The Indonesian president will express regret but not apologise over a state-backed probe into the violence during East Timor's 1999 independence vote, Indonesia's defence minister said on Monday.
The Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) is expected to submit its findings to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta for their approval on Tuesday on the island of Bali.
The report, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, says Indonesian security and civilian forces carried out "gross human rights violations" and also recommended the presidents of both Indonesia and East Timor apologise to their people.
"There will be no apology, it is only about remorse, which is deep regret by both parties, from both governments, both presidents for their people," Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono told Indonesia's parliament. Some commentators have expressed surprise the report went as far as it did in blaming Indonesia, but Sudarsono said it was wrong to suggest that it was blaming only Jakarta.
"First, the mistakes were on both sides," he said, adding that the report was also forward looking and seeking to heal on both sides.
The two governments set up the CTF in 2005 to look into the violence, but it has no power to prosecute, prompting criticism that it serves to whitewash atrocities. It has been boycotted by the UN
East Timorese voted overwhelmingly to split from Indonesian rule in 1999 and the United Nations estimates about 1,000 East Timorese died during the post-vote mayhem.
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