A war crime tribunal should be set up to investigate the 1999 violence in East Timor, a former Indonesian president has said.
Abdurrahman Wahid, who will run for the position again in 2009 for the National Awakening Party told journalists he believed the Commission for Truth and Friendship between the two countries needed more investigation.
The report found the Indonesian Government, military and police committed human rights violations including murder, rape, torture, illegal detention and forced deportation.
Perpetrators of the violence after East Timor’s vote for independence in September 1999 should be tried before a war crimes tribunal, Mr Wahid said.
“Yes, precisely. Of course going further means further research and [to] open the facts,” he said.
“We have to be clear on this that there were violations of human rights in both countries and that’s what the commission discovered.”
Mr Wahid, who is affectionately known to most Indonesians as ‘Gus Dur’ became president of Indonesia in October 1999 – just after the independence vote.
He sacked General Wiranto who was the military commander responsible for East Timor at the time of the independence referendum a few months after.
In Jakarta this week Mr Wahid said he dismissed him because of his involvement in the violence, which left more than a thousand dead, and tens of thousands displaced.
“I believe that [it was] not only him,” he said.
“Last night I heard Prabowo talk about reconciliation, but I don’t believe him.”
The report mentioned Chief Lieutenant General Prabowo Subianto, former head of special forces unit Kopassus among other ex-military heads as being part of the violence.
It was released on Tuesday in Bali, with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono flanked by East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
All three said the report closed the door and marked a time to move on.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed a “very deep regret” at the events of the past.
“We, leaders of today, must do all we can to acknowledge the lessons of the past in order to strengthen even further the relations between our two countries for the betterment of our people,” Mr Ramos-Horta said.
Both presidents accepted the report and signed a commitment to implement recommendations including not prosecuting former military officers.
Retired General Wiranto defended the military’s actions.
“We will leave it to the government and we also assume that there was a mistake at that time, as everything was conducted in accordance with the standing procedures, he said.
Mr Wahid reaffirmed his commitment to run as president again in next July’s elections.
He believes his chances are good.
Jessica Mahar is on a fellowship with the Asia Pacific Journalism Centre.