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Dili, East Timor: Indonesia carried out crimes against humanity during East Timor's 1999 break for independence and should apologise to its tiny neighbour for the murders, torture and other abuses that occurred, a truth and friendship commission found.
The bilateral team, set up in 2005 to investigate the bloodshed, said in a 300-page report that Indonesian soldiers, police and civil authorities engaged in an "organised campaign of violence" against supporters of independence.
The atrocities could be constituted as "gross human rights violations in the form of crimes against humanity", they wrote, saying Indonesia "bears institutional responsibility" and should express appropriate remorse. The Commission of Truth and Friendship was scheduled to formally present the report to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta for their approval on Monday.
"We'll accept whatever it says and abide by the recommendations," said Indonesia's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Teuku Faizasyah, adding both governments felt they had a moral duty to do so. "The aim is to heal wounds of the past and to work together toward a better future."
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