Indonesia, East Timor officials open truth commission News
Indonesia, East Timor officials open truth commission

[JURIST] After last week's initial meeting [JURIST report], the Indonesia-East Timor truth commission officially opened Thursday in Bali. The commission to investigate the 1999 violence in East Timor [Wikipedia backgrounder] is aimed at reconciliation and continued improving relations between the two countries [Jakarta Post report], but, to the dismay of the UN, will not bring prosecutions. Despite a recommendation [PDF report] by the UN's independent Commission of Experts, Indonesia opposes a UN-led tribunal [JURIST report], calling it "unnecessary." Australia's ABC News has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.