E Timor commander testifies before commission

ABC News
28.09.2007

East Timor's armed forces commander has appeared before a commission investigating an outbreak of deadly violence during the nation's 1999 independence vote.

Taur Matan Ruak gave his testimony in a closed-door session a day after the Indonesia-East Timor Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) wrapped up its fifth and final round of public hearings here.

East Timor's CTF co-chairman Dionisio Babo said the commander spoke to panel members for more than an hour.

"The hearing has gone well. We called him here as a former commandant of Falintil (the armed guerrilla group that fought Indonesia's occupation) to hear his testimony on what happened in 1999," he said.

An estimated 1,400 people were killed when militias backed by the Indonesian military rampaged as East Timor's population voted overwhelmingly in favour of breaking away from Indonesia, which invaded in 1975.

"He also gave his perspective, as a former combatant who fought for 24 years, about relations between East Timor and Indonesia in the future," Mr Babo added.

"He asked the CTF to immediately find out the truth."

The CTF was established in 2005 but has no prosecution powers.

It has been boycotted by the United Nations, which says those guilty of human rights violations should face justice.

- AFP

Dos Leitores

As vezes é necessário recuar para trás e ir buscar o passado, pois o povo precisa de ser bem informado sobre o processo da luta pela independência de Timor.

Estamos perante um povo com mais 75% de analfabetismo, o que quer dizer que se o povo não for bem informado sobre a sua identidade da luta será mais fácil de ser mobilizado e explorado por oportunistas e traidores de Timor.

Amigos timorenses, quero afirmar aqui de que durante a nossa luta pela independência, a Fretilin era a única identidade da luta, lutou e sofreu com o povo e alcançou a independência para Timor leste, por tanto a Fretilin não pode ser o inimigo para o povo de Timor, quem deve ser o inimigo, são aqueles que esquecem as suas origens e as suas identidades.

O povo deve questionar a política actual do sr Gusmão e Horta, o povo não pode estar calado poque o nosso silêncio representa a nossa derrota, quando achamos que o país está mal ou está a ser explorado temos que ir a rua exigir a verdade.

Amigos timorenses, devemos lembrar uma coisa; a Fretilin nunca lutou para estar no puder mas sim lutou para defender o direito e a liberdade do seu povo, isto significa que a Fretilin não é o inimigo do povo, quem deve ser o inimigo do povo, são aqueles que lutam para estar no puder e defender os interesses dos outros não do povo de Timor.

Amigos timorenses, perante este cenário, temos que gritar alto e apoiar a Fretilin na luta pela defesa do direito e da liberdade do povo. Timor é o nosso não é dos amigos de sr Gusmão e Horta.

por Lian estudante.

Declaração de TL NGO em solidariedade com Burma

Tradução da Margarida:

Declaração Conjunta

As ONGs de Timor-Leste em Solidariedade com as Manifestações Pacíficas Lideradas pelos Monges Budistas em Burma Urgem que o Governo entre em Diálogo

Nós, representantes das ONG’s de Direitos Humanos de Timor-Leste expressamos a nossa mais profunda solidariedade no espírito dos direitos humanos com o pacífico e santo movimento iniciado pelos Monges Budistas e a que se juntaram muitos cidadãos Burmaneses, que têm andado a realizar manifestações pacíficas exercendo os seus direitos à liberdade de opinião e expressão há vários dias e em locais diferentes do país.

Estamos muito preocupados com relatos dos media que o Governo usou a força em resposta às manifestações, que bateram nos manifestantes e que morreram duas pessoas. Condenamos fortemente esta repressão brutal para parar com a manifestação pacífica e urgimos ao Governo para entrar em diálogo com a população, e que autorize ao Enviado Especial da ONU acesso livre e imediato ao país.

Apoiamos declarações da ONU bem como da comunidade internacional incluindo do Governo de Timor-Leste que condena fortemente a violência em Burma. Apelamos à ASEAN e ao Governo Chinês para intervir de qualquer maneira possível, para urgir que o governo de Burma tenha a máxima de contenção e que evite o recurso à dor e ao sofrimento que resultou das suas acções em 1988, à quase vinte anos atrás. Apelamos à ASEAN e a todos os seus membros, no verdadeiro espírito de ser uma associação de nações, para actuar imediatamente e não considerar que os acontecimentos recentes em Burma são apenas um assunto interno de Burma.

Os eventos correntes em Burma lembram a nós, Timorenses, fortemente a luta pelos direitos humanos que ocorreu na nossa história recente. Não esquecemos nunca a solidariedade internacional mostrada no passado à volta do mundo pela luta dos Timorenses.
Sabemos que o uso da violência e da opressão nunca leva à estabilidade e paz genuína e duradoura. As vozes do povo da Burma precisam se ser ouvidas urgentemente. Por isso apelamos ao governo de Burma para libertar imediatamente o líder da Liga Nacional para a Democracia, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi e se engajar em conversas com a ideia de encontrar no fim uma solução a longo prazo para os assuntos importantes que Burma está a enfrentar hoje, e que seja justa para todo o seu povo.

