The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) congratulates the women and men of “Hukum, Hak, AsasidanKeadilan” (HAK) Association [Association for Law, Human Rights and Justice] during your 17th year anniversary celebrations!

We salute your steadfastness and perseverance to rise above a difficult past as a people, where one third of your population was lost to the Indonesian invasion and ensuing struggle for independence from 1975-1999. Through firm determination and dedication to human rights and justice, you have been able to help victims of human rights violations particularly political detainees and victims of enforced disappearances in their quest for justice.

According to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (UN WGEID) in its Mission Report in December 2011, there were an estimated 1,500 people killed by Indonesian militias and 300, 000 forcibly relocated. Many were also victims of enforced disappearances, including around 4,000 children.

AFAD is in solidarity with HAK and the victims and families of enforced disappearances as you continue to press government to implement the recommendations of the UN WGEID. These include: a) compliance with the recommendations by the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation and the bilateral Commission on Truth and Friendship; b) the swift adoption of the draft laws on the establishment of the Memory Institute and c) a national reparations program and d) the incorporation of an autonomous crime of enforced disappearance into the criminal code among others.

The assumption into office of President Taur Matan Ruak ushers in a new opportunity for HAK to advocate for the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (Convention). In support of this effort, AFAD will hold its next Council meeting in Timor Leste to underscore the importance of this country in its campaign to get as many ratifications from Asian states as possible, especially in countries where it has members.

Lastly, AFAD looks forward to seeing Timor Leste becoming the next South East Asian country to sign and ratify the Convention under the current administration and pave the way for the criminalization of enforced disappearance in the country.

A la lutu continua…

Signed and authenticated by:

Signed by:

MUGIYANTO
Chairperson

MARY AILEEN D. BACALSO
Secretary-General