Two.
In July 2010 a reparations law and an Institute of Memory laws were drafted and discussed by Parliamentary Committee A with NGOs and victims. The laws were revised by Parliamentary Committee A, but Parliament voted to consider the original version in September 2010, passing both in principle. Debate about the content of the laws and the revision was scheduled to recommence in February this year, yet 10 months later nothing has been done. Victims are still waiting for these laws to be fully considered and implemented.
On 12 October this year Timor Leste presented its first national report to the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva. In response, many of the world’s nations called upon Timor Leste to both pass in full the reparations and Institute of Memory laws, and implement their provisions immediately.
The National Victims’ Association calls upon President Horta, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and all Parliamentarians to fulfil their obligations to the victims, the Timorese people and the international community and urges Parliament to use the 36th anniversary of the start of the Indonesian invasion to put an end to victim suffering through a state policy of reparations and establishment of the Institute of Memory. You cannot erase our past, only recognise it and its consequences in order to move forward. There is no need to wait any longer; pass the Reparations and Institute of Memory laws in full.