Timor-Leste, 27 Setembro 2007

Para emissão e mais informação
Contacte: João Pequinho (Hp. (+670) 724 2099)

Esta delaração foi assinada por:

FORUM TAU MATAN EYES ON HUMAN RIGHTS (FTM)
La'o Hamutuk - The Timor-Leste Institute for
Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
East Timor Reflection Network (ETCRN)
Grupo Feto Foinsae Timor Leste (GFFTL)
Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP)
East Timor Insight Research Laboratory
Konfederasaun Sindikatu Timor-Leste (KSTL)
Alola Foundation
KATILOSA Disability Support Program
HAK Association
Pat Walsh (Individual)
Rogerio Vicente (individual)
Amelia de Araujo (individual).

[Esta mensagem foi distribuída via lista de noticias de Timor-Leste. Para info sobre como subescrever envie um e-mail para info@etan.org. Para apoiar ETAN veja http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm ]

Address by H.E. Dr. José Ramos-Horta President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the 62nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly

27 September 2007
Check against delivery Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers and Ambassadors,
Excellencies,

As I address this esteemed body, may I seize the opportunity to extend to you, Mr. President, my sincere and warm congratulations on your well-deserved election to preside over the 62nd session of the General Assembly.

In view of the constraints of time and in deference to all, I shall take no more than 10 minutes to share with Your Excellencies both some facts and reflections on the situation in my country as well as on select issues of regional and international concern.

Timor-Leste is encouraged by the fact the Secretary-General has convened the High-Level Event on Climate Change to be followed by the negotiations on the UN Framework Convention in Bali. The industrialized countries of the North bear an enormous responsibility for the damage done to our fragile eco-systems. They, more than anyone else, must reverse the course and lead the effort in saving this earth. However, we in the developing world cannot escape our own responsibilities. Demographic explosion and our own efforts, to catch up with the rich North, all contribute to the pressures on our land, forests, rivers, lakes and oceans. Let’s put rhetoric aside and work as one to redress the enormous damage we have done to the common Home of Humanity.

The political situation in Timor Leste

In April/May 2006, less than 5 years after my country’s accession to full independence, we were plunged into our first major crisis. The then President of the Republic, the Speaker of National Parliament and the Prime Minister jointly agreed to seek United Nations urgent assistance and the rapid intervention of friendly countries.

I wish to reiterate here our sincere gratitude to those who came to our assistance in this time of need. We are forever grateful to Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand and to Portugal – which dispatched a fully equipped company of its elite force, the National Republican Guard (GNR), from 20 thousand miles away.

The Security Council approved the deployment of an integrated mission, UNMIT, with a police component of 1,740 police. The deployment of UNPOL was understandably extremely slow – only in January 2007 was the projected force close to completion.

We have made significant progress since the dark weeks of April/May 2006. Presidential and Legislative elections were held between April and June 2007. The election campaign period was mostly free of violence and there were few reported irregularities. Though we are proud that the two elections were managed by our own agencies, we also acknowledge that the active support from UNMIT and other UN agencies like the UNDP were indispensable and crucial to enable us to undertake such a complex task.

While the result of the presidential election was warmly welcome by all including the defeated candidate, the same did not happen when a new government was announced following the June 30th legislative election.

Fretilin, the former ruling party, won most votes but not enough to govern on its own and after several weeks of lobbying it failed to forge a coalition to govern. A post-election four-party parliamentary alliance, opposed to Fretilin, secured 37 seats in the new Parliament of 65 seats, was invited to form government. There was violence in a number of locations in which local law enforcement elements were implicated but the swift UNPOL and ISF intervention succeeded in quickly controlling the situation. Our own defense force played a constructive role in helping to defuse the violence. I acknowledge also the role played by the Fretilin leadership in restraining their more passionate followers.

Law and order has been restored. However, the relative tranquility prevailing in the country is a precarious one and is due in a large measure to the effective role played by UNPOL, ISF and our own Defense Force. This will remain the case until such a time when our police force has been reconstructed and turned into a credible and effective force. This will take two to five years at a minimum. I wish to assure all that in the meantime, the East Timorese will continue a national dialogue so that we may reconcile and heal the wounds of the past.

Together with the Speaker of the National Parliament and the Prime Minister I have established a high level mechanism in order to provide a cohesive and unified East Timorese leadership on the security sector reform. An expert team of national and international advisers, working under our two Secretaries of State for Defense and Security, currently interfaces with UNMIT’s own security sector reform group. Our shared goal is to ascertain a sound strategy for the appropriate reform of our police force and the development of our defense force.

The social situation in Timor Leste

The 2006 crisis caused widespread looting and destruction in the capital. More than 30 people died – more than 100 were wounded – and tens of thousands were displaced. We are slowly recovering. However, tens of thousands of people remain in precarious camps in the capital and elsewhere. I thank the international community, the UN and its agencies, IOM, and international NGOs for their generous and prompt assistance. The new government has pledged to cooperate with all to address the IDP situation.

The late rains of last year, floods and a locust plague have caused significant damage to our subsistence agriculture sector. As a result, an acute food shortage is foreseen in the coming months. The government is planning to purchase significant amounts of food items in the regional markets to make up for the food shortage.

Endowed with some oil and gas resources, Timor-Leste cannot complain of not having enough financial means to turn our economy around and lift the living standards of our people. According to a recent ADB report, Timor-Leste’s economy will see a strong 22% growth this year due to our oil revenues and UN presence.

