcndr of FRETTUN d not rdhere .o an! !'n 

of Írict comniunist docÍine, irs atrcrtion to social espccts conÍruniry blied 

prcgramme< 1cd to its classificrtion as such. If this cnrironmcnt the existcnce of 

regimc thrr us iclr t.r havc .ortrmunjsr iqclinxrjons coold fl(,t bc r.rie frted, .csxrd 

1es of anv principles oísclf-dete.ninati.,n or dccotonisatjon. 

Às cveDrs urfoldcd in tlic reÍitoryit soon bcclne clc.r llur Indonesi, \Las not 

g.iog .o rdhcrr r., rlt. píin.iplcs ir sraÍ.d Itlorc rhc G.\ rrd in the ll.lik lÉÍtlr 

E-trlr in r9;j Indonesia underld)k r Iniliti$ exercisc rvhich is bclieved to liarc been 

a {imul:rtio. for rn athck or EastTirror rnd prep,rrtiors s'erc bcnrg madc in West 

'fnnoÍ Àr rlpportiÍ,q in invrsnD ofthÉ ciÍern tàrt olthe rcrriron. L)drcr sirrcs 

oradc cle.lr thcir suffort for Indolesir iaatr ilvnsn)o of EastTmor btcamc nece: 

sasr Thc lndoncsixn Presidenr had met tle À!stralian Prine.Vlinister in Scpternber 

r9;a rnd reponcdlr' securcd Ausliiliis àc.eptmiie oI Ersr Timor beconing prn of 

lndonesia. 'lle UK had erprcsed thc vicr thet [sr Tinrr s,rLs nor r.rpóle oi s.Li: 

dctcrminaiion rld rhit i.tegririon with Indonesia rr$ to bc llpfoÍted.Iír conilict 

Nis to encrllc the. it 1Írs importdnt, jr, rh. Nords of a British diplonat to Ltcp 

oLrr hcrd,i J,xvn àod .rvoid si&is asaid{ rhc hdoncsia. (;,\r.nniedi. h Aogun 

19;5 the US ambassador to laklna expre$cd the !ic\y tb.rt ro Indonesien invrsi.n 

oi EastTimoÍrvas tu be quick rnd ctlectn'c, but \as not to Le undcrtaken vitl LIS 

.!Ju, n.nt. Futh.r .omplirin oi thc LrS in Indoretir! pl"Ds t,) iru dc E isr TinroÍ 

lus come ro Light from declassilicd memo\ rla! dcrlil the convcrsatioÈ beflleer US 

Pi(sjdent Gcrald Ford, Secrerarv oi State llcnrv Kissinger and Indonesian Presidcnt 

Suhirto Nho Ncre me.ting in IDdoJle\iàirNt beii,n the invr{j('n i. I)e.c,nber r,-i. 

r\r this meetine Suhrrro càlle.loo the US,\to un.leistand rhÀrith.d tr,icomc re.essrryto 

tàke 'draÍic .rction jn ordcr to'esÍxblisf perce and oÍderin E.rsrTimor.-lhe 

Íest'onsc of $c US leiJ crs las rvc under*and the |roblcm rnd thc inientior s \ ou 

hive', bur fcquestcd (lut Indoresia hol.l ol{on inv rctiotr until fi.v hld rerumed 

home to bcfteÍ managc dre situation.' 

On 7 Dcccmber re:5, ,rs Lrd .rnd l(ssinger 11$' out f.r'n JrkaÍra. Indonenèn 

Íoops oióled inro Ean Tnror in r,:le.u uolari,rn ofnrtenutiond legJ nllci on 

the use of iircc and t\c denld of selÈdctcrmirrÍion. Tle invasion of East'I'nnor 

imolved r massive show offorcc and Nis brur,! in its conduct rvith no rceard to 

Cre rclcr.rnt lors of ur rcArll:ling the c^Dduct of h ostilitier. 'nrc IndoDÈsi.n Íro':,1x 

'6 On ibÈ foLiticaldo.tÍine sd R? riortl oÍrr, F,r,, t,t.15 j8. 

I ll.Í]n\Irdrn^Lit i..ptu\ !rí p.aó. 

rd Pil.q$, tÍra,/ ,zi.,J, p.,a7 

r) 'I|.vlot, lhda,rit '.tigatÍln rr'.1, t;. 

\ T^\'\rt. l.ionèt rli t'tqrx.,t .r[, t.55. 

:, Lmla5:v Jakrt. TcLeglam 579 to Serrctra Statc, 6 De.embd r9Z5 lTdt oí lirrd 

Ki$inrÍ-Suhano Dis.usiorl. Sourcc: Ger:]Ll R. t'ord Ljbro; lc$n,itcr' Scor'.rcít 

'Ienp.,u Pàràllcl }ne, B.t Àr, Cor,,m Fne, rr [ast L,doresia, Strtc Deputncnt 

'1eLegr.,,ns a,/r:5_,r/rr'l7o p.utrr. l9 i!. Alail.b1. rt hq:r'Fw:gr1a'..d,r/-!,.tr.iriv, 

rvSÀElllllNSÀE1lll6,'*do.a.

Ft1)n Enn Tirtut to Tituór-Letktzltudituf tA.Llnitr.af 26t 

hart been described rs rctinll ín the most sriage fashion'rvith the people ofEast 

Tinior subjected to systematic killing, grrtuitous lnrlence and primitjve pjunder.' 

llere rtre reports ofwidesFerd killings ànd group executions xlong Nith destruction 

of properq, looting ànd nxssive displacenents ofthe populttion: Dy-witncss 

rccounts spoke ofmass executions conductedb) the lndonesian forces l hcrc uol-ds 

ofbl.standers were ordered to rvrtch and count out each killing as it tookplace. 

Following the nrràsio. the UN- Securiq Cou|cil (SC) is\ued RcsolLrtiol ']sa 

that cxprcssed roncern oler tle violerce ànd 1.,ss ofhunrn lifc in Erst Timor end 

dcscribcd thc lndoncsian intcncntion às'.icp1onblc" but not a thrclr to intc.na 

tionxl peace and sccudtt!, nor a riohtnrn of tlic LN Chartcr. the resolution celled 

ufor àll stàres to respect the teffitorirl integÍiry_ and the rlghr ofselfdeter.inrtjon 

for Èast'Iimor and cdled upon Indonesià io withdràrr irithout delàr).'lhe SC did 

not c.rll for any ,rction tó be taken *cept for the SG tu send ,r speci.rl rcpresentatile 

to the te.ritorr to report or hor the resolution uas being rcted upon. 1Ïe speciil 

representative repofted bà.k to the SC th.rt.r fuLl report '"as not possibie as 

lndoncsia prevented hirn irom tr.rvelling to all p.rrts oithe tefitonr The SC d not 

takc an) acridi in rcsponse to this repo|t merelv rcpcrting in r nc\v rcsolution thc 

leÍns oi Resolution .1E4. ' 

l)esfite the cle,r illegalift of Indonesixls xcrions in lhe in!àsion xnd occupation, 

xcconprnied bv widesfread violence, the SC tooL .o iurt|er rtio..'Ihe làcl. 

ofrction txl.cn bv the SC demo.stràted thc prioÍiq gii?n to politicàl intcrcsts orcr 

intcrnrtionxl lcgd principles md the inRlcncc lndoncsia had o\a. thc pcrmancnt 

mcmbcr of thc SC. Evcn in 1975 it s'.s possiblc to argac thc cxistcncc ofcustom 

ary intcrnational lcgal rulcs proriding that pcoplcs undcr colonial rule had a right 

to erÍclse sel{ determinatlon, ihat those coloni peoples hrd the righr to f.eel}, 

dete.mire their politjcaL sralus free froÈ arl outsjde inteÍterercei ànd thrt it ryrs 

unàcceptàble to use force in de.ling self:deternin,]tion or for the rcq!isition oftcr- 

Despite this, the bod) entÍuÍed with the miintcn.rncc olintcrnatioDal pcacc 

and sccuritï fclt it Ías bcttcr not to conf.ont Ind oncsia than support tlic lcgal rights 

of t1t East Timorese. On ri Julv rgT6,Indonesla enxcied a 1a$ incorporating Eàst 

Timor as e prt ofthe nationxl territoíy oflndoresia. The lack ofresponse lion the 

SC on this natter corlirned $e acceptance of the illegrl acquisition of tc.rito.1 

through the use oÍ Íorce. 

..-r'â""j",h)â ' r",s"'/,, udi rr.6s-7ó. 

1r ltryorcd in ])ilgq Drrakt yaix\,1.153. 

:a 5C R$.lutioi l8a (,e7i) (1, Dcccobcr,97j) idoptcd unanituouJÍ 

:j SC R*olutionr8e irlríl (:: Alril:sZo).Wth dris re,olutn,n Mo oihdolesirs nd{,r 

:]]les at tLe tlme, the USA ardlrpxn, nbÍrined,.n nldicition ot rhÊn dsj.c thai mttd 

$rs no lonsdsorth dbNssing. 

,6 As rcpresented by GA ResolLtion rsq (X\r) Dec1l rtn,! or the Gmrtnrg ol lnd€Fndcncc 

to Colonial CouÍies ard Peoples (ra December r!60): GA ResoLution zó,j Luv) 

Decldarion on Prircigle, of hternntio L Liw Conc{ning }iiendlr Rel.tbns xod 

Co opdation ahons Srr.s in A..ordmce witn rhe Cldter oftle ltnited Natn,ns (:+ 

Oclober 'e:o) lnd con6rnrd bv th. ICJ in Àdyis.t Ogn\.n L.itat &tr!Nu{ JàÍ 

Strt.' aJ íb. C'nt',uí,t Ptflr '1 sauíÀ,4|ltan in Ndltiàt, ICJ Reporrs Ge:r) ó xnd 

u,ix?,?.t,n ,n C,Í ICI RctoÍs (,e7j)rr.

262 RnÀrrl B,r.hil 

the GA rlso took issue wlLh the Indonesiàn invrsion and .àllcd on thc SC ro 

take uÍge.t Àction to pÍotect the t€.iitorid integi$ and.ight ofsclf-dctcrmination 

for East'linror, something the SC c]&trl}' failcd to do.In Rcsolution il/it thc GÁ 

retlirmed the right oflrLst'finor to sef-dcrcmination and thc lcgiinnrc-ï ofirs 

srruggle against lldonesi.r. lhe GA rlso rcjcctcd tlic claim ofincorporatior oftlr 

teritory by Indonesia, crlling for a firll withdnrd fron thc tcrritory bv Indoncsla 

ànd rgiir calling on the SC to ttke the ncccssarr steps for thc c*ictl\-c inplcmcnia 

tion oí thc rcsolutions.The GÀ rcmaincd scizcd of thc mancr for a number ofvears 

continuJly .citcrating ihc illcgitimacr oflndoncsia\ rctuns rnd c.lling on the SC 

to takc lction. But or-er timc thc .e$lutiors became shorter in teÍms ofoperàtive 

stxtemenis md mereli repeaiedpàst íÀtements.Ai e,tch subseqL,enl.ote in thc GA 

ihe resollrtions ,ttiàcted less support fron the nembc$hip." 

ln r98r,the GA.dotted its Êód resolutidr on thc mrttcr tor a numbcr ofrca6 

, i .-l.d I r l,e f. r,- ', 'ol -d ro $u 

m.uteÍ.']]iepoliti.. sufp.,Ít forIndonesia fron thc US rnd othcr sorkcd ro ovcr 

come a clexr violàtion ofinterrationr law in slpport of thc rcalitics ofthc poliiicrl 

intcrc st inrolvect. ' Evcnmrllv lrst Thor fcll o1] thc UN agcrda ald lndo.;sia ivas 

abic to acrcisc control owr ihr teÍiior as lt sÀr lirwlthout xnl suson)ed condennrrion 

Irom stares or tle UN- 

I)uring the perlod ofoccupxtion Indonesiàs rbiliq to .woid al11 rcsponsibihtl 

forÍide scàle vioLàtion! oti. tern ation x1 humxn rights aDd humanitarian hv contin 

ucd. l'oLlorrin:j the r97j i'rvàsion lDdoncsiavas not $lc to inmcdirrclv trke control 

'r :i.r.-rir r\ ..no I Rf Lt\ ,pe1r-. nI , 

turn broughr socrc military rcprisals agaht the resistmce noi,emenr ard reprer 

sive Íu1e àgrinsr the lndigerous societl For e\rmple, Indoresi.r engagcd in widc- 

spreàd l,onibiig ca.rpàigns rvhich forced popul.rdon movcmcnts, nincd crops and 

prer€rted the f.rÍDring olthe laq addirg to frminc conditions. As part of its fight 

àgànrst the'limorese resistànce the Indonesian armv madc usc ofa proccs called 

this nrvolvcd Indonesirn troops litcrallv phlslcallv encircling xreas k o\rn to be 

IRETILIN controlled and s)sremàticall,r' the .ircle lrould be closed.ln rhis pÍocess 

Thorese vere forced to w,]k in front oftlre Indonesirn tÍoops as hlman shicl.ts. 

$ots à.d buildings rveÍe deskowd in x scorched cxrth poliq and thc population 

lvould eitheÍ be killed olt.ight or rclocatcd to camps to cndurc turther suffering.' 

:7 GA RsoLLrion j+s5 (XL\) (rr Dcccnrd re75) rm. ó. 

28 thc rotins txttdn rvas às folLow. CA R$olLltnrn. l+tli (lffr) ofr: Decembe'qiS,;z 

for,,o !gan, *, 41 lbsÈ,rionsr GÀ Resoiution rr/i5 ofr Decdnber1976,68 for, ro nsxinst, 

49 rLríoÍionsr CA R$olutioi j:/r4 of:8 Noltnber,92i,67 for,:6 agninÍ. a; abstenrioisi 

GA RcsolLLtion jrtg of)j Dcccmb-,9i8,59 ior,lr agaiftt, r-r ahstentn,rsi G,q. 

RcsolL,tnin r+/ao of , Nov.hbd r91,6r for,:lr agii!*,aJ abstentiors; GA R*olutbr 

ij/2- ofn Novemby r91ió,58 foi, i5 àgrinst,Ía $stenrionsr GA Resolmior 1615o of:a 

Nolenber resr,5.1for,,r2 xgainst,,ró $siorÍjonsr GA Rcsoldor iT4o ofrl Ndtmber 

r!3r, jó ior 46.ginsr,io lb{endons, 

19 {}Á Rcsoltrtio. li,/ro (:t Novonbo,981). 

lo Thc various fosilions of,\srrJlà, tl\c USA ríd UK de discu$ed i! PiLge., rtí,n/ 

roi.ti,lp.l++ 25r. 

ri lior dct.iis scc TafLoÍ,1,tnanîu)Jàrsttai Mr,c\\tprer í e.

Fron Edn Tinar ta T;nai L6l.t*Èrrrn#fttàÁafr#nr+krtlr- 261 

lhc intcrnationai communiw's rcsponsc to thcsc events s* mted.'I1r inlluence 

oflndorcsia in lorcnrg intcrnational opinion ii its favour rvas eviderced by the LIN 

Huniar Righrs Connissio!'s decision to drot the situalion in EastTimor from its 

ageDda in rt85.' 

Eren though there .onriiued to be widesprerld fiolatio'rs of irtenational 

human rlghrs and irummitarier larvbl.lndonesia i. EanT jnoÍ lit(le rttention $"as 

given ro the marier until the ear1v r99os. h November r99r rround u 7o people uere 

killed br lndonesixn troops xt rhe Santa Cruz cenretery wher ihev wcre rttcmptinE 

to p Íeïecis to an individurlblled a feF weehs exrlie. ,'Iis c1-cnt wrs fi1mcd 

bv tclciision crcrvs ud sbown xf.,und thc Í'orld.It iqx firllorvcd up rith Indonesia 

rounding up supposcdir suspcctcd crhinrls throughout rh. terir;rÍ ànd àllegedl) 

erecutiDg thcm. along \ith Tnnorcsc stud.nrs in Jakrta being etticked br polire 

when rhcl' att.rnpt.d to cntcr LN oÍices. Giren the high prolile mture of these 

ittacks somc rcactio! $as ncccssrry Àtrtnlia described the event as an 'Àbe.'xtjo.' 

rnd nor an act ofstatc polig: ' 

lhe UN Sub Connlssion on lhe PÍevention olDiscÍiminÀion rnd Prorecti.,n 

ofNlinorilies spoke our agxinsi the rtions .nd càiled on hdonesià to ensure thosc 

rcsponsiblc rvcre brought to jLrsticc.' lndoncsia did crrry out u inRstigaibn inio 

the incidcnt and ten mcnbcrs ofthe militarrrvere folnd g!ll$. of\iohiing rhe nil; 

taa code on ethics and discipline, in other rvords, e fxilu;e to ol,e1' orders. I,br thcir 

.dme-r the ren Nere senrenced to betweer eight ànd eighteen months i. prison.' 

'Ihere does not appear to hàve been !nj indictments for nruÍderoÍ rnv othcr scrious 

crinres. On the other hard, n .unber ofind;\'idurls $-ho werc inrolvcd in thc dcmonstfutioD.t 

Santa Cnzvere also rricd and coniictcd for thci. panicipation in thc 

protcstrcccivingprisonscntcnccsofíivctosirrcrs.'Ihesccvertsputihesiil]rÍion 

i! Eesi Tinor back on iirc agcnda ofthe l lli human rights bodies bLu no concefted 

rcilon u'as iaker b] otheruN bodies. 

The iiàbillty oflhe international commu.ity to hold Indonesii Íe$onsibic for 

rhe \iolàlions o{huJnrn rights and luinànitiriàn làu during tlis peÍiod is not su.plisirg 

given the {eàk nàtore ofthe jDtcrmtionxl lcg regimc in tlie t-rcc ofstrong 

political intcrcsts. lndoncsix ivas not a signatory to ar1}'ofthe maior inrernarion 

human rights trerties which prevented anÏ oI the monítoring bodies to conitucnt 

on rhe cirdrnstm.es.The LN Chxrrer bodies give the situ.ation sone rtte.tion but 

their impicl wes mnimal as little aftention wàs gnen to tle mafte, outsidc oar lov 

reports rnd the occasional Írrement or resolqtjon. 

3, T^\1óÍ, Indorîrií,.qatt." ur, 17s. 

33 Re9on, mry on the number iilled with hdonesiatr $urce" ddming .botrr 19 losons 

and other rpons statirg at leasr,to wirh $rr.l hurdred nrdnidu.ls also disat!)circd, 

see Connnsion.n Hum.! Riels,ltq,ori ln rhc SF.id Ral|ortcu,lI( BrÍc W,lv 

\dia1t, on his mi$ion ro hdolesh rtrd trNt Timor lron I tó rl.luh rr9.! IIN Doc E/ 

CN.+ir,rí6r'Add., G Noyemberrgra)tras.:ru:. 

Pilger, Dd,,i li,i..r,f.lrr. 

t4 

It Re$lutbn rr9,.!o Siturtbn in l]aÍlnnor (r7Augustr99r. 

j6 CoNnnsio! on Hunan Righs, À4al 4frr, Srr/,t\ G.LIàL Sit|dí;ón À Eaí Tn"cÍ, 

UN ])oc. DICN.+/r991/a9 (ro Iciyuàr) r99, Ànnc\L 

r7 Connissbi on Hunà. Riehts, /??,7,/tn? ó.{ut x-G.".1t1: Siturhrn i" LdstTi"i1t, 

UN Doc. l/CN.y'rq9r/40 (,o l.clÍuirr 1993)AnnclII.

264 Ri.hd Bat.hil 

EaÍ TimoÍ continucd ro bc inclLrded on fists of non se]fgover.ing teritories 

and PornLgal continued to bc nan€d es the adrninntratorin uN docuóents.llut this 

had no pÍrcticalinfacl as Indoresir co.sideiedthe teÍÍitoÍtto be an inres[lpdtof 

the s1aie, a praÍical .eaLit! \'hich 8as pÍettl nru.h conceded.And during thc Cold 

Wnr period !h e apdicxtion oI i. tenrd onrl l,]$ was pÍemised more or ensuring thc 

mxinienance oístate iiteÍests in tenns oí political and eco orn;c securirl than aD1. 

fiincitied 

beliefin protectnrg indi\iduÀls fron the brutnlit\' oi'stne powci 

As the r99os progressed things began to chànge. The leg.rtity of Indoncsias 

occupàtior oiEàstTimor {xs rn issue befoÍc tlc lrrtcrn,tiond Court ofjustice in 

1994 rs Pofugai attcmptcd to thc chJlcngc thc v.rlidi6 oithe Tinor Gap treaw 

entcÍcd iDto bï Indonesia and Aratralia regrding the o11 shore rerrlto4 olÊasr 

Timor. In 1979 Àusrelir a!Íced to enter inro negotiations with hdonesia orar thc 

Tnnor Gap, an act contràry to international lÀ! às it nexnt Aqstrxlia rccognised 

Indonesir\ rttainnent ofterritorv bl'the ilegal use offor.e.It is rrorth loting that 

u'her Àustralian govenment oilicials rvere challenged on their.rctions in recogniy 

nrg Irdonesits clainr ov'er EasiTimor. o.e response vas'thàt d\e world $lts r prctty 

unÍ.]} p]àce.''nle lirnltrerties rrere signed in 4Eg à!dr99r lvithAustrilia crplaining 

it had to rccoqliisc thc dc facto control oilndoncsia ovcr thc teffitor! ofErsi 

TimoÍ in order for it to excrcis€ its olvn so\€reig! rights .onceinnrg the Lrse rnd 

eryloitation oÍ n!iuràl resouÍces. 

