On August 28, 2024, Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Virgílio da Silva Guterres ‘Lamukan,’ was a featured speaker at the seminar titled “Constant Longing: Peacebuilding Initiatives from Indonesia and Timor-Leste on Separation and Reunification Experiences of ‘Stolen Children’ During Conflict.” The event brought together leading voices to discuss the complex issues surrounding stolen children and their families.
Among the notable speakers was Hakim Afonso, a member of the Working Group on Stolen Children from Timor-Leste. Afonso, who is also a survivor of this issue, shared a deeply moving account of his experiences. Guterres expressed profound admiration for Afonso, stating, “Hakim’s story is a powerful testament to resilience. Despite enduring significant losses, he has managed to preserve his sanity and maintain a strong connection to his roots and family.”
Guterres emphasized the Ombudsman’s active involvement in addressing the issue of stolen children. “Our office is collaborating with various organizations, including Asian Justice Rights (AJAR), Yayasan HAK, and ACbit, to address this urgent issue,” he said. He also noted that the Ombudsman’s office signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KOMNAS HAM last year. “This MoU is aimed at exploring concrete ways for our two entities to support AJAR, Yayasan HAK, and other relevant organizations in tackling the challenges related to stolen children,” he explained.
The Ombudsman stressed that the fundamental right to know the truth is central to their efforts. “Both the stolen children and their families have a right to understand what happened in the past, why they were separated, and their current status,” Guterres asserted.
Addressing the broader challenges of confronting past human rights abuses, Guterres discussed the “anatomy of truth and lies,” highlighting the difficulty of revealing truths hidden as state secrets. “Cases such as the killing of journalists in Balibo and the unresolved issues surrounding Indonesia’s reformasi show how state secrecy can obscure the truth,” he noted.
Guterres also expressed concern about the “stolen conscience” related to the stolen children. “The challenge is compounded by a growing tendency to view human rights, corruption, reconciliation, and good governance as responsibilities of specific individuals or organizations, rather than a collective duty,” he observed.
In conclusion, Guterres pledged to advocate for the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) and other international human rights treaties. “Our commitment to these conventions is crucial for advancing justice and protecting human rights,” he affirmed.
The seminar was organized by Centro Nacional Chega, I.P., Asian Justice and Rights (AJAR), Transitional Justice Asia Network, Asosiasaun Chega! Ba Ita (ACbit), and the European Union. Its central theme was “Community Engagement as the Foundation for Impactful Transitional Justice Initiatives for Lasting Peace.” The conference featured prominent speakers and participants from United Nations, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Thailand, Solomon Islands, the Philippines, and Myanmar.
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