Based on Norway’s expert advice, the previous National Parliament adopted the Petroleum Law which lays down strict guide-lines for the use and management of the oil and gas revenues. As of July 2007 our Petroleum Fund has accumulated over US$1.4 billion. Monthly revenues of US$100 million are being deposited in the Fund. However, this has not translated into any visible improvement in the lives of the poor.

During my brief tenure as Prime Minister (July 2006 – May 2007), working with my ministerial colleagues, and assisted by the World Bank and the IMF, I introduced some major reforms with a view to streamlining a number of complicated bureaucratic procedures so that we could fast-track budget execution and services delivery. The new government has also accepted my fiscal reform proposal that will turn Timor-Leste into a tax free country.

However, all this is not enough to improve the living standards of the people. The vast majority of the people who have been poor for centuries cannot and should not wait. I have pledged to be the President of the Poor and I intend to be their best advocate. I am establishing a fast-track mechanism under my personal leadership to provide direct assistance to individuals, groups or rural communities. The idea is that it should take not more than 10 working days for a decision to be made on a project and for the first installment of a grant to be disbursed. Coupled with public investments in infrastructure (roads, bridges, port and airport) and in the agriculture sector, Timor-Leste should see in the medium term a significant reduction of unemployment and a decrease in the poverty levels.

Education and youth employment are areas that my presidency and the new government are prioritizing with more public spending. I have proposed the establishment of a permanent Youth Parliament with youth in the age bracket of 13 to 17 to be eligible to serve as Youth MPs for a certain period of the year. This is not only an effective and creative way to empower youth but it also serves as a unique leadership development process and as a school for future leaders.
My presidency, in partnership with the government which under our Constitution holds primary executive responsibility to provide services to the people, is determined to accomplish the Millenium Development Goals by 2015. Working together with Civil Society, Churches, the NGO’s, the private sector and the international community we can do it. We owe it to the poor in our country. There cannot be nobler mission than freeing our fellow human beings from the slavery of poverty.

UN presence

We are cognizant of the fact that the international community faces a number of critical situations around the world, notably, in the Middle East, Somalia, Sudan-Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan, to mention but a few that are far more serious than the situation in Timor-Leste and maybe are of greater strategic importance and implication for regional and world peace.
Hence, we are conscious that the East Timorese leadership and the people must make every effort to consolidate peace and stability in our country in order to free the UN from the burden in Timor-Leste resulting from the 2006 crisis, a crisis of our own making and for which we must take full responsibility with courage and humility. We hope that the UN will consider a longer-term engagement with us to further stabilize the situation, strengthen our national institutions and consolidate peace and democracy.

As the situation progresses, we hope that the Peace Building Commission will consider placing Timor-Leste on its agenda as a follow-up to UNMIT.

Human Rights, Rule of Law, Justice

When sovereignty was transferred to the people of Timor-Leste in May 2002, what existed then was no more than the sketch, the idea of a modern, democratic state. We had to build our country from scratch. Yet while we failed in many areas, we succeeded in others. We have succeeded in not abandoning our deep commitment to human rights and the rule of law. Timor-Leste stands among very few that have ratified all seven core Human Rights Treaties. We are grateful to the High Commissioner for Human Rights for assisting us in our reporting obligations to the Treaty bodies.

The events of 2006 led to serious breaches of human rights, including the right to life. Our justice sector, though still fragile, is coping well with its responsibilities thanks to generous assistance from a number of friendly countries through the UNDP. The report, conclusions and recommendations of the Independent Commission of Enquiry mandated by the Secretary-General are duly considered by our respective State bodies.

Timor-Leste seeks a seat on the Human Rights Council for the term 2008-2011 and we are particularly pleased and grateful that many countries have so far expressed support for our candidacy. I wish to assure all that as a member of the HRC, Timor-Leste will favor dialogue on serious human rights situations; will prioritize strengthening the thematic procedures, promoting ratification of existing human rights treaties, and strengthening national and regional human rights mechanisms.

As a country born of centuries of colonization, with its own weaknesses and failings, but rich in experience, both good and bad, we believe in dialogue to solve national and international disputes, in the power of ideas, in partnerships and cooperation to address regional and international challenges.

Commission on Truth and Friendship (CTF)

In August 2005, the Presidents of Timor-Leste and Indonesia inaugurated a forward-looking policy and mechanism of truth-finding as a means to address the violence of 1999 when the two countries parted ways. While there were some calls for the establishment of an ad hoc International Tribunal to try those responsible for the 1999 violence, the leaders of the two countries opted instead for a bi-national version of the South African Truth and Reconciliation process. This was a novel and unique approach to redress the wrongs of the past and being untested it provoked much criticism and opposition in certain quarters.

The 10 Commissioners of both sides are reaching the end of their mission. In early 2008 they will produce a report and recommendations and then the Heads of State and Government of the two countries, inspired by our two countries best interests and in respect of truth and the interests of the victims, will review these recommendations and follow up where possible.
For our part in Timor-Leste, we remember our past and we honor our fallen heroes and victims. Many are alive and carry in their body and soul the suffering that was inflicted on them. But we have refused to be hostage to the past and to the temptation of seeking revenge. For Indonesia and Timor-Leste, two developing countries and emerging democracies, facing a multitude of domestic and regional challenges, we simply cannot walk the path some have suggested to us, namely the path of justice at any cost. We must guard against destabilizing our fragile democracies.