Ar the sxme tiDe,AustrJix tried to conrend thàt sig.ing rrcrties \ith lDdoncsia 

that diÍectll concerned the tedlo.! ofErst TiÍ!or did not ncan Australia rccognjscd 

the nedns used to bring about cortrol orer the tcrritorr: Ihis is a vcrl spc 

cious arrrumcnt 11-liich simply dclics anÏ rxt oílogic. By cltcring into the treaties 

nth lndoncsia ÀrNtralia madc a clcaÍ staicncnt aboui Indonetia'.s control over the 

tcdtoí ard Àustr3liàl acccptmce ofthe sitxrtion. By saying the neans by Íàich 

rhe occufalio. rvas elïectrrared would not be Íecognisedwàs ofsm. l consolrtion for 

he |.oph of I.. T n o. uhn. r n.e.l ra li e ; - i f e..i,c er \:.rr. i . 

Pornrgd objected to the vÀlidit! ofthe tÍeàties concerning thc Tinor Grp o. 

the bàsis thrt jt rem ii ncd the àdninistcring povcr orcr thc tcriton of East Timor, 

ncaling Arstralia Íns not ablc to cntcr into ncgotiations vith Indonesià but musl 

negotiate with Portugal on maite$ concerning the territor\r Portugàl's .rtplic,rtion 

ro the ICI held thit Australià had friled to reïect tlre obliEations nnd dutics of 

Portugil rs the administernrg power as well às fàilirg to respect the right oí ErÍ 

TnnoÍ Lo selirdetermnrador, an rrga azzei obligrtbn j. internndoral law Portug 

contended that due to the./ga r,?rci ch.rÍacte. oftLe.ight to selflletcrmination 

\ustralia bxd.r responsibilitt to respect thí Íight b) not recoqnisiql Indoncsia,i 

control over the territorl. 

'Ihc ICJ dismissed thc applicaiion on the basis that mï dlscussion ofthe trerrles 

concerning the Timor Cxt hxd to in!'olve Indonesiq lvhich rvàs not I prft,v to 

the Courr. The Courr àgreed th.rt the right to self-dereÍniinitio. did posscss thc 

ch.rr.rcter ol rga azner ,rnd that Eàst 'l'inor rcnàincd cntitlcd to thc cxcrcis. of 

selÍ:determii!ti.,n. Ére CouÍt erTl,]ined, rclvi ng hQvily on thc J.cisio! in,U,,.rall 

r8 Qr.ftd itr PilgÍ, D,ir, !.ns,t 11t. 

19 C!rc Conccn,n,g Easr Ttnní, Pottt*dlt lrit linlcl Rcprc (,99j) p. !i

F1a1fl Edn Tinor tu Tntut-L*telÁ DatuNhatidlaí'it Zr"tu aÍ 265 

Gall' that lt could not enter into enÍ dlscusions that mar imprct ulon tlre inter 

eÍs of I Íate thrt wa5 not a pem to the Foceedings. TerefoÍe in the abscDcc ot 

Indoresia! presence before lhe Cou.t the niatter would not be discussed. Dcspitc 

the d,{a r,116 chdàcter oithe rigbt to selÍ determination dd its altcndrnt clutics, 

tbe C,:,urt pl,rc€d gÍeneÍ imtortarce on the procedurd issue oi consenr to-iurisdiction 

thlf làvouÍed the indi\'idual inteÍeÍs ofst.te. 

ln tàkjng this.rppÍol.h the CoLtÍ edhered to a strtist concepriol ofintcrnationàl 

llliv gning gÍeàter pÍioritr to tbe sovereign intcrests oístrtes, o1-c. thc dqhts 

duc to r pcoplc thrt had bcen illcgrl\' denicd. .I]lc Court \ut ftrthcr i! its pr.fer 

cnce to states intcrcsts bv rJso dcchrnrg that Àustralia liad r right to meke deter 

miraiions àbout irs oM reritoa ind somÈhoÍ' Àís took prioriq o\rr the illeg.rl 

occufatior ofEastTnnor. ft rppered that the CouÍt wrs agiin givhg gredte. f.ioritv 

to the inteÍests ofAuÍia1ii and hdonesia oler anv prirciples ofseli dcrerminrtion 

or prohibitior-( on the i egal icquislrior ofterrilo.y through force thrt mav 

'lhe Coun! reasonn,g s.rs highh fla!íed and demonstrated the rcndcrcï of 

internàtionàl inÍitotions to livourthe interests oíIndoncsia over nrtcrnationrl 1cga1 

principlcs. B) rccognísing thc .rÁa ,n,s chdactcr otscf-dctcrminein[ the CouÍi 

opened the v'av lbr discussing Áustralirs beheviou with regÍd to Exsr l lmor, rs ii 

rlone Nrs responsible for ic actions. Indonesix notbeing à pirí to the proceedi.gs 

h.d nothing to do sith AlLstÍJiils oNn responsibilities under inteÍnnional lxs. It is 

tn,e dràt r.v discussion ofAustrdi,l's àction. rvould require nrhiog a lcgél dctcrmi 

nrtiui witli rcgard to lDdoresia'.. position i! l-astl'imor,but this $ould bc a dcter 

miration of intcnutonrl lcgal principlcs of a gcncral naturc, somcfiing the ICJ 

should bc cnritlcd to do. 

'Ilt ICJ\ decisior escnrir]]l conÊrmed Indonesias conÍol oveÍ the teÍritory 

and meant that the highestiudicial bodi oÍ the U\ \r.rs unrdLling to engrgc h anv 

question rvhich mq hrve touched uton ihe illegrlbehx!iour of Indoncsir. ÀustrJià 

.rlso crne o1írvell ,ince jt laced no corseqrLences for its own illegàl .rcts. fhc Court 

mxde it clcr thài \ihcn .r nltter oaintcrnrtional l.rN iBolRs pàrticxld Íàros thit 

hold ccriain positions in thc lvor1d, rcrlisn prcvails oÍer iegal principles. Followlng 

the in esion of East Thor in 1975 the ,\ustralirn Anbxssrdor to Indoresi.r explained 

tiut there rves a choice to be nade betveen 

.r moral st,rnce based on condenn,nion oflndonesià loÍ the iniasion ofL.st 

Tnlor ard on lhe asseÍtion oi the in.rljen.rble right oithe peopLe olErst Timor to 

self delerninalion or the one hand, ard a pragm atic al] d Íel istic acceptrnce of the 

longeÍ teÍtu inevitibilities oithe liturtion on the othei It is a choicc bcftrtcn ehat 

might be dcscribcd rs Wilsonian idcalism or Inssingcrian rulisr. 'Ihc Êrrncr is 

nore propcr and princldcd but thc longer tem national inteÍest maï vell be sened 

Crse ofthe lÍotrerdrGoLd Remor€d fromRone in rgai (I1, h I F,a"tc- Un nd King/an, 

{t rnl Sr,r,1) ICJ Rcporrs (,9j4) t 3:. 

For norc oi dris cÀe (c, Riclwd B{r.hilL."fte IC] decjsion inT}t C.r Concernins 

Erst Tnlor: dj. iLL.!.il usc of ior.. rJjdated:' : /r,, ,,/ ,/,4.nett C.nJ//tt Ld -- Gt)t);) r. Íi 

lèi. Scobbic and CltoriÍa Drcu, 'ScLf dcErrr inÍion urdetdr nred: tle Crle of East 

'ÍíL.í Llitlu JaLndt aíLxtndln"at Lat 11196) t. 

' 

tt5; G{í Situpson. Judsins the 

EstTinoí disputc:slí dcrÍliiràtion Í t-rr. lniernrtionaL Court of]uÍi.e'rl À,Íri,.qr 

lt.tnatiandldid Coln dtuna.l.!-- Àn,nu Ggqa) p.}j.

166 RitAanl BuÍ.])il/ 

AustÍ,rlix chose for 'Kissingeri ar .ealisn'to serve tle n.]tioDal ;nterest and dre 

ICJ prctg much €reed,taking rpragnlrtic rpproach to the rerlit\ thrt liad cvolvcd. 

Whanras missingrras rnysort ofprincipled concern bv intcfnationrl lav and irtcr 

national institurions lbr the people oíErst Timor 

I . \riohnt Responses to a Second Chànce ar lndependence 

From r98j thc SC continucdin attcmpts to ficilitatc .cgotiadons bctlÍcen Indoncsie 

end Portugal in order to rcsolr-e rhc mener ofEastTinor In this proces the people 

ofElst TimoÍ r'ere mr$inxlised is the SGt ofi.e Íefused to re.ognise the retÍe 

se.trtnes ofthe E$t'fimorese people o. the bisis thàt the UN Ésolutio!s on the 

matter onl) dentjoned lndoresia ard R,rtugal trs pades to the dispute. 'Ihese 

talks made litde Fogress until the ln€ ,99os brought Àbout x shiít in d\e political 

climate in the region.As the r!9os pÍogressed Irdonesir becrneless stóle primariiy 

duc to econonic diliiculties inteÍnrll à.d regionrlly'Ilis hrd r krock or hpact 

for Prcsidcnt Suhrnoi ruling rcgilre l-hosc lcgitimacy was undcr thrcat from a 

number of domcstic fbrccs. Irtcrnatnrnallrl Indo0esia'.s credibilin rmong its ellies 

lrns 1{Àning. \À/lth the end oí the Llold \Àtar Indonesixl stÀtegic imfort.r..e ]e$ 

cned .l.d.oDtiruing cortro\esies over.rÍns suttlies xnd re!Íessne i.ter.. policies 

mrdc stxtcs such N the LISA, tle UK xnd Austr.rlià, less rvilling to unqucstionablv 

back Indoncsii position. 

Al1 of tlicsc factors mcmt that Indoncsias position in East Timor could no 

longer bc *plaincd aver' Às an unftrtunaic, but ncccsary, bv product in the quest 

íoÍ inteÍnalionxl secuiqr When the IJN_' prorided r quick r€spnse to lraqs rggres 

sion oveÍ Ku\lait d.d cordenned the illegÀluse oi force tu rcquiÍe territon À being 

contrrv to the UN Chn(eÍ it becàne legitimrte to.,nce Àgxin àsk'B!tÍhrt rbour 

ErstTimori' 

Whcn Suhàrtos reginre crme to àn end in 1993 thc nciv govcrnment,1c.l b)-BJ. 

Habibic, madc a uniiatcnl dcc.ision to cntd into substantir discussions rbout thc 

futue lrithin the liemelvork of the SCs olnce.'Ihis decision ro negotiete on EàÍ 

Timor cÍeited problens internrlli as the Indonesian $nv rv.rs not consulted on the 

mltcr.'lhis is N ke) ;ssue.rs it Ni! the militrry thn had co.trolled.lDd dctermnrcd 

the titc of Dast l'inof sh ce the 1975 innlsion. Lhe 1rck of consuftation with thc mili 

tar]. oD the l'utue ofthc tedtory r'as seen às a contributing fxctor to the bruralit! 

ihrt cicntuallr followed their sjthdràÍ al froÍL the territory 

InJunc r99E Indoncsi,r pur torth a proposal thát providcd i-or rn autonomous 

stàtus fo. EaÍ Timor Níthin thc Indoncsian statc. This mal not vrund like much but 

giver rhÀt Indonesíà ls rt ihe sane dme x hlgh\'diYerse state with r multitude of 

+l 

'|iÍt.t, tn trn îd': í..trtt.n r.\ r. Á?,. 

T &1.t, In drn ^ i aa: J,. t' t.n --"., p. r i9. 

Sec Prul Dibt','Tndoncsi!: ï1c kcr tu South Ei,t Asi.s :e.ut\í ji Lttu,atiannt tJïnir 

GeorTrc) Rohursoi, C);nq aginn ltn&i!^. th. ir'!&i/.,rt d,ll.z,rn. (Londón: 

Pelguin, roo, pp. a59 óor Herlen Bo{ hun, 'L*ting the big Êsh gei r"nr: the Ulned 

Nitioís juÍice .lib.t i,r Eàst Tr\oi É Enr) I.í{r]tiaulZ"a 1È"-- (2óoa)p.l7a.

Ftun EànTi/,otta Ti,at Lèn. Deftrk t4áón1fsAèLi/"i^ óJ' 267 

ethni. groups and an exffemelv centralísed srate, a recognirion ofa speciàl status 

làÍ .r pÀrtjcular teÍnorl !ou1d be a najoÍ d€vebpment ir dre donrestic constitu 

tiond stÍuctuÍe. On 5 NI" 1999 a íinal igreement w.rs re.ded bet$een Indonesix, 

Portugrl and the UN foÍ holding a .efereidum o1l the tuture s tus ofthe territor-r 

In the agreenent the UN s,.ls gi\€r the responsibilit] for oÍ$nisnrg à consul 

tation pÍocess àod the elentL,ai íefeÍerdunr wheÍeb) dre TnnoÍese rÍoLnd decide 

{hether oÍ not to rccept the froposed À,tonony plàr pLr1 íofth bv ]rdonesi.r or 

chooJc for indcpendcrlce b) Íejectjng the plàn. Ifthe àutonomy proposxl wxs ro bc 

acccptcd lD.toncsia \rolld changc its constihrtion to .cflcct thr ncv strtus of East 

Tinor witlih Indonesie.Ifthc proposal ras rejcctcd, lidonesia u ould agrec to ter 

minxie 311 constitutioDal links Nith the teffno{; Porrugd rvorld no longer hy clain 

to the territoÍt as a colony ud the UN would take orcr Íesporsibllita for the teÍi 

tory in order to ,rssist its move to full indeFndence. 

Ëven thought dre l-rN wes gn'en full iesponsibilitl fài .ari\ing out the corsul 

tation ànd ÍefeÍendun p.ocess, t|e 5 NIa) agreenenr inclLde a pÍolisior whereby 

Ildonesi,1 w,rs given the responsibilj$'ior mrint,ining peÀce afld secuÍity in East 

Tinor in order to ensure thàt rhe populrr consultition is càrricd out in a iair rnd 

f.acctul1r'a! i. an atmosphcrc frcc of intimicl rtion, riolcncc or intcdcfcncc tion 

ànï side-' The decisíon io plxce restonsibils for secuig.with Indonesix rvxs con 

trrrl to lJ\ pnctice but in the circumstxn.es it wàs lece$xrvxs it Í'às à.ondition 

lndonesir insisted upon for xlowing the referendum to go rhe.d. 

lndones;r vicstd jts i.v,rsion ind ,}nncx,nion ofEàst'fituor às 3 legitim,rte !ct. 

ïlcrcforc rny proccss làich allorved thc tcrritorv to makc a clioicc about its Àturc 

had to bc firmlybascd wirhin doncstic policics.Ilms not a lrrgc stcp to in-itc thc 

IJN to assist in the consultadon procc$ and rotc, as t1t IJ-'"i'". prescnce colld be 

justilied or the basis of sovereigr consent. But on the issue ol maintainiig peace 

ind secu.in! the pÍesence of foÍeig. tÍoops, in t|e form of .r IJ\ lorte, would be 

veÍ] dificult to àcco1d Nirl dre doÍresric position on rhe stàtus oÍErsr Tinlor. If 

IndonesiÀ rllowed tor a UN force, ,rnd rot the rm1! to proyide securitv durinE the 

consultation and rclcrendum this vould havc bccn án dmission thát its occupation 

ofErstThorryas notlho11ylcgitimate and difrcult to eplai! to thc domcÍic co! 

slituen.y 'Iherefàre ir wàs nece$at to present a liont thlr mrde the rrhole fiocess 

.rppear to be under hdonesias.ontrol. 

Thàt said it reo ains À mvsterl rs to why óe LIN rvou)d àgree e.tiÍell to l ndonesia 

being r€sporsible for secuÍitv in the reÍitoÍ!.The llN, as.rn orgnnis.njon, hnd never 

o$jcially ,rccefted the annerÀlior otEastl'inrol rs f.rÍt oflndonesi.r lvhich mems ir 

d not hÀve to $cept Ind.,nesii! demrnds on this Írrtter. Àt a nore prrctical level 

it is diflicult to undcrstand how thc LDi would allorv a starc drat had violxtcd thc 

ternx ofChrter andbeen rcsponsibk for ridespread r-iolations ofhumxn righi xnd 

humanitxÍixn lxwii the reriron'for over Nenq years ropiolide securin foÍ r soci- 

Asr.niclt bcn".ui th. Rcprblic of lndoncsjr rnJ tl,r I'onugucsc Rcpublic or the 

qrcsftn of Eisi Tnror, i ll'{ it99, LiN Doc À/51/!Í Annca ,, ÁJliclc I. 

Scc .ofrnc',ts br th. PoÍugucsc Arnblss{doí lcn,indo !i O]n.ira N.r1s in NsÍin. 

Àzimi.nd Cha.g Li LU ct;.1tu Unn N./i"\ 'lïuninia,at Átt,tini:tt uàan in Ed't 

l'n,,t (LJNi)tEl). tkititling und kvu. R.lat oJ íh ,aa,lbkJa o)n|,Ení l.MÍrltus 

i.cidcn, Èor)f. zai. 

^-iinod

26E Rnhd,l RurtÀil 

cty it had b.fD liolcnth trving to Ícpres! iD circunstà!.es where thrr n).ic!-woutd 

p^ bll ó \" :nq n,. .,l d.np , ',1" 

1Ie Ur-! apparent conlidence i,, I.d,,nesi! ro provide sccuritu for c rcriiorr 

voDlJ tnnrtÈh be rhe orginisrrioÍ,\ lhinr$e ÍtilL,rc as oncc rlrc yiotcDcc sr.ut.d 

lefl lirÍlc .o!dd be drhe by lhc LN ro bring ir (nder control. Tht purions of the 

5llav:sccrnent dernonstrate hor lu,d i! i5 to learr from hi:rdrr P.ior ro 1975 

Indonesi,r hrs cxtlicith stared ir had no designs on Ensr Timor bur rhctr invaded 

and occufi€d rhe ter.itor illeg; lrl In rgoe lndoncsia xsslrcd thc LN rhrt ii lvould 

mBintrin pellce ird securií ióÍ I teÍritorï thrt clcdlvNrnrcd to brerk free fronr iK 

rule rnd i'oÍ n'me rerson the LN bclicrd thcsc assurarces. 

Follorving thc conclusion ofthc5l4av agreenent dre llnited \irti,)ns Assistarcc 

l4isslon '. Easr Tinor (LN]L\ÍET) begiD itr vork in preparing for thc rctcrcndum.Ari.cirhstise.theSCre;rermèJIDJ{nre:jilconnitmenisandrcsporsibilin 

li,r n).ilriinirs t.€i.. ind re.rÍio,in tl)È reíjron riJ fnr roord,n;n.q N$ rtrc 

l-rN m dr. r.tèrcndun, trocess. Horveíer. trcbLems àrose edlr un is (vidcnc.d bÍ 

thc pcinrJi. rc|oÍts pro\idcd by ihe SC. tn rhe Sc's Report oi:: Àl.Lr rssl rt srs 

ÀppaÍert rl).r! d,ere weÍe signitcanr p bLcrns on the ground irolnd( toLtti.al lio 

lence, timrdrtions and kiLlings donc bv.umcd milirias opposing rhe independence 

'Ihcr€ was also e\'íden.e thai the milirii gÍouts hadrhe supportofthc Indoncsiar 

arm !:, lhe cL- s repoir frolided r .ie!, de.cíi]'tion oith c cni.ironm cnr - Tru.k1oads 

oftro irtegritioD militià eÍe able 1.) ÍorD rhout frccl] in rhc rowns iDd t. set up 

checlf,.,inr. il,'g tbe )olrds withouÍ Dl iDtrr'.ntioD from rhc Írn1 or the po1ice.,., 

In the rcport thr SG cailcd on ltrion.si.r ro mcct iG rcsFnsibiliri€s nrciudi(g rire 

bringnrs di,rrmcd ovilian groups trnJcr stricr contÍol rnd the f(rmpr nrrsr.nd 

prosccurtr)d of rhos. \\do lncirc or thre. .n !. use violence'..' 

