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<P><FONT size=2>Dear list subscribers<BR><BR>I recently posted a link for
Jennifer Laakso's thesis but it appears that only Uni Qld staff and students can
access the full text. If you would like a copy of the whole thing please contact
Jennifer at the address below. I will resend the abstract and Table of
Contents for those who missed the first time.</FONT></P>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>jenlaakso at gmail.com</DIV>
<P><BR><BR><STRONG><FONT size=3>Abstract</FONT></STRONG><BR>The question of how
the international community should administer justice in post-conflict
situations<BR>has become increasingly urgent. Scholars, practitioners and
policymakers grapple with the puzzle of<BR>why violence recurs in post-conflict
nations despite international peacebuilding efforts. This thesis<BR>contributes
to peacebuilding by exploring what the successes and challenges of
Timor-Leste’s<BR>transitional justice process reveal about the role of imported
and indigenous mechanisms and processes<BR>in fostering sustainable peace. A
qualitative research approach is utilised in this analysis,
involving<BR>interviews with grassroots actors, UN officials and people working
with national or international<BR>nongovernmental organisations in Timor-Leste,
in addition to secondary sources, in order to produce a<BR>new theory of
transitional justice. This thesis expands the traditional notion of transitional
justice to<BR>include formal and informal, and retributive and restorative
justice mechanisms, utilising first-hand<BR>information gathered in interviews
in Timor-Leste. The result is a framework, derived from field<BR>research and
the literature, which summarises important objectives of transitional justice in
a more<BR>comprehensive way than currently exists. The central argument of this
thesis is that during times of<BR>political transition, a hybrid legal system,
which combines local and introduced justice systems; utilises<BR>indigenous
language; and is sensitive to cultural tradition and context is more likely to
promote<BR>sustainable peace than imported systems. In Timor-Leste, traditions
of social ordering and conflict<BR>management processes have remained resilient
throughout Portuguese colonisation, the Indonesian<BR>occupation, the UN
transitional administration and in the current post-independence period.
This<BR>thesis argues that it is crucial to engage in ongoing dialogue and
collaboration with the local population,<BR>while fostering multiple, integrated
and complementary processes for addressing justice, human rights<BR>and
reconstruction. Although each post-conflict situation is different, valuable
lessons about<BR>mechanisms and processes that could maximise the conditions for
sustainable peace in societies<BR>undergoing transition from violence to peace
can be drawn from Timor-Leste’s transitional justice<BR>experience.<BR><BR><FONT
size=3><STRONG>Table of
contents<BR></STRONG></FONT>Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................................
iii<BR>Abstract ..
...............................................................................................................................................
v<BR>Table of Contents
................................................................................................................................
vi<BR>List of Figures and Tables
....................................................................................................................
x<BR>Acronyms and
Abbreviations..............................................................................................................
xi<BR>Translations
........................................................................................................................................
xiii<BR>CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND
BACKGROUND................................................ 1<BR>1.1.
Introduction...........................................................................................................................1<BR>1.2.
Research
Question.................................................................................................................2<BR>1.3.
Peacebuilding.........................................................................................................................3<BR>1.4.
Transitional Justice
................................................................................................................4<BR>1.5.
Types of
Justice......................................................................................................................
5<BR>1.6. Background: Timor-Leste’s Political
Transitions..............................................................
6<BR>1.7. Transitional Justice Mechanisms Utilised in
Timor-Leste............................................... 9<BR>1.8. Methods and
Research Design
..........................................................................................
10<BR>1.9. Chapter Outline
...................................................................................................................15<BR>CHAPTER
2 PEACEBUILDING AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE......................... 18<BR>2.1.
Introduction.........................................................................................................................18<BR>2.2.
Conceptualising Transitional
Justice.................................................................................
18<BR>2.3. Retributive
Approach..........................................................................................................20<BR>2.3.1.
Constitution
Making..........................................................................................................21<BR>2.3.2.
Public Law
..........................................................................................................................22<BR>2.3.3.
Prosecution........................................................................................................................22<BR>2.3.4.
Commissions of
Enquiry..................................................................................................
24<BR>2.3.5. Preface to a Different
Approach.....................................................................................
25<BR>2.4. Restorative Approach
.........................................................................................................25<BR>2.4.1.