International and regional relations

Timor-Leste is expanding and consolidating our relations with the region and the world. We are an active member of the ASEAN Regional Forum and working towards full membership in ASEAN. We are an active observer in the Pacific Islands Forum and are a member of the Comunidade dos Paises de Lingua Portuguesa.

The situation in Myanmar

Excellencies,
I shall now turn to some international issues of concern to Timor-Leste. As a country of the region, Timor-Leste follows with deep concern and disappointment the developments in Myanmar. As human beings and friends we are distressed at the deteriorating social, humanitarian and political conditions in that neighboring country.

The leaders in Myanmar must not continue to hold Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Daw Aung Suu Kji and the entire nation hostage to a mind-set that belongs to the Cold War and to policies that have brought international opprobrium and economic ruin to a country endowed with vast natural resources and with a very proud people.

On the other hand, we do not believe that a strategy of isolating and punishing a whole community is the best way to advance the cause of freedom and democracy - for the actual consequence of such a strategy is the further isolation and impoverishment of a whole people.

Nuclear proliferation

Timor-Leste commends the six-party on North Korea who have achieved some positive results in inducing North Korea to reverse its nuclear weapons capability. This modest success shows that patient diplomacy may advance even the most intractable conflicts when the parties involved identify common concern and interest.

On the other hand, Timor-Leste is deeply concerned with the climate of mistrust and confrontation as regards the situation in Iran. Iran is entitled to explore every peaceful means to acquire technology that would make it less reliant on non-renewable sources of energy. No one disputes such a right for Iran or for any other nation. However, Iran must do more to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to reassure its neighbors and the rest of the world that it is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons capability.
Asia is the most nuclearized region of the world. I don’t know that we should be proud of such a status. The Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is indeed madness as the acronym itself suggests. Our scientists have developed Frankstein monsters that may well destroy us all - either by design if the weapons fall into the hands of non-state actors or by accident.

Those powers that possess nuclear weapon should reengage and dismantle all such weapons and all other forms of weapons of mass destruction.

History has shown us how mighty empires and regimes built on terror and fear, have come and gone, crumbled in spite of their arsenals.
Death Penalty

Timor-Leste is part of a cross regional initiative calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. We note that the trend towards the worldwide abolition of the death penalty continues.

Situation in Darfur

Timor-Leste commends the African Union and the United Nations and all those in government and those individuals who have done their very best to end the suffering of the people there, a suffering now compounded by natural calamity. In the midst of such tragedy we can retain some consolation and inspiration as we see millions of people around the world, traversing religions and cultures, joining together in solidarity with the victims of Darfur.

Situation in Palestine

As a small and newly-independent nation and a friend of Israel, Timor-Leste cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of the Palestinian people, many times victims, victims of Israeli obstinate policies of occupation and discrimination, victims of manipulation of regional powers, victims of their own sectarian division and violence. While Timor-Leste does not subscribe to the many one-sided anti-Israel resolutions adopted throughout the year in various UN bodies, the facts on the ground show a whole people living on the edge of desperation as a result of decades of humiliation, exclusion and violence. Timor-Leste joins the international community in calling for the implementation of the road map leading to the formal establishment of a viable Palestinian State.

Western Sahara

Over 100,000 people in Western Sahara continue to live in precarious camps following the war that ensued after the 1975 Tri-Partite Madrid Agreement which split the former Spanish colony into two, for Mauritania and Morocco. Timor-Leste is encouraged and commends both Morocco and the Polisario Front for the recent talks held in Long Island under United Nations good-offices. We believe that only dialogue may bring about a resolution of this decades-old conflict which along with the Palestinian conflict is becoming one of the world’s longest running problems.

Indigenous peoples’ rights

More than five hundred years ago, long after Chinese navigators and explorers had circumnavigated the globe, European kings, navigators, missionaries, adventurers and mercenaries began the great European conquest of the world. In the process tens of millions of people were subjugated, colonized; fortunes and empires were made at the expense of the peoples they came into contact with; new diseases were brought into the new colonies; slavery uprooted at least 10 million from the African continent alone.

Millions of indigenous peoples were decimated by wars and diseases; their death and land gave birth to new nations that were alien to their sacred birth place. This very island of Manhattan was once sovereign home to native Americans. This is all part of the history of the world, the history of European conquest with its glory and tragedy. Timor-Leste commends the General Assembly for finally adopting the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is the least that we can do to redress the grave injustices done to some of the earlier civilizations of the world.

UN reform

Consultations and negotiations on reform of the UN system and in particular of the Security Council should start; rather than desiring drastic reforms, we may want to adopt an incremental approach. The SC must be incrementally expanded to include major powers like India, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil, South Africa and Germany.
It is an absurdity that Asia which contains almost half of the world population should be so grossly under-represented.
May God the Almighty and the Merciful bless us all.

UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING - Friday, 28 September 2007

"UNMIT assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the articles or for the accuracy of their translations. The selection of the articles and their content do not indicate support or endorsement by UNMIT express or implied whatsoever. UNMIT shall not be responsible for any consequence resulting from the publication of, or from the reliance on, such articles and translations."