Wirhin r nonlh rhere vÀs À].eadi x signiicmt le\.el olviolencc bcing pclpctrated 

bv pr. integration gÍouts and evjd€rce ofsupport from Indorfsia The SCi 

early cel1 for those responsible to be rÍre\tcd md prosccuted rvould bc rcpeated as 

the violence en'rlrted. but u,ould dso hNc r vcn hollov.csonancc Í, rr in r shorr 

T:r;"d rr..II qc "\nu(ul r', cL.r,pnl r. \lar rR..,rrr, io, 

ÍJuic r999. tr dns resolution the SC ey|ressed its.oncern tbàt the sil!rljoD i,r thc 

terÍor h rd be.oDe teD se m d volrrne'rr stresseJ i,r ce uàin r|c rcspoD sibili $ of 

th€ C.lerd nre n t .rf I ndonesià nr drin ir Felce rnd securio in lrsr-Iirnoi. 

Ii dr. R€r.L(tior dre SC condemned rll rcts of violcncc rcq:rrdlcss of thc 

sourcc àrd .illcd oD rll fdties to cease dreir vtolent r.cts and tor stcps ro bc takcn ro 

'ensurc a se.u.e e.vironrJrent devoid o{riuLcnce or othcr forms ofintiruLdation-r In 

nddÍessnrg the issue ofthe violencc thc SC íailcd to nakc anv sfeclijc rnenrion oÍ' 

Irdonesia: dc in supporting the tro inresation miltrix !.hjch rhe Sc hrd idcn* 

SC ResolLrtru r:ro (tXÍarrcee)pÍs. i6 

Rep,, Í fi ihc Seoets Generil, (tr,È{r D oi E.{ Tnnor. U\ Do. S/, roo lai \:: Uav 

SG R"p": t ,9y'r999, prra. :3. 

Sal R.p!Lr jeír99r,tda. jr. 

SC R.$l(uon Da6 GrJule rree) |aru !. 

SC Revrltrrion r?4ó (,rllic r999) pifu. !

Ftón Ean Tincr /o Tikd -Lat.iá DMlhírinnrfrH-iniír rï :69 

licd as bcing one ofthc main causcs of the riolercc. Instead, there ms rclèrence Íor 

alL parties involved to dc' what ihel could tu erd dlc liolencc rlong with r g,irLtcJ 

r.lir.d.e io th e 'truitlirl .,'opcation !i:lnddr.sia." 

1)re SCs nLrr Lcporr nJlne rrqa mxJ.,r.l.iJ iiut th( liolcrce \rs (scJ,,rnrÁ.rd 

securin n,rs bcn)mnrg a nuiLrr pÍ)blcm lmpednrg r|. ronsdtadon pro..\\. 

'nc re])oí.rlso maJc c]ctu Ildonesits Jjfuct invoh€mert in Íhc instaDces of\iolcDce 

being carÍied our.Itivas reprted thát'In mm! àrer\. pro-intcgÍition militiis. 

bcLiei€d b)'mànl obsctatrs to be operàtins with the àcquics.cnce ofelenents ofthc 

xnn\t càrrv olt acc oi\rolence àg.]inst the |,rtulatior rnd .x.i.ise ,n intimiditing 

.Itris \ras i.coDfrni.d b; videsprerd disp)eccmcnts Di the p,)pulatrnr \!hith 

thr SC dírectry reiè,,cd ro as violatiors ot iDrcrnational l)ui,anirdi.n and huDr! 

rights law' It w$ clcu that lndonesia *is doing tttle to cuÍb thc acfindes otrhe 

pro iDregràdon grcufs as tlic SG extresled conccrn ihat hdonesia vis descÍibing 

thc pro integrntion miLitias hrorvn to be rtsponsiblc for the violcncc a". civil defen.r 

for.cs.r À( th;s tnn( LN pcronnel were rL$ bcing targeted br rh. pro integriti,nr 

miLirir,rs LIN[\l[T snÈ.Àr]e,.'rde. itrx.k. 

Or,c rvould t|ill, rhirr diÍect aftdcks Dn llN stÀqwould 1.{, sDiicient lbr dl trN 

to rrkc more decisi\t ànion in dcniandins lndoncsie\ comfliince, blt this Nrs It 

tL' bc." .Ihe S(;ls ne\l fcport on the situà1ion càme in Ju11 19,19. in it the SG statcs 

thcre ls x need to rdd.c$ thc ongoing violcncc as it he-.'led tc' thc displacement of 

menr East Timorcsc rn.l denied then bisi. sedrig and frc..tom, wió the clc.L 

intenlnrn ofinnucocing politic,rl choicc. {t the same timc rh.r. is eqlicit mcntn)n 

.i thc coopcnlio. ot. lndoncsii aDd thÉ reNsunnccs giver hy lndoncsir rlx 

rhe miliria groups }ould be rcincd ír1. ln spire of thc clcaÍ evideicc tiiat the tr,) 

i cgfation forces w(rÉ notbcing renied ii,thc SC didnot seern to tekc much.otite 

rnd did lot act t., rd(lÍcss tilc siluation. lnstcad ofàddressirg thc ongoing issLle of 

rhr liolence being suFponcd by In

27o Rithanl Rur.hil 

aitacks on UN p€rsonnel. Dcsfitc rhc rhctoricrl àssurances th. lndoncsiàn g!vc.nnenr 

$as gilnng to the Ll\, the arml's'as cicaítr tàking a dlflèrent 1ine. ln Julv 19 99, 

the Dlli .ommandcr ofthe lndonesirn armed forccs t.,ld the AlNrràliÀn S,,1zl tclcvision 

progÍlmmc:'I \ould like to con@ thc foloving: iíthe pÍo indetendents 

do win lthe relèrcndum] . . dl \íill be desirortd. ... It will be worse than ,l lears 

ago.' k has also bccn rcported thàt the UN had obtaincd documentrrion pÍbr to 

the Au!;ust vorc that mrde clet lndonesia's intcntict.s on holv to deal bith the ter 

riton. The abscncc oíanv $$stantial action or statcncntbi rhe SC on the securilv 

issuc and Indonesiai rcsponsibilities clearly denonstretcd thc SC djd not ".rnt to 

làcc thc prospect othalingto confront Indonesia on ns inabilia ro mcct tlie obliga 

dons ofthc 5 XId àgreen.nt. 

thsiolence subsisred cnough fortliebillotrobe held or loÀugust1999 r'irh r 

9ó'; turnout and àresult of78.5'; ofthc population qjecting lhc Àuionoml arangcnentoÊèrcd 

bylndoresla, signalling a clcd prcterence for independcncc.'Ihc rcsult 

ol the ballot vàs rclcàsed on 3 Septembcr rnd vidc scale violence erupted as prointegràtion 

groups .nd the Indonesiu aiq undcrtook x mxssive e!ïort to liierellï 

dcstrol the enrire teffirory and to funirh the peoplc of [.tst-]'hoÍ íbr choos]ng 

indcpcndcnce. At ! !€rv carly stagc thc SC rvas arvde olthc p.oblcms i{i1ich ÍàL 

lorqcd thc votc as its om special mission rcported in September i999 thrt it rvrs 

clear rhat thc Indonesian nilitrfl ànd policc \tfe (omplicit h the fiolcncc, dcsPirc 

the o1ïciÍ h1c corning out ofJakrrta. LJN,rÀILT reported or r Septcnbcr drat 

the vlolence s?s'nothing iess thrr a syst.metic implementatiot ola "scoÍched €àrth' 

po1ic1 in llastTimor,under the direction ofthe Indoncsiatl milit.lry', invohi ng mas 

sivc dispiicenents ofth. popuhtior lith people fleeing thc rcÍor or being f.,Ícibll 

removcd.' The report gart turthcr dctdls ofthe rctions being t2kcn to tcrorisc the 

hl 

In Dili it 1rolld apped d,!t vntudlv Ntr lone orbniLding his bccn s1stcm.ticàllr 

lootcd ofits coltelts,rnd dllrgc trorrtior olthemhave becn butncd l1rc ccntrd 

busin$s disÍict has been ertnclr gffid. xliltias xndTNI llndonesiar A rl Í,1 

rlie*hr'c bccn obsen'ed orer tlc p6t fcs drfs loldins trucks with equipmcnt d,d 

mpplies nkcn fron rh*e lomes,.!d the dockin K,rrrng. W$t Timo., c said to be 

Snknrgf ith kitdr.n xlrfllanccs for s.]e. ' 

Qrotd n N-oin Clomslg,,4 uL go|Mtion dnd íht ti"t Karra,Ldí Tinï rnd th{ 

nntttrnt" rJ lhl W& lL.\ió

Frotu EdÍ Ti,at to T;,1a1-Ldt'e!4 D%ítuíi@.Ír*r+i#ilÍ.I- 27Í 

À UN observer nission reported in Decenber r999 that thcrc werc r,o93 crtrajudiciel 

kiÍings in the period bemeen llrull .rnd Novembef i999.' 'Ihc Rcport ofthc 

Internatior, Commission of Inquiry on l,rst'f imor conclLrdcd 

rhÍ drre rcrc fatlsns ofiti.$violrtjons ofl:unnn righrs and breacles oflurnar 

itxian L!$'which rricd orcr tnnc and t!ol, thc form ofsvÍemati. ald widestre.d 

iirimid ion. h!nlliatioi md 1cÍor, d.sÍu.tio! !fpro!]erqi lioierce .Lgdns romen 

ard di:placcrert offcoplc. Piiterds $tÍe ató fould rehtils b rhc destnldion of 

eviden.e Md the i oLvehent ofthe hdoresian AJn).iTNI) rnd rh. militias ln 

Indonesias om hunan íghrs commission.lso issued À 'eport on thc violcncc th.t 

prorided eridence ofmrs murde5torture, enforced disappcaranccs, rapc, a scorchcd 

eerth poli+ t-orced movement end evacLratiors and the drmage rnd clmnration of 

e\idence. ft rlso concluded that these ,rcts rvere undert&en br. thc Indoncsian r lit.rn 

or b) g.oups thàt hàd its direct s!ppon.' 

There is no ambiguio abour thc natulr and scalc of!àat lvent on. The tines 

mcntioncd abor-c corlstitutcd a cler pattern ol gÍoss violÀtjons of internàtio! 

huma! rights and humanitrixn lxqrxsvellas co|t,rinirg elem€nts ofcÍimes.gainst 

humadtl. Regonsibiliqv for the \iolerce àl.o rpperrs to hai.c bccn vcry clcar as thc 

reports cired above ell pla.ed blÀme rvith the Indoncsian Govcrnmcnt and nilitarq 

lldo -:r..,-rf,et o.: rr']cei\Lr'on..n,.u'r" ..por br In., e ,r,"-d, 

'1 . r(t "r Ír n rhr sC ni. i I r. .h, ., r'ror\ 

'1his desiru.rion has n.rl€en c.nducrcd bl fruïllrcd ànd inslor. .irilials.'IhÍ is 

dre nlth Í irn! rhc Indon*ian àudrornics uc sÍning to conver ]he e"idence làr a 

dtect link beÍtEr !l! miliii! rnd rhc niLitdv is bepnd rnr' dislue md has been 

ovcnvbcLninglv docunci rcd. ' 

Indoncsia's orn hunan rights commission reported: 

'tle iNolycmclt oftie cnilir! lnd miiirari à$inrc$ includirythe poLice.oop, 

mtcd wit! rhc lno inrgniion niliti! grouD ii crnnes xgdinsr hunanitv.'Ihn retrcuted 

ilur .í t.rvcr .nd adthoritv and rcsuhcd in rhe iDvo]rendrt of niliruv 

institurions rs wcll rs cilil arcrcics. 

SeFtenb* ,9,re) ,Amer, pm.:1. 

Report ofJoint Xlsslor olSF.id luDrortcua on Humrn RighG. Silurnri o{Hunun 

Right! in Èast finoi LrN Doc A/j+/66o Gó Dcccmbcr 1999) pda. t7. 

Re}lfi ofthe lnrenurio!.I Comnis"bn otliqltv oi EàÍ T|nor, LrN DocÀjy'-,ri 

Rn,onoftle lndonesian ColDrnsiotr fof ]Nsrig ion oi \.ioLÍi ons of Hlrui Riglus 

in lja$'I imor (KPP 1lÁ-],I) (rrJrnurry:ooo) chr!1cr yI, À ail$1. at http:/^\\a1..ismp. 

minihub.org/ResoLuces/uooo/kPF%,oHan%2ó(c).him. 

SC N{rsiortoJ ortaardDiLiI D Sc})icnbd,!99,Àincx,paÍa.!. 

KPILIIxD Reto.r. fux. r9r.

272 Ri;lta B,r.Ai 

Thn report lists over 6fg civilixn and nilitàry' personrel thnt Bere responsible lcrr 

tbe violerce. Tt dso strted thxl Gener.rl Wir,rnto, conn,rndeÍ of the lndonesio 

rrnvrmost bear respons;bili$' for tbe c.jmes agrirst humanitvin EastTimor ri-hich 

took phce due to the làilLre of lndmesia to pÍornie seluritv às .rgreed ir thc 5 X{rv 

As the !iolence esc,rlated rier the resulls ofthe reíere.dum rleÍe releàsecL pÍef, 

surc a"s put or Indonesia to xccept ihe deplotnert ot1] peàcel.eelirg forcc.Initialll 

Indoncsir rcirsccl and it rvrs onlv xfteÍ ftc threÈt of $'ithdrNxlof intcrnaónal eidc 

liom thc US and othcr stetcs, rs rcl1as a suspcnsion ofactivitics bI thc Inteinàtionxl 

\lonetarvlund did Indonesia 1ine1i)'agre€ to aUN- force. Whilr the SC does usu 

àÍy rttenpt to gain the cooperation and agreement by x[ pdties concemed before 

deploying a teàcekeeping torce it is not a ne.estrry requiretuent \rhen it is detcr 

mined tlrt r situatio. .onstitutes r thrert to internatioral teàce xnd securiry 

i\$in il is diiicLit io understand wh) at this stage the SC held blck trking.rny 

rction Lrltil il had.orsenl fronr Indonesia. Gilen tfar E,tsi'timoÍ lad nmrined on 

the Uh- list ofron-selJ-lioveÍni g teÍitoÍies ànd tltàt ]ndonesir's rctiors thcrc ivefc 

corltnn'lo rErious rcsolutiors on .lecolonisation ard thc administratnrn ofnon sclf 

golEning terriiories, tire SC eould have beenjLstlfied ln trking acrion to mxintaln 

peàce xnd secLLrin in the terrirorrwidrout Indonesias .onsent. 

Once hdoneslrn .rgreemert on the |eÀ.ekeepinglorce hadbeen àchievedthc SC 

rdopted ResolL,tion 116+or r5 Septenber r999 declaÍing the sitqnion i,r Li$t fimor 

to bc a thrcatto irltcrnationd pcacc and sccuriq'ànd took rction undcr ChaprcrYll 

oi thc Chatcr rnd authorhing thc pmcckccping forcc. In thc Rcrlutnrn thc SC 

stltes thàt d1c nnJiinational forcc is bcing dcplortd 'puÍsuanr to the request ofdr€ 

Gortrnnent oflndonesla. fh. comfosition and mlndrre foÍ thc force sas he,tyi! 

proscribed bv I.donesià ln order to make tle presence ofrhe force no.e pàlxtàb1e to 

the dot.eÍic constituenc!: 

'he SC c.,ndnued ro speàk oÍ l.ílonesiCs Íespoisibili Íor màint.ining peÀce 

ud sccurity in thc rcgion but rt tle sxme time enporvercd thc forcc to udcrtakc 

lvhat vas csscntiall,y a pcacc-cnforccmcnt mission thrcugh thc xse of'all nec 

esari rneasures ro ÀrLÍil lirsl nandare . 'Ihe percekeeping force arÍived at rhe e.d 

73 

:5 

76 

KPP Hrn RcFrt,tdxs.rgr r9J. 

IrÍdiationd lÍoicr!ry nnrd. Thc Situirion in ]Ídon*ir and drc I\{l:, A Councnr 

Bl lvillixm i\{unv Àn IMF Stoke d se!Íenbef 16, rr9,.r'l ttt,'^\$ rn.iorg/crrc! 

my!!ir/r9!9/o9r699.hrmi'us l\uirq cus tndonesia!'i'ies' ]lllc \dvs onlin. 

r Sctrcnbd ry99 lttF]./ndÍs.bb...o.uvr/htMdd/xrndnrí4x,17.rn,;'UK Bàcks 

Widd Àrns Bin BBC Ncr.()niircir: Scficmbo r!99 !tttr7n.{s.hLrc..o.uk/,/hi/uk- 

Whci (hc SC dcrÍniics rsituarion consrinrrcs iilÍcatto iilcnrtional p.r.c à!J ÍeL 

rit\11È dohcÍiriurinlnti.D !ro\ isnDs ofAftidc. (7) ofthctl\i ChJrt( d! nltapphl 

scc \igcl \Vnnc, &+rrj #, ?&rc, ,nd cd (Nlxnclcs.ri i\I.nclGrr Ilnircaiir I'rss, 

ryt)i) p. \6. 

SC ltsohrion r26a (rl Seprember rr99l l)rrx. j. 

SC Rcqnutbn D6a. fdr.J. S.c Suzrnnàh Linton, Rising frón thc $hs: the derdon 

ofr liÈbh crjn,iiÈl iLNiicc slsrc'n in Eàst Tnnor:5 ,Vrlr,"rn( t,& R.|n-- Aóa') pp.

Frcnt Edn 7i1,or /rTi,o1 L$1e.iA-Winís dt .i3 

of Scptember r999 rnd bv tle tinc oíthc SCi rcport of]aruarl',ooo the !iolence 

ni thc rcgion had subsided with thc bulk ofproblcms bclng restricted ro the borde. 

rcgion $nth WcÍ Tinior rvith occasionrl confrontaiions beF een LN f.,rces and 

staÍ'and thc Indoncsia nilitary forc"q md mllitÈ. 

Wlth ync scmblancc of control no\ï being exercised bv rhe LIN t1vo mrjor 

issucs had to bc addrcsscd - thc rcbullding ofa comdetely desiÍo)ed territor) rhrt 

$as loiv lackinS basic phvslcal infrastflcturc xnd pesonnel, .long with dre questioÍ 

of \\'hat to do with those r.sponsible for the dolen.e cxriied out i. ! 999. ïrc chrllenge 

fecing the tJN \ras mlsslve xnd the mai. god oíthe UNs dminiÍratior of 

the te(itoÍr'!lrs to prepiÍe East TimoÍ for indcpcndencc. In this proccss ensuring 

thosc respoo sible for tl c violcn cc rcrc brought to justicc had to compeie \ith orher 

prcssing conccrns ud tlic limi* crcatcd bl thc lcv rcsourccs thai erisred in the ter 

riton As thc SG crphhcd nr crly :oo o 'ftndancntal and urgent tolic! decisiors 

must bc mxdc in a multitudc oírrcas. At thc samc rimc, thcre re urgent hunanl 

tuiar nccds and public scniccs rcquircmcnts.': Irom thc Íartit was clear thlrt the 

rcalitics oircbuihnrg thc tcfiion into a r-i!b1c staie rvould detern]ine the ertent to 

whlch thosc rcstonsible for ihc liolence in 1999 irould be puÍsred. 

lbllolring the deÍnrtior undeÍtàken bv pro-nrtegràtion groups thcr. $às 

no publ;c intrrstructuc to spe* ofin East Timor and this was acconpanied bv a 

ncuum ofadministrativc authoriq! police a.d luÍice machinerr'. '. As strted ebove 

thc isslc of crimin.l rcsponsibilitl $'as just one ofma!Í impórtànt mÀtters frcing 

thc LN but afthe same timc ih€ prosecution ofrhose who are.esponsible fof serious 

and grave \nolerions oflitemationèl hunar rights and hunaDitarian lNy had bccn 

declared bl the Urr organs to l,e x rnajor prioriq Íor the irtcrrationa.l s)-sicm. 

Às eà.ly as N{rv 499 the SG expresed thc vicn that in ordcr io ache\€ an 

rpproprirte cnÍironncnt lor thc consultation and \otc ít was recessxl to bring 

rrned groups undo control rvliich ircludcd the aÍesr rnd prosecurion ol those 

rcsponsiblc fo crinin acts. ' In SC Resolutio! rr6a olri September 1999 the first 

opcritiyc paragraph demrnds'that those responslble for the viole..e be bÍought to 

iustíce. But, !s vil be discused below the avenues chosen foÍ dcxling vith tliosc 

respónsible tor the vnnence had to competc lvith othcr prioritics to thc extent thrt 

tlc renovd of impuniqr bccamc . lo$- pdority. 

