![Indonesia rejects UN proposal for East Timor tribunal](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] Indonesia Tuesday formally rejected a UN recommendation [JURIST report] that an international tribunal investigate and try those accused of human rights violations in its former province of East Timor [Wikipedia backgrounder] during the independence troubles there in 1999. While Indonesia and now-separate East Timor had previously agreed to establish a commission to investigate the abuses [JURIST report], a three-member UN investigatory panel recently described the commission as "manifestly inadequate" with "scant respect for, or conformity to, relevant international standards." The panel recommended UN Secretary General Kofi Annan give Indonesia six months to account for the atrocities, then allow an international tribunal to try those responsible. Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda stated that Indonesia and East Timor are working together to bring justice and the UN commission exceeded its purpose in calling for the tribunal. East Timor itself has lobbied against an independent tribunal [JURIST report], preferring to work with Indonesia and promote political stability internally. The Herald Sun has more.