National Media Reports

The Catholic Church disagrees with the CTF citing “manipulation”

The Catholic Church has disagreed with the establishment Truth and Friendship Commission (CTF), because according to the Church, the Commission could damage victims’ rights by offering impunity to those who have committed human rights violations.

“I think that the Commission will not contribute to justice and will make military sympathizers heroes,” said the Director of Peace and Justice of the Baucau Diocese, Fr. Martinho Gusmao.

Fr. Gusmao also said he will not participate in the Commission. (DN)

John Hutcheson: “ISF deployed 4 placements in eastern part”

The commander of the International Security Forces (ISF) says there are currently four deployments to support the F-FDTL and UNPol in maintaining security in the eastern part of the country.

Speaking to the journalists on Thursday (27/9) in a Press Briefing in Caicoli, Mr. Hutcheson said that all people should know the work of ISF in Timor-Leste is to support the communities who are facing security problems.

The soldiers who are deployed in Baucau, Viqueque, Watulari and Lospalos are partnering with the F-FDTL, UNPol and PNTL to maintain security across the country. (DN)

Xanana-Paulo signed travel authorization of Railos, Fretilin presents to NP

The Fretilin MP Elizario Ferreira said a travel authorization letter for Railos, which signed by the former President Xanana Gusmã and the former PNTL Commander Paulo Martins shows he was granted official permission relating to last year’s crisis.

Speaking to the journalists on Thursday (27/9) in the national parliament, Mr. Ferreira said that the travel authorization shows that Railos is being afforded immunity and was able to authorize arson, theft and intimidation of people in Liquicia.

“This shows where the crisis comes from, and Mr. Paulo himself recognizes that they signed the authorization letter,” added Mr. Ferreira. (DN)

Government to identify the status of IDPs

The government is going to create coordination team to identify the status of the IDPs in camps before building houses and facilities for them.

The State Secretary of Council of Ministries, Agio Pereira said that the coordination team will identify who are the IDPs and who are not.

Mr. Pereira also said the Ministry of Solidarity has funding to prepare shelter for IDPs ahead of the rainy season. (TP)

Audição Alternativa para responder à Audição da CVA

Tradução da Margarida:

ETAN - 25 Setembro 2007
Este convite e programa, bem como as fotografias da manifestação da sociedade civil no exterior da audição da Comissão da Verdade e Amizade em Dili em 25 de Setembro, 2007, estão em http://www.laohamutuk.org/Justice/TFC/07PhotosCVADemo.html

Audensia publika alternativa hasoru CVA nia audensia

Organizada por FONGTIL Secretariado com Membros: HAK ASSOCIATION, FOKUPERS, FTM, ESPADA, HCTL, KATILOSA, KSUTL, GFFTL, MBC-TL, HAPOTI, JSMP, CARITAS AUSTRALIA, LAO HAMUTUK, LUTA HAMUTUK, INCLUDES ICTJ, ETCRN, ANTI e FRONT MAHASISWA TIMOR LESTE
Timor Leste - Indonesia

Verdade e justica mak dalan ba amizade
Verdade e justiça é a estrada para a amizade
Datas: 28-29 Setembro 2007
Horas: 8:30 am às 17:00
Local: Sala de Reuniões das Irmãs Canossianas, Becora, Dili

[Segue-se o Tótum depois do Português em baixo, o calendário das audições alternativas segue-se depois desta.]

Com Respeito,
Todos sabemos que apesar de Timor-Leste ter caído numa longa crise em 2006 e 2007, a Comissão da Verdade e Amizade (CVA) realizou audições públicas em Denpasar e Jacarta, Indonésia. Alguns Timorenses vítimas e testemunhas foram convidados a dar testemunhos nestas audições. A atenderem estiveram antigos apoiantes pró-Autonomia e generais Indonésios, que deram também testemunho.

De acordo com as observações da sociedade civil de Timor-Leste, “a Indonésia disse que as audições públicas da CVA são um evento. Afirmam que procuram a verdade, mas dão espaço a generais Indonésios para se defenderem a eles próprios e negar as suas responsabilidades nas violações dos direitos humanosem Timor-Leste em 1999. Pior ainda, eles alegam que as violações dos direitos humanos em Timor-Leste são da responsabilidade do lado pró-independência e das Nações Unidas. Isto mostra que as Audições Públicas da CVA se tornaram um lugar para promover e alimentar a impunidade. A sociedade civil de Timor-Leste pensa que a CVA se tornou uma ameaça para a futura Justiça e Amizade entre Timor-Leste e a Indonésia.

A CVA é uma instituição bilateral que os Presidentes de Timor-Leste e da Indonésia creiaram em 2005. A presença da CVA trouxe debates a favor e contra no interior das comunidades de Timor-Leste e da Indonésia, na cara da comunidade internacional. Até hoje, a própria ONU não deu apoio à CVA. E a sociedade civil em Timor-Leste e na Indonesia não apoiam também a presença da CVA.
TFC plans to organize a Public Hearing in Dili, on 25-27 September 2007.
De modo a criar uma informação equilibrada acerca das violações dos direitos humanos em Timor-Leste em 1999, nós da sociedade civil de Timor-Leste estamos a organizar uma Audição Pública Alternativa para responder a esta audição da CVA. Por estas razões, gostaríamos de o convidar a participar nesta audição alternativa.
Esta audição é aberta ao público; por favor tragam amigos e membros da vossa família.
Muito obrigado pela vossa cooperação.