Indoncsia's invasion and occupation ofEasiTimor ln r9t5 rlised little intemrtional 

inrcrcst but thcrc $-crc signs tLat the \ror1d in 1999 r{.ls a mr.rch dillercnt pltce. 

Iollowing tlic rcsponsc to cvcnts in thc formc Yugoslavir lnd Rrv,rnLla, alorg with 

thc rdoption ofthc ICC strtutc ir1r998,ii appcarcd tha!wldespread abuses otnrter 

natnrd human rights and hunanitarian larv would iot go unnoticed rnd \rolld br 

acted upon. But the question ofwhrt to do li'jth those responsible for rhc vnncncc 

in È1]stTinoÍwàs c.,mplicàted bl.thc political situation iD thr rcgion and the tosi 

tion oalndoncsir in inicrution.l affeirs. Thc LN found iiselfin an r$kraÍd position 

$-hcr it bccamc the adminisÍatingpower for ExstTimor'ftere B"s rvidcsprcad 

Rcport ot dr Sccretdr G.ldil o! t]È Unned Nxtiols'l'rmsltionxL Admi'*Íation in 

Eà{ Tnlor, LrN Doc. S/rooo/Í (?ó lnuary rooo) tiuas. r8 2:r. 

SC Rcp!Í ,ooo/5r, prtu ;,. 

SC Rcpon :oool;;, pta. 5. 

SG Repon 595,t99j. 1tr. 3z

27+ Rnhd\r llutrbilt 

shockat thc riolcnce vhich had occurred in r9e9 and loud dcmmds that somcthing 

bc donc abort it.'Ihc dilcnmr facing the UN lns thar rnr xction to bring tojuÍicc 

those rcsponsiblc for thc violcncc vould mcan dirccth confronting lndoncsia and 

totentiallÍicopddislry ErÍ Timo.i moR ro tu1l indcpcndcncc. 

MffoÍs to$,aÍd Ênsuringlustice and OveÍconing Inpunity 

In the violence both beforc and rfter the votc ir is eÍinated that r,.1oo people died, 

stl% ofthe teÍitory'.s infrastructue lndbeendestrorcd and overaoo,ooo people hrd 

bccn torcibly di$lÀced.In r€sponse to these everts therc were calls 1àr the creàtion 

oían intcrmtioDrl tribunàl to bÍnig toiustice those rcsponsible. The lDtcrnrtiond 

Connnissiorl oflnquir-1.on D$t Tinor wlich lvas establishcd bl the SG upol thc 

rcqucst iiom thc UN Comnission on llumrn Rights, dciivcrcd its finrl rcpor oI 

irJanuarl :ooo, calling ior the c.ertion ofxn intenational irdcpeDdcnt invcstig!rhn 

and prosccutbn bod) in ordcr to identii the persons rcsponsible íor the crimcs 

commirted ard to prcsccutc thosc guilry offtrbus humrn fights viohtnDs. 

Italso called Êor the creation of an ínternàtionrl humrn dght"q iriburul to rccciv. 

conpldnts ànd t.vthose accused ofserious violations ofinteÍnadonnl huJnxn rlghrs 

and hunanitarian lNv rcgirdless oítlie nrtiondin ofthe individuàl or s'hcrc thàt 

personvaslhcn thc violations lverc committcd." 'Ihc Commission rlso rccogniscd 

the int.rn.donal Da rc ofthc problcm alongvith thc LN.s rcsponsibilitics tbr dcalingwith 

the matt€r.It explaincd 

]h actilns liolÍnrg hunur dghrs i.d nrronaiioul humiiiÍriin law nr EasÍ 

Tinor Íere diÍecrcd àFàlnÍ r dc.isior ofl]t Uíucd Natio.s Sccuritv Councí 

ftnrs under Chapter\tI oflle Chdier ud were.onÍxrto agreemenG rerched 

iI lndonesin \rith rhe Ulited Nations to cdn óut rh.Lr Sedrift Councn deci 

sion. Ulder AJtide ,5 of the Chdter, llember States rgree to accegt and cur out 

thc dccniols oi rhe Seoriq Council Iie organized opgosino! in Exst fnnor to 

thc Sc.lriw ComciL dcchion requi.es sfeciÊc intcrmtionrl xftdÍior rld rcsfoN. 

The llnjtd Natn,ns, as èn oritMizrtio!, hrs à !$1cd n,tcrcst in particifitn€ n, 

the entire piocess ofiFcsigatior, $tablisiing tsforsibilií and pu shirg those 

Fstolri|Le ind in ]rromoting reconciliation. Etiictivdl dealing *itl tln is* ril1 

be imtortnnt for ensurilg that {xture Securig Coucn decisbns tuerespected. ' 

1hc SG orl1r panially cndorscd dns report, sr,ving thc .ccomncndatioN 'mcit carcful 

.olslderatlon, there i\as not call for anÍ actbn upon thc rccomnicndations.In 

conveyi.g the report to rhe SC the SG placed a good deal offalth in undertrkjngs 

gircn bl Indoncsia th.n those involved in the !iolencerdthin Indofesirs-iurisdiction 

1vou1d bc dcelt with and that thcrc ryoL d bc no implniryfor thosc.csponsiblc.: 

& Report ofdr IrternàtiondlCohniision ofTiquiry on EdstTiDror. pin. r5r. 

81 Repoft oft1,e Ilterndioní Coóni$io" of lnqunr or EdÍTiÍor. prra.,t. 

83 Repon ofthe Internatioral Comnission oflnquiton EastTimor,pdra. ra7. 

8a See lderticd L*ten Dated lr lanuar :ooo From tle Sereraa Gener.L addresed to 

thc rresid.lt ofthc Gend.l Asernb\; tle presldert oi tle Securin Councn rnd thc 

Clairterto! ofthe connissnn on Human Rights, LrN Doc Àr;y'Zuo; St:ooo/;r G,

Fron Ea:t Tinor to Tinor LB1.,.ti D!tua4stftíiax aí!]!!.t:tsitÍaf ,is 

'lhe joj.t mission oíthc Spccial Rapponcurs on Hunan Rights e:pl.rined its 

i-iciv in Dcccmbcr 1999: 

'Ile qre*ior o1$e tull documerixtio! ol ftc Ítncs rnd irunLm righrs liolatbns 

drd rhe delinirne e.txblishDrert ofdre scofe and lNrl otTNI rcsponsibiLin $n] 

n*d 1o be xnsl€ied br r s!trained nnrÍigarn( tfocc$.Thc EríTn!!rcs. jtrdiurl 

Íster. $lid1 is {iLL needr to be Íexrcd and rcsrcd, could not lole to .ope *,t\ 

x troject of$is sciLe. .. ïhe rcofd ofimpu.ir for hunaí rights rides comnxr' 

rd bl lndonsixs rncd f..c$ nr EasrTimoi o\r.Lhost r qu.fteL ofx .entur 

cxnn.r instiiconild.ícc in rh.n ibiliivto ensuie rlropd rccouDting.No!,Snu tLc 

foínàl lnd jnf.imrl i'iiucn.e wielded by tle rned forccs in lidotrsixs ]).lirjcèl 

sÍucrLtre,o! rhere....,be.onndence that the n.r Govcrnmcnr, ..., ,vill b. rb10 tu 

rend{ rnt x.counnnq. 

F-rom this thc rcport concludcd that iflndonesia did not undertake in\tstij{rtiols 

into thc riolcncc withirl a mencr oimonths, $e SC should consider the establishmcnt 

ofrn inicrnaiional iribunal. For the cre.ujon ofsuch I tribuml, thc rcport also 

exphi.ed that the consert oilndonesir $'ould bc prcfcrablc but not a plcrcquislte. ' 

Despite the$e cdls for m internxtional tribunrl no diÍcct ection $?s tÀken br. rhe SC 

Jr.^.rrinu r'.lr r"n . n"old' drrl\ll,e-,, 

" p*.,'" '"" 

anl intc.utional tribln.l that attempted to prose.ute its citizens, $ h ich rppcrrs to 

hNc sivavcd opinion on thc matter. There Nas also a teeling ,:,i'tribunal fxriguc'sct 

ting in among the LDi lnstirutions as the ICTY and ICTR continucd to dcnand 

1ngh 1eve1s ofresourles. So a. dteÍnàtive drngemcrt had to bc lound. 

Follorying the conpletion of thc pcacckccping mission, the SC .ruthoÍjse.l 

the creltion of thc Unircd Natnrns Transitlonal Àdministralion ir East Timor 

(UNTAtrT) $-hich was givcn rcsponsibiliq, 'for óe adninist.ftjor of Erst Timor' 

and iras cniporvcrcd to ucrcisc a[ lcgislariYe and *ecutiYe au1jloÍi9! including rhc 

adminisrratbn of juÍice."' 

In the resolution the SC so demà.ded tha tho\e responsiblc lor thc violencc 

in EàstTinor during r99, to be brought to justicc.'' . This dcmend is not trgeted at 

àn\ pirticullr pnÍq xnd thc rcsolution also rcaflirms respect for rhe sovereignq of 

Inrloncsia.' In Rcsolution rl38 thc SC expressed dre need'1àr neasures to rddrcss 

shorrcomirgs in thc administraiion ofjustice h East Timor, pnrticularlv Nith a riclv 

to brniging tojusticc thosc Ícsponsiblc for s.rlous crimes in ,999" but Do prticuhf 

for thc purposcs ofpursuing prosecution for nrternatbnrl crimes d iDtcfmtiolllized 

or h1órid liibunxl llrt co'nbired domestic md intcrnational clcmcnis 

8j ReI)oÍ of.Joint X{issior oiS])cci.l kfpoficu^ on Humn Riglts, pua. rj. 

86 Rcrrt oíJóh llissio! oi Slc.i.:l Rlpportcu6 on Hum.D Rig]rts, pm. 7a(6). 

87 BoMnxn,Lcrirgdr big lisl, gcl àu!\F.j8'. 

sB 5C lt$ólftnl D;r G5 OcÍ,trcÍ,999) prÍr. r. 

!9 SC R$olutioi rr;:,pèrd.,6. 

90 SC RcsllL,tion rrT,,preanble. 

9r SC Rcsolutnm rjls (lrlxnu.ry zoor) |rx.3.

.76 Ritlatul B"ttÀiI 

wxs pu"cued. Withi! the East Timor crimínxl justice system there would be s])€ 

citc bstitutions made up otinteÍnàlionÀl and EasrTinorese personnel thàt would 

hÍLve jorisdictio. ove. what s,ould be c l€d seÍjous crjÍreJ. UNTAIT Regulation 

,ooo/u olMarch ,ooo set out $e composition ofthe courts for the tefitory consisr 

g,:,teiglt district couÍts,rrd one couÍt oí àpp€,11. The Reguhtion provided 

for 'Erclusjye JL,risdictjon Íor SeÍious Crnrej in Sectior ro ànd t|js entrustcd thc 

District Courl oi:Dili with the creàtior oíSpe.iài Panels with exciusive ju.isdiction 

ovcr the serious crimiml ofierces ofgenocide, uxÍ crimes,crines rg)inst h!nanitv, 

mxrdcr scnil oFcnccs, ànd torturc. 

Thc provisions concc.ning rvtr crimcs,var crimes and cÍines againsr humÀ! 

it! \vere taken verbatim from dle Statute ofthe Internrdon.l Criminal Court.\ rith 

respe.t to nurder, seeÀl ollences ud tonue, the jurisdi.tio. ofthe Speci.rl Panels 

rïàs Linited ro cÍines .onDitred between r Janurrr 1999 and z5 October r9e9. 

For the rnainder ofthe onnes oveÍ \rhich the PÀnels hàd er.lusne iurisdictio. it 

sàs possible (o deal \rith e\ents prjoÍ to r99ir, but tlere wrs some co.fLlsion orer 

rhis point rvith the f inroÍese aulhoÍjries suggestnrg the juÍisdictior ofthe Specid 

PerclsNàs limited to the events ofrggg. Regulrtion ,oooÁr dso esrabfthecl sim; 

1arpancls within thc CourtofÀppcrl to dcal rnth m! eppcals ffom thc dccisiors of 

Regdàrior .óóo/r5 set out Àrther derxils on the jurisdiction xnd workings 

.,i the Steciil Pxnels.The Pànels were given uilersal jurisdiction orer the serious 

crimes to the e\tent thrt the victim oÍ p$peÍator lvas an ti,rst 'f in1orcs. citizcn 

or thc crimc s?s cdricd out on Last'Iimor tcrritof]:' ln the rcEalation nidilidual 

crndnal rcsponsibilin lor scrious crimcs not onll applicd to thosc who dnecdy 

comnlticd the crimc but.lso applicd to anl irdividual who 

L') 

oÍdcÁ, solicits or inducN rhc commi$ior ofnrch a (imc $hi.i ir fà.t o.{trs 

for thc p!Ípor offa.ilitating dr. .orllission ofsuch r crime,.ids, rb*s or 

odrNir a$ists in its .onnission or ns xftempted comni$ion, irclL,Jnrg 

pÍ\'iding the neans for its conxncsionr 

in à!r othd sÀ .ontriluts nr $c .onmnsion ór xtt.mtlcd commissi.n of 

. .ra h.. r..or ..vn.".r.oi..h. o .o-t oo. 

'Íïis would provide tle Specid Panel witl iurisdicti.,n o\€r political ard nilifuFr 

9r On hr.bid or internrtioiiii?cd ynniial .ourts generaLh; se€ C."ire Romano, Ardré 

Nollk,emrJer andJ.nn í\lerln et, eàs. In tetndtn,alized Ctirdndl C'ut: Sirta Ltur., L.:! 

Tinrr, Kr:oln antt Crnó\ttid (Orford, OUB looa)r L.ur Diclinson,'T}f ptmne of 

1\.\ltt:rl .ó!tr: e7 Ánri n Joumat aj Int..nrtiaMt Lk- l!óót) p. 4' 

93 UNIAETReguhtnu:ooo/n,paras.ro.,,o.:.Á11UNlAUfregulatiorsdexrxiLxblext 

htt;://mr:un oripme/etimor/UntaetN.hu. 

94 LrN'IAljl ReguL.tion ,ooo/r5, ]rrl 2..r. 

9í ]uli.ixL Sysen ]IoDit.,rnrg Progrxmme (I5\'1P), r7.IL!'rt af ! Sria'. Ctrra Ulil 

l,ooal pt. I a, availxble at hrF:/ÀrN:jinp.mnihub.org/repors.htn. 

,6 U\TA[ f Regnlxtion troooÀr, para. r5.5. 

9i IIN'IAIT RcgulÍion zooo/ri,fd?. z.?. 

9E lINfAlT RcgulÈtioDooo/r5, !ua. ,4.I)

Í'tu,r Edn Ti,tut ía TihtoÍ-Lene .ÁDn@sí18 ítnïtbe Lhn! .f 277 

lcadcrlvho mal noi have been acti\dv engxged n, thc Íiolcncc thcmseks,but hrd 

ordered or iàiled to restrain those Frsons that wcre. Ihc Rcgulation also ienoved 

inmunitl for ani' heed ofstate oÍothermcmbc.s ola gol'crnment lvho nJv be criminrly 

responsible fbr a seÍjous crine within thc PancLs jurisdictior. It sds explic- 

Ith Íated in dre Reguldtion crerting ihe Spcci.lPancls that thi.would.ot preclude 

rhe exeÍcise oljLrisdictio. br anv jnternational tribun.l subscqu.Ddv creared to deàl 

Nith crlmes connnirted ir the te.ritory ' 

'Ile Special Pinels r1'eÍe co Tlerncntcd b) thc crcation olthe ojfice ofDeput). 

General Prosecutor lor Serious Crimcsvhich has 'ercluslve'xurh oritl for the invcy 

'i;"r:or "ra po-'urur !r " ir'.rnc.J deFlpd, ke",,iun rooo ' o 

:ooo/r5. ' To assist the Dcpuft Prosedtor theÍe is th e Scriou s Crhcs Unit rrhich 

Nas srafcd m.inlÍ rvith LI){ pe$omel. 

À \Iemorandun of Understanding bcnrccn Indoncsia md LTNTÁET wls 

signed on 6 April ,oo iviih the puÍpose ofcnsuring coopcntion ii exchange of evi 

dcncc,rcquests forrritnesses, m.rking nrrests, or cnsuring thc appropriete transfer of 

suspects vhcn needed in the investigrtion and proscotidi ofscÍious crines.l tle 

N4OU there is .r rediirrn.rtion ofthe commitmcnt to'ho1d accou.irble the perpetrltoÍs 

ofserious violations ofiDtcrnational hunràniiarian md humm rishts iarv in 

lastTimor'' 

On pap.r the Special Panels hd all ofthe necessiry tools for ensurjng ell indl 

liduals responslble lor the vioLence would Jxce ni(stigltion and possible prosecuiior. 

the l4OLr wiih lndo.esil rppeàrcd to ir{vc climinatcd the moÍ pÍessi.E issue 

ofreachiig indil.iduds 1dtlin lndoDcsia. Horycl-er the obstx.les fa.hg rhe Spcci.d 

Plnels in pursuine thosc rcsponsiblc werc innense.'Ilere were problems of stafi' 

ing, not onh had rhc lcgrl profession in the territorl beer cLecinatcd with r-cn fcrv 

quali6cd pcGons remiining in |he teÍirorÍ it was also diflicult to gcfthe nec€ssat 

inrcrmtionil personnel ro sir o. the Specid Parcls md Cour ofAppeal- 

'Ihc Panels did rot reach full conDliment otintc.natn,nal Íall un til Jul_y ,ool 

and the Court ofAppeal rvas not in existencc betvccn,oor and 2oor due to r lmk 

ofqualiGed .renrbers. 'ïris shortcoming ofthc Spcclal Panels not oniy had I dct- 

Íinentàl imprct upon the cÊictiRness oibrirging ro justice those rcsFonsiblc for 

scrious crincs, it also brought inio question the ,rdministrÀtion oi-lusdce ànd the 

riglits of the delèndants. 

99 UNTÁET Reguhrion rooolr5, pua. r5.:. 

roo UNTAET Regdarnrn rooo/n,;ur. ro.a. 

ror UNTXEI Regdxtron 1000/16, tda. r.1.1 

ror t ormxtbn .boufthc SCl r rmy bc found àt 1i p://nt so..des.berleLeriedu/-NrÍinc/ 

Sern,us-e",oCrim$%rounir%roFilcs/dcfa!h.hmL. 

rol X'lemo.xndum ofllDdcNraodins betueen the Relublic oflndonesia xnd rhc United 

\xtbns Trxlsirio'al .\d,rinnÍition in E2í Timor RegrdnrS coole.adon in Lcal, 

ludici:n.!d Huhrn Ri€lits Rclated lÍatte*,5/6 ApriL:ooj, ]rrcdnblc, iído,r 5. 

rol Svhix dc Bcrndrno,'EN Tihor iuÍice delied', .Jo"tnnt 1f int.,&íi'nd C,rtiial 

./,!1i., {,ooa) r. ero. 

rq J^ttu far Tn,at L4í!. 1b Lth Foa$l l.i ,\pril ,ooa) Jotu ]

For thc most p&t the earh.clhrts ofihc SCU Md Special Pancls furlr nknRd 

indictmcoti rór iesser rrimcs iov.lvnrg low rmkinq limorcsc figures rhar rtre 

Frr5cnt in rhe tenlrrlll lr has hcer ronnt0trd rlrar rlre piisccutor'r oiiLr ard $e 

Sernus Cór,es Urit lud no coherer:t sEatca íor pursuing prose.uti(,r,s rerdÈ'g 

in ,r ru Je,nr ar d disorganizcd svsteri r{hdr Íl e question over wheih('r or nóÍ proF 

ecutior N r s tursued Ías tlic resulr {]1 r) accidenr ot geograph ()rc. rime dre 

;ndictmcnÍs incrersed and bcgm to ddr.ss noie seÍious crimes involÍng higher 

Lc1(l indniduals. ' lhc Scrblis CÍiincs Unit li1ed ninctï 61-e indictncnts wirh the 

Spccial Prnds invohingsgr individunls, 'l rq ofwhom rcnained oursidc rhejurisdic- 

The cx.lr' .liÍiculties fàccd in the tÍosè.!rior ofseÍious crimcs lvere cvid.nt in 

the lirst dcrLsdi olthe Spccial PJneh tu d(rl \ith inierDri() olL .rtr Lu L llv n1 

the clsc ol A,1r l',,jr,r/cr a]diatt J.,i tl,yqr^ Ml ,iin..th.Á kh. L.! P.l/.t ttiJl) 

1}l: crsc {as Jso signilicant iirr drc 1à.t rbar jÍ }às rhe 6rst timc prolision' dn i'rÍcr 

nàtiL,nNl .!ime! írom thc Starutc of rhe lnÍÍrlrional Criminal Courr. ,rs scr our in 

R€grulirn!) ,ooo/15, $,ere put before i iudr.j!l authoÍihr 

Tlc jLrdgment rves dclivered on n Dccrmber:oor and is an ertrcmcll long doculneni 

co\ering scvcral hundred plL8cs. Hó\rever, this lengrh rÍis Dor due to àn) indefth 

trenrmcnt oi intein xtion.l 1egil issucs xs the ludgment rcplicares the cvidcncc 

xnd àgum.nis gnrr duiing the tri.l. lhc .onstmt r€fercncc to vdious lspccis of 

i.ternitirrLrl.rimind hu juisprudeicc do.s not inroli-c ar1 substantial urdcpcnd 

ent commenr.v! nr ànalysis b]' dre PrLncL. ' {s che personncl rnd resou(r jirurrjon 

improrrd so d rhr Àrnctionnrg oi thc SFcciJ P.urcls butperlraps too Latc ro €lsurc 

r]]c owrrll tredibilw r,f the lr I'rm nn'd.j. 

