Handling Human Rights Issues and Resolving the East Timor Problem: The Era of B.J. Habibie and Abdurrahman Wahid

The Indonesian Reform Period following the New Order (May 1998) brought significant challenges, particularly regarding human rights issues in East Timor. This region, which had been annexed by Indonesia since 1976, came under international scrutiny due to allegations of ongoing severe human rights violations. Domestic and global pressure urged the resolution of this legacy of violence. In a short period of time, two presidents, B.J. Habibie and Abdurrahman Wahid, took different approaches in responding to demands for transitional justice and resolving this complex issue from the past.