Dili, 24 Setembro 2007,
Organizadores:
-----
Loron : 28 ­ 29 Setembru 2007
Fatin : Aula Susteran Canosiana Becora/Dili
Horas : 08.30 ­ 17.30

Organizador:
Edio Saldanha Borges, Aliança para o Tribunal Internacional Tribunal ANTI; Ph:7284602 Email: kadiuk@yahoo.com
Jose Caetano Guterres, East Timor Crisis Reflection Network (ETCRN): Ph: 7253877 mailto:infoetcrn2006@yahoo.com

Programa para a Audição Pública Alternativa
Primeiro Dia (Sexta-feira, 28 Setembro)
08.00 - 09.00 Registu Bainaka / Registo dos Participante
09.00 - 09.15 Bemvindo ho Organizadora / Boa-vinda pelos organizadores
09.15 - 09.35 Diskursu Abertura Hosi Bispo Diocese Dili/Comentários de Abertura pelo Bispo de Dili
Sasin/Testemunhos
09.35 - 10.00 Panelista sira hola fatin iha oin/Painel na frente
10.00 - 10.30 Sasin hosi Jose Nunes, Sobreviventes iha Masakre Liquica 1999/Testemunho de José Nunes, Sobrevivente do Massacre de Liquica 1999
10.30 - 10.45 Snack
10.45 - 11.15 Sasin hosi Atina, Sobreviventes iha asaun oho iha Polres Maliana 1999/Testemunho de Atina, Sobrevivente de assassinatos na Estação de Polícia de Maliana 1999
11.15 - 11.45 Sasin hosi ILIGIO, Sobreviventes iha Masakre Igreija Suai 1999/Testemunho de Iligio, Sobrevivente do massacre da igreja de Suai Church 1999
11.45 - 12. 25 Sasin hosi Flaviano, Sobreviventes iha asaun oho iha Ermera 1999/Testemunho de Flaviano, Sobrevivente de assassinatos em Ermera 1999
12.25 - 13.00 Sasin hosi Malewe Guera, Sobreviventes iha Asaun Oho iha Lospalos 1999/
Testemunho de Malewe Guera, Sobrevivente de assassinatos em Lospalos 1999
13.00 -14.00 Lunch
14.00 - 14.30 Sasin hosi Ilidia da Silva, Kaben Saudoso Mahudo, 1999/Testemunho de Ilidia da Silva, viúva de Patriotic Mauhudo, 1999
14.30 - 15.00 Sasin hosi Agung Putri, ELSAM / Testemunho de Agung Putri, Elsam, Indonésia
15.00 -15.15 Snack
15.15 - 15.45 Sasin hosi Annan no Haris, Kontras/ Indonesia Testemunho de Kontras/ Indonesia
15.45 - 14.30 Konferensia ba imprensa / Conferência de Imprensa
Segundo Dia (Sábado, 29 Setembro)
08.00 - 09.00 Regista Bainaka / Registo Participantes
09.00 - 09.30 Panel hola Fatin iha Oin / Painel ocorre na frente
09.30 - 10.00 Sasin hosi Sr. Riak Leman / Testemunho de Riak Leman
10.00 -10.15 Snack
10.15 - 10.45 Sasin hosi Charles Scheiner, IFET / Testemunho de Charles Scheiner, IFET
10.45 - 11.30 Sasin hosi Ego Lemos / Testemunho de Ego Lemos
11.30 - 12.30 Diskusaun Panel Kona ba Verdade no Justisa mak dalan ba Amizade entre Timor Leste ho Indonesia / Painel de discussão sobre Verdade e Justiça a estrada para a amizade entre Timor-Leste e a Indonésia
12.30 - 14.00 Lunch no Preparasaun ba enceramento / Almoço e preparação do encerramento
14.00 - 15.00 Diskursu Enceramento hosi Presidente Parlamento Nacional / Comentário de Encerramento pelo Presidente do Parlamento Nacional
15.00 - 15.30 Konferensia ba Imprensa / Conferência de ImprensaPress Conference

Prefácio
Como sabemos, apesar das vítimas e da sociedade civil de Timor-Leste, Indonésia e da Comunidade Internacional e a ONU não apoiarem a existência da Comissão da Verdade e Amizade (CVA), os líderes das duas nações continuam com o processo da CVA. Não sabemos também exactamente o que a CVA tem andado a fazer, mas ouvimos dizer que grandes quantias de dinheiro público tem sido gasto com o trabalho da CVA.

Apesar disto, ouvimos dizer que a CVA fez quatro audições públicas em Jacarta e Denpasar na Indonésia. As nossas observações durante estas têm sido que as audições públicas da CVA não funcionam bem para revelar a verdade e promover princípios gerais e valores dos direitos humanos, mas funciina principalmente como uma oportunidade para as próprias pessoas se defenderam e manipularem factos sobre violações de direitos humanos em Timor-Leste. A CVA tem usado especialmente as audições públicas para promover a impunidade. Finalmente, ouvimos também que a CVA terá uma audição pública em Dili de 25 a 27 Setembro 2007.