,\ mrjor.onro\€rsl iÍose in r|e.orducr ofrh. seÍioos crimes rriil! !.hcn tn 

,oo3 Íhr (lDDr of Appeal produced 3 d.cis!)n concerning thc issle ot :rpplicable 

sLrbsidirn làN in the territo.r: LiNTAET RcgulÀiion r999li deals $'ith tlo lssue of 

applicxblc hwwith Secti.ln J Íating thxt uDtil à Êl]lv tunctioning domcsric legisla 

ture is in place the Lxivs applied in Ersr'I imor prioÍ to,5 Ocrober 1999 rhall apply 

in East Ti m.rr insofar as thel' do not contu.'vitli thc standdds refe.rcd to ni section 

2'. Section 1 ixvs that in rhe exercisc ofpubLlc Àurctions th€ rutho.irics are ki lbscnt 

intern!ti.)n.l hunan Íiglts standdds. 

Scction t.l d\e. lists sir prrticulrr In.loncsirn laÍs thar ar€ decnlcd n.r r,) 

c!'rnth \ilrh Sertlnn ! àDd irc $e'(iorc J.chÉd ro and Se.rion rl prolrdÉ! 

lirr rhf iboliri.. óí rhc death pcDrltr, \rhjJr àn)lied to thc tcrirLríl br vtrnre ol 

lndoDesiaD law Se.tion I.r is not err;íeh sp.cific Às ro what the aftlif.rb]t law in 

Erst TiDor rvrs iJÍior ro 2i Ocrober roqa. Hoveler, thc listlng ofthc lndonesi ) 

H"h1dr Rithtt .l'ntntt Aóai pp. '52-2t3. 

SyLria d. Bertodxno, ElsrTnnor:'tri.ls rnJGibuLfions in Ronmo, Nnllkrrmper and 

n.flt\ct, e.l:. IntthundltriNet Crn"idt (.:at,r. p.83. 

dc P,c.ro.[no, ljiÍTir]or .iuricc dcni.l. f. an. 

vcFi"n, dt rlÈ i',nicnn.its d dccnnÍL! oi rft SFcid PanrL .u b. f {,nrl Í rtr 

l,Ci.irl Si {èii, \ I Dr i Driiid Pí'É'rnr ) | 

' 

, IS\ Í t'). lnrr, ub. org. 

^!sar:jsnp.n,t,il, 

sce tir. d,\.tr+ioi lN SlLlia d€ ]tcÍ.dri!, {:\rfnr DeveLotmenrs Ír I rirjDiili?.d 

a,\)í\:1la,.hrtaft ttnrtia"rt a i,tit! ti I ,nCóó1)r-23r. 

See J. BÈro(taro,'Edt Timor:Tdrls ,rnJ li,bularioii, p.89.

Ftoh EdÍ Tnn.r ta Titrar L4k.e1 DcMttïatinn@;nliktf 279 

laws in Secdons t., .nd..l rlong with thc dc facto, eren tboush illesal, o(opdtjon 

and conlrol over thc tcrriion bv Indoncsia mcant Indoncsirn 1aw had bccn applicd 

in the teÍdrory since r9Z5.Thc practical concluslon $ould thcrcforc bc that thc appli 

crble ]àw j:or the le|.irory\qould bc Indoneslan iarv as this $Es thc iaw in plecc prior 

From dre ourset ofthe work ofthe Speclal Pa[cls thís appcaÍcd to bc thc situution 

until the Court ofÁppeal judgnent in the casc ol Prale&lar 1 Árnando nol 

Sa,/oJ. BetàÍe the SpeciJ Pxnels dos Sxntos wes icquifted oíal1 counts ofcÍimes 

againÍ hunxnjry'lhc pros€cutio. lodged an appe with rhe Court ol r\ppe3l ard 

thc first issuc to bc elPlorcd br tle couÍt wàs the question oi!'hat subsidi!ry lav 

should be applicablc to thc circumstrnccs. 

The court crplaincd that cvctr thox-eh judicial procccdniss up to this rime had 

understood the law applicablc prior u5 Octobcr 1999 as Indoncsian 1aq thcrc ivcrc, in 

tbe courli vi.u-, no valid 1cgà.l argumcnrs lcgitinising thxt intcrprctrtion . ' To the 

cortÍaÍv the court put lorth thc argumcnt that silcc hdonesiai occupatnrnrvrs cortrry- 

to internatlorÀl lav rhe applicrblc larv could not bc Indorlcsian,but R)rtu.qucsc. 

ln suppoÍt oithis view the court referred to the fact that rhe {-rnited Natuns ncver 

oficiallr. rccogniscd Indonesia'.r ocfupàtion de jure *id íelt drii becÀuse ot this, 

lIt\r-X\E! as a Ur- bodlt could harc nercr irtcndcd for thc rpplicàblc l{w to be 

'I|is decision creired agrert deal oidisarayand controrcrsy \ithin thc i!dicial 

sratem as it esse.tiallv invalidated all of the previous decisions ofthc Spccial Pancls. 

l|c ricvs of the CouÍt of Áppea1 .r1so brought r strong measurc of dissent fron 

witirin thcjndicial sysrem. t'ollowing the Coun ofApped decisior in la SdrrrJ the 

Sfecial Pancls in PfuJ..,1or t Doningot Me"d.nta prolided .r detàiled response 

explalning thxt the Couft of Àppcal had gottcn thc mrttcr completclv rtong. The 

Pmel cited numerous examples oithe transitnrnal administmthn crplicitlÍ refcr.ing 

to Indonesiàlah xs dre lau'in force prior io 25 Octobcr 1999. 

'$e Prnel also explxined rhat dre argumcnt relied upon bvthr Coun ofÀppea1 

that hdonesi.rs occup,rtio. was illegal theÍefore Porruguese lavis to be applied did 

nor srand bccausc thc PoÍugucsc occupàti.,n of Flàst'f inoÍ, as a coloniJ psses 

sion,was ilso a rnolatior of intcrnational 1av aDd rccognhcd as such bv thc UN.' 

On this brsis th€ Stecial Panel starcd that invould notbc boutrd by thc dccision of 

the Coun o{\peil even rhough inras thc supcrior bodv in thcjudicial francrrrlc 

'lhe Court of Appeal reverscd its position in 2oo4 and rcvctcd back to thc vicv that 

hdonesian law is the amlicrblc lalv prior to 25 O.tobcr 1999, a dccisnrn madc nccessut 

by tbe passiJrg ofLau'No. rol2oo3 b1'the Timorcsc puliamcn rdich statcd 

C6e Nó. 16/1oor, Specj Pancl Dc.lsior 9 Scftc$bÍ 2oor, Cou.t ofAllical I)ccision 

rj luLr zool, arnilable at lrttp://${a!smp. 'rihub.lrs/judsncnrsrrdi/.ouftofappcàl/ 

Ct !! Ap! dos Sdnros Enijli:hrlioj.|dl 

C r 'f \yl .1./ ., ,4a. JD.. .. 

c.u í4p1., . / .? I a. . ., .. r .l 

Crse No. rqr./zoor,4Julr root. 

Pr.vana t D.,ti,B6 M,idann.pp. r o. 

Prtrtrt.t I Dak1i1{q l\1.n da"td,lt. \t- 11.

2Eo Ri'hdrd Bur.hil 

thrt thc applicablc lrN Írs to bc undcrstood $ Iidonesian 1aw 

Ïiis strins ofcascs also niscd anoth.i problemitic isue with the h),brid tstcm 

conccrningthc prosccurion of crimcs againsr hunani11r In th€ /,I t,,r,j decisior thc 

Court olAppcal hcld rhat rhcrc could b€ no prosecution on tl're b$is ol Rcgulatiixi 

,ooo/r Nhich cltcrcd hto forcc in June, zooo, becrLrse the acts upon $-lich the 

índictmcnt xas bascd ocolÍcd prior ro dis dare.'nre Court elpl,rined thrt udcr 

scction tr ofthc constltution o{Timor Leite, no indiljdual c,rr be t.ied ànd con- 

\lcted bascd on a crlmiial lN! \r'hich Nas not ln torce àt ihe time the rtions vcrc 

ceried out. l}e Coun of^lteàl the. went on to b.rse its dccision on applicable 

Poft€uese la! with no discussion ofintennionàl customarylarvand its epplicabil 

jq.Tliis decision Í1$ troublesomc for Rcgulrtion :ooo/r5 itseliprolided in section 

r,.r that no pcrson $ould bc criminallv rcsponsible for a.rions trken, unless dt the 

timc ofits commission ir $ns a crimc under internationil hMr The rele!ànce otintcr 

D.rioml larv lvas complctcly ovdlookcd bv rhe Court of Áppol wlnch is ertremeli 

prcblcmatic for thc cfcctivcncs ofa h[brid s\'stem. 

À tundamcntrl aspoct oíthc 1r'brid model is that inrerrarional law is brought 

inio fic domcsric spher€ ard applied to rhe dorn esdc ciÍcumstmces. Bur if thc bodics 

cÍeated in a hvbrid model ignore nrte.nàtbnd larv thcr it is clcd ihat thc h!.bÍid 

ao.( r l..i.ca:r. ,pu iblr ...H.v-,Fr..s| | an- ,r 

Appcrls position on thc applicablc law, thc iierv thxt Regulxtlon 2ooo/r5 i'$ not 

vdid $ns cvcnftrallr.or-erturncd. In the /r/ir! decision the Courr ofAtfed Íeveíscd 

itscl'on rlis matter end hcid that Regulation zooo/r5 could be àpplied on thc bxsis 

that the ciimeslisted in Regulxtion ,ooo/r5 !Íe sidelv recogDised as bcinthdicatirc 

ofcustonar] lnternàtion la| which means thcrc is no issuc ofrctroactirc applica 

tion oi t|e c|iminaL lav invohrd.lhc Spccial Pancis nadc the rclcvance ofcustonr 

ary internationrl lav clcar iD thc dccision of D4,í\t Pturtrtótfói S.ríaL' Oine! t 

l'runiy| Pnlro' $-hcrc thc acoscdvas prosccuted for crimes against hun.llliryrnd 

othd inhumanc acts Às sct out in Rcguietion 2ooo/r5. 

]àc Prncl madc wdcsprcad, and lt is submitted àpproprine, use of v,fious 

int.rnationel instruments and decisions.'the decision states thr evcn though thc 

x.rs oíthe rccusedwere comnitted F.ior tothc coming into forcc ofthc Regllation, 

this w.ls irrelcvrnt bccausc thc crimc agahst humanitv of nuder had a cleer basis 

in customu intcrnatioral lav which in turn is prt ofthe leg;1 systern for'fimor 

Lcstc through Scctioo 9(r) ofthc Constirution. 

It vould bc dificuit to criticisc rhe juispruden.e ofth€ SpeciJ Pinels due to 

thc fact $at thc slstcm frccd a numbcr ofobstacles thalrre belond its control. At 

thc samc timc dic $ralncsscs ofthe Specl;l Pane1s crn be àttÍjbuted to thc lailings 

of the LN ln the lmplenenratio. oithe hlbrid model.ï1e point ofa h)brid slstcm 

is to provide jnternàtioml support lor domesric pr(xccutiui of s.óus \dolaiions ot 

lr"rtÍo. I nt,ii"' d. It:ts,.xse !o.6./,002, CoLut of Àtl)caL Dc.isio' 4 Nóyonbd 

1ooa. Thcrc is no Enslisl LanguJge trmsÍi of rlLe jLLdsnetr. n,Í xn àr.l1 n rcc JS}IP, 

'lhc Pilnjr. dc JdÉ DccisionilsMP Repd &riltrool, p. 16, sdxble.t hrr:,/^Nan 

jsml.ninihub.ors/Rcrrts/jsnprc!orts. 

Couft ot Àpfcàj, rrrcn ,trr ... ,t.ndnlo ia S ks, p- ra. 

Cas. No. r/,ool, de.ision of,a &ri1roo5 

Dí?ta Pt aÍ.xtar far S.ri'"\ Crnr6 | namn.. Ptdtu,lxts. n'r.

trr"t I:a! Tnnor t Tinot l,ská DítuaÍ1n?in.4rkLiÍr.^-t 28Í 

intcrnational law. it js consnlered to be nn el+ict;vc way ofdcaling with atrocitics as 

thc bcncÊts of intcrnÀrional and domcstic approachcs to proscotion arc brought 

togcthcr in a singlc systcm. 

In pursuing a lNbrid approach it is nnpcratirc upon thc iniernational sidc to 

prolidc thc nccc$dy $pport and backing to cnsurc thc adlcrcncc io nrternatlonal 

sranduds.In rhc Timor situarion it $€s clcar that thc lntcrnational support rves 

lackíng as thc LN falicd to cnsurc thcrc rvas adcquatc md cxpcrlcnccd intenDtlonil 

tersonnel lnvohtd in the p(xecution of serious crimes- 'Ihe problem wxs slouly 

reciined but if from ihe outset ihe h]àrid nodel does not consist ofi.ternatiord 

personnel \rith rpproprixte dFrien.e and knolr'ledge or jíthe ftinls prcccss lxcks 

thc neccssrry rcsou.ces, fhe hybíid rpprorch vill do morc drmnÍjc than good in thc 

dcvclopmcntoía slstcm ic,rintcfDationil cfiminaliusricc. 

Thc biggcst tcst for thc Spccial Pancls camc in lcbrurry :oo3, rvhcn t1t 

Prosccutor-Ccncral filcd indictmcDts vith thc Spccirl Pancl làr cight high rank 

ing Indoncsians, both civilian and nilitarv for crimcs aqainst humanií! includ 

hg murdca cxicrminxtbn, cnforccd disappcrrancc, torturc ind dcfortetlons. .Illc 

list i.cluded Ceneral \\.innto, the foflner Indoncsia X4inisier ol Defence and 

Comnmder ofthe Armed Forces,rvho vas charged brsed on superior responsibiliryWirànto 

hàd not fàccd àni legxl xction in Indone$ir, clespitc bcing nemcd in thc 

rcpolt ftom thc Indoncsiàn humàn rithts commission rnd had in fact been e crn 

didatc for Prcsidential làcn thc indictmcnr vas rclciscd.1]rc indictmert ofsuch a 

ligh prclile individuel srch as Wiranto vas going to hav€ serious poliiicÍ rxni6ca 

tions, but il the inrernetional svsren is serious aboui L\e remoyJ olnnmlLnin the 

stàtus ofan irdividual should be less inport,rnt thar the $jnes ther lrre rcused oi. 

Ilowever, in this situltion jt quicklvbectlne cle{r thrt the politicd status ofthc 

individu lras morc inportrnt thm ensuring p.osccuriorl. Folowinq thc indicmcnts 

thc LN nnmcdirtclv distanccd itsclf fromrhc proccss cleiming that thc organisation 

had no involvcmcnt as thc indictmcnts had bccn issucd bythcTinor-Leste authori 

tics and that thc U\- inercly prtxidcs adrivrl asstancc to the EastTimorese'." 4t 

the sme tlme ihe Presideni ofTínor Leste crití.lsed the UN forissuingihe indict 

m€nts lithout .onsulting hin as it \'às fèlt thai such actions wouldieoprrdizc rehtions 

rdth lndoDcsia. ' But thc Prime Ministcr $cuscd thc LrN oanot living !p to 

its rcsponsibilitics with rcgard to thc prosccution ofscdous crim.s."' llore sigDifi 

cantlr In.toDcsia rcspondcd bi srying itworld simplr ignorc ihc indicm€nts. 

lhc Wiranto indicrmcnt dcmonstmtcd drc limit.rions ofintcíntioialized tri- 

,:, DaiLv Prcs Brieling br thc Ofi.c of the Sfokesp.Í$n fo. the Scdetdy GeneÍai 15 

Febrcaa zoo:r, rvrihble at ltt!:/./$w]D.org,i N$s/brEÊngs/docs/:oo3,/dbo::5o;.doc. 

hrm.lle SG's $atemeíttnrt the UN inerelr'prorides rddso4 x$istmceis higlll dn' 

nLgenuous rs Ltli stalï mJc up host oftle personnd in the SCU and tle prosecutor's 

z, Guinao .iLLs irdictDeli ofwnanro a \nisraLe" jSMP Nelrs RetoÍs (r ]ldch ,oor) 

ranable at http:/Ás.rljsmp.Drinihub.ors/Nervs/News/or ol ol :etremiro][ro]. 

rrj Bo{mrn,'LeÍing the big fisli gel.{ts', p.l9t 

r:4 Statement from hdonesian foeign minister, Hrsan \VÍajrda, guoted n 'lndicted 

Generrl !!íir íi)r fFsidelti.l bid'lltnan Rights $it.h \e{'s Gtr Af.il rooa) ÀaiLxirLe 

rt http://hrsorg/englislL/doc"/rooy'oaltrrlindonesasr.irtn.

unrls-Thc hlbrid appioàch to $e Spcci!l Pancls \frs supposed to provide intrrnàtu,mi 

bàckrrg t.r a Jomestic judicirl c1];rt. llr. idte, dationnl

l'rcn l)dí naar h Tnuot L8í.i.4 Dr%e't*@ 2Et 

sonDel. lLe lhdoncsi$ Lluman Rights Conmhsion had erplicitly nancd oicr 6ftv 

indniduals rcsponsiblc for\nohdoN ofscrious crines, iiclLding ,t numb.r ofscrior 

post hol.lcrs, but [tt1c of thh hformatlon rms evet acted upon. 

llic stali'of thc tribunal consisted ofirexpedencediu.lges md proscdro$. .Ilrc 

carccF of indi\idual judÍ.cs and prosecutors in lndonesii.lcpcnd hcavi\'upon thc 

dtcnt to Í'hich ofdcrs arc f()ilolvcd. giving tittle hope tir rnv rigorous applicriion 

ofthc 1aÍ'or aN clhrt to cnsure commnders were held responsiblc for thcir o\!n 

actbns and for the actions ofthose under their,iuthori+ Anallsis oftht trielsbefore 

the tribunal has con.luded rhÀr the'nilitrÍizàtion oíthc couns rnd prosecutols 

om.e ensured the trials \rould not bc pursxcd vitli anv vigou. 'Ihe conduct of 

ttre Íills r'às rlso à shinbLcs. During thc hcerings ligh Ílnking neÍnbcrs of thc 

Indonesiao mjlituv hrd a pfomilcnt presence nr the courtroom, as did prehtcerition 

militir ncmbcrs.Ïic trirls wcr. disrupted bl the outbursts ofthcsc qroups 

andjudgcs and prosccutors wcrc clcarry lntimidàted by their prcsence." Evcn morc 

distlrbing rvas thc rrcatrncnt ofr-ictims^{itÀesses \rho rvere not proridcd with anv 

mcasurc of sccurir,"--' es thcil nancs vere publiclr xnnounced &d a ucellcd safc 

housc aptaÍcndi' had its turpose ,rdÍe.rised on th€ door. - 

When the indictments íor dre tribund rvcrc issucd theï tailed to tulh gÍ.sp the 

girvi$ oíthe crimes in qlestion. f|cr rvere purposel,Í nàÍros,ed to help ni nisc 

thc culpxbilig ofthosc inctictcd and to remove m,v reference to the involrcmcnt of 

thc lDdoncsiàn goRrnmcnt in the r-iolence- Ofthe eightccr irdividuals indicred, 

sxrtrc found guiln'ofcrimes against lrum.]niq ànd reccircd p.ison scntcnc.s rang 

ing tlom rhree to ten veirs. 