Reconciliation....................................................................................................................27<BR>2.4.2.
Truth
Commissions...........................................................................................................28<BR>2.4.3.
Reparations
.........................................................................................................................29<BR>2.5.
Recognising Legal Pluralism: Local Restoration
Processes........................................... 31<BR>2.6. Challenging the
“Universal”...............................................................................................
33<BR>2.7. What is Justice?
....................................................................................................................
34<BR>2.8. Blending of Approaches: Justice during Political Transition
........................................ 35<BR>2.9. Functions of, and Reasons
for, Transitional Justice.......................................................
36<BR>2.10. Shortfalls of International Transitional Justice Practice Addressed
in
this<BR>Thesis....................................................................................................................................
37<BR>2.11.
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................37<BR>CHAPTER
3 LOCAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND JUSTICE PROCESSES<BR>IN
TIMOR-LESTE....................................................................................
39<BR>3.1.
Introduction.........................................................................................................................39<BR>3.2.
Timorese Worldview and Social
Structure.......................................................................
39<BR>3.2.1. Social Organisation: “Houses” and
Alliances................................................................
40<BR>3.2.2. Political and Ritual Authorities
........................................................................................
41<BR>3.3. The Maintenance of Social Order
.....................................................................................
43<BR>3.4. Functioning of Local Conflict Management Systems
.................................................... 44<BR>vii<BR>3.5. Local
Conflict Management Processes: Findings from
Fieldwork............................... 47<BR>3.6.
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................49<BR>CHAPTER
4 PORTUGUESE COLONIALISM AND TIMOR’S TRANSITIONS.... 51<BR>4.1.
Introduction.........................................................................................................................51<BR>4.2.
Coexistence of Justice Systems under the Portuguese
................................................... 51<BR>4.3. Portuguese
Recognition of the Utility of Local
Law...................................................... 57<BR>4.4. Portuguese
and Timorese Administrative and Legal
Systems....................................... 59<BR>4.5. Role of the Catholic
Church during the Portuguese Administration ..........................
62<BR>4.6. Violence and
Transition......................................................................................................63<BR>4.7.
Challenges with Parallel Systems
.......................................................................................
68<BR>4.8. Decentralisation and Subsequent Uprisings
.................................................................... 68<BR>4.9.
Major Political Transition Sparked by Decolonisation
.................................................. 76<BR>4.10. Indonesian
Intentions and Independence Preparations
................................................ 77<BR>4.11. UDT Coup and Civil
War
..................................................................................................
79<BR>4.12. The End of Portuguese
Administration...........................................................................
80<BR>4.13. Indonesian
Incursions.........................................................................................................81<BR>4.14.
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................82<BR>CHAPTER
5 INDONESIAN INVASION AND ADMINISTRATION......................... 84<BR>5.1.
Introduction.........................................................................................................................84<BR>5.2.
Indonesian Invasion and the “Provisional Government of East
Timor”................... 84<BR>5.3. Administrative and Legal System during the
Indonesian Administration................... 86<BR>5.4. Atrocity and Alteration
.......................................................................................................
88<BR>5.5. The
Resistance.....................................................................................................................90<BR>5.6.
Elections, Ceasefire and Relapse to
Violence..................................................................
91<BR>5.7. Administration of Timor
....................................................................................................
93<BR>5.8. Indonesian Judicial
System.................................................................................................
94<BR>5.9. Prelude to an “Open Province”
........................................................................................
94<BR>5.10. Exposure of Indonesian Atrocities and Subsequent
Crackdown................................. 95<BR>5.11. Deciding the Future
............................................................................................................
96<BR>5.12. Overwhelming Vote for Independence and Crimes against Humanity
...................... 98<BR>5.13. Role of the Catholic Church during the
Indonesian Administration........................... 99<BR>5.14. Indonesian
Policy of
Integration.....................................................................................
101<BR>5.15. Personal Accounts of the Indonesian Justice System: Interaction or
Aversion? ..... 103<BR>5.16. Local Perceptions of Informal Justice Mechanisms
during the Indonesian<BR>Administration
...................................................................................................................
104<BR>5.17.
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................105<BR>CHAPTER
6 THE UN
ADMINISTRATION...............................................................
107<BR>6.1.
