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December
10, 2001
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Since
February 2001 the Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP)
has been providing independent monitoring and analysis of the
Special Panels of the Dili District Court. Through court observation
of the Serious Crimes trials, JSMP monitors have observed a
series of problems that are impeding the proper development
of this important part of East Timor's new justice system. JSMP's
first thematic report Justice in Practice: Human Rights in Court
Administration examines these problems and their implications
for the system's capacity to comply with international human
rights standards and fulfil its role in the broader reconciliation
process in East Timor. The report also contains a series of
recomendations that have been forwarded to the UN Transitional
Administration and the Minister for Justice.
The report will be formally launched at a press conference at
10am on Friday 14 December 2001 in Dili at the Yayasan Hak canteen
in Farol. All are welcome to attend.
The report is also available in English, Portuguese and Bahasa
Indonesia on JSMP's website at www.jsmp.minihub.org
The Executive Summary in English and Bahasa Indonesia is below.
For further information about the report or JSMP's work, contact
Caitlin Reiger at [email protected].
In other news, the full text of the Los Palos case judgment
delivered on 11 December 2001 is also now available on the JSMP
website.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report examines the effectiveness of the administration
of the Special Panels for Serious Crimes of the Dili District
Court that have been created by the United Nations Transitional
Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). These Special Panels
are mandated to deal with Serious Crimes committed during the
Indonesian occupation, including the campaign of violence in
1999. Their ability to dispense justice in a fair and independent
manner is vital for the ongoing reconciliation process. In the
past two years, enormous progress has been made in building
a system in which international and East Timorese judges sit
together to hear these cases. JSMP has consistently observed
almost every court hearing before the Special Panels between
February and November 2001. Through these observations and discussions
with court personnel, it is clear that despite the progress
several aspects of the current administrative structures within
the courts are impacting adversely on the quality of justice.
If left unchecked, these threaten the extent to which the Special
Panels for Serious Crimes are able to provide a fair trial.
A functioning court administration is part of the institutional
basis of the fundamental right to a fair trial before a competent,
independent, and impartial tribunal. Particular elements of
this right are currently affected by the lack of an effective
administrative structure in the Special Panels. The judges do
not have adequate resources, such as research facilities and
administrative support, which are the essential tools of their
trade. The right to trial without undue delay is jeopardised
by poor administrative liaison with external parties as well
a lack of organisational planning in the allocation of cases.
The right to a public hearing is undermined by access problems,
including access to information about the court proceedings.
The rights to examine witnesses and to appeal decisions of the
Special Panels are hampered by resource constraints that prevent
witness expenses being reimbursed and transcripts of hearing
being produced. The numbers of interpreters and translators
are inadequate for the volume of court hearings and judgments.
The Serious Crimes cases are not the only ones affected by the
current situation. These concerns also have broader implications
for the building of a sustainable justice system that enjoys
the public trust and confidence that is necessary for a society
based on the rule of law and respect for human rights. This
is the first thematic report to be produced by JSMP and aims
to contribute to public debate concerning the present state
and future directions of East Timor's justice system by making
a series of recommendations for reform. To summarise the recommendations
presented here: comprehensive strategic planning, based on a
full needs assessment, should be a priority. This should lead
to substantial reforms of the court administration, including
significantly improved resource mobilisation and coordinated
training and mentoring of East Timorese staff. It concludes
that without a clear administrative structure, well defined
responsibilities and adequate training and technical assistance,
East Timor's new justice system and the Special Panels for Serious
Crimes will continue to struggle.
RINGKASAN EKSEKUTIF
Laporan ini mengkaji efektivitas administrasi Panel Khusus untuk
Kejahatan Serius dari Pengadilan Distrik Dili yang dibentuk
oleh Pemerintah Transisi PBB di Timor Lorosa'e (UNTAET). Panel
Khusus ini diberi mandat untuk menangani Kejahatan-kejahatan
Serius yang dilakukan selama pendudukan Indonesia, termasuk
kampanye tindak kekerasan di tahun 1999. Kemampuan Panel ini
untuk menegakkan keadilan secara adil dan independen sangat
penting bagi proses rekonsiliasi yang tengah digalakkan. Dalam
dua tahun terakhir, telah terjadi perkembangan yang sangat besar
di dalam upaya membangun sistem peradilan yang memungkinkan
hakim-hakim internasional dan Timor Lorosa'e bekerja bersama
untuk mendengar berbagai kasus kejahatan serius. Secara konsisten
JSMP telah memantau hampir setiap sidang dengar-pendapat di
pengadilan yang digelar oleh Panel Khusus antara Februari dan
November 2001. Melalui pengamatan-pengamatan ini dan diskusi
dengan pegawai pengadilan, terang bahwa meskipun telah terjadi
kemajuan dalam sejumlah aspek di dalam susunan administratif
sekarang, lembaga peradilan ini sedang mengefek secara berlawanan
pada kwalitas keadilan. Jika hal seperti ini tetap dibiarkan,
hal-hal ini dapat mengancam pengadilan yang adil yang mesti
dihasilkan Panel Khusus.
