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	Indonesian government accepts charges of East Timor brutality by LA Times, UN News   July 15, 2008   Indonesian government accepts charges of East Timor brutality. (Los Angeles Times)   Indonesia"s president formally accepted today a commission report that blames his country"s security forces for supporting militias in a frenzy of murder, rape and other crimes against humanity in East Timor nine years ago.   "We convey very deep remorse at what happened in the past that has caused the loss of lives and property," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said as he and East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta jointly received the truth commission"s findings.   It was the first time Indonesia"s government has accepted charges that members of its military and police, along with civilian authorities, helped pro-Indonesian militias carry out a brutal campaign against East Timor"s independence.   At least 1,000 died and thousands more were driven from their homes in the 1999 violence that erupted after East Timor"s people voted for independence from Indonesia, which sent in troops to occupy the former Portuguese colony in 1975. Over 200,000 East Timorese people died during the Indonesian occupation.   Indonesia and East Timor each named five members to the intergovernmental Commission of Truth and Friendship in 2006.   But the body"s mandate was to establish the truth behind the events before and after the 1999 referendum on independence, "with a view to further promoting reconciliation and friendship," not to name individuals suspected of crimes.   "We must learn from what happened in the past to find out the facts over who has done what to whom, and who must be held responsible," Yudhoyono said in Bali. "Only the truth will free us from those past experiences."   Human rights activists have demanded that a tribunal prosecute members of Indonesia"s security forces and other authorities who, the commission concluded, "systematically cooperated with and supported the militias in a number of significant ways that contributed to the perpetration of the crimes."   In its 300-page report, the commission recommends a human rights court put perpetrators of the violence on trial. But 18 members of the security forces and civilians already have been cleared by a special human rights tribunal.   A military leader frequently accused by human rights groups of fomenting unrest in East Timor is retired Gen. Wiranto, who was Indonesia"s defense minister in 1999. Wiranto, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, is running in the presidential election set for next year. He failed in a 2004 bid for the presidency.   East Timor"s president Ramos-Horta said getting over a violent past is more important than prosecuting criminals behind the crimes.   "Justice is not and cannot be only prosecutorial in the sense of sending people to jail. "Justice must also be restorative," Ramos-Horta was quoted from Bali. "We as leaders of our people must lead our nations forward."   15 July 2008   Ban hopes truth panel’s report will foster justice, reconciliation in Timor-Leste.   UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the commitment made by the Presidents of Indonesia and Timor-Leste to follow up on the final report of the panel set up to look into the violence that accompanied the latter’s bloody struggle for independence in 1999.   “The Secretary-General has taken note of the submission of the final report of the Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) to the Presidents of Indonesia and Timor-Leste and the subsequent joint statement issued by the two Governments,” according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.   “He looks forward to the early public release of the report and hopes that this process will be the first step towards achieving justice and reconciliation.”   Mr. Ban encouraged both Governments to take concrete steps to ensure full accountability, to end impunity and to provide reparations to victims, adding that the UN stands ready to extend its technical assistance in that regard.   In the popular consultation held in August 1999, virtually the entire electorate voted overwhelmingly for a transition towards independence.   Following the announcement of the result, pro-integration militias with the support of elements of the Indonesian security forces, launched a campaign of violence, looting and arson throughout the entire territory.   Despite their obligations, the Indonesian authorities did not effectively respond, and many East Timorese were killed – including nine local UN personnel – and up to half a million displaced from their homes.
	Terrorism Prevention by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime   "We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes, as it constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security". - 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted by the United Nations General Assembly by its resolution 60/1.   "Reaffirming that acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights,fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening territorial integrity, security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism".   The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has for many years been addressing issues pertaining to international terrorism and related international cooperation. In 2002, the General Assembly approved an expanded programme of activities for the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch. This expanded programme focuses on providing assistance to States, upon request, in the legal and related aspects of counter-terrorism, especially for ratifying and implementing the universal legal instruments against terrorism and strengthening the capacity of the national criminal justice systems to apply the provisions of these instruments in compliance with the principles of rule of law. In addition, the Branch provides substantive input on counter-terrorism issues to intergovernmental bodies and it coordinates its work with relevant other actors.   * For more details visit the link below. Visit the related web page
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