Under Indoresian lan, tle mininum scntcncc for crnncs againÍ huma.itv is ren 

r€,rÍs. "-lhe jneliectncness oÍthc tribunal and thc process surroun.li g inras denonstràted 

b) the crsc ofNlajor GcncmlÀdam Damiriwho iÍrs the highcst ranking 

nilitrry oliiccr indictcd. During thc trial the Generalvxs often ibs.nr as hc lvas stil 

undcrtaking his ofrcia1 dutics vhi.h xt ihe doe involred the militllf rcsponse to 

thc situarion ir1 thc Àcch prolince. r\r lhe Íirl the pÍosecltion dcmandcd ihÀi ihe 

couri 6r hlm lnnoc€nt on ihe bàsis thàt none ofthc chdgcs airainst hím hÀd been 

proven. The court did íind the gencral gli1ry but onlv senrenced ro hin ro three 

velrrs ilnPrjsonmcnt. 

A1l of thosc lound grullq remained free pendlng their rypcrls with many of 

thcm cotriinuing in acti\c militar). service, rs lvith Drmiri meltioDcd abovc, oi evcn 

morc wrnrinqlll thc nilitir lcadcr Eurico GutteÍes l4ro wrs scntcnccd to tcr 

lcds in prisoD for his cfimcs vas krorui to be estrblishine pro-Indorcsixn mili 

,:s Da'id Coler,'Intended ro fnll, lle trids bcJarc drc èd ho. Human Rights Conft nr 

Jalota, htermtioml Ccrtcr f.r Trxisition Junice Occasioral Paper Se.ics AxsuÍ 

root, tP. a:Jz, Nxilable at htï://Na{ini org/ib.ges/.onrenr/o19/o96.pdf . 

rrr Cohen, lftdrd.d t frii, tf.s6 57. 

rro Cohcn, l drdcd i. tril,l.Sílat;Gíot Tinat Lrt.. i)? tn farxr\t.pp.11 11. 

!2 

tt h1:"., , - ,.t!. .. 

Lr$' ,6/zóóo, Chr$d YlI. 

r:ll C.hoi,'I itcndcd to àl', pp. !\ 28t Jusí ne ?í Trrrt Ldtt: ttu arq ídutr4 p. t8- 

;ita For norc re de B*todalo,'East l inor - jusricc dericd'pp. 9 ra 9:5. 

l:]5 Á1!o s!€lt Euico G!ter*.

2U RiÀntul B"tthil 

tia groups in Pepua, another province thàt h.rs not .rcceptcd lDdo,csian corltrol and 

has ben subimted to hush gorernnent.rl mersues.ln thc cnd, horvo-er, i ras 

Gutteres ulro was tlre only hdjvidual ofthc o.iginrl cightccn (and also rhe orlv 

nàtire 'I ino.ese) convicred to hwe his sentencc oftcn ]tars ímprlsonmenl upheldi 

all ofthe otheÍs have h{d their conÍictions orerturDcd. ,' 

B\' 1oo3 it {$ cledr thàt individu.tls rvithin Indoncsianjudsdiction responsible 

for serious vjolations ofinternationd hummitrrian and human rlehts la\{ weÍe .ol 

gonrg to be brought to jilsticc. r Ànd it vas dso clcar thet the Speclal Pa. eLs would 

be ufirble to Íc.rch thos. outsidc thc tcríton ofEast Tímor/Timor l.este. At thn 

stagc thc UN shorild ha!. stcpped in based on the princide and pràctice ofconptcmentuit!. 

AJricle 17 ofthe Rome Sixtute states that $ines àc to bc dcalt\ith.fthe 

state level,lirst and forenosi, ànd shen i stnte is eithcr umblc or unqnfins to derl 

with the màtter, some $it ofinternational actioD is to bc takcn. 

Complementdity recognises the need fo. strtcs to addrcss \iolations ofinter 

nationÀl crinnral in the tÍst inst.nce but enÍrcs ther. is somc $fi ofinternation, 

fiil back so that nnpunit] is not. loryed ro prc'nil. Both Indoncsia and TinroÍ 

Lesi€ were giren th€ opponunirv in thc list i$tancc to prosecute and bring to 

trial thosc suspcctcd ofviolating iniernaiional .rlnrinal liri,. With Tnnor-Lcstc jt 

nor po$ible to hrlng rrithln the jurisdictio. of the Special Pencls many of those 

nxmed in rhe indictmerts as thev rveÍe not prescnt in thc tcriton.and could lot 

l-- -.. -d r l,o",'..'b. lAer^,ei h.h,j'r.on '!f o,..ur, ' 

..ê?.f ,i 

ble.Witl Irdo.esir thcre rvrs r cJerr unwillingncs to prosecute.There were public 

stntcm€nts from thc UN cxprc*ing dissarisfaction $ith the ad hoc huhaD rights 

tribuoal and cmphasising rhc nccd lor Indoresia ro meet the obligations set oui in 

SC rcsolutions conceilirs rhe prosecutior oíthose responsiblc for thc rnolcncc.'' 

But it Nis.ler that no substantiye action lvas going to be trLcr for cnsuring efec 

h Resolution r5a3 of ra tr{ày ,oo4 the SC calcd tb. an cnd to all iivestigarions 

concerning se.joL,s crines by the SCU bv Novcmbcr zoo,t ard for a iiials belore t|e 

Speciàl Panels to be linished by u o Ma,v zoos.'' In the lerv same txragirph thrt the 

SC brings to a haft thc pursuit of those responsible for violJtions ofserious crimcs it 

also reaíirmed the'need to light àgèinst itupuniq rnd rhc importancc íor the inter 

narion,l communit\' tu lend its sLlpport in this rcgard'. 111c \rindins up the Specill 

,tO l- l"r;'-arlo rc txrt://rNstrial .h.org/Íid{rtch,proÁleíen/onrdít2,s.htnl. 

rli Indoicsii hàs iot eyei Íied to pietend to cre rbout the yoces. l:ormcr Presids,t 

XlcqiNlii Sukunopltíi F.trc i specch in rool stxtins thr tle AJmv slolLd críl oul 

i. durics and rcsfonsiliilitics $itbour ÍrÍyirg óout huma! rights, *e 'Xleexwad ro 

iroots: doni woÍr áhort rights rlu*j, ,\gene F.incc-Ptrsc, (zr Dcccnbc. loor) 

quotcd i. Indoresirs Shmr PÍorcutiors, the \eed to Strerythen thc Trial lÍoc$s 

in Dsr Tnror, and thc Impcr.tivc oiU.N. Àdn,D Humxn Righrs \r.tch llack.ound 

Briclins (,o Dc.chbckoor), ar"ailable at hcp:/rmrnl|,vors,/bx.krou.tcr/lsittin,or/ 

drmor2óx).q.nrm. 

r38 ScÍ-dy (lotr'ri lhockcd by ligh sentenc* halded down in Indonesi.! .oun cr{, 

UN Pre$ Rdcrsc SG/SU/7/9i (a Nhy ioo') in the statefteltthe SG caLLed ortndonsix 

ro comtlywirh ihc rcrn\ ofrlc SC R$olution 4re ofro SeFtember rooo 11Ànn sÍ.$cd 

rhar tlor res])onsiblc fof rhc vj olo, cc rnÉ b. btuuFhto justic, pa.a. ,. 

rJ9 5C ltsohioi I.1l (r,1Mit boa) p.ra.8.

lrr,u Ean Ti,lot tó Timor Ltíe.L4Dletêtuha@ffiihi1r+ 2rt 

Pinels \!Às a serious bLo$'ro addressing drc marter ofihe sern)us oimes conmittcd 

rdd brnrging tojusri.. dr\e Èsponribl( l.' rhe violen.c. 

'Ihr d.risi.u to snrt lhe Spr.ix-lPrtrl! irLtr hàyr b.(r tL,liÍifrlr noii\ried ,,r 

ir w, DLl bc difli.ult t.) $a! rhe Pancl hr. rchieved its goal"q drer) tliàt oycr three l)udred 

ntdividuals u| o h ave been indicted 1in ,eriou s dinies rÈD ):ri. be)'ond the jurie 

diction ofthcTinor l,esre couns. . The hnoc.isvofthc LNivieu,s in Resolution 

r(.13 is cled for allto see. Ihe ordcrnig ofthe cJosc ofthe trirls rnd lvhat is e$en 

tirlli thc withdrarval lrfintenati.rnal {rplo( mcans those thr! lrc rcspoisible Nill 

ror bc brought t., ju(rirc, lor it the lni is n! longcr wilins !! rssisr ir is diff(trlt t ' 

!r0 \'|. else ln thr iDr.ÍDrn,nrl ci,mmrrln w.xid frrlide rf,c suppon sfokcr oi 

in Resolution rj+j.'ILc idca behind ir inÍcrrrdo.di?,ed trib!nàl n thrt thc iDrcr 

rÀriónal element $ill prolide the supp.'Í to ill rbc Jiàts th,1r the domci 

'rcccsary 

dc elen)ent is unablc ro cFective\ dca.1r.irh.ln this situation internatjoDrl supporr 

{!s reeded to cnsurc ihàt those responsibL. and indictcd bl thc Sl)eci, Pancls rvcre 

trr.ught beforc thc Pr.e1s fot trial or thrr rn alternrtivc in(,Ilinq l.doncsia elIec 

tiveh dedi widr the urrei 

Intcrnatru:llze,l tÍjlunr.is r.fe.eDi innoritlvc unnkr C in circulFunic\ 

Í0qniring'qulck deiisions and tolLgh .o'rpronscs in the 1l.c uf\cvere politicrl iDd 

r.onorni. constrÀirts. - '[1e use oÍan nrfurnetionxlized triblril1ras probabiï rh]Í 

bestthxt could bc hoped for in thc circunÉrarces suíouDding liastTimor as thc wlll 

rnd thc rcsourccs for D int€rnrtional b.d) \rere l&king and there rvas a good deJ 

riemphrsn on providins the'fimorcsc s.irh an acrir rolc in de.rling vith natleÍs 

inlp.r.ring thcir so(ie$ Horvercr if the ii tc m.rrionalizcd or hr b r nmdcl i. some- 

Íhin( Íhàr is go;n( to bc plrsucd in ÍJre liÍ!ft, ir is impenlj\e Íl{ rh. nrteD,rtjorrl 

sidc holds up it5 eDd.ln t\is rega.d it is n.cLssarl to mrke x sÍlnd in fàvour ofl}c 

lrinciples of intcflution3l $imin justi.c. 

OtherNisc thc de!'€lopment of inrcmationÀl ciminal 1a1v will continue to b€ 

In the East fhor/Timo r 

llàgLred with accrsations as i q\tcm of'seLe.tile -iLlsticc'. 

Leite situ,itio! rhe mÍr issuc tacing anl .rrlcmpt àr prose(tnrn wrs thc frct thdr. 

tir thc most prt, thosc :Lrcuscd rcrnrin cutsi.tc thc tcrlit.rr.'Ilc Llomcsti. institu- 

ÍioDsNeÍe not jD ! posiÍion !o do an\1hiDs abouÍ rhis situitiur buÍ Íh. inteo tiLDal 

rlÊ,nent, i. the È!D ofÍhc UN cerfuiDh 1ràs, but the UN fa;l.d ro lct in r marDer 

!:rnsistent Nith its o\vn state,nents .nd Í.iolutions colccrnDjj the prosccution oi 

rhose respoDsiblc lbr serlous crincs. 

Jt h.rs becn crprcsred that the UN mxJ. suÍe the intcrnatnmalized tribu!,]\'r! 

n.!.lïectne in b.inÍ{!rg rojuÍice Indoncsi.r. suspects às it mLghr lead to thc public 

,ru(i'Ig ofthc comrrli('in oirhe intcrnrtion:rl fommunin sd nir(irulJ influ€rtial 

:1àtes in thc inj!,tjies br,)ught upor 1-irrorl-csrc. ' It \r.ulil bÈ , sad dx\'1i' rjr. 

UN- ia thís !ie\r is thc lLàst bit a..urrte. bur rr the sàne tinre it does rtte.r thc UN 

is more lilling to concede io stàtc intcr.sis thÈ. upholding àn) soÍt ofjuÍice ii 

tNour oÊhumu ilterests- 

.Irdi.i,] SrÍcm lln!.ri,rg Proqirn,rc A:,ttr-- L:f'ti,t, Lt'!- ltrtv Sàro !,.1 

{jri,,,!a :o

2E6 Rnndrd R,rhil 

Ar iltcmationaliscd tribunal in East Thor, or any other teritorÍ is Íeà]isti 

ca11v onl; goirg to bc ablc to cxcrcisc iurisdiction ovcr nrdividuals thit de inrne 

díate1l prcscnt in the rcrritory'Ihis means that ht'brid tribunJs rdll be efèctne in 

civil Nai siturtions but noi $'hcn irdMdurls fÍon anotler st.rte hxre been involitd 

as !he] vill be able ro reiurn to ihat star. and iemai. outside th€ reach oíthe inrernatiomtsed 

ÍibunaI, unlcs iheÍe is signlfi.ant lnrernarional sutpoÍt md pressuÍe 

ior bringing those restonsible before e colLri.'Ihe inter.adoral element ofm inrer- 

.ationallzed bibur is ofcrucbl imllortànce i. conflicts inlolvirg morc thxn onc 

stxte and in prÍticLrlàÍi irhen accusations ofcriminàl liohtions rppll to scnior gorcrnmcnt 

6Ít!res ofrnother Íàte. 

Ifthcrc isgoing to bc an initixl morc ofsupport tbr thc use of prosecution uhen 

therc hàs bccn scrious riolrtions of intcrnational huna! righrs and humànitlriÀn 

larv the institurions cnÍlstcd vith fin tisk need to be qiven the necessaÍ) suppo.t 

to undcrtale ihc duti.s rhq harc bccn cntrusted u'iih.It is prudent to algue that if 

trirls uc to bc pursued thcrihould onlv be conductcd upor tr,rcticable xnd sustàir1 

able bases;to stat and thcn io fail would ii manl w$sbe fiÍ woÍse than not to stàrt 

à1. 1 so faÍ às the messxge itwould send ou1.'lhe lackof s'lpport givcn bttheL\ 

institutionsto the intcrnlnionalized tribun,r.lhrs donc damagc to thc dcvclopmcnt of 

inteÍnrtional crr nrliusticc atit scrvcs to undcrmir€s anÍe1lort ro eliminxte imlu 

nin in the international system. 

The mndete of the Special Prnels provided lor unn€rs.ljurisdiction i. trincipie 

b,.Lt there vere the pfuctical issues ofhorr ro bring the accused u'ithin the rcrch 

oftbe Panels. When the Special Panels rvere created the UN lrs thc adminhtratol 

ofthe tenitory and rvith this crme r larec dcgrce of rcsponsibilir,v for rhc cl1'ccrnr 

tunctionnrg ofthc Pancls.-'This plÀccd rn obligation upon thc LJli to ensure dut 

mcasurcs Í'crc tikcn ro suppori ihc clïcctn! ftnctioning ofth€ Panels. One canrot 

argu€ ahit it s'as up to thc TimoÍese instltutlons to somehox bring the àccused 

\rithin its iurisdiction. Foi the tust coutle of lrars of.he Panels, there rvls no other 

golernnenlÀl authoriq in the teriroÍv and immediateli tolLoNjng the proclànrtion 

ofindepende.ce the nelv strte h'ld neither the clout nor thc rcsourccs ro obtain thc 

Il deelingwith the issue oiseriors violadons ofhtelnàtionsl humm righis.rnd 

humrnltrian 1aw the UN gave gÍexter supprt to the international politicd intcrcsts 

ofthe states inrolved over mïtÍin.ipled stance fàr en suring ifrlunig ;s renorcd. A 

former Depuo Specirl RctÍ.sentatnr oidre Se.retary General lor liast l'imor has 

explaiicd rhat loliticd nril)fflrives, such as reconcilialior \rith lndonesid ,tnd the 

militia leadership, cnused nraior problens jn neetiog Securifl Council-mandatcd 

prosecution ofserious crimes conmitted during 1999'tnd that lncloncsia vas also 

clcarl,r' unwilling to co{pcntc acti\'.h in ihis arca and ivxs not suínciert\ pressed 

bv ilfluential go!€Ínments tu do so, ..-' ' Given the limitxtions on the SpeciàlPànels 

fiom the ouner both in terns oiresources end the poLitical Nill backing its $o* r 

4t llilant XlcCoLLbrcI'Íhe r.ned conílid nr Bosrin ald lro|ord wd.rinc tiil n 

Ltt.zdtiandlPrldti.n\ (t9$J y a]'. 

Suzallah LnÍon, Cambodix, Da{ Tnnor xd Sicra Lconq cxFri'no,rs jf intcrn. 

tio!.liuÍne D C,'r,t,lZ,a: Fatuh \2aar) I.21.. 

\7tni AAI Lir, tulat al íh, .o.2 'tLltrt Colfárn t, p. t,,.

Ft.d lt.an'I n"ot ttT at |.. i-.,ti11)raa.tÍdt;tna+a,b..kÉt a ,6- 

\(n linired l)iciu.e of thc crlncs .on )rÍÍrd Nill result, foclssing lnintr or, low 

l$cl Jirne! committcd bÍsubordir,tle Ersr Tirn.,rese. 

lr c not L,e said thai jlstice hàs bccr done or, morc cynicalli; il coull bf con 

mentid rlàt thcrc hes been \ery litdc clï.rt bÍ the UN in the pursuit oiilsii.e. 

Conrnerràtors h.ve said the U\ Í.i[ .lrempt to s.l} wc gave the tribunal a good 

shof, but it u'lN 1c$ inteiested in enslringjustl.e is donc for rhe lictims ofrh. \io 

1en.e. lhe iritial positilt atrràdion to iÍLrernationalized tribunJs hÀs gjren wrr ro 

the tdlitiral .caliries làÍ i{4rat hrppcns $'hen the iDtcrnational system laiLs ro hóld 

ut ir( cn.l in the tursLit ofjLrsticc. 

v. -{n\ Chu,.e fo, Jusri.e? 

\Àrh!l ejT,)n! ar en*ring there js .rinrj'il rcspon\ibiLitv for the liolÈDce ir 1999 

hilc 1lo!',dêÍed à considcrable àn!)urx ofàrÍcnrion has becl dirccted ro'r \ ÍrDrn 

anJ reco.cjli.rtion commi$io.s rs I \,r1 dlderling lvith rhc past. Bur ercD ir rhi! 

cortexr rhere is signi6cani tension bcft(.. rhe pu.suit ofhumrn vclucs an,l inrer 

ests llDd thc concerns ofsfàtes. F.rr the process ofrcconcilierio. in I socictl rhr hàs 

bccr .o--or '..-', b, \'.,,.e ., +ae o\.1 ."FJl ,,n.(. 

LcLd procedures irc dcsigned to tullish ior rrongdoirg, thc tnrth md reconciLiation 

poress is dirc.tcd towaÍds denling ryiift dre rerisioDs that cxisr n] a s.r.ici].rhrt 

hr.'rJr'. lrhr"u1hl" LTc,,. ,i ll. ., .rd ^rr'J.r.1.1 ". 

the l:rturt d.\tl.pmcnt otsociefl i5 rno.c nic[!jr!c. 

'lhrrc is tr h.r] nce to be srruck m a Nn-rondicr sitxatior nr puÉuiog nnrr 

e.atjLD ntr rl.!e r, co$ed oi s(rious cfiDrs and us[g r reconcj]irtion F.ce.s fl)r 

lcsscr Íines ' Àt thc timc of the .reriidn ol Í|e Specirl Pancis dreíe \fls àlso 

dri .rèJriín ofthc Commission tiÍ R(ccpÍior, TÍtrth rnd ReconciliàtDr iD EisÍ 

TiDoríCÀ\'R).' TLe Commissjonuis csràblishedtocomplenenttheworkof rl,e 

Spe.iil Paicls as a fonn o{'justi.c{up}.oirive nàchnicrv', it irs not corlcciled of 

es e replaccmcnr for the prcsecution ofseÍious crimcs. CÁ\rR s mrndatc for:used 

on dealing with hunar rights liolarions th:Lt ivere commilted duÍins thc Indonesixn 

occupxiion trom ,9., including rhe evenr. of 1999 and to assist with rhe pro(ss 

r4a LnÍon. EapÍnnd,is ii l rtdndtnnril.l\6 ri.. . !. f,ó. 

r1: Sr,rtnrnt raCh.isliÈi Ril,einr !frh€ lS.\Í1, qrokd Ln KatzcnÍio,'Hvbíd l;ihudrli. 

