The UN must play a part in ending the lawlessness that culminated in this week's attempted assassinations of Timor-Leste's President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and the death of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado by acting on its mandate to further the cause of justice for serious crimes, say campaigners
In the wake of the attack on the country's democratically elected leaders, development and human rights organisations are questioning why the UN Security Council's mission to Timor-Leste, known as UNMIT, has failed to carry out its mandate to investigate serious crimes committed in 1999 when Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia.
"The Security Council's commitment to peace, democracy and the rule of law has been seriously undermined by UNMIT's failure to meet its responsibilities regarding justice and accountability" say the UK-based organisations, TAPOL and Progressio.
"This had led to diminished respect for the rule of law and an expectation that violence of the kind witnessed this week will go unpunished".
In a letter to UK Foreign Office Minister, Meg Munn, sent on Monday (see below) they ask why it has taken nearly 18 months for UNMIT to start preparing plans for investigations and negotiate an agreement with the Timor-Leste government.
According to the Security Council resolution that established UNMIT in August 2006, a team of experienced personnel was supposed to resume the investigative functions of the former Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) which ceased to function in May 2005.
TAPOL and Progressio point out that the UNMIT mandate was itself a minimal commitment. It did not include support for prosecutions and trials despite the fact that more than 70 per cent of those indicted by the SCU have not been prosecuted and remain free in Indonesia.
The mandate also ignored recommendations by the UN's own Commission of Experts (CoE)*, and the UN-established Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in Timor-Leste (CAVR)**.
"The complete lack of progress by UNMIT demonstrates that justice and accountability cannot be achieved by less than half-hearted commitments and efforts," the letter says.
The UN Secretary-General's latest report on UNMIT will be considered by the Security Council on 21 February. The UK is urged to press the Security Council to reconsider how it can fulfil its responsibility for justice by re-visiting the recommendations of the CoE and holding a debate on the findings and recommendations of the CAVR as a matter of urgency.
For further information or to arrange an interview contact:
- Paul Barber, TAPOL on 0774 730 1739
- Steve Kibble, Progressio on 020 7288 8629 or 07742 677 653.
TAPOL is an organisation that promotes human rights, peace, and democracy in Indonesia. See: www.tapol.gn.apc.org.
Progressio is an international development agency working with people of all faiths and none to tackle poverty and injustice in developing countries. See: www.progressio.org.uk.
*) The Commission of Experts (CoE) was set up to evaluate serious crimes judicial processes in Timor-Leste and Indonesia
**) The CAVR included a recommendation that the UN should renew the Serious Crimes Process and provide it with sufficient resources to investigate and try cases arising from 1975-1999.