Indonesia continues to grapple with a legacy of abuse and authoritarianism characterized by security force violence and conflict over natural resources and self-determination. Released in August 2003, "Intended to Fail," the ICTJ's analysis of the trials before the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court in Jakarta, suggests that Indonesia never intended to fulfill its promise of holding perpetrators accountable for the violence surrounding the East Timorese vote for independence in 1999. Eduardo Gonzalez continued to work with local and international NGOs to request that the UN develop an appropriate response to this failure.
The ICTJ also monitored parliamentary efforts to establish a truth commission and coordinated with local partners to ensure that the proposed body respects victims' rights and promotes accountability. In mid-August 2004, the ICTJ, together with local partners, co-sponsored a conference in Jakarta for civil society leaders and activists to develop a strategy for achieving accountability and justice.
In January 2004, the Center released "The Struggle for Truth and Justice," a report that maps nearly 200 transitional justice initiatives undertaken by Indonesian civil society organizations. The report revealed a surprising level of activity, and interest in transitional justice led to the hiring of a full-time, Jakarta-based consultant to help strengthen and coordinate local efforts. The Center publishes a monthly newsletter in Bahasa Indonesia to disseminate transitional justice information throughout the region. The ICTJ also held a workshop for university professors to help incorporate transitional justice issues into their curricula.
Links to Reports
The Struggle for Truth and Justice: A Survey of Transitional Justice Initiatives Throughout Indonesia (January 2004)
Intended to Fail: The Trials Before the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court in Jakarta (August 2003)
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