I r_:. À ti'írd frorcutn, fo, rlR U:l n ti{ TiíLor hf cond{rlcd r}at dLt L;\" hr 

rÍrlrhlii i,i{i.c d, tl). F.i5i Tnn",N. rí,NL àr rnb c.€.ri,D or i iL,sr,cc n\Er, 

thtrr .r, óil\ Èxdr lolv lc!.j Frs Tiinorr r,d in ],e hdolesiu onh]nJcri !I. 

,.stóriibrr tur rÍ],rt wcnr on, rc BonD.ri. L{riiÊ rh. big Íish ger aM\ . p r-r. 

,as ar(Í, Strh!,Ac.onnodi rg indirrduJ Íi,nindl r*lorsibiliÍ rnd nrtnnril È.ó,, 

nliri rn: Èe U\ Teilr Con,ni$nD 1i'r LNi Tnror' rt,4 Inx 

"nlldilaanrl 

-nh',tl 

/.,a Goot p.956. 

'f 

,a9 Eshblishd bl I-TNTAET ReguLatior roo/ro. For dGcr$ion scc Bcth L).otrs, cctting 

ur Ltripired, strugeling 1d rtrtls: the Comn,nsior íor Recepti.n,Trudr r. d Reur.ilitrlioi 

(CIVR) in Lr$ Tnnoi nr Rom.!o, Nolll:Ich$r, dd Klcfríci .Às. Lutdltdlr,r !e/ 

c.:À!nrtcaxrt\,1.99. 

rj. Scilin. r\comnodriiie indnidu:J sLmu,rL aponsibilin.xnd iàiionat re.oncilLrn.r'. 

. r.+ llk n trdte ofrhc Comnissinr t..vi.ld tl,.Lr wleÉ a|lroprinc, hunrn rignÍs 

.i, L.rLon, (rld bc scnr to tLe Prorcut"rl orlir., tt\TAET ltc,iulriirn ,.or/r,. p!J.

233 Rnba Brtitil 

ofrcintcqm rg loÍn€r nilitia membeA nryolvcd in rhe violence ofr999 back into 

The final report from CAVR rvas issurd to the Presideni xnd Parlimerrr oÍ 

Timor Leste ir October rnd Novcmbcr roos resfectivel] an.l thcn delivered to rlLe 

SG or zoJanuarr zoo6.1le rcpor[vas nor mearr itr public.clcasc but wàs ercnru- 

.rl\ L.rked Àm ldst rcusxtions that th( Tlnor Lerte Pres itlcnt rvas tning to supptes 

ir id,lrder m m,rintàin g{É(L r(Lltnrns wirli lddónerir.1l,c rcPortislong and detriLed 

i. iÍ.ó!er:rge dfcleDrs from re-\ Io rí).r,, rid ,\ddrc\scs r broad range ol!iolJrion: 

which hse occurrcd and uhcre ;,rssi1-1e thasc wlo w*c responsible, eitl(r dircÍI1 

or rh.ough a supcrior position. l}e repon docs noÍ hold b,rck in its forthrigbt'rcss 

ard a1l sidcs inrolved il the violen(e irc pur xndt close scÍutini 

Ii dcliv.ring dre refort to thc lrl.\ Prcsid.Dt GuÍnao emphasised rhc nccd ro 

look fonlaÍd and nade lro mention ofpo!.culions for serious crnncs or a!Í otheÍ 

action ro be taken followingthe rcpoÍ. I rd.n€sia'.s resporse rrrs thir fic rcporhvas 

' 

'à $'ff olnumbeÍs ard dità about thinqs rhat never hrppencd'an.l that 'there is .o 

need to look into ihe pxst bccáusc thet dnes .ot help.' l}rc CÀ\rR renort has rot 

n,rde it pàst the SG cvcn though lt speclíi. lv Íccommcnds that it be released to a 

rangc ofUN bodies including the SC tuL considcrarion. 'Ihe events surrounding 

the releese oftlt C,{VRretort ànd th(.ci.rkrs olthe nÀii acto.s involvc.t suggesr 

rhet even this sorr of routc to t.\th xnd íe..d.il tion is not faiourcd as it atpe&s 

(r Í,Flide too much truth. 

\ further ncasurc alon.r thc truth and reconriLirtn'n ]incs has come .yiih thr 

..errion ofihr Comnissnrn ofTruth and Fiiendship cstrblishcd bv the gt,vernmcnts 

of ifi]oncsir md Tinor LeíÈ ir De.(nrb$ 2oo4. Cive. rhar the LIA\rR prr(c$ 

urs rvcll cstablished an,l the irstiruriDrs rar prDlecDtion ofserious crimcs Nerc jll 

phce it is dllicull to undeÍst.]nd N|I drc Í1vd goverDÍ,ents fclt thc nced to esiiLrli,h 

! tuÍdrerbodl Howevcriooking it dre teÍ,ns oftle agrecmcnt thc nlo stàreiilten- 

The e{pressed purposc of this Conr D jslbn is to scck truth and piomote iíiendship 

as .r nciv ànd uniquc approach r*tl:er thm thc prosecutorixl frocess.' -In thc 

mandatc thc CTF approa.h is describcd as. moR to 1{:) bring.de6Ditivc closure' 

to th. issues ofthe p$t ind'to cstablsh the corclusive truth in regrrd to the ererts 

prlorto and iÍ)medirtclv aítcr thc popula. .onsultrtion in 1999." In thc tLrsuit of 

rrurh there is .] cled.cjcction of thc u\e .n l.g.J pLosecutiont it is cxplained 

Tn,c j$dcc cin be "erveil \rirh d(rh kl .L.k.o1rt.dgenetrr ol iestolsibilir Thc 

píÁccutori.'l srfem ofjustiLc .in .clllLflv .trhirv. onc ohjectivc, which is to 

Át,,tr .fthe Iicport 'i avri|bte N tLrt: ' vr,rl irri ., r/. d, nsvi/fcatuier'8a6. htnn. 

ll?,C ()ili,.,'IiJin$lM E,,$ I\,,o, .nn{ IrnÈd r:)Jrn!rrv:0.61a\in.hl.I hlr}), r 

icr\ Ll,...o.uk/r/hr\rld ,tsii l,.a.ili. rb\ór:: sfi,. 

IS\]P l-c1tsr ro UN Seud.^'ccDqal rbor CÀ\'R ud COE ItepÍs (4 ll,r.h 

r.ó6) rvliLable at bttf:\N!iírrnDl,ub.org/News/roo6^lar.h/r.Íoro6 

Lcttc.%róro9i,zolrN eng.htm. 

'Inrms of rcfcrcnce for tne Conmi*,on of Truth ard Friendslip eÍablisLcd br Tlrc 

ltc]]lLltic otli donesix xnd lhe Denornrlr Rrpubln:ofTimor Lsie,PIc.mlLc,])!ra. io, 

Nxilxbh ri lt$:/ Flar.tfJi tl.org/reD.- .í-fcfcrcice. 

Tcí!s of refererce ior the Connissión oiTruth dnd Friendshp. lrmrhh, tèr!s.9, E.

Ftótu EuÍ Tinot ta Tittal-Lster"4 Dtutata+id1f+lÍ+inírí 289 

l nGh rhe tdl)et.foisl bnt it nighr not re.e$ullr'1ead t. rhe Ítrth atrd |)romot 

In the terms ofreferenre ior r|e Commissior ihere is àn e\plicit íejection ofthe 

crextior of fLrther judicirl bodl \rhich c,rn be iiken as an ofii ci.rl posliion oflhe t\vo 

stàtes on this nnteÍ. lle nandate ofthe C'll' eJnphàsises its role in íi.ding the 

trutl xrd Íe.onnending wàys fór Íecon.llietlon, its only outcornes will be the issLr- 

'Ihcrc arc a nunbcr ofproblems with thc tcrm ofrcfcfclce iof thc CTF as it 

mak€s no distinction bcnvccn thc lc(ls ofdimc cdficd out.It rillpursuc a onc sizc 

fits all approach ignoring thc scrous neture ofsomc ofthe crines that rvere comnit 

ted. " It Jso apperrs to be besed on thc bclicf that the fina] report, lrhcn it is issued, 

will be the end ofthe Íor! on responsibility fàr scrous crines, in orher bords n is 

explicid\' tursuing lhe proreciion of imtunif' rhrough the fitade otlhe burh - '' 

Ir hl]s been repotted that the CTFhas friled io obtanr videstreÀd, popular sLrf 

port in filnoÍ-Leste. r\s something thrt is clearl) dÍjven b] nationàl elite! il is 

c1cáJthrt thc CTFis bcing used puÍe\ for the politicàl inierests olthe stàtc lcàdcrs. 

Its abilitv to contributc to transitionrl dcrlopmcnt as rvcll rs its conformio rith 

internxrion la\r is serioush h doubt. 

Truth dd re.on.ilirtlon proce$es rre imfortmt .ontriburors to post conflict 

sihlntions but thel cÀnnot be a shàn 'tnd nrnipulàted in order to disniss $h.rt hrs 

occurÍcd. l'utherrnore, the! cllnnot àct às r repldcement ioÍ cÍihiral responsibilit!, 

and ràcn it comes to scrious internationrl .rimes, rcsponsibiliry rnd prosccution is 

som.timcs ncccssarr: i Thc CTF is not dcsignccl to ollcr any sort of rcconciliation 

trocess, it i"q pÍimarih an cíIort of thc gor-ernmcnt cliics to brnrg to an crd inv dis 

cussion oi the erents oi999. The outrighr rejectlon of the use olprosecutions by the 

nvo strtes is à woíyi.g delelopment in the furure ofnÍeÍialional crininaljLrstice 

, r'Í,l b F,,^g,le.r'1f"-tlerem"vrl rr-1. r 

Non-governnrentxl groups h$€ contin|red to dehà.d the ffeation oínn inter 

rs6 Tcnns of liefereEe for rhe CoDnnsio! ofTmth xnd liiendshi|, l]reamble, lra ro 

r57 Tcrms of Rcicrci.c for thc Codnission ofT.urh and liicndshi!, rinc4ncs, !ua. rr 

G). 

ri8 TdN of Rcf{cDce f.r the Commcsl.n .fTrurh xnd FrienCshi!, mxnd.te, tdx. ra. 

ri9 Rcl]or oí rhe Conmhrior of l]xtds to re\ierr tle |rosecutio! oí serious lioLxtions of 

huna! rlghs i!'l nnor Leste (then Exst limor) in 1999, UN Doc. S/2ooj/4ru G5 ]!Lv 

róo Rcl)l)rt of Comnissio! oí Erycrts, f:ua. zo. 

16r'TnnorLeste:Se.dinCouncilina.tion!niustj.cforTnrotLcsttlcavesngltrgainst 

inpuniainLimbc,'ÀnnesqInterfutiomlN$( Setui.eNo: :rg ('r Àugust:ool). 

16r lr h.s been reported that there is di$atisfictior $itl the rcconcilirtion prorss m the 

people otTinor l.eíc still expe.t prosecutioi in .cn,!in cise!, see CoÍ,missiln oi 

Hunrn Rlsl,ts, Repo.t oftlc Udn.d Nàtions Hlsh Commissloncr for Huhan Rrg\6 

o. tcchdical coopÍrrio! h dr ijdd of hu'ni. rights ji Tnror l.cstc UN Doc. E/ 

CN.y'Foi/lj (:1\'ldch róó5). tra. a,. 

líj Scc RobÍt Crye,'Po$ conÊict lccountèbilitl': ! nrttcr oíi udgc!,cn1, Facti.c or prii 

ciple?'in Nigel \\rhite rnd DirL Khàrn, eds. 7&. UÀl t,na, tiSt^ Md f6t-anJ4tu 't, 

,r,,, (UàncheÍer, llanchestÍ UnilrsiÍ Prc$,]ooi) !p. ró7 ,fe.

.ea Ritrdr/J Errni!/ 

n{tionnl fibudrl Èr d(di rg \rith rh. clrot,)fÍrt9. ' The SC J..idcd in eàrly ,od( 

to eÍrblish r Con'mission ()1 lli?erts ro cv.luate the pÍogÍess dradc b] dre huÍrin 

dghts courts in lnrLoncsia aD.l the Speci.rl Pancls in TinloÍ T.est. in dcalingvith th€ 

perp€traton ofthe \iolencc in 1999.l. Jnaking tliis dccision the S(l rccalcd the SCi 

'co$icrioD that those responsible for greve liolations oíinternàtional hunenitdiàn 

lax dld humài rig|rs in EestTinor in rrQo should be broughr roirsticc.'' Prior 

to csrablishing thè CL)E thc SC h.d nlde r|c I'oint to borh l.dóDesa rnd Timot 

Lestc drt thc issu: ,rf ser;cls .fiDe! !.d their pÍ-'sccurion rt a corcern not or\ 

tirÍ die trvo.ount.ies, t)ut also for c wi,ler inte.national .oNnunin: 

Th r.rd.r. uf ..rtOl r'Lo.'l \tp^'.org -,c"',a(rJ,,o, rrir 

ther melsures or mcchanisms to ensurc dr.r those responsiblc a(. hcld rccoLrntxble. 

jLbtice n secured fo. the vicdns and thc people ofTimor Lcstc, md reconcilir 

tion is promoted.' 'Ihc COE was rppoirtcd in Februiry,oo5 àDd had completed 

its rcport br l4à!'. iDd this fo ,rÍded t., thc SC on zaJune :oo5.In the report the 

COE cxphin! Íh3t dr! s(rjous crnne t)r.,c.s i' TiÍror-l,esre v,d dri id hoc couÍtr 

Ln indonrsir hÀt nor achicvcd tuil ,Ncounubiiitr ofth.,!. qlv' be.f d1(.rrc.r(rl 

responsibillq riif 5erious liolations .rt lnrmxn rights conmiÍe.l In East Tnnor nr 

1999," À mai.r r'ctor identlded bv rhc COE for the shortcomnrgs ofthe serious 

dmes process in Tnno. rvàs the inrbilig t.r bring suspecrsbefor thc Spefi.J Paneis 

as thc m{oÍig rie bascd in lndoresii. 

11ie COE repon makcs a nunrbeÍ ofre.onncndàtions \dth Í.sard to thc pros 

ecutiol ofthc'sc rtsporsiblc lor serious firrcs.Its Êrst recoÍ,íiÉrJ]tion is thc con- 

tiruancc ofr]]c Spe.i,rlPucls and rlc SCU rrirb LN suppon.lr is,rsserred that this 

rvould ensun rhr ntveÍigarions, lr.li.rmeíts rnd trosc.uro\ wlLere possiblc Ic 

cxÍied out anJ ..mpLcted. ' For lnJotrcsix ttre report recommends thàt the èctM 

tics otthe xd ho. tribunals ,rre re dà!i!rcd, mrjor steps are trk n at refoÍming the 

criminxljustice slstem to conpll lrith iireÍiationd strndards,allc for Indonesir lo 

càrq; out the pÍosecudon of.Ll those àccused ofscrious $ines,I'rcludinÍa thc rctrid 

of thosc alrcàdl ií,di.ted. 

If thcsc rccomnendations ac not ::ited up thcr thc COE recommends tlc 

eÍ,rblishÍn.nÍ ofir inte .rtiond crnniDrl rÍibunrl foiTin)or-LcÍf n' be Íeaied bv 

íJa Tnnore*T'u(h Cohmission RepoÍ,efcdi shóckingbrutaliq:r:Llls f.tr oid to i fuliq' 

t(lTi Press Rclexse Gó Jaiudy :ooói hitpr/,/\\N.icrj.org/etuncws/!r.$/ídc.s77:r. 

htnLr'\GOs (all on the U\ to nor. to rcsohr the question oijuricc for Tnnor Lesi.' 

lmnclr Inrc,rxtnDaL Nsvs Sovicc No. r6j G8 Junc looa) lrr://Írb.mnesn.ds/ 

Librdr'/i.dc'IUNGAS,{rror:Poo4i LrN Sccurig_ Courfil nuí cnsurc .iuÍice' Hunrn 

Rrglts \\htJ, l'r$ ReLede (1ii llic :Do\r http://hr*org/.'gl,.b;Jo.s/2ooj/o6l4/ 

16í see Lriie..hr.d ,'Jd(d trooi id! ihc s.crtro G.n.fui .trlir.\.cd to thr Prer.i.nt 

of rhe S?.ui,$ Cru,ciltlN Doc. S r.oi/qí (,8 Irdnxdv,.ójl. 

16( Pfogress R.Ir|rt ofdr Sccfcta-Gen{n o. thc UDited Nrtn)ni lUnsio. otNploÍ in 

Ixst'l'nnor, LIN Doc. S/zooj/r9 G8 fcbruu! róo5) |)..i.7 

ró7 Reprt ol rbc Coninnsiotr of Expens, !arà. ,4. 

16E Rqxn ofthr Cotuni$ion oiEr?ens, !?Ías.,o lnd r,,r. 

169 Rctor ofilÉ C,Dmise. oflxfen\,ftui Il. 

,:o Repor oí Íh. f oDDission of EvI,à1., trs. r :r. 

rrr Refo(.iri,. Conrmir:i.)n o,E\ri.(\, tuas.,a r5

Fraflt EartTian ltTiaal f ,\t..Ll+)nnfiè{H-;rjw \l 

th( SC undcr Chapte, \rLI porvcrs or th.rÍ rhc SC initirtcs procccdlngs beir)rL rhe 

1CC.'IhcrcportalsorecommcndsthàtstrtcsrnakeLlseofunjversaljurisdictionin 

ordcr tu prosecLue thoJe rcsponsible. lhc rc.ommendations oíthe Commi\iion 

ol Lxpcns pl.rce the onus for action clcrfLv on the LnJ, rhírugh tbe SC rnonirnr 

ing x.tuon\ taker b' I lmesi, ard Timo. Leste a:i wcl as dre SC takng x.tida 

s)rcr nc.essarv to cns!tu Íhe prnrciples ol inrÉÍnàtionJI .rnninJ.iusticc d. utheld. 

Ho$c!cr. ihe SC hxs !oÍ given anv consid.ntion to thc rcpori at thc .ime ollvrit 

irg (Iler.h ,óoó).,{nd, based on comm$s fron thc Prcsldent olf imoÍ LestÊ it is 

unlik.lrtheÍe\i[bcanypressurclrcmthrlstrtcforaninternrtioni.ltribunai., 

vL'ÍIc End oilnpr:niq) -Or LDns Livc I'nptrDiry (rbrSoDe) 

Ite Nurcnbcrg ard ï,1;o Íibunals nul(J r major srep in i!Ídnrtlonai h'Í b csÍàb 

lishing indiridual cÍiIninÍ rcsponsibiljtr for dncs thirt sh.,ck.d the consciencc of the 

jntemrtionai svsrenr. flc intcncning Cold \\rar llnlted thc ab ihs of intcnation.l h\r. 

to ad.](ss issues such a! mr$i!'e \.iolati.rns oainter.!tion.1 hddDnitàrixn and hud,rn 

riJ{ht( li$i ensur\{ impuni.r, pirvrilcd. The !l(is .rppca.ed !o h,Il( marked r ir.rjo. 

slitl n ' inrcrnetionil llr r\ur fron tl e d,u inrn cc uertÈd l'\ Íl0 s.lf int€íe$ of írrcs 

r -Jr.l . r o* pí ,frl,r..fproJ l rJr r-.d o "n .. ' ., ,no .1 ras ,. rL.d " 

serv( th. interests ofju!Íicc for hunaniir 

A major step in this progre$ion Nas thc developmcnt ola svstem of int(Ína 

tion.l criminal iusti.c During the i-iolcnr. ihat tore rp{r dre i.,Íner -Yugo\l.rlix 

thc SC de.l.fe.l thxt c.rrxi'r inteNari.)nd crimes consdtuted.r rhrcat to iirreír.r 

LoDalpe,\ce rnd sc.uÍjN Ànd dut it ivas necess*v fo. the tl\ \i \Ícn to tÀke ejli.ÍvL 

neisu* ro bring dx\e rÉlponsible to luíi.c. In termsoitho neasuresto h rakÊn 

spe.ilic mcntion is gnen to thc use ofptuscNilon by à Íibunai. Similàr viclvs \rere 

exprcsscd in response to thc cvents in RÍandr ' denonstrating L\e beljcfthat pros 

ec\tLdr before àn intcrmriotul tribunàl is tr decessàt to address serious violi tktrrs of 

intcrniri,rdd humxn .ighrs rnd humrnitaiirn liw.' 'Ihcse ad h.. bodics uer€ t - 

ioNed bv dre doption in r.,t8 of thc Ro'ne Starutc oithe Inrermtional CLininal 

Cnlrr. The Romc StituÍe strtcs in no uD.ertrin tcrms th,tt l hc most serious cfim cs 

of coliccrn to the bteínàrioDal comnunit1 as a strole n]ust lrt go unpunishcd.' _ 

To this end tbe ICC stands as eiiden.c ofihe international syÍenN dctcnninx 

tion'ro putanend to impunitl foÍ the pcrpc intors ofthcs. lseiious crimcs] and Ílru: 

RÊri oíthc Clnnnii\nÍ .f E{pcns. fdr..:g-io. 

