A representative of HAK Association has plans to meet with the President of the Republic Taur Matan Ruak to talk about and listen to the state’s policy on forced disappearances in the past in Timor-Leste. 
HAK Association Advocacy Program Coordinator Xisto Ximenes said in November they would meet President Ruak to ask his opinion on the issue, because so far Timor-Leste hasn’t signed the Convention on Forced Disappearances.
“We take this historical day to meet the President of the Republic one more time to ask his opinions and his policy on the issue of forced disappearances,” Ximenes said in Farol, Dili.
HAK Association is an organization that defends human rights and the organization hopes the new president has new hopes on this issue, as those who died and disappeared did so for the nation.
He said in 2009 a HAK Association delegation and members of the Missing Persons Federation from Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, North Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and India shared their thoughts with the then President of the Republic Jose Ramos-Horta, but he didn’t take positive steps.
According to him state bodies like the President of the Republic, the National Parliament and the Human Rights Ombudsmen are obligated to provide information to victims’ families, as the state has a responsibility to look for missing people.
As the family member of a victim, Sandra Tilman demanded the states of Timor Leste and Indonesia create a good policy to provide justice for families, as everybody is happy with independence but the government doesn’t care about those who are still disappointed.
Tilman said as a Timorese person she felt happy because Timor-Leste gained independence, but on the other hand, she was upset because many people still lived in disappointment as they lost their families.
“As a victim’s daughter, I just need justice from the Indonesian state and if possible, for them to bring back my father’s mortal remains,” Tilman said in tears.
Albina Marcal Freitas, another family member of a victim, demanded the competent bodies consider ratifying the Convention on Forced Disappearances, as many Timorese people disappeared during the Indonesian occupation.
“We call on the competent state bodies to ratify this soon, so people who disappeared in the past can be found if the Indonesians show us where they are” Freitas said.
