Dili Peace Accord

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Country/entity: East Timor
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Dili Peace Accord
Date: 21 Apr 1999
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
East Timor Conflict (1975 - 1999)
Following the Portugal’s decolonization of East Timor in 1975, the state briefly declared independence before it was occupied by Indonesia a month later. Insurgent movements including the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN) fighting the Portuguese, continued their fight against the Indonesian Army. Human rights abuses and massacres were committed by both sides. By the early 1990s, as armed resistance decreased and the communist threat dissipated, the central Indonesian government issued a number of policies to open East Timor economically and politically. As a result, a resistance movements became more outspoken and demonstrations increased. Violence intensified after November 1991, when the Indonesian Army opened fire on protesters. International condemnation of the Suharto’s regime was widespread, but due to the fear of destabilizing Indonesia’s unity, it was not until the fall of Suharto in 1998 after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis that East Timor’s secession became a possibility.

In 1999, an independence referendum was held with 78% rejecting East Timor’s positions as an autonomous territory within Indonesia. Violence broke out following the results and after a delay a UN-backed Australian peacekeeping force was deployed. The Indonesian Government accepted the result in October of that year and as a result the laws legalizing East Timor’s annexation were repealed, leading to East Timor’s independence in 2002.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: East Timor-Indonesia peace process
Parties: CNRT and Falintil, represented by Xanana Gusmao and Leandro lsaac;
The Pro-Integration Party, represented by Domingos Soares, head of Dili district and Joao Tavares;
Third parties: Provincial Government of East Timor, represented by Governor Abilio Soares, and Chairman of the regional assembly Armindo Soares Mariano;
Korem Military Command, represented by Commander, Colonel Tono Suratman;
The Police, represented by Colonel Timbul Silaen;
[Possible signatories, not clear]
Description: Parties within East Timor agreed to stop all kinds of hostilities, intimidation, acts of terror and violence, and to assist efforts to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Expressed support for efforts of the Government, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Catholic Church to achieve reconciliation in order to uphold dignity, protection of human rights and the law in East Timor. Also agreed on establishment of a Commission for Peace and Stability to supervise the implementation of the accord.

Agreement document: TL_990421_Dili Peace Accord.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: Page 1, 3. All the parties to this agreement support the desire of the Government and the efforts of the National Human Rights Commission as well as the Catholic Church in East Timor to achieve reconciliation in East Timor in order to uphold dignity and the protection of basic human rights and uphold the law in East Timor.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 1, 3. All the partics to this agreement support the desire of the Government and the efforts of the National Human Rights Commission as well as the Catholic Church in East Timor to achieve reconciliation in East Timor in order to uphold dignity and the protection of basic human rights and uphold the law in East Timor.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: Rights institutions→NHRI→Mentions of NHRI
Page 1, 3. All the partics to this agreement support the desire of the Government and the efforts of the National Human Rights Commission as well as the Catholic Church in East Timor to achieve reconciliation in East Timor in order to uphold dignity and the protection of basic human rights and uphold the law in East Timor.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, 1. The parties in conflict shall stop ali kinds of hostilities, intimidation, as well as acts of terror and violence.
Police: Page 2, For the police,
Colonel Timbul Silaen
Armed forces: Page 2, For the Korem military command,
Commander, Colonel Tono Suratman
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, 4. The conflicting parties are responsible for taking measures to guarantee the effective implementation of this accord by their respective supporters, both those who are armed as well as those who are unarmed.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: Page 1, 1. Thc parties in conflict shall stop all kinds of hostilities, intimidation, as well as acts of terror and violence.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: Page 1, 2. All parties to this agreement are responsible for assisting the efforts to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity that can truly be enjoyed by all people in East Timor, leading towards reconciliation.

Page 1, 3. All the parties to this agreement support the desire of the Government and the efforts of the National Human Rights Commission as well as the Catholic Church in East Timor to achieve reconciliation in East Timor in order to uphold dignity and the protection of basic human rights and uphold the law in East Timor.

Implementation

UN signatory: [Summary] Preamble refers to tripartite talks being held under the auspices of the Secretary General
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: on file with author

Dili Peace Accord

We, the signatories:

The conflicting parties:

i. The CNRT amd Falintil

ii. The Pro-Integration Party

Concerned at the escalation of violence including intimidation, terror and killings in East Timor which have resulted in the loss of life and damage to property as well as feelings of decp fear in the community.

Bearing in mind that the disturbances to security, order and peace that have occurred in East Timor will make it diffıcult to reach a solution to the question of East Timor that is just, comprehensive and acceptable to the international community through the tripartite talks being held under tlıe auspiccs of the Secretary-Gencral of the United nations.

Resolving to work together to aclıieve an atmosplıere of peace and sccurity in East Timor have reached agreement as follows:

1. Thc parties in conflict shall stop all kinds of hostilities, intimidation, as well as acts of terror and violence.

2. Ali parties to this agreement are responsible for assisting tlıe efforts to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity that can truly be enjoyed by all people in East Timor, leading towards reconciliation.

3. Ali the partics to this agrcement support the desire of the Government and the efforts of the National Human Rights Commission as well as the Catholic Church in East Timor to achieve reconciliation in East Timor in order to uphold dignity and the protection of basic human rights and uphold the law in East Timor.

4. The conflicting parties are responsible for taking measures to guarantee the effective implementation of this accord by their respective supporters, both those who are armed as well as those who are unarmed.

5. For the purposes of supervising the implementation of this accord, a commission for peace and stability shall be set up, the members of which shall consist of two persons from each of the conflicting parties.

The commission shall begin to function two days after the signing of this accord.

6. This accord comes into eff ect at the moment that it is signed by the parties to the accord.

Signed in Dili on 21 April 1999.

For the CNRT

Xanana Gusmao,

Lcandro lsaac

For the Pro-Integration side:

Domingos Soares, hcad of Dili district

Joao Tavares

For the Provincial Government of East Timor:

Governor Abilio Soares

Chairman of thc regional assembly, Armindo Soares Mariano

For the Korem military command,

Commander, Coloncl Tono Suratman

For the police,

Colonel Timbul Silaen