Santa Cruz Massacre: justice continues to be realized

The Timorese NGO La’o Hamutuk stated that 35 years after the Santa Cruz cemetery massacre, the truth remains incomplete and justice unfulfilled. Estimates of the death toll vary widely, with Indonesian authorities acknowledging only 19 deaths, while other investigations suggest numbers ranging from over 50 to as many as 400. The organization emphasizes that many missing persons' fates are still unclear and that previous judicial processes in Indonesia did not ensure proper investigation or accountability. La’o Hamutuk insists on the fundamental rights to truth, justice, and reparations, urging Indonesia to take responsibility for the violations committed by its security forces in Timor-Leste. They call for an independent investigation and fair judicial processes, stressing that reconciliation cannot be built on impunity.