Joint Statement of the heads of state of the Republic of Indonesia and
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

We, the Heads of State/Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste meet in Bali on 15 July 2008 to
receive the final report of the Commission of Truth and Friendship
which was established and mandated by us. We hereby make the following
statement:

   1. Our two countries have come a long way in overcoming the pain of
   an unfortunate chapter of our shared past. As close neighbors, our
   countries are determined to work together to promote peace and
   friendship, thereby laying a solid basis for building a stable,
   friendly and mutually beneficial neighborly relationship. In this
   regard, we underscore the importance of resolving residual issues.

   2. Guided also by the spirit of the UN Charter, we have agreed,
   with respect to matters pertaining to the events of 1999, to
   establish a Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF). The creation
   and exercise of the Commission is our way of working together to
   reveal the factual truth of the nature, causes, and the extent of
   reported violations of human rights that occurred in the period
   leading up to and immediately following the popular consultation in
   East Timor in 1999.

   3. Learning and benefiting from our shared experience, and
   motivated by our strong desire to move forward, we are determined
   to bring a closure to a chapter of our recent past through joint
   efforts. The Commission of Truth and Friendship is an unprecedented
   and unique mechanism created by two sovereign countries in order to
   resolve their bilateral issues by seeking truth and promoting
   friendship through a non-judicial process emphasizing institutional
   responsibilities. Apart from promoting friendship, it is also our
   aim to ensure that such events will never occur again.

   4. We are heartened at the progress of our bilateral relations
   since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two
   countries. Apart from the work of bilateral consultation mechanisms
   covering, inter alia, border issues; legal matters; trade,
   investment and finance; transport and communication; and social,
   education and cultural issues; all elements of society, including
   government officials at the highest level, have been engaging in
   intensive and direct contacts. During the two and half years that
   the Commission was at work, the two countries made tremendous
   progress in addressing residual issues and in pursuing further
   bilateral cooperation.

   5. The Commission's mandate began in 2005. Its inquiry entailed a
   document review and a fact-finding process. The documents included
   the report by the Indonesian National Commission of Inquiry on
   Human Rights Violations in East Timor in 1999 (KPP-HAM) and the
   Ad-hoc Human Rights Court on East Timor in Indonesia as well as the
   Special Panels for the Serious Crimes (SPSC), and the Commission of
   Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) in Timor-Leste. The
   fact-finding process included public hearings, closed hearings,
   statement takings, interviews and written submissions.

   6. We take into account that the events leading up to and
   immediately after the popular consultation of 1999 had been greatly
   influenced by the complexity of the prevailing situation in
   Indonesia as well as in East Timor at that time.

   7. We accept the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the
   Commission and recognize that gross violations of human rights
   occurred prior to and immediately after the popular consultation in
   East Timor in 1999.

   8. On behalf of the Government of Indonesia and the Government of
   Timor-Leste, we express remorse to all those who suffered
   immeasurable pain and physical and psychological wounds as direct
   or indirect victims of violations of human rights that occurred in
   the period leading up to and immediately following the popular
   consultation in East Timor in August 1999.

   9. We commit to the faithful implementation of the Commission's
   recommendations and to taking other necessary initiatives to
   further promote friendship and reconciliation between the peoples
   of the two countries. We both understand that these recommendations
   shall be comprehensively integrated in a Plan of Action with
   emphasis on victims' oriented programs, among others, and shall be
   given top priority on the agenda of the Joint Ministerial
   Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. The implementation of the
   Plan of Action, where appropriate, would welcome the participation
   of relevant stakeholders, including civil society.

  10. We highly appreciate the work of the Commission and acknowledge
   the daunting difficulties that it had to overcome as it carried out
   its tasks. Moreover, we commend the way it promptly developed the
   mechanisms stipulated in its TOR thereby facilitating its work. By
   working as it did, the Commission contributed to the growth of
   peace and prosperity in the two nations. We also admire the
   commitment, dedication, integrity and professionalism with which
   the Commissioners carried out their tasks.

  11. We thank the Commissioners for their report and declare that the
   mandate of the Commission is fulfilled and concluded.

  12. We the two Governments shall forward the report to our
   respective National Parliaments and make it available to the public.

  13. We shall task our respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs to
   make joint presentations of the report to the international
   community.

  14. Finally, we call upon our peoples to join hands and work for a
   better future in the spirit of reconciliation and friendship.


Done in Bali on the fifteenth day of July in the year two thousand and eight.


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