- Title
- The Indonesia-Timor-Leste Commission of truth and friendship: Enhancing bilateral relations at the expense of justice
- Creator
- Strating, Rebecca
- Date
- 2014
- Type
- Text; Journal article
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/72234
- Identifier
- vital:6881
- Identifier
- ISSN:0129-797X
- Abstract
- International justice is characterized by the global articulation of basic human rights and peremptory norms outlawing crimes against humanity. In the twenty-first century, an international obligation of states to pursue individuals who bear responsibility for gross violations of human rights has formalized. Since the 1999 independence referendum, Timor-Leste has struggled to achieve substantive justice for the human rights violations committed during Indonesia’s 25-year de facto administration. Timor-Leste provides a unique case study on the international dimensions of pursuing justice in a post-conflict transitional context, particularly as many alleged perpetrators of rights violations have been shielded by Indonesia. This presents a challenge for Timor-Leste in balancing its various international and domestic priorities: While domestic political order and rule of law necessitates the pursuit of substantive justice, Timor-Leste's external security interests require a positive relationship with Indonesia. This article examines the world's first bilateral Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Indonesia-Timor-Leste Commission of Truth and Friendship. It then analyses the implementation of the Commission's recommendations by Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The paper argues that the Commission was primarily a political mechanism designed to support international priorities rather than substantive justice.
- Publisher
- Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
- Relation
- Contemporary Southeast Asia Vol. 36, no. 2 (2014), p. 232-261
- Rights
- © 2014 EBSCO Industries, Inc.
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Subject
- MD Multidisciplinary; Democratization; Reconciliation; Rule of law; Security; Transitional justice
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