Dear friends and comrades in solidarity with the East Timorese courageous
struggle for freedom,
Today 26 January 1999 (Australia Day), the Campaign for an Independent for
an Independent East TImor (South Australia) sent the following letter to
Australia's PM calling on him to steer Australia along a new political and
moral path that gives higher priority to human rights, democracy and
decency as we celebrate Australia Day and as we approach the new
millenium.
The Campaign Committee is also calling for organisations and individuals to
support this statement. Please signify support by contacting us through one
of the numbers/addresses below.
Yours in solidarity
Andrew (Andy) Alcock
Information Officer
CIET(SA) Inc
Phone: 61 8 83710480 (home)
Pager: 61 8 84157467
Facsimile: 61 8 82236509
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Campaign for an Independent East Timor (S.A.) Inc.
Affiliated to the East Timor Relief Association, Australian Coalition for
a Free East Timor and the Australian East Timor Network
c/o Global Education Centre
Torrens Building
220 Victoria Square,
ADELAIDE SA 5000
AUSTRALIA
Telephone: (08) 83443511
(08) 83710480
The Right Honourable Mr John Howard 26 January 1999
Prime Minister of Australia
Parliament House
CANBERRA
ACT 2600
Dear Mr Howard
RE: AUSTRALIA & HUMAN RIGHTS BEYOND 2000
The issue of East Timor has proved to be a dark chapter in Australia's
history for over 23 years. This year is the last of this millennium. It
provides Australia with a unique opportunity to reshape its national
destiny for the first year of the new millennium and beyond.
It is highly likely that later this year we will decide to become a
republic. We could also decide that we would like Australia to become a
nation that leads the way to building peace, justice and humanity in the SE
Asian and Pacific regions. If we decide to do this, Australia could come to
be viewed internationally not just as a republic, but as a just republic.
Your Government has recently indicated that it is prepared to make changes
about Australia's policy regarding East Timor. The changes, we would submit
do not go far enough and may lead other nations to suspect Australia's
motives.
Statement on Self Determination for East Timor
Many Australians felt relieved when the Australian Government announced its
support for a process for self determination for East Timor. It appeared at
first to some that Australia's long period of appeasement with the policies
of the Indonesian Government was close to an end.
Release of relevant documents related to East Timor
We also note that your government has considered releasing documents
related to East Timor from 1974 to 1976. Many would consider that this is a
good start to admitting that our nation has made a grave moral error about
East Timor. If we want to be seen as being sincere in this matter, we need
to release and review all documents related to Australia's policies on East
Timor before 1974 and since 1976.
Relations with Indonesia
It is very likely that there will be great political change in Indonesia
after the elections later this year. Millions of Indonesians want
fundamental changes in democratic processes and human rights. Many have
given their lives to demand that these changes occur. The leaders of a new
Indonesia will want to deal with Australian leaders who are committed to
these ideals and who are not committed to the old dictatorship that has
brought so much bloodshed and suffering to Indonesians as well as to the
East Timorese and West Papuans.
In addition, it must be remembered that many Australians fought in World
War 2 to defeat the types of regimes that committed the same sort of
atrocities that the Indonesian generals have committed in our region
It is important for their sake that Australia diplomatically counsel the
Habibie Government that it prepare for the much needed political changes
its people are demanding. It would be morally wrong and a disservice to
encourage the Indonesian regime to continue the same brutal policies that
it has for the past 34 years.
Australia and the Peace Process in East Timor
The present UN peace process is proceeding at a disgracefully slow pace.
East Timorese representatives are not even involved after several years of
negotiation. This is a matter of utmost shame for the UN and the world
community. Every day that this process is delayed means more deaths in East
Timor.
An Australian government committed to peace and justice would be calling on
the Indonesian government to cooperate with the UN peace process. It would
also offer to help expedite the peace process and call on other governments
to cooperate so that the UN could have a credible presence in East Timor.
This would ensure that the Indonesian military would not only reduce its
troop numbers, but withdraw entirely over a brief period of time. Proper
monitoring of the human rights situation could occur and the people's
humanitarian needs could be more adequately met.
Military Cooperation with Indonesia
Regimes such as the present one in Indonesia can only continue their
inhumane actions when multinational corporations and other governments
provide them with military hardware, train their soldiers and give
diplomatic support for their actions. The bloodshed will only cease in East
Timor, West Papua and Indonesia itself when all military cooperation with
Indonesia ceases.
Obviously, Australia is not the largest arms and training provider for the
Indonesian military. If Australia was to make a strong stand, however, it
would challenge other governments to make the correct moral choice.
Some practical, humane and courageous steps that Australia should be taking
to erase the past shame are:
release all official Australian documentation on East Timor including those
related to the deaths of the Balibo 5 and Roger East
announce that Australia is fully supportive of both a genuine process of
self determination for East Timor and that it will support an independent
East Timor if that is what its people want
counsel the Indonesian Government to cooperate with the UN peace process
and to unconditionally release the imprisoned East Timorese leader, Mr
Xanana Gusmao, and other political prisoners so that they can participate
in the peace process
cease all military cooperation with Indonesia until it withdraws from its
troops from East Timor and call on other countries to do the same
call on the UN to devote more personnel and resources to the peace process
in East Timor to ensure that Indonesia withdraws all its troops, human
rights can be protected and there can be a genuine process of self
determination
If you were to make the commitment to implement the above proposals, there
would be many more Australians who could take pride in being Australian on
our national day.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Alcock
Crystelle Halliday
Don Jarrett
the Committee
Campaign for an Independent East Timor (South Australia)