Por esta razão vítimas e ONG's Timorenses mantêm-se a defender a verdade e a promover princípios gerais e valores dos direitos humanos, especialmente sobre como estabelecer a justiça em Timor-Leste. Isto é parte da luta pela justiça legal através de mecanismos que sejam baseados em padrões legais internacionais credíveis, justiça económica através de esforços para pagar reparações às vítimas, e justiça social através do reconhecimento e reabilitação da dignidade das vítimas. Consequentemente, as vítimas e as ONG's Timorenses querem organizar uma Audição Pública Alternativa para opor à audição pública da CVA em Dili.

Tópicos Gerais

Verdade e Justiça o Caminho para a Amizade para Timor-Leste e Indonésia
Princípios Gerais

Estabelecer a justiça para as violações dos direitos humanos em Timor-Leste 1999

1. Respeito pela dignidade das vítimas
2. O objectivo da audição pública é procurar a verdade e promover a educação dos direitos humanos
3. Parar o círculo da impunidade
4. Por isso a audição pública alternativa deve obedecer aos seguintes critérios:
· Ouvir as vozes das vítimas das violações de direitos humanos de todas as partes de Timor-Leste
· Clarificar os factores que causaram as violações de direitos humanos em Timor-Leste
· Dar uma oportunidade aos testemunhos das vítimas, ONU, guerrilheiros de 1975, grupos da resistência e activistas de direitos humanos Indonésios para clarificar políticas e decisões do passado que tiveram impacto nas violações de direitos humanos que ocorreram.
· Aprender das violações de direitos humanos no passado para assegurar que não ocorram outra vez no futuro nas nossas vidas.
· Facilitar o progresso de condições nas quais as pessoas estão assustadas e traumatizadas para conditções em que sejam abertas e onde se possa discutir sem medo violalações no passado dos direitos e de que se aprenda.

Objectivos

Os objectivos desta Audição Alternativa contra a CVA são:

6. Criar informação equilibrada sobre as violações dos Direitos Humanos em Timor Leste 1999.
7. Lembrar aos lóderes Timorenses e da Indonésia que a amizade é muito importante mas que não devem que a Verdade e a Justiça é a única estrada para alcançar a amizade.
8. Lembrar à ONU que deve manter a sua responsabilidade para levar os autores de crimes contra a humanidade em Timor Leste 1999 ao Tribunal Internacional .
9. Lembrar às instituições de soberania Timorense para debater o Chega! (relatório final da CAVR) e dar espaço efectivo à implementação de recomendações e valores importantes do Chega!.
10. Reafirmar que como parte integrante da sociedade em Timor-Leste não aceitamos a presença da CVA que gastou muito dinheiro do orçamento mas não beneficiou os sobreviventes e famílias das vítimas no país.

Actividades – Audição Pública

A Audição Pública Alternativa ocorrerá em 28-29 Setembro 2007. A audição realiza-se no antigo complexo da UNAMET ou no STP-CAVR (tentativa).
As actividades da Audição Pública serão compostas de:
Exibição de fotografias e documentos de violações de direitos humanos em Timor-Leste para o período 1975-1999

b. Audição de testemunhos de :
· Representantes de vítimas de violações de direitos humanos em Timor-Leste
· Representantes de Grupos de Resistência Pró-Independência (Falintil)
· Representantes de Partidários Pró-Indonésia de 1975
· Representantes de KPP-HAM e activistas Indonésios
· Representantes da ONU da missão da UNAMET para dar informação de clarificação correcta sobre violações de direitos humanos que aconteceram em Timor-Leste em 1999.
Criterios para a Escolha de Testemunhas para a Audição Alternativa
· Pessoas que quiserem dar testemunho
· Competentes (não perturbadas mentalmente) e capazes de falar claramente em público por elas próprias
· Experiência como representante – há muitas vítimas que têm também este tipo de experiência mas talvez nunca tenham tido a oportunidade de dar testemunho
· Testemunho ou informação que for apresentada e que seja credível e tenha a base em factos.
Painelistas
De modo a facilitar a Audição Alternativa os organizadores escolherão cinco pessoas que actuarão como Painelistas das Audições.
Participantes
Organizações que trabalham com vítimas e famílias das vítimas
Pessoas que deram testemunhos nas audições públicas na Indonésia
ONG's e vítimas da Indonésia
ONG's em Timor-Leste
Organizações da juventude e organizações de mulheres
Partidos políticos
Organizações religiosas
Universidades e escolas
Governo
Parlamento

Pobreza alimentou milícias em 1999, afirma antigo líder miliciano

Notícias Lusófonas
27.09.2007

Um antigo líder de uma milícia pró-indonésia afirmou hoje que, em 1999, a pobreza levou muitos civis timorenses a aderirem à luta contra o movimento independentista de Timor-Leste.


"Havia dinheiro e as pessoas não precisavam de ir para as zonas rurais. Havia arroz e era tudo muito bom", referiu Francisco Lopes de Carvalho durante a quinta sessão da Comissão para a Verdade e Amizade Timor-Leste/Indonésia.

Segundo o líder e fundador do Barisan Rakyat (Frente Popular), milícia pró-integracionista, assim que entravam nas diferentes organizações, os civis timorenses eram "avisados" de que só havia um inimigo: o movimento independentista.

