Rights campaigner to stand for Fretilin

Sydney Morning Herald - June 2, 2007

Lindsay Murdoch

East Timor's ruling Fretilin party says it will support the prosecution of people responsible for atrocities committed in the country, including former Indonesian military officers.

The party also said that a joint Indonesian-East Timorese commission should not lead to amnesties for those who committed serious crimes, contradicting comments by an Indonesian-appointed commission member.

In a surprise move, Fretilin has recruited Aniceto Guterres, East Timor's most respected human rights campaigner and a member of the Commission of Truth and Friendship, to be one its candidates at the country's parliamentary elections on June 30.

Mr Guterres said yesterday that East Timor's desire to have good relations with Indonesia "should not result in our nation doing things which result in justice not being pursued or the process of reconciliation between our nations neglected".

"Fretilin believes the search for justice should begin with thorough investigations into crimes which lead to prosecutions, trials and sentencing," Mr Guterres said.

The comments will put pressure on the former president Xanana Gusmao, who has formed his own party in an attempt to oust Fretilin from power. Mr Gusmao has argued against international calls to prosecute Indonesians responsible crimes against humanity committed in East Timor in 1999, saying the country must have good relations with its giant neighbour.

Fretilin has also been slow to confront the findings and recommendations of a United Nations-sponsored inquiry whose report, released in late 2005, detailed atrocities including systematic violence in East Timor between 1975 and 1999.

But Mr Guterres said that, if re-elected, Fretilin would give priority to the recommendations of the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation, which he chaired.

He also said that the separate Commission of Truth and Friendship, of which he is also a member, should use amnesties only in some cases such as "where it can lead to the uncovering of the truth which is essential to achieving justice and reconciliation".

This contradicts Achmad Ali, an Indonesian member of the commission, who said earlier this year that those accused should receive amnesties if they admit their involvement and apologise to their victims.