Jakarta Post

September 19, 2007

Commission on Truth and Friendship to hold hearing in Dili next week

JAKARTA (JP): The Commission on Truth and Friendship (CTF) would hold its first hearing in Dili next week, bringing among others Timor Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao to testify.

A commission's spokesperson Krishna Hannan told the Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the hearing, which will be the fifth since it was first held in Jakarta in February, would be held from Sept. 24 to Sept. 27 and attended by commissioners from Indonesia and Timor Leste.

"The hearing will be held in two sessions, a closed session attended by the commissioners on Sept. 24 and an open session from Sept. 25 to Sept. 27," said Krishna.

He added that Timor Leste's President Ramos Horta, who is scheduled to attend the hearing, had canceled his presence as he would be in New York at that time.

According to Krishna, several other people will also testify, including victims from Timor Leste. However, he could not reveal their identities.

Galuh Wandita of the International Center for Transnational Justice said a number of non governmental organizations were planning to carry out a campaign against the hearing, including an alternative hearing from Sept. 28 to Sept. 29.

"None of the results from the CTF has answered the truth we've have been looking for, therefore we would like to hear more from the victims," said Galuh.

She said the alternative session would try to bring human rights activists from Indonesia, including Agung Putri from human rights watchdog ELSAM and former secretary general of Human Rights Commission Asmara Nababan. (**)