[ETAN-key] Remember We Are All Responsible for Justice for Serious Crimes

[ETAN]

This statement is available in Tetum and English at 
http://www.laohamutuk.org/Justice/ANTI17May10.htm

A-N-T-I
Aliansi Nasional Timor-Leste ba Tribunal Internasional
Sekretariado : Fongtil-Caicoli, Dili Timor-Leste
e-mail: <mailto:lanarra.del at gmail.com>lanarra.del at gmail.com

Press Release

Remember We Are All Responsible for Justice for Serious Crimes

In three days time, the Timorese people will celebrate the 
anniversary of the restoration of our independence. Though we have 
been happily celebrating the day with festivities for nine years, a 
portion of the population is sad on this commemorative day because of 
wounds that have not healed and still inflict pain. These wounds will 
not heal while those responsible for them remain free from judicial 
accountability.

How can we imagine this situation continuing? Some people are happy 
while others remain sad, but can we call this a victory for all of 
us? While some people are smiling and content, others are crying and 
spilling their tears. Can we continue to claim we have achieved 
harmony and peace? How can we assure an end to impunity when the 
perpetrators of Serious Crimes in Timor-Leste from 1999 remain free 
and face no consequences? Why do we pour energy and effort into the 
courts when the courts themselves have no teeth to bite those who 
committed Crimes Against Humanity?

We ask you all to consider that the demand for justice for Serious 
Crimes is not just necessary for the Timorese people, it is not for a 
movement or a group, but it is the responsibility of everyone in this 
country, of the international community, and particularly of the 
United Nations. We are conscious that the demand for justice is not 
just for Timorese people, but is necessary to prevent future Crimes 
Against Humanity and human rights violations in other countries. For 
this reason we firmly insist that the time has come to end the chain 
of impunity for Timor-Leste and for the people in other countries.

Coming out of a three day strategic planning meeting of the National 
Alliance for an International Tribunal (ANTI), held 29-31 March at 
Ismaik in Dare with more than fifty participants, including students, 
representatives of victims and victims' families, national and 
international nongovernmental organizations, and international 
solidarity activists, ANTI requests:

1.    That the United Nations stop believing that Indonesia and 
Timor-Leste will prosecute the cases of Serious Crimes and Crimes 
Against Humanity committed from 1975-1999, and find an alternative 
such as the Special Panels to prosecute the criminal perpetrators.

2.    All the Embassies and Consulates in Timor-Leste report to your 
States that the question of justice for Serious Crimes and Crimes 
Against Humanity from 1975-1999 remain a major concern for the people 
of Timor-Leste. Thus, we sincerely appeal to you to take action on 
the question of justice for Serious Crimes as a moral and formal 
responsibility of your State and society.

3.    That the international organizations and institutions 
supporting Timor-Leste's development address justice issues related 
to Serious Crimes as a key concern for development and a necessity to 
assure democracy and the rule of law.

4.    That the National Parliament give significant importance and 
priority to discussing the establishment of an institution to 
implement the Chega Report, in order to prevent polemics and 
incongruity among our leaders due to personal opinions that might 
prejudice the voice of victims who truly want truth and justice for 
the Serious Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity they suffered.

We believe that the Timorese people, and all of us, still hope that 
peace and friendship will be realized once justice is achieved for 
the Serious Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity committed in 
Timor-Leste from 1975-1999, once the perpetrators are fairly 
prosecuted and there is accountability.

Justice for the Timorese People,
Justice for all people of all nations in the world.

Dili, 17 May 2010
We share our voice.

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John M. Miller, National Coordinator
East Timor & Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)
PO Box 21873, Brooklyn, NY 11202-1873 USA
Phone: +1-718-596-7668  Mobile phone: +1-917-690-4391
Email john at etan.org Skype: john.m.miller

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