On this day exactly fifteen years ago, 98.6% of East Timorese who registered for the referendum turned out to cast their votes, in what was a showcase of their courage and desire to determine their own destiny in a clear defiance of violent intimidation and terror unleashed by the pro-Indonesia militiamen backed by the TNI.
An overwhelming 78.5% voted in favor of rejecting the proposed special autonomy status within the Republic of Indonesia.
This plebiscite literally ended the brutal annexation and over 24 years of occupation. Yet, the violence, destruction and bloodshed did not stop there immediately.
In fact, the Commission for Truth and
Friendship (CTF), jointly established in March 2005 by Indonesia and
Timor-Leste mandated to “establish conclusive truth” about the violence before
and after the referendum, found that gross human rights violations in the form
of crimes against humanity occurred in East Timor in 1999. CTF, released its
final report in 2008 entitled Per Memoriam Ad Spem, Latin for “from
Memory comes hope.” It concluded that widespread and systematic crimes against
humanity occurred in the forms of murder, forced displacement, illegal
detention, sexual violence, forced disappearance and other inhumane acts had
taken place during the period the commission was tasked to scrutinize.
These acts were commissioned by the
pro-autonomy militia groups with “a direct relationship to Indonesian
government authorities, and most directly, with the support of the TNI.” The
Commission made a number of recommendations to avoid the repetition of similar
events in the future. To this day, however, these recommendations have barely
been considered, let alone actioned. The report that was submitted to the Heads
of State of the two
countries, is yet to be considered by
their respective parliaments.
On the 10th anniversary of the
Popular Consultation on 30 August 2009, Timor-Leste authorities released a
former leader of local militia gang, Maternus Bere” at the “request” of the
Indonesian government. Bere had earlier been arrested by the police in the
border town of Suai, and subsequently detained at the Becora prison in Dili. He
had been indicted by the UN Serious Crimes Unit in 2003 charged with leading
the 1999
massacre of around 200 unarmed
civilians at the Suai Catholic Church by pro-autonomy militias. The release
sparked outcry in Timor-Leste and overseas with various critiques leveled
against Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and President Ramos Horta. In Timor-Leste,
it in fact led to a parliamentary motion of no confidence against Gusmao, the
first Prime Minister to face such a motion in the young nation’s history.
A few hours after Bere’s release, at
the State ceremony marking the 10th anniversary, President Ramos Horta “asked”
the Indonesian authorities
to return the remains of “our
greatest hero Nicolau Lobato.” His plea was made at the event attended by
foreign dignitaries amongst which was the Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan
Wirayuda. Bere’s release was reportedly the main condition for Wirayuda’s
participation in the ceremony. Speaking to journalists at the end of the
ceremony, Wirayuda told media interview that Indonesia “would look into the
request”.
Exactly five years have lapsed since
the top Indonesian diplomat said his government would look into the request for
the return of Lobato, one of the principal founding fathers of Timor-Leste, and
yet not a single word has since been uttered on the matter. Lobato was killed
in a battle on the new year’s eve of 1978 in the Mindelo mountains of East
Timor. His dead body was taken to Dili and placed on display to proof his death
to the Indonesian military leadership and dictator Soeharto as well as to show
the Timorese that the resistance was over. This was wrong of course, as
Indonesia and the World would find out some ten years later on 30 August 1999.
Lobato’s next destination after the display remains unknown to this day.
The contrast with the swift action
taken by the Timorese authorities to release a detained former local militia
leader could not be more stark.
On 23 July 2013, President Taur Matan
Ruak concluded his State Visit to Indonesia. The choice of Indonesia as
destination for his first State Visit did not break the tradition of his
predecessors Xanana Gusmao and Jose Ramos Horta, which highlights the
importance attached to the bilateral relationship. Speaking in Jakarta during
the visit, President Ruak was proud that “Timor-Leste and Indonesia has done in
a short time what many
countries have not managed to do in a
long time.” Ruak promised to do everything for stronger bilateral relations,
guided by the single principle of “looking forward, not forgetting the past.”
He extended an invitation to President Yudoyono to visit Timor-Leste before the
end of his term in office. In a remarkable statesman-like gesture, President
Ruak even visited and laid a wreath at the Jakarta’s Heroes Cemetery in Kalibata
to pay his respect
to the heroes of Indonesia. Many of
those buried there would have directly chased him in the junggles of
Timor-Leste, trying to capture him alive or kille him.
Perhaps Taur Matan Ruak and Susilo
Bambang Yudoyono are both no fans of megaphone diplomacy, but putting into
effect their pledge to building future stronger relations, it is important that
Indonesia and Timor-Leste come to terms with the bitter history from which they
have only emerged. The twilight of President Yudoyono’s time in office and the
relatively fresh new term of President Ruak is the right time to start.
Timor-Leste and Indonesia have done a lot in a short time, making their
bilateral relations “exemplary.” Yet, 15 years should be long enough for them
to start confronting their history, to prove that they have come a long way.
This would reflect and celebrate the changing face of Indonesia since theReformasi;
its greater openness, political maturity and prosperity.
Timor-Leste has since been waiting
for President Yudoyono’s last State Visit. The fact that Yudhoyono did attend
Ruak’s invitation with the visit last week, shows the importance Indonesia, or
at least Yudhoyono, attaches to the bilateral relation with Timor-Leste. It was
a momentous scene to
see President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono
replicated the example of President Taur Matan Ruak; paid a visit to the
National Heroes Cemetery in Metinaro and paid his respect to the Timorese
liberation heroes. It would have been remarkable if at the time of President Yudoyono’s
visit, the heroes of Timorese national liberation resting there having amongst
them their great leader, the man who had inspired them to be selfless human
beings in the last days of their life, sacrificing their own lives for their
homeland and people- Nicolau Lobato. As a great hero, Lobato deserves a State
honor and as a leader killed in battle field, he should join his fallen
soldiers in his right last resting place, the Heroes cemetery in Metinaro.
Regrettably, Yudhoyono’s last visit
didn’t leave much apart from adding to the long list of diplomatic niceties and
leaders-level reconciliation. But if the leaders of Indonesia and Timor-Leste
were to walk their talks of facing the truth and forging real reconciliation,
democracy consolidation in Indonesia offers the right opportunity. The strong
humanist character of President-elect Joko Widodo and his detachment from this
bitter history presents the right momentum. It will be up to Presidents Joko
Widodo and Taur Matan Ruak to seize and sowing hope; that truly “Per
Memoriam Ad Spem”.
Author : Edio Guterres
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