Introduction.......................................................................................................................107<BR>6.2.
The Need for Justice and Reconciliation: Timorese Expectations
............................ 107<BR>6.3. United Nations Missions
..................................................................................................
108<BR>6.4. Assessment of the
Situation.............................................................................................
110<BR>6.5. Reconstruction Carried Out by the
UN.........................................................................
111<BR>6.6. Law and Order: External and Internal
Dimensions..................................................... 113<BR>6.7. The
Police (PNTL) and the Army (F-FDTL)
............................................................... 115<BR>6.8. The
Police
...........................................................................................................................116<BR>6.9.
Challenges Faced by the
Police........................................................................................
118<BR>6.10. Local Perceptions of the
Police.......................................................................................
120<BR>6.11. The
Army...........................................................................................................................122<BR>6.12.
Challenges Faced by the Army
........................................................................................
122<BR>6.13. The Correctional
System..................................................................................................
124<BR>6.14. The UN’s Impact on, and Interaction with, Timorese Social
Systems...................... 124<BR>6.15. The
Constitution................................................................................................................127<BR>viii<BR>6.16.
Sections of the Constitution Pertaining to Transitional
Justice.................................. 129<BR>6.17. The
Laws............................................................................................................................130<BR>6.18.
Shift to a Timorese
System...............................................................................................
133<BR>6.19.
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................134<BR>CHAPTER
7 A RETRIBUTIVE APPROACH: A HYBRID CRIMINAL
JUSTICE<BR>SYSTEM...................................................................................................
136<BR>7.1.
Introduction.......................................................................................................................136<BR>7.2.
The
Courts.........................................................................................................................136<BR>7.3.
Judicial Training
.................................................................................................................137<BR>7.4.
Hybrid Tribunal: Special Panels for Serious Crimes
.................................................... 139<BR>7.4.1. Challenges
and
Criticisms...............................................................................................
144<BR>7.4.2.
Benefits.............................................................................................................................151<BR>7.4.3.
Hybrid
Justice...................................................................................................................153<BR>7.5.
The Ordinary
Courts.........................................................................................................
153<BR>7.6. Grassroots Experience with the Court
System............................................................. 155<BR>7.7.
Challenges Associated with the Courts
..........................................................................
157<BR>7.8. The Role of NGOs in Fostering Sustainable Peace
..................................................... 164<BR>7.9.
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................165<BR>CHAPTER
8 DIVERSE JUSTICE APPROACHES
.................................................... 167<BR>8.1.
Introduction.......................................................................................................................167<BR>8.2.
Ad Hoc Human Rights Court in
Indonesia...................................................................
167<BR>8.2.1. Challenges and Criticisms of the Ad Hoc Human Rights
Court.............................. 170<BR>8.3. The Commission for Reception,
Truth and Reconciliation........................................ 173<BR>8.3.1.
Community Reconciliation Process
..............................................................................
177<BR>8.3.2. Grassroots Perceptions of the
CAVR..........................................................................
179<BR>8.4. CAVR
Report.....................................................................................................................180<BR>8.4.1.
Challenges and Criticisms of the
CAVR......................................................................
182<BR>8.4.2. Benefits of the
CAVR.....................................................................................................
185<BR>8.5. Commission of Truth and
Friendship............................................................................
187<BR>8.5.1. Grassroots Perceptions of the
CTF..............................................................................
190<BR>8.5.2. Challenges and Criticisms of the
CTF..........................................................................
191<BR>8.5.3. Possible Benefits of the
CTF.........................................................................................
192<BR>8.6. Prospects for an International Tribunal
.........................................................................
193<BR>8.6.1. Respondents’ Views on an International Tribunal
..................................................... 195<BR>8.7. International
Responsibility to Ensure
Justice?.............................................................
197<BR>8.8. Additional Transitional Justice Mechanisms Considered by the
Timorese<BR>Government
.......................................................................................................................
198<BR>8.8.1. Amnesty and
Pardon.......................................................................................................
198<BR>8.8.2. Reparations
.......................................................................................................................199<BR>8.8.3.
Dialogue with Refugees
..................................................................................................200<BR>8.9.
Potential Transitional Justice Mechanisms
....................................................................
201<BR>8.10.
Conclusion..........................................................................................................
