Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – A historian is urging the government to examine the reasons behind Indonesia's invasion of East Timor in 1975 and any excesses in its 24-year occupation, so that the country can rid itself of "ignorance and hatred".

Taufik Abdullah told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that any admissions of past wrongdoings by the government "would not tarnish our image." Instead it would "release us from a dark episode in our history that could certainly pave the way for a real reconciliation with the people of Timor Leste."

Taufik was responding to a report by Timor Leste's independent Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation released to the United Nations Saturday by President Xanana Gusmao. Failure to deal with the past had led to Indonesia having many problems, Taufik said.

Historical accounts from previously classified documents in the United States and Australia showed that both governments had known in advance of Indonesia's plan to invade East Timor in 1975, he said. They had not objected to the invasion because they feared a communist presence near their large Asian ally. "Indeed, we were also trapped in the Cold War; and even the US administration 'endorsed' the invasion," Taufik said.

In history, acts of violence often occurred because of many reasons, such as feelings of insecurity or ignorance, he said. "A nation is considered a great one if it never forgets its heroes... and a nation is also a great one if it insists on releasing itself from its historical ignorance and feelings of hatred," he said.