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
ATTENTION: CHIEF OF STAFF
MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE USE 27 FEBRUARY 1999
CONTINUING LOSS OF LIFE AND THREATS TO AUSTRALIANS IN EAST TIMOR
The statement below was released today by the Information Officer of the
Campaign for an Independent East Timor, Andrew Alcock, following the
evacuation of 11 Ausaid workers from East Timor and reports of more deaths.
"The evacuation of 11 Ausaid workers from East Timor following threats to
the lives of Australians indicates the necessity of despatching an
international peacekeeping force to the country to prevent further loss of
life. So far, the Australian Government has refused to support such a move.
In the past few days, Australia has been prepared to take actions that it
would not have contemplated some months ago. Mr Downer has had talks with
Indonesian President Habibie and East Timorese independence leader, Mr
Xanana Gusmao. He has also been prepared to acknowledge that Australia
would support an independent East Timor. All of this has come about in
response to the rapid change of events in Indonesia and East Timor.
It is to be hoped that the Australian Government will change its attitude
to the matter of an international peace keeping force being sent to East
Timor given that East Timorese are still losing their lives and that the
lives of Australian aid workers have been threatened,
It is naive to expect, as Australian leaders do, that the situation will
stabilise if Indonesia continues its occupation of East Timor for a longer
period of time. The continuing cause of death in the country is the
Indonesian military and the pro Indonesian militias which it has armed and
trained.
Their continued presence will ensure that there will be a continuation of
the bloodshed that has occurred during the past 23 years of Indonesia's
illegal occupation.
The only way to stop the slaughter and to allow the East Timorese to
determine their national future free of coercion is for the withdrawal of
Indonesian forces and the disarming and disbanding of the militias. The
presence of an international peace mission while the process of self
determination takes place will also prevent a power vacuum that Australian
leaders fear".
Andrew (Andy) Alcock
Information Officer
CIET (SA) Inc
Phone: 08 83710480 (home) 08 82053259 (work)
Pager: 08 84157467
Facsimile: 08 82236509
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
COMING EVENT:
PUBLIC MEETING:
WHEN WILL EAST TIMOR BE FREE?
3PM
SUNDAY 14 MARCH 1999
IRISH HALL, 11 CARRINGTON ST, ADELAIDE
SPEAKERS:
* DR PHIL DORLING
(International Relations Expert & Adviser to Shadow Foreign Minister)
* DR MICHAEL SULLIVAN
(Politics lecturer)
LL.SC
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