Indonesia
Timor-Leste is a leading country in Asia with regards to advocating for greater accountability. While many conflict and atrocity prevention initiatives have been marred by setbacks, notably serious communal violence and population displacement in 2006, important lessons have been learned on grassroots, locally-led reconciliation processes. These conflict and atrocity prevention lessons provide a valuable body of knowledge that can be shared across the region.
“After twenty-four years of systematic violations under a veil of impunity, Reformasi in Indonesia provided an opportunity to determine East Timor’s status through a referendum held by the United Nations in 1999. The referendum resulted in the majority of Timorese people choosing independence in October 1999 with the United Nations taking over as interim administrator of the territory.
UN and Timorese investigators and prosecutors conducted investigations to the 1999 crimes, resulting in more than 300 persons indicted under the Serious Crimes regime, including senior Indonesian military commanders and Timorese militia leaders.
In 2002, working in parallel with the serious crimes process, a truth and reconciliation commission (CAVR) was established to investigate human rights violations that took place between 1975-1999, producing a final report entitled “Chega!” (Enough, Never Again) that documented a pattern of systematic abuse and made comprehensive recommendations. Immediately following the CAVR, the Governments of Timor-Leste and Indonesia established the bi-lateral Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF, 2005-2008). In 2008, the CTF handed over its findings and recommendations reaffirming CAVR’s findings that crimes against humanity took place in 1999.
More than a decade after the publication of these reports, a civil society working group including AJAR found that only 5% of the recommendations has been or is being implemented. In 2015, a prime ministerial decree established Centro Nacional Chega! (CNC) tasked with bridging the victims with the administration and pushing for the inclusion of the recommendations in government policies.
Priority Issues
Our activities in numbers
Humanity Youth
Humanityouth is a program to facilitate intergenerational dialogue to strengthen solidarity across different generations to end impunity and the cycle…
Sa Pu Kisah
The atrocities of various human rights violations endured by the people in West Papua is accompanied with the constant denial…
Stolen Children
Stolen Children or Labarik Lakon in Tetun, are children who were taken away from their families and culture during Indonesia’s…
Highlights of Programmes in the Past Year
Promoting awareness and understanding
Research, including interviews with hundreds of victims of serious human rights violations, examined the challenges faced by the pandemic in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The research, combined with practical assistance, helped victims develop coping mechanisms to survive.
The ‘school of human rights and social justice’ for young students in Timor-Leste continued. This year more than 100 university students attended activities, building their commitment to fight against the recurrence of past violations.
Strengthening linkages and increasing social capital of human rights defenders
By linking the Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission with Timor-Leste’s Centro Nacional Chega! or CNC, AJAR facilitated exchanges of knowledge and strategies on truth-seeking, reconciliation, and designing urgent reparations programs. Young people from Papua, and other parts of Indonesia and Timor-Leste, visited the Aceh TRC to deepen their understanding of the work of truth commissions.
As a member of the Global Initiative for Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation, AJAR and partners worked to identify best practices for supporting women survivors of sexual violence, and children born of rape, in Timor-Leste, Nepal, Bosnia Herzegovina, and South Africa. Comparative studies on searching mechanisms in Latin America and Timor-Leste, and peace processes in Aceh and El Salvador were developed.
Contributing technical assistance, along with policy and legal inputs
AJAR contributed to regional and national links to UN bodies. Inputs, along with victims’ testimonies, were provided to UN events on reparations, focusing on empowering Timor-Leste’s stolen children.
Indonesia-Timor-Leste relations: Good neighbors and unfinished business
This article was published in the paper edition of The Jakarta Post with the title " Indonesia-Timor-Leste relations: Good neighbors and...
The Philippines: In the Dawn of the New Leadership, Transitional Justice Remains A Challenge
“Then one of the guys (military) told everyone to leave. So, I was left alone with him in that room....
Online Showcase and Discussion of ‘Healing Wounds’ – Animated Documentaries of Women Survivors in Myanmar
This year, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) and partners continue to hold the annual campaign of #MonthOfTruth to highlight all...
The #CollectiveTruth Campaign: Uncovering the Truth in Myanmar from the Ground
This year, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) and partners continue to hold the annual campaign of #MonthOfTruth to highlight all...
Emphasising Survivors’ Participation through the #MonthOfTruth
25 March 2022 — Asia Justice and Rights once again is holding a month-long campaign billed as the #MonthOfTruth. The...
Indonesia: Handover of Truth and Reconciliation Commission Findings and Recommendations to Aceh Parliament, A Milestone for Truth and Justice in Indonesia
31 December 2021 — After convening three public hearings and documenting more than 5,000 statements from victims of human rights...
16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence
Every year on 25 November we celebrate International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women which runs up until...
Screenings of AJAR’s Award-Winning Animated Films “Konta-Sai” and “8:45” in Bali
Bali, 27 November 2021 - Screenings of AJAR’s two animated films, “8:45”and the award-winning “Konta-Sai”, took place with human rights...
AJAR’s Short Film “Konta-sai” Awarded Best Film and Best Animation at ReelOzInd! Australia Indonesia Short Film Competition 2021
We are delighted and proud to announce that our animated documentary titled "Konta-sai" has been awarded the Best Film and...
Screenings of AJAR’s Award-Winning Animated Films “Konta-Sai” and “8:45” at Dili International Film Festival
Dili, 7 October 2021 - Screenings of AJAR’s two animated films, “8:45”and the award-winning “Konta-Sai”, took place with students of...
[WEBINAR] The Need of Truth and Justice for Victims and Family of Disappeared, Lessons from Asia and Latin America
30 August 2021 - To commemorate the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, AJAR and our partners held...
UDHR Mobile Application Launch (with the Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh)
In collaboration with the Liberation War Museum (LWM) of Bangladesh, AJAR has released a mobile application called the UDHR Flashcards...
Resources
Twenty Years On Infographic
EN_InfographicsDownload TE_InfographicsDownload
Twenty Years On: Timorese Women’s Ongoing Struggle to be Free from Violence
20 years on from the Restoration of Independence and the promise of equality and freedom, women and girls in Timor-Leste...
Quilting for Justice – A Graphic Novel
Survivors of human rights violations have a right to justice. However, the journey to obtaining justice often comes hand-in-hand with...
Transitional Justice in Australia and the Pacific Series: Transitional Justice in the Solomon Islands
The origins of the conflict in the Solomon Islands extend back to the early foreign arrivals and colonial history. Early...
Indigenous Peoples and the Right to Truth Vol. 1: A Toolkit for Practitioners
This toolkit, divided into two volumes, offers practical assistance to Indigenous and non-Indigenous human rights organisations and activists, as well...
Indigenous Peoples and the Right to Truth Vol. 2: A Compendium of Case Studies
This toolkit, divided into two volumes, offers practical assistance to Indigenous and non-Indigenous human rights organisations and activists, as well...