Indonesia said it will continue efforts with the Timor-Leste government to solve past problems and
seek reconciliation through the Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) despite a boycott by the United Nations.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda was quoted by English daily the Jakarta Post as saying the UN had to be realistic that a prosecutorial approach alone would not solve the two nations' problems.
Indonesia, according to Hassan, will stick to the CTF's terms of reference, including on an amnesty to pardon those sincerely helping the process by cooperating, because it was the only
acceptable way for both countries to overcome their differences.
"The UN has to realize this is a reconciliation process and not a prosecutorial one. We have established terms of reference to find out the truth and we are committed to not prosecuting
perpetrators," he said.
"I told CTF members that as long as the process is credible and consistent with the terms of reference set, they will find out the truth," he added.
Criticizing the commission for allowing amnesties for those who committed serious crimes, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told UN officials Thursday not to testify before a panel investigating the 1999 killings in Timor-Leste.
Hassan said two sovereign countries should be able to solve their problems in a way that both countries voluntarily agree on.
"We never forced Timor-Leste to agree, but they realized it was important to solve our past problems without sacrificing our friendship and cooperation," said Hassan, adding that the United
Nations is yet to offer an alternative solution.