Indonesia and East Timor joint commission for truth begun to search information and facts on the human rights violations in East Timor prior to and immediately after the referendum in 1999, top commission officials said here Friday.

The commission met with former top officials of the Indonesian Commission of Human Rights on Wednesday and officials from the Attorney General Office on Thursday, to hear their explanation about their finding and investigation on the case before handing the case to an ad hoc tribunal, Benjamin Mangkoedilaga, the commission co-chair from Indonesia, said in a press briefing here.

An Indonesian special human rights court set up in 2002 tried 18 Indonesian military, police officers and civilians over the violence. All those in high-ranking position were acquitted, causing criticism from Western countries.

The commission is also due to visit East Timor at the beginning of next year to meet with leaders in the country and to visit the scene of human rights violation in 1999, Benjamin said.

"We will uphold a justice for the victims," said Co-Chair of the commission from East Timor Dinisio Babo Soares.

The commission would make conclusion and recommendation to both governments in making policy for the settlement of the case, said Ahmad Ali, a member of the commission from Indonesia.

Indonesia and East Timor set up the commission in December last year following the international reaction to the final result of the ad hoc tribunal.

The two countries opposed the report by the UN-appointed Commission of Experts that called for prosecution of mostly Indonesian figures over the violence.

In the report, the UN commission of expert recommended the United Nations invoke its charter to set up an international tribunal to try the military officers and the civilians under international supervision if Indonesia refused to prosecute them.

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2005)