SHARING TRUTH: CREATING A NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE ON RESIDENTIAL

SCHOOLS FORUM

Vancouver, 1-3 March 2011

The Timor-Leste experience

Pat Walsh

Timor-Leste/East Timor

East Timor in brief• Half-island in the Indonesian archipelago 1.5 hours NW

Darwin, Australia.• Population c.1,000,000, half under 18.• One of the region’s poorest countries but has large reserves

of oil and gas.• Portuguese colony until 1975 when invaded and occupied by

Indonesia until 1999.• Timorese resisted militarily and diplomatically and suffered

gross violations of human rights.• UN-administered Popular Consultation in 1999 resulted in

overwhelming vote for independence.• Administered by the UN 1999-2002.• Parliamentary system. Executive powers vested in

Government. President as Head of State.

Converted prison: symbol of change

CAVR in brief• CAVR - Comissao de Acolhimento, Verdade e

Reconciliacao, Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation.

• Established by the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) as an independent, indigenous East Timorese body led by seven Timorese Commissioners.

• Funded wholly by the international community.• Written into the nation’s first Constitution.• Functioned for 4 years: 2002-2005.• Four functions (1) truth-seeking 1974-99; (2) facilitate

community reconciliation; (3) restore dignity of victims; (4) report on work, findings and recommendations.

• Report called Chega! (Stop, no more, enough!) delivered to Parliament 31 October 2005.

Truth-seeking: statement taking

Truth-seeking: public hearings

Community reconciliation

The CAVR report: Chega!

Post-CAVR Secretariat• Interim body established by Presidential decree in

December 2005 that will continue until Parliament decides on CAVR recommendations.

• Functions: (1) care for archives and heritage site; (2) complete CAVR publishing program; (3) disseminate and socialise Chega! in and outside Timor-Leste.

• Governance: Executive Director and 4 Program Coordinators, accountable to President.

• Funding: Timor-Leste Government and international donors.

P-CAVR hard-copy records

P-CAVR audio-visual records

P-CAVR back-up of records

P-CAVR library & internet access

P-CAVR bookshop

P-CAVR dissemination

P-CAVR Chega! comic book

P-CAVR video Dalan ba Dame

P-CAVR Walk Through Chega! exhibition

The exhibition has a strong impact

Targets youth…….

....but does not always hit the mark!

P-CAVR launch in Jakarta

Issues encountered

• Capacity building of local staff.

• Technical issues.

• Security.

• Back-up and off-shore storage.

• Access.

• Archival legislation.

The role of the churches• Under Portugal, Catholic Church (CC) was a small, but influential,

part of the colonial system.• Under Indonesia, CC opposed the colonial system and attracted

mass support. The small Protestant community grew in numbers.• Since Independence, CC has reverted to more conventional

service and devotional role but supports justice for historical crimes.

• J&P Commissions exist in 2 of the 3 dioceses plus many religious orders.

• Two CAVR Commissioners were clergy and church regularly assisted with community reconciliations.

• Acolhimento (reception) includes a reference to the parable of the Prodigal Son.

• Chega! includes recommendations to the churches including to provide training and education in human rights.

The future

• Addressing the issues encountered.

• Public champion of archives.

• Archival solidarity.

• Legislation by the Timor-Leste Parliament to establish an Institute of Memory to implement CAVR/CTF recommendations on reparations, disappearances, memorialisation, documentation, research, education and training.

Thank you. Obrigado barak.

• CAVR website

www.cavr-timorleste.org

Pat Walsh

Email: padiwalsh@gmail.com