On the second anniversary of her appointment as UN Human Rights Commissioner, Mrs Mary Robinson yesterday called for the establishment of a war crimes tribunal in East Timor.
Speaking in Darwin, Australia, Mrs Robinson said those responsible for the systematic destruction of Timor over the past week would be brought to account.
"I am determined we will secure for the people of East Timor what they have voted for, what they aspire to, what they deserve. We will have accountability for the violation of human rights," Mrs Robinson said.
She had intended to briefly visit Dili yesterday, but said because of the sensitivity of political negotiations and after a long talk with the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, she decided not to go. However, she was able to gather information here from UNAMET staff, civilian police and military liaison officers. She was visibly moved as she wandered around the hot and dusty camp where 400 Timorese UNAMET staff are billeted. "You don't know me, but we have something in common," she told them. "I was born and grew up in an island which struggled for hundreds of years to gain its independence. So I understand so much that you have made a commitment for your independence."
Her last words were almost lost in loud cheers. Mrs Robinson earlier told journalists she would be recommending the establishment of an international war crimes tribunal. "We will pursue rigorously and vigorously those who are named and known. This is not only a case of gross, blatant terrible human rights violations of a people - it has been done in the uniform of a government."
"The international community recognises a multilateral force is needed," she said. "This is an important litmus test for the UN. The international community owes the people of East Timor justice and their own country to run independently. It is vital to the future of human rights, human values, humanity itself." From Darwin, Mrs Robinson was flying to Singapore and then to Jakarta to meet Indonesian government representatives.