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Government asks UN to establish Special Inquiry Commission,
11 June 2006
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Nobel Peace
Laureate Dr José Ramos-Horta, announced that the Government
has requested the UN to establish an independent Special Inquiry
Commission to review specific violent incidents and other related
events or issues which contributed to the present crisis in Timor-Leste.
"The establishment of the facts and circumstances relevant
to the incidents on 28-29 April, and 23, 24 and 25 May and other
related events or issues is critical for Timor-Leste to overcome
its present crisis, achieve reconciliation and for the upholding
of the rule of law," Dr Ramos-Horta said.
Dr Ramos-Horta said it is critical that the Special Inquiry Commission
be established as quickly as possible with a view to submitting
a final report within a three month period of its inauguration.
"The reason we have asked the UN to establish this inquiry
is because the state is not in a position to conduct such an inquiry
and because of the parties involved in the current crisis, a domestic
inquiry would formally lack credibility," he said.
Dr Ramos-Horta, said his Government is committed to ensuring
that the outcome of such an inquiry will assist the reconstitution
of Timor-Leste's security sector and ensure accountability for
criminal violations and human rights violations allegedly committed
during the crisis period.
"The Government considers the domestic justice system should
be the primary avenue of accountability for any criminal violations
and human rights violations allegedly deemed to have been committed
by the Special Inquiry Commission," Dr Ramos-Horta said
"I'm confident that this would reestablish public confidence
in Government and security institutions, and promote democratic
governance," he said.
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