Kornelius Purba and Tony Hotland, Singapore – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday expressed her appreciation over the findings of an joint government investigation into human rights abuses in the former East Timor.

The report concluded that gross human rights abuses had occurred before, during and after the 1999 referendum where the majority of people in the territory opted for independence. However, the investigation team does not have any authority to conduct prosecutions.

In a meeting with her Indonesian counterpart Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda on the sidelines of the annual ASEAN foreign ministerial meeting here, Rice offered to help both countries to follow up on the findings and recommendations of the Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF).

"She appreciates the completion of the findings by our Indonesia-Timor Leste CTF. The US appreciates and supports it, and asked what the US can do to help implement (the recommendations)," Minister Hassan told The Jakarta Post after a 25-minute meeting with Rice in her hotel suite.

The State Department allowed the Post to follow Hassan and his delegation into her suite and stay there for about one minute, but forbade reporters from asking any questions.

"I expressed our thanks and appreciation for the understanding and support that the US has extended to us," said the minister about his response to Rice.

Many parties have praised the CTF for its findings and conclusions over the gross human rights abuses.

When asked about Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's criticism of Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand for being late to ratify the ASEAN Charter, the minister replied, "It is not criticism. My understanding is what Prime Minister Lee said about that, was that in a way, even without waiting for the charter to be fully ratified by all 10 members, (it will) enter into force."

Abdillah Toha, legislator from the National Mandate Party (PAN), on Wednesday slammed Lee's remarks. "Lee forgets that the parliaments in these three countries are real parliaments and not the ones in Singapore or Myanmar, which follow whatever their governments wish without any reservation," Toha said.