January 2008: At the end of October 2007, Commissioners from both Indonesia and Timor-Leste met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to report on the Commission's progress, particularly relating to the production of a Final Report. The President of Indonesia announced his full support of the Commission's work and pledged his co-operation with the process. The CTF's third workshop was held on 23 October 2007, where participants discussed the recommendations which will be made to both governments. The CTF's 6th public hearing was held on 24 October 2007 in Jakarta. Lieutenant General Kiki Syahnakri of Indonesia provided the Commission with information about finalising the fact-finding process. The hearing was attended by individuals from government institutions, NGOs, the diplomatic corps and the media. The public hearings are designed to increase understanding about the violence that occured in East Timor in 1999 from various angles, including the political and operational policies. The taking of voluntary submissions and statements took place between January and July 2007. So far, approximately 90 statements have been received and 8 voluntary submissions, of whcih 6 are from individuals and 2 from independent NGOs. The decision to create the CTF attracted criticism for favouring impunity, since eventual prosecution is excluded in its mandate, counter to the recommendation of the UN Commission of Experts report of 2005. The Ad Hoc Human Rights Court in Indonesia was set up by the Indonesian government following international pressure to investigate and try individuals suspected of committing gross breaches of human rights and international humanitarian law in East Timor. However, NGOs have criticised the outcomes of the few trials that have taken place and argue that the UN must undertake major reforms of the Court, and/or replace it, to ensure that there is no impunity. [TJ network] | 
Asia & Australasia 
