Back to Search
Start Over
The Indonesia-Timor-Leste Commission of Truth and Friendship: Enhancing Bilateral Relations at the Expense of Justice.
- Source :
-
Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International & Strategic Affairs . Aug2014, Vol. 36 Issue 2, p232-261. 30p. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0129797X
- Volume :
- 36
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International & Strategic Affairs
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 97628248
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1355/cs36-2c