202<BR>CHAPTER 9 THE SIDELINING OF LOCAL
PROCESSES.................................. 204<BR>9.1.
Introduction.......................................................................................................................204<BR>9.2.
The Persistence of Informal Transitional Justice Mechanisms during the<BR>Period
under Study
............................................................................................................
204<BR>9.3. The UN and Local Justice
................................................................................................
205<BR>9.4. The Timorese Government and Local Justice Systems
............................................... 209<BR>9.5. The Interface of
Local and Formal Systems: Practicality in the Absence<BR>of Policy
..............................................................................................................................
210<BR>9.5.1. The Interface as Dealt with by the
Police....................................................................
210<BR>9.5.2. The Interface as Dealt with by Court Actors
..............................................................
213<BR>ix<BR>9.5.3. Limitations of Local Justice Processes
.........................................................................
215<BR>9.5.4. Benefits of Local Justice: Local
Perceptions................................................................
219<BR>9.6. Different Paradigms: Organic and Introduced Justice
Systems.................................. 222<BR>9.7. Respondents’ Views: The
Relationship between Local and Institutional Justice..... 224<BR>9.8.
Respondents’ Ideas for Improving Local
Justice.......................................................... 227<BR>9.9.
Merging of Traditions in a Non-Timorese Context: Local Justice and
Crimes<BR>against Humanity
...............................................................................................................
230<BR>9.10. Engaging with Local Justice for Less Serious Crimes: Policy Options
and<BR>Implications
........................................................................................................................
231<BR>9.11. Constitutional Considerations Regarding the Incorporation of Local
Justice.......... 234<BR>9.12. Alternative Dispute Resolution in
Timor-Leste............................................................
235<BR>9.13. Incorporation of Local Custom in ADR Practice in
Timor-Leste............................. 235<BR>9.14. The Indispensable Role of
Local Justice in Timor-Leste ............................................
237<BR>9.15. Potential Way Forward in
Timor-Leste..........................................................................
238<BR>9.16. Potential for Increased UN Engagement with Local Justice in Future
Missions .... 240<BR>9.17.
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................241<BR>CHAPTER
10 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................... 242<BR>10.1.
Introduction.......................................................................................................................242<BR>10.2.
Genesis of Findings and Arguments
..............................................................................
243<BR>10.3. Hearing the Local: Toward Sustainable Peacebuilding in
Timor-Leste..................... 245<BR>10.4. The Way Ahead: Improving
Transitional Justice Mechanisms...................................
246<BR>10.4.1. Acknowledgement of Local Conflict Resolution
Mechanisms............................... 246<BR>10.4.2. Historical
Understanding, Including Social Organisation, Worldview and<BR>Conflict
Resolution Practices
......................................................................................
247<BR>10.4.3. Ongoing Dialogue and Collaboration with Local Population
................................ 248<BR>10.4.4. Multiple, Integrated and
Complementary Processes for Addressing Justice,<BR>Human Rights and
Reconstruction
............................................................................
249<BR>10.4.5. Foster Long-term Sustainability
..................................................................................
250<BR>10.5. A New Approach: Conceptualising Transitional Justice
............................................. 250<BR>10.6.
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................253<BR>Appendix
A: Map of
Timor-Leste..................................................................................................
255<BR>Appendix B: List of
Interviewees...................................................................................................
256<BR>Appendix C: Interview Questions Trip
1.......................................................................................
259<BR>Appendix D: Interview Questions Trip 2
.....................................................................................
266<BR>Appendix E: Incorporation of Local Justice Processes in Other Contexts
..............................
277<BR>Bibliography.......................................................................................................................................
280<BR><BR><BR><BR>Bu Wilson<BR>Regulatory Institutions Network (RegNet)
College of Asia and the Pacific, RSPAS Australian National
University<BR>Canberra ACT 0200<BR>AUSTRALIA<BR><BR>T:
02 6125 3194<BR>F: 02 6125 1507<BR>M: 0407 087 086<BR>E:
Bu.Wilson@anu.edu.au<BR><BR><BR><BR><A
href="http://regnet.anu.edu.au">http://regnet.anu.edu.au</A><BR><BR>ANU Cricos
Provider Code - 00120C </FONT></P></BODY></HTML>