Rethinking Transitional Justice: Lessons From East Timor

Abstract

The East Timor experience reveals a vast gap between UN claims about the benefits of transitional justice mechanisms and local expressions of disenchantment with that process. How can this disjuncture be explained? This In Brief reports the key findings of a research project that investigated these issues. It argues that the lack of Indonesian government co-operation with the Serious Crimes Process — which led to an inability to prosecute suspects based in Indonesia — is only part of the reason for local disappointment with transitional justice. Show more