"Era difícil não matar um timorense, tal como lhes era ordenado. Se alguém quisesse abandonar as milícias, era morto. Mais, se recusasse matar um timorense, a essa pessoa eram-lhe dados comprimidos "mad dog"", sublinhou Lopes de Carvalho, que reside há vários anos em Java, Indonésia.

Relatos dos acontecimentos de então dão conta de que, durante a onda de violência que assolou Timor-Leste antes, durante e depois do referendo de autodeterminação - que levaria à independência do país em 2002 -, os membros das milícias pró-integracionistas davam os tais comprimidos para encorajar os "operacionais" a matar.

"Depois, quando se mata, acaba-se na prisão", acrescentou Lopes de Carvalho, apontando para Johnny Marques, que se encontrava na audiência.

Johnny Marques, antigo líder de uma outra milícia pró-integracionista, a Alfa, testemunhara momentos antes e, nas suas declarações, afirmou ter estado sob o efeito de drogas quando chefiou uma operação que causou a morte de várias freiras e padres em Los Palos, em Setembro de 1999.

"Sei que não o devia ter feito, mas foi o mau corpo a reagir às drogas. Senti-me com raiva e estava desejoso de matar alguém", afirmou Johnny Marques, condenado a 33 anos de prisão efectiva pelo seu envolvimento na violência.

Por seu lado, Lopes de Carvalho acusou as autoridades militares indonésias de nunca lhe terem pago os "milhões de rupias prometidos" num hotel de cinco estrelas em Jacarta quando assinou um documento em que se comprometia a recrutar civis timorenses e a armá-los.

"Até agora, nunca recebi dinheiro nenhum", afirmou, sublinhando que o pagamento em numerário "era uma prática corrente" das autoridades militares indonésias em Timor-Leste.

No entanto, admitiu ter recebido um montante significativo em dinheiro do antigo comandante do Aquartelamento de Wira Dharma, coronel Tono Suratman.

Tal com o sucedeu a outros oficiais indonésios, Tono Suratman foi absolvido pelo tribunal "ad hoc" de Direitos Humanos das acusações de crimes contra a humanidade em Timor-Leste.

Lopes de Carvalho entregou também à Comissão uma série de documentos, incluindo certificados entregues pelos treinadores das milícias, assinados pelo então comandante militar de Udayana, major general M. Simbolon.

"Como é que é possível que os militares indonésios ou os membros do governo (de Jacarta) nunca tenham sido condenados?", questionou Lopes de Carvalho.

Lopes de Carvalho pediu à Comissão que entregue todos os dados resultantes das diferentes sessões que já decorreram - todo o processo de investigação foi iniciado em Janeiro deste ano - a um tribunal internacional, defendendo o "fracasso" de eventuais processos judiciais, quer na Indonésia, quer em Timor-Leste.

A Comissão, cujas investigações e audições começaram em Janeiro último, deverá concluir os seus trabalhos até ao fim deste ano, prevendo-se que apresente um relatório em Janeiro de 2008.

UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING - Thursday, 27 September 2007

"UNMIT assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the articles or for the accuracy of their translations. The selection of the articles and their content do not indicate support or endorsement by UNMIT express or implied whatsoever. UNMIT shall not be responsible for any consequence resulting from the publication of, or from the reliance on, such articles and translations."

National Media Reports

ONGTL, conducting alternative public hearing against CTF

Non-Government Organizations of Timor-Leste (ONGTL) on 28-29 September will conduct alternative public hearings against the CTF.

“We will conduct the alternative public hearings because during public hearings conducted in Indonesia, the Commission of truth and Friendship (CTF) considered that all the witnesses are always good. We see that the witnesses who provided their statements for the public hearings have a tendency towards manipulation. We want to re-conduct these to find out the truth between the two nations. We will be involving victims, both from Indonesia and Timor-Leste because they are only blaming militias and not Indonesia military,” said Xisto dos Santos, the coordinator of Students’ Front of Timor-Leste and Administrative Council of National Alliance for International Tribunal (ANTI) on Wednesday (26/9) at the National University, Dili.

Mr. Dos Santos also said that public hearings of CTF tended towards manipulation as compared to the Expert Commission of UN who conducted its investigation in Timor-Leste. He also stated that the CTF work is to give amnesty to the criminal actors and not to find out the truth. (TP and DN)

Alkatiri: US$61M for three months might create corruption

Former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said that the transitional fund of the Alliance government will create a broad way for corruption because he considers the amount to be too much to use in only three months.

“If this big money is the investment capital to build bridges and roads there might be no questions. So this amount of money should be spent carefully,” said Mr. Alkatiri. (DN)

Fernanda Borges: NP attributed to principles of international law

MP from National Unity Party (PUN), Fernanda Borges said that the national parliament will stand for the principles of international law because the Timorese constitution forces the MPs to do so.

Ms. Fernanda also said that if amnesty is granted to the criminals, then there will be impunity and anybody could do anything. (DN)

MPs worried about the mission of CTF

Indonesia and Timor-Leste’s CTF is worried because it appears to be dominated by politics.

“I am a little worried because the CTF has established itself upon political tendency and not upon finding the truth,” said Cecilio Caminha, MP from CNRT in the National Parliament on Wednesday (26/9).

Mr. Caminha also said that in reviewing the Terms of Reference, the CTF aims to find out the truth based on the public hearings, but the final result will be rely upon the writing by the Commissaries of the Commission. (STL)