Today, women from across the world said that an international tribunal was the only way to hold accountable those responsible for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor during a quarter century of Indonesian occupation, which ended in a bloody scorched earth campaign after the Timorese voted overwhelmingly for independence in 1999.

More than 125 women’s rights activists from 14 countries and 22 U.S. states signed the statement, which was released less than a week before East Timor’s independence.

On Monday East Timorese Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta spoke to reporters at a cultural event in Dili, including Australian reporter Lindsay Murdoch, who was recently now banned from Indonesia for his reporting on Aceh and East Timor. Horta spoke about Indonesian and international responsibility for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor.

Guest:

• Jose Ramos Horta, 1996 Nobel Peace Prize Winner and East Timor’s first Foreign Minister.