Administrasi peradilan yang berfungsi merupakan bagian dasar
institusional hak dasariah untuk memperoleh pengadilan yang
adil di depan suatu pengadilan yang kompeten, independen dan
tak memihak. Unsur-unsur khusus dari hak ini sekarang sedang
mempengaruhi kurangnya suatu struktur administrasi efektif dalam
Panel Khusus. Para hakim tidak memiliki sumber daya yang memadai,
seperti fasilitas penelitian dan dukungan administrasi, yang
sangat penting bagi kegiatan mereka. Hak ke peradilan tanpa
penundaan yang tak wajar akan diruntuhkan oleh relasi administrasi
yang tidak baik dengan pihak-pihak di luar sama halnya dengan
perencanaan organisasi dalam menata berbagai kasus kejahatan
serius. Hak untuk mengikuti sidang dengar-pendapat menjadi terbengkalai
karena masalah akses, termasuk akses untuk mendapatkan informasi
mengenai dokumen pengadilan. Hak untuk memeriksa saksi dan untuk
menyatakan naik-banding terhadap keputusan Panel Khusus terhambat
oleh kekurangan sumber daya sehingga menghalangi pergantian
terhadap biaya saksi dan transkripsi dengar-pendapat yang tidak
dihasilkan. Jumlah interpreter dan penterjemah masih tidak cukup
dibandingkan dengan keseringan dengar-pendapat dan pengadilan.
Kasus-kasus Kejahatan Serius bukanlah satu-satunya kasus yang
dipengaruhi situasi sekarang. Keprihatinan ini juga memiliki
implikasi yang lebih luas pada pembangunan sistem peradilan
berkelanjutan yang mendapatkan kepercayaan dan keyakinan publik
yang diperlukan suatu masyarakat yang berdasarkan pada hukum
dan aturan serta hormat terhadap hak asasi manusia. Laporan
ini merupakan laporan tematik pertama yang dikeluarkan JSMP
dan dimaksudkan sebagai bahan perdebatan publik luas mengenai
situasi sekarang dan arah masa depan sistem keadilan Timor Lorosa'e
dengan mengajukan sejumlah rekomendasi untuk melakukan perubahan.
Untuk merangkum rekomendasi-rekomendasi yang diketengahkan:
perencanaan strategis yang komprehensif berdasarkan pada analisa
kebutuhan yang lengkap harus merupakan suatu prioritas. Hal
ini harus mengarah kepada perubahan substansial pada administrasi
pengadilan, termasuk mobilisasi sumber-daya yang semakin meningkat
secara signifikan dan pelatihan terkoordinir serta pemantauan
terhadap staff Timor Lorosa'e. Ini menyimpulkan bahwa tanpa
suatu struktur administrasi jelas, tanggung-jawab yang didefinisikan
dengan benar dan pelatihan memadai serta dukungan teknis, sistem
peradilan Timor Lorosa'e yang baru dan Panel Khusus untuk Kejahatan
Serius akan tetap bergelut. |
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The
United States and the International Criminal Court: A Briefing
May
15, 2002 |
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International
Criminal Court to be Launched in July
April
15, 2002 |
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Apparent
violations of international law during Israeli actions in the
West Bank
April
5, 2002 |
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US
Administration Defends Its Rules for Treatment of Afghan Captives
March
29, 2002
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Sierra
Leone Special Court Approved by UN Security Council
March
27, 2002
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UN
Secretary General condemns breaches of international humanitarian
law in the Middle East
March
15, 2002
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The
Milosevic Trial - Part I
Summaries
of the Charges
March
13, 2002
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United
States Calls for Dissolution of
UN War Crimes Tribunals
March
6, 2002 |
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Interview with US War Crimes Ambassador,
Pierre-Richard Prosper
March
6, 2002
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American
Opposition to the International Criminal Court
March
6, 2002
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International Court of Justice Strikes
Blow to Belgium’s Attempts to Prosecute War Crimes
February 15, 2002
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U.N. Ends
Negotiations On War Crimes Tribunal for Cambodia
February 15, 2002
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Treaty Banning
Child Soldiers Enters Into Force
February 15, 2002
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The Milosevic
Trial: How to Follow It
February
15, 2002
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UN War Crimes
Court Approved for Sierra Leone
January
8, 2002 |
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Symbolic
War Crimes Tribunal for Japanese "Comfort Women"
December 10, 2001 |
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Justice in Practice: Human Rights
in Court Aministration, JSMP, Dili, 13/12/01
December
10, 2001 |
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