Re|oí of rht Comni.sioi .fE+rerts, |fl.11. 

S$àling ieceldr oí thc $orkofrhe sclr the PresidoÍ s ted tlat drat.tice odr lad 

rn intereÍ i! dcrLtut a!_y milirias $hu Jded ro cro$ rhe h.rdedin. and lot n, rhc 

ofrcon.iliÍnn, *e hft!:/ vh ,n.org/Nervsfr.r:/d!.i!oo6./sc8óri J!..h.n, 

f(\e$ 

írtn.nr br P..\idcr \rnxnx Guirntro l( hx! xLso h.ci ,cp!ÍcJ tlnr tlc Prc'k1.trÍ 

lrs or orlH or.sions publrry ,.icrtciJ tle .rcàtion ot d) ,nÈr,Íioul Íib!nxl. *. 

Krizcnsticr, 'lhb' iJ Trihuàlip. 146, r.r ó. 

SC Rcsolution s,Z L:j \1rr rq9, trexmbk. 

SC Rtrlutior gí (rI Nortmberr99a). 

C r\€r,'PdÈconfliÍ rriounrxbilií: !. :70. 

&lnc St.n!rc, pRrnbl., lndcnr a.

292 RiJa B"tthil 

contribure ro the prevertion of such criner ' bi removing iÉpunitl ald cn|agnrg 

nr prose.utior. Schrbis exphirs dre cÍeation ofthe ICC nrrked a nilcstonc in 

inlernrtio.,rlatràirs eminaftrgi.om a'hesitrnt conmitmert'to human rights in thc 

r94os to'a poirt rvhere iidnidunl critdnal liabilio is cstablishcd for thosc rcsponsi 

ble for sefious vjol,nions othunin rights'. !' 

B.rsed on the trends co.sjdered àbove Cryer belicvcs thcrc is a faltcring, bui 

.otrble fro\€ ro |Íimindisatior.' 'I}le wày in $4rich thc cvcnts tliet occurrcd in 

Elst ljnoÍ;n r999 hrve beer dedtNith it is possiblc to say thcrc hes been a notxble 

trltcr in thc movc tovrrds criminl isation. Às dc Benodano has noted, the TimoÍ 

situation shorvs that ''Ihc nrlc appears to be thet tri.ls of Àrro.ities cÀn onlï t,!ke 

place pror-ided thel do not rock the politicd boat." 

'Itre UN: dealing wlth the situation ni Tnnor l,este demonstfatcs thc rcrr rcal 

obÍr.les thrl Íemain in phce in the pursuit of intern.rional crinilrl iusticc asimpuiitv 

rdll .ontirNe to piet?il dependirg on the prerailing politi$] ciromstanccs at 

an) gi{en ti.re. While it is possible t., identill r nge ofdertlopmcnts that havc 

sh;fted the focus ofhtenrational l.rv .r$.àr. fron presen'ing thc intcrcsts ofsrates ro 

a bocb oflaw thrt rtternpts to rddress thc Dccds and dcsircs otindniduals based on 

cotrsidcrations ofjlsticc, intc.rution,l laiy rcmains hea\'lh circurnscribed br stàtes 

xnd iis use (or not) ril reflect those intereÍs.-llis wil] hold tn,e elen lvhcn thc U\ 

is in\olved às ir is limited to e lrrge degree by the politicàl lvitl ofits mcmbers, and 

in Prliculàr .n.umstances the views ofceítrin stncs rill prcvail. 

Perhàps the host diltuÍbing àspcct ofthc hckofaction trke! toprosecute those 

rcsponsible fir scrious violrtions is thrt, rith rcgdd to Easi Tinor/Tinoi l-este, 

wc hart hcard rhis story a numbcr oftimcs beforc.'I|e rea.tio! ofthe LIt\ à1d the 

iit.rnailonal $stcm io thc i]lega1iivàsion and occuprtior in r9i5 1'.]s murcd duc to 

rhe posidon Indonesia held wlth reg,rrd to se.uÍiq in the region.fhc 1995 Dccisbn 

of the ICI on the'I i'nor Gap dopted à strict stàtist irtcrpretation ofprcccdural 

lnreÍnationxl l.r' pÍecluding iv discussion of srpposcd principlcs of nitcrnational 

lat th,tt àÍe n,fposedl_r rpplicàble to à11strtes. 

In dcàling \ith thc crcnts in 1999 thc Lll\ and lcading Íetes in the internr 

tional sr-stcn madc i good dcal ofnoise about the need to rlPhold internàtion,rl Lcgnl 

principles related to internrtiondl crimin.rljustice but àt thc same timc havc sho$n a 

greit ded ofdeterence to the irteÍests oflndonesia. l|c dcvclopncnt ofa ïsren for 

internationàl cÍiminrliustice rvill have to cortinuallv facc thc challcngc poscd by Ée 

pr;n,rÍv role pla!€d bltle state ànd the influerce strte intc.csts havc ovcr thc adher 

ence to legal prin.ides.Ïis unfoÍtunne corchsion neans that impudq will continue 

to prevaiLNhen the pursuit ofinternrtional la$.vil1upsct political iiterests. 

Evcn though dodopments in intcrnatioml law are determined bv strtes I good 

dcal ofrsponsibilíg for the lack ofattlicario. ofinternrtion legd principlcs rith 

regxÍd to Exst ]-imor/l imor Lesie fills with thc LlN. 'ILc UN .dministration of 

East'l-inror wàs às à sobiidi.r) oÍgln of thc LrN ivhich mcans that the lis.thet lvas 

ï9 Rome Srxtute, |Ierlrhle nrdert !. 

r$o lviuixn Schlbas,,rr t,lradLttian íathelní(ttdtírnnl(in,,,/C',,,7,:!d ed. (Cmbidge: 

Chmb.i4e Unircsiq Pr$,:oo4) Ir. a. 

r8r CNd, 1'ost conl'lici r(ounrlbjliw !. *9, 

rEz dc Bc'rodrno, 'E.si Tlrrcr iuÍicc dcnied', p. 9ir.

Ftan Ed\t Ti,ta ta Tinot L4ttia44aau'ir4Íra#ini^nf 293 

passed durirg tlis time vis LN 1a$'. d.rn'ed fÍon rhe ortanisarion and blsed o. UN 

prirciples. But this then means making a derernniÀdon rs to lvhlch llN principles 

rre àpplicxble às the UN ershrines state soyereigntr às \rell Às sLrpport f.,r comnunal 

cllorts brsed on nonnltil,€ prnrciples deàlingwith humàr interests. 

'n1c tensions beiweer these competjng inteÍeÍs xlepàÍticulàrij clerr in the Uli s 

derding rvith EàstTinror,/l'inror I-eíe. TIl the face oiir.]ssile and {idespreàd riolàrjons 

ofhuinrn righh ,]nd humàniraÍirr làq, rvle.e responsibilitv is Bell knorÀ-n xnd 

bcvond doubt, the Uli !rs chosen not to rcictwjth rov rcàl conviction out oírcspcct 

for thc intcrcsts oflndoncsia. The fIN'.. nticcncc has undoubtcdll bccn thc result 

. sC,,..,, " rhe\.v irrr.pp,r, diil r r" l.':r.tl. lrr". 'r.r" 

Conrission ol Enquiry concluded 'It is lirndmentai for the future social and politi 

cal stdbil;t! ofEàstTinor, that the iruth be estrblnhed nnd those.espnsible tor the 

crimes coinnitte.l be brought tojustice." ln its Íeport the Connnission ofEI]quin 

lLe United Nitiols, is an organizàtlon, has a v6tcd int{cst ni prftl.iprting n 

the entÍe trocss 01 investigrtión, enÈli\l,ing rerlonsibiLitl xld pmishins tho\e 

res])onsiblc xnd in pr.Doting reconcnixriol l-fia.tiveLl dexLi'€ $nh this n c 1ínL 

bc nllr.Íxnt for clsunHdlar tutu. Sc.uit) Cóuncil dc.Gio dc rcïc.t.d. '' 

Whilc thc unn'ersàl enÍir.ceftent of inte Àd).d criminrl li$ is somethjng to bc 

dcsircd,thc nrtrrc ofthc internrtioDàls) stertl meds itvill not rlwavs bc possiblc,or 

in somc cascs,ocn dcsinble to pursuc this linc.In thcsc circumÍinccs it appcaÍs thc 

SC íe.1s d1c pusuit ofihosc rcspoosiblc for thc 'iolcncc sould somchos'bc counter 

productlve to tuture develofments. But at ihe same tine the Èture credibiliry of the 

LN xs .] force for ophokliig lhe corscience oirhe inreÍn ational commun iry hàs been 

jcoprrdised.]le SG càn io lorger speak about the right àgàinst impunity às ,r grmd 

.rbjectivc ofthe internàtjon.ll systen, it is cle it j\ à selectivc objectii.c. 

Such a corclusion rnry bc disagrccablc to nanr:, but thc rcdilv oíthc intcrnational 

systcm is that dlc light rg.inst impuniry sd has a long r-av to go.'Ihe UN 

,rnd the international communiq prctry much ignoied Indonesiat i11eg3l invision 

rnd occup.nion ofErst Timor b 1925 ard no$ it is hoping the matteÍs relxting to 

reee will just go away as rvell.'n)e ICJ in the càse inwlvins the Timor Gap ïc.t1 

sugÍtcsted that the passrge of time creàtes acceptible situlltions or at thc ven lc$t 

iricrnationàl statements ofcondenn,]tioD lose their conviction over tirne in thc frce 

of rctu,r.l strte beh iouÍ.lt will be r strong blow to rhe development of,ln e$ccrir.e 

sstcm for intcrnational crinind i! sticc ifdic samc occurs with rcgard to thc crimcs 

commitcd h East Tnno.. 

As Robenson commerc 'Internàtionsl crininel 1àrr is a shàm if its $,orsi 

olÍcndcrs àÍe rehàbilitated bv no more than tbe e1ïurion oftinie.'r' At thc tnnc of 

\ÍitinÍ{ it appcars thrt tle UN rill no longcr takc rnr ÊLrther mcasurcs with rcgud 

r8t Scc \ÍaÍthias RufcÍ,lhc xdminisr.èii.n oiKosoro and EaÍTi'r.fbyihc nrtcrrilior,rl 

1mmnlil to t ní.r1tuti.rdl nn'l Caflf.ldtuè Lt-^ QrÉtn\ (2oót tt.612-621. 

r84 Rcto.Í ofrhc Inrcrnadord Comnission ofliqunvon llst Timor, fua. ,í5. 

,35 Rcport oflhc ]|rdnalionil Comnrissior ofhquiq oi EinTnnoÍ,pdà. r47. 

r86 Robdston, Ct,trdí,t,Í ttunt,i4,t- at8.

29a RitAdtul BuÍtÀíI 

to rhe pro".ecution ofserious dimes in Tituor Leste.In Rcsolution r57j of:oo4 the 

SC spoke oiits corcern 'that it n]À.not bc possible tir thc Sctuus Crimcs lllit to 

full) Íesp.,nd to the desire foriustice ofthose alfcctcd bl thc r-io1cnce in 1999' and 

redirmcd the need to filiht impunio, but thcn dctcrmincd thc final d,rte for tbe 

comtletior ofserious crime trirls. : In thc resolution thc SC tlkcs note ofihe SG'.r 

intention to look àt rvhat could be clonc r.ith rcgard to prcsccutlons but rhere is no 

íequest for the SC to rcpoÍt on ncrsurcs takcn in this rcgard. '' 

'Ihe crcdibiliiv ofLN \i11 sutrcr duc to positnrns such Às the one dtÍessed in 

this rcsolution. To rcalirm thc nced to fight impunig but óen shut down thc trjbunals 

tn'ing to deal r'itir the mxttei and fro\ide no tu.iher support iilr thc càusc 

being pursued .lexrly reÊects dre hr.pocril ofthe UN" lrhen it comcs to trials and 

tribllatlors oiEdst'lin orlTinor Leste and thc rolc oí intcrnarional larv in the pur 

YIL Conctusio, 

In Scptcmbcr uooo,whcn spcaking in Lidoncsia, the SG co.granrlated thàt .oultuy 

on lts'couràge in seeklng to come to tetnrs with the p.rsr. llore tcllirg, and 

perhrfs nore distuÍbing, was his Íecognition oflndoncsias position in the s'or1d, 

he exfl.ined As thc rvorld's fouÍth frost populous countnr is its hrgest lluslim 

riàioriq Stutei and rs its lxÍgcst nrdon ofisllnds, stri.tdling najoi shipping lÀnes, 

vou crrry grcrt politica.L wcight and stntcgic importanc.. :\ni 1ou hrv€ used that 

position viscly.' For thc SC to girc .xplicir recognirion to hdo.esir\ politicrl 

position in rhc world in à positive waÍ ar a tine lvlren the àtr.,cities olr999 ivcrc 

coming inlo lull lighi is ver! disconceÍti,rg.lle SG's expressed vicrvs coníirm de 

Bertodàno\ conclusions or tbe UN's rcrtion to thc evcnts in EasiTinor: 

lle urprlrtible Íuih rehrils tlrt d€n in this n6' erx ofinrmario!3I crnninll 

justi*, tne lx$ rems to be .pllied onLr ro thote who de dcfcxrcd, disgÍa..d or 

poliri.illt unimtorrxnt. l]1ose in losirioN ofnrcrnrtionrl ])oliticrl iillue!.e d 

{ ablc n.r oilvto cs.xrjuÍicc, bu o.ontinuc to hoLd torvd For dl ofrle.heÈ 

ori. xbout.ndinr nntunitr for tl,c pdp{r.to^ ofatrocities róerever ud who*cr 

th.r nly be,whetr làced {ith tle oppoitunir to r^ke decisirc..rion nr ExÍTino., 

th. intehrtilnal communií has cno*nto tu! rÍT: 

ln drjs pdper the ricÍ' hrs been thm justicc for EaÍ Tinior/Timor Leste has not 

becn rcdised duc thc firct thet lndoncsian poliiical, miliiaÍr'Ànd lr]iliti,r leaders 

rcsponsiblc irr thc riolelcc ofr99e are unlikelÍ ever to be prosecLued.It is asscrtcd 

that thls is merel,! a conrinuation ofbusiress xs usuàl whcn it comcs to thc appllce 

tion ol inteturtionJ 1àÍ. to thc territot Thc vic$-upon lvhich rhe critlque of rhe 

r!/ SC Rclntrdon ,i7r 0j \orcÍ cr Foa) lJlcirDble. 

r91J SC R$olurion ritt, !m. ó, 

,s9 SC R$olutioÍ iiil,pdÀ. ó .i 

r9o llnln in divdsitv. Indons ! nott!, suns uf ouÍ comn.n hunxnir', s.rs Sccrcràr! 

G r l,, L.( . - J,. .r Nl R-l- sa

Frón EaÍ Tind tó Ti"tor LeltqADwkiraríd tfrn?-L;*;t :f 295 

tDi's action 1ns been bascd is, adnittedhl an aspintional view rs tó tossib;lities oi 

internadoral lev for delivering juÍice hàsed on htrnan ir.d Írot stat€ interests. 

Ev€r though internrtional crinjn, là\r hàs .ome ol age itr man). .cspccts, its 

actual entorcenent begirs \rith politics' md politics wili condiuc to dctcminc 

the exíe.t to nhich it is eveÍ rlplied.lt is ersy to presuÍre that thosc responsiblc for 

rÍocides will be broLrght tojusrice in ali c,tses, but this would rlso h[t to prcsumc 

some soit ofgLobal Íule of lxiL rhaÍ rpdies to ; l politicd .tctoÍsi a ltrv falsc prcsumption 

to make. As Clhons\- erpl.rins, one worLld nccd to hart a rcmarkablc 

lciel oi ';rtern.rtiond iq.orrnce"' to bclicyc thrt considcrations ofjustice, human 

rights ard accountabilitt trkc promincncc orrcr porvcr politics. 

In rhcorl thc adoptior of a hy brid model lbr an lnternxtionalzed $ininàl Í;bunai 

provides in en'e.rive vav of mininizing the nnpr.t ofpolirics in the pursuit 

ofintenational iusti.e and t\e end of nntlLnir)r'nle hvhrid app.orch is groundcd 

in the domeÍic setdng,lctting those $4b aÍe die.tlv invohed \ïith the socic( i! 

quesÍion to plaï a nrjoÍ role in de, ing vjth the aftermàth ofvi.,htions olscrbxs 

crnnes.'nris gi\€s a strcng elemenr oflegilimacr to the p.osecution olcrimcs as it 

is cleaÍry bàsed h the sociel) wheÊ the events occufed. Àt thc samc timc, it is 1Í!li 

known thrt a purcly domcstic approach ma) 1cad ro sclcciírin or a dimlnution of 

standuds. To rhís end thc lnternxrionxl element ol the h!'brid model enn,res thrt 

r',d. d e-d-o. 

" -f,-d| .r1, i 'nrl.tJld ' d . re. fp,-d 

this tlx.es à màjor obÍgxlion ufon the i.ternitiond .ommunin to takc thc 

necessrv lrction when needed to ensure thrt tbe rhetoric rbout intcmational iusricc 

is trmslated into realitlr Ín the limor sitlarion it h clcar thrr thc domcstic and thc 

intcrnational aspccts oíthc hybrid modcl did not comc togcthcr to l:'orm an eíIectile 

mcthod for dcaling Dith tlic scrbus crimcs ihat iook tlece in the territorv lloth ele 

ments bcclm. caught utin political corsideÍrlions !Àich àt the end ofthe dal' vcrc 

deemed to be more inrportani than the pursuit o{just;ce xnd removd ofimpuniq: 

'fo rhis end lt is uselij ro conclude nith r brief€xposition ofivhit rhc political 

ledeÍs of l-imor l,este feel $out dre sitLrxtion. The current Pfesidcnt oiTimor 

l,este hàs spoken ofthc independcnce achicvcd in 1999 Às th. oniv consíderatlon of 

irxticc that maftcs- - Thc Forcign Nlinistcr has erplained 

Irl grcxr fof dr lunnn rights lÍnistslo bc hÍon in Cc',c!è rnJ \ew York where 

ócr, do !r!c !o livc wid, ilc conrlud,cs o{thcn h.roism.'I},er sav *e dont 

.x(.bourthelic nsrWccrc dr prcsntcnt r.dI hrvclosr rcLdtjvcs,frlcrd! ard 

\Viilia'n lnukc Whit., A .on,munin otcours: rorva.ds a $steb ofiiernxiiond rnni 

e,,1',,it.aot . -J.o.5r,1 

Ircasc, PlNinS h c lnd scckbnh n,ts.atid,rljusi..r wla|*n donir i! IDdonesir 

rld IrÍTim.r'ro Zs,4r,/ntt aíIkt.tn,1:or.t ht Coirt t)'ï;!. Lat Gaai p.281. 

c!.is Brom, s,íz,.i!dír Ri(ht. "ntJ^tn{:tntÍnationnt 1)atiti6t II.a4T0tt4la\|otà: 

\orn Chonrsh. -i ,,a g.r.t.tia, dtu1tt tb! tit1.. Kq..a. E^í :lind r,.t /À. nrndantt í 

r,, turr (Lo!don: vc.so, roóó) f.r!. 

Scetin! Coui.jl 5jï Í Nlccting UN Doc. SC/sór5 ,.1Jrnuift rooó http://$n{n!.org/ 

Ncr3ll"ss,/docJrooó^c!órj.doc.htm, íitcocnt bl PresiLlert Xinara Gusmo.

!e6 Ritl)drd Buitill 

coNxdes olcr thr 106. \\t loow the cor ofrr, rhc 'Juc o{Face rnd tk re.es 

sir] ofÉconcilirtion.'' 

ln closing this author Íill concede th,rr hir oM idcalism as to ho\1'the lrorld should 

hc ,l,res not easill'íit nth holv the lorld re3llr is. Pcrhaps thc crents in ExstTimor/ 

Tim.i Leste de less about the linrit! oii.rerDir'oDal larv but instru.tne ofthe re.li 

ric' i,r te.Dition.l lilv must f.}ce in trling r. Dikc dr. vorld x betteÍ pLxce. 

196 Qlroted nr I eÉ lírgston,'llt Scudl inr TNth Dirid es E^sÍTlnóf Intrnttian al Hdnld 

i'iirr,, x Dc.cmLer rooj, N?ihble à1 1,il|://riMÍiht.com/xnicles/1oo5nt1o/ofni)t

Chapter 12 - Secretaria de Estado da Cultura - Timor-Leste

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