Dear Friends in solidarity with East Timor,
The following letter was sent to the Australian Prime Minister today
calling on him to take stronger action in regard to the Indonesian military
actions occurring in East Timor, West Papua and Indonesia.
These events have implications for peace, human rights and stability in the
Southeast Asia and the southwest Pacific regions.
If you agree with the sentiments in the letter, you may like to endorse
them by sending the same or a similar message to the
Australian Prime Minister.
In solidarity,
Andy Alcock
Information Officer
CIET(SA) Inc
Spokesperson
Australian Coalition for a Free East Timor
Phone: 08 83710480 (home)
08 82053259 (work)
Pager: 08 84157467
Facsimile: 08 82236509
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Campaign for an Independent East Timor (S.A.) Inc
Member of the Australian Coalition for a Free East Timor
c/o Global Education Centre
1st floor, Torrens House
220 Victoria Square
ADELAIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5000
15 November 1998
The Right Honourable Mr John Howard
Prime Minister of Australia
Parliament House
CANBERRA
ACT 2600
Dear Mr Howard
RE:
HALTING FURTHER BLOODSHED IN EAST TIMOR, WEST PAPUA & INDONESIA
Your Government is to be congratulated for expressing deep concern about
the atrocities perpetrated by the Indonesian military on Biak Island, West
Papua, in July this year as reported in The Sunday Age 15/11/98.
As you would be aware, this is just one of a number of atrocities committed
by this regime in Indonesia, West Papua and East Timor since 1965. Sadly,
not much seems to have changed since General Suharto stood down from the
presidency in May this year. The Indonesian military is again demonstrating
its ruthlessness as this letter is being written.
Mr Alexander Downer, your Foreign Minister, repeatedly tells Australians
who want their leaders to take a stronger stand on the East Timor question
that Australia has had greater influence on Indonesian leaders because it
has followed a diplomatic approach. For the past 33 years, Australian
Governments have followed this path with Indonesia and it is plain to see
that it has not been very successful. The bloodshed continues despite the
fact that the Indonesian economy is in tatters and 32 million Indonesians
are starving.
We also note that your Government does not adopt the same approach towards
another dictatorship, the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein of Iraq.
The US has again decided to issue another ultimatum to Iraq with the threat
of military reprisals. It appears that the Australian Government is backing
this strategy.
We are not suggesting that Australia should use this approach with
Indonesia, as it will lead to further civilian loss of life (as it will in
Iraq). However, we are recommending that you take the following steps to
end the continuing bloodshed being caused by the Indonesian military:
1. urging Indonesia to release Mr Xanana Gusmao, East Timor's undisputed
leader, so that he can be an active participant in the UN peace talks
2. urging Indonesia to withdraw its troops from East Timor
3. suspending all military cooperation with Indonesia until its troops have
been withdrawn from East Timor and Mr Gusmao is released from prison
4. urging UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, to hasten the peace process
by:
involving Mr Gusmao and other East Timorese leaders in peace talks and
allowing Mr Gusmao to discuss the latest version of his peace plan
placing more UN personnel in East Timor to thoroughly monitor
Indonesian troops withdrawals and the human rights situation.
5. encouraging other world leaders to take similar action and support the
move for self determination in East Timor and West Papua
These steps need to be taken because Indonesia has shown that it has little
regard for human and democratic rights. It has behaved dishonestly over the
withdrawal of its troops from East Timor and the Balibo 5 affair. The above
actions are also necessary to avert further bloodshed in Indonesia, East
Timor and West Papua. It is also necessary if Australia does not wish to be
seen as being subservient to this genocidal and criminal regime and it too
becomes a pariah in international circles.
Many millions of Indonesians along with East Timorese and West Papuans are
crying out for democratic leaders to take a stronger stand to bring real
peace, democracy and the restoration of human rights to the region.
We are hopeful that your Government has the moral courage and the
compassion to take the necessary action.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Alcock
Information Officer
Campaign for an Independent East Timor (SA) Inc
Spokesperson
Australian Coalition for a Free East Timor
etlrjhowardpm151198
