Dear Friends & Comrades in solidarity with East Timor
The following media statement was released today to provide yet another
example of the cover ups related to the publicising of human rights abuses
in East Timor.
Please use this information as you see necessary.
Well done to Andrew McNaughton on his successful release
In solidarity
Andy Alcock
Campaign for an Independent East Timor (S.A.) Inc.
Member of the Australian Coalition for a Free East Timor
first floor Torrens House
220 Victoria Square,
ADELAIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5000
MEDIA STATEMENT: FOLLOW UP MASSACRES TO SANTA CRUZ
The following statement was released today by Andrew Alcock, the
Information Officer of the Campaign for an Independent East Timor (SA)
Inc.:
"Several days after the Santa Cruz (Dili) Massacre that occurred on 12
November 1998 a member of the East Timorese community in South Australia
informed me that he had received word from his family in Timor that here
had been follow up killings to the original Massacre.
I immediately arranged for a TV Channel to interview this man. However, I
wanted his image to be scrambled to ensure that he could not be identified
lest the Indonesian authorities traced his family in East Timor. I was
later contacted by a news editor in Sydney who informed me that unless this
man was prepared to be shown without the scrambler, the interview was off.
My reply was that if I agreed to that request, I could be endangering the
lives of this man's family members. I was very disappointed as I believed
the story to be a very important one.
The local station sent a sports journalist to interview the Timorese.
Because my contact was late and because the journalist had sporting
commitments, he quickly interviewed me and left to cover other stories. The
interview was never screened.
We later heard stories of several rounds of massacres. Many who witnessed
the original 12 November massacre targeted for murder as were those who
witnessed the follow up killings. Some East Timorese refer to November 1998
as a month long massacre.
Some of the reports of the treatment handed out to the Santa Cruz wounded
were very concerning:
being bayoneted or bashed to death
having truck wheels run over their heads
being injected with sulphuric acid
Those who have been trying to tell the world about the crimes of the
Indonesian regime have not always been listened to. Political leaders of
the Labor and Liberal parties have much to answer. They have been involved
in a cover up and now that more of the truth is emerging, they are
attempting to blame others.
It seems typical that in response to the latest revelation, Paul Keating
intends to sue John Pilger, but has nothing to say about the human rights
violations committed against the East Timorese, West Papuans and
Indonesians.
John Pilger is an internationally renowned journalist who has been
committed to revealing the truth of the tragedy East Timor. He is applauded
by those who want to see justice prevail and a respect for human rights.
We know how history will record him and how it will record those political
leaders who have sought to apologise for the Indonesian regime and hide its
crimes in Indonesia, East Timor and West Papua.
On the international scene, we have to ask why the UN has not taken a
stronger stance with a regime that has caused so much death and suffering
in three countries in our region".
FOR FURTHER COMMENT:
Andrew (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]
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EAST TIMOR INDEPENDENCE DINNER
7.30PM SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 1998
UNLEY SENIOR CITIZENS' HALL
18 ARTHUR ST, UNLEY
SPEAKER: JOHN SCHUMANN
(Democrats candidate for Mayo)
MUSIC: EAST TIMOR SINGERS
TERRY & THE IDIOTS
$20 $15 (concession)
Children under 5 free School children by negotiation
Bookings: Miriam - 82956481
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INVASION DAY RALLY
12NOON-2PM MONDAY 7 DECEMBER 1998
100 King William St Adelaide
Alexander Downer's Office
PROTEST MILITARY COOPERATION WITH INDONESIA
Speakers: union, church, human rights etc groups
east timorese community
Music: east timorese singers
Organised by the Campaign for an Independent East Timor (SA) Inc
Phone: (08) 83443511 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
