Campaign for an Independent East Timor (S.A.) Inc.
Affiliated to the East Timor Relief Association, the Australian Coalition
for a Free East Timor and the Australian East Timor Network
Global Education Centre
first floor, Torrens House
220 Victoria Square,
ADELAIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5000
ATTENTION: CHIEF OF STAFF
MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE USE 14 MARCH 1999
PUBLIC MEETING CALLS ON UN & AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT TO ACT URGENTLY TO
ASSIST EAST TIMOR
The following statement was released by the Campaign's Information
Officer, Andrew Alcock tonight following a successful public meeting at
Adelaide's Irish Hall:
"About 65 people attended a public meeting organised by the Campaign for an
Independent East Timor to hear an analysis of the situation in Timor by
Flinders University politics lecturer Dr Michael Sullivan.
Dr Sullivan gave an overview of the differing policies on East Timor by key
Australian political leaders. He was critical of Gough Whitlam's bagging of
Laurie Brereton's position and the begrudging attitude of the Australian
Government towards Timorese independence. Also under fire were the policies
of former diplomat Richard Woolcott that, he said, were wrong from the
beginning.
In his speech, Michael Sullivan analysed the motives of the pro Indonesian
militias and outlined their recent actions. They are armed and they will
use violence to get their own way, despite the fact that they are a small
minority.
He believes that it is absolutely essential to have an international peace
keeping mission. Because of the departure of large numbers of
professionals from East Timor (doctors, nurses, teachers etc) and the
control of food distribution by the Indonesian military, he also believes
that a massive humanitarian aid programme in East Timor is vital to avoid a
further human disaster.
Dr Sullivan believes that the Australian Government is implementing a
forward defence policy in response to events in Indonesia and East Timor.
The appropriate responses he argued are humanitarian aid and peacekeeping
programmes which are more relevant to meet human needs and develop peace
and security in the region.
Following a discussion, the meeting considered the following resolution
that highlighted many of the issues raised by the speaker.
It was carried unanimously:
RESOLUTION
This public meeting organised by the Campaign for an Independent East Timor
and held on 14 March 1999 notes that:
events are moving rapidly in East Timor and there is now a stronger
possibility for the East Timorese to achieve independence than there has
been for the past 24 years provided that there is appropriate support from
the UN and democratic governments
the messages coming from the Indonesian regime seem to be contradictory
about its real intentions to allow an act of self determination or
independence
there have been exploratory talks between Xanana Gusmao and leaders of the
pro Indonesian militias towards developing reconciliation, but, East
Timorese civilians are still being tortured, raped and murdered by the
Indonesian forces and by the militias
some of these crimes are extremely brutal and include the dismembering of
victims, and so far, most have never been officially investigated by the UN
on the other hand, the Council of National Timorese Resistance (CNRT) has
ordered resistance forces (FALINTIL) to halt military activity
the Australian Government has now committed itself to a task force that may
go to East Timor for peacekeeping purposes, however, it is very grudging
regarding the issue of independence for East Timor although it claims to
support of an act of self determination
Mr Howard until recently has assumed that the Indonesian military can
remain to protect the civilian population despite the fact that it has been
responsible for genocide and gross violations of human rights during its
years of illegal occupation
Indonesia and Portugal have agreed to a process for determining the will of
the East Timorese regarding autonomy which has received a mixed response
from the CNRT
John Dowd of the International Commission of Jurists has expressed concerns
about Australia being the only nation to be involved in a peacekeeping
mission given its past record on the East Timor issue
there may shortly be a famine in East Timor due to the Indonesian military
taking most of the rice supplies for its purposes
This meeting believes that peace and justice will only come to East Timor
when there is a concerted international effort to ensure that Indonesia
withdraws all of its forces, the militias are disarmed and disbanded and
the people of East Timor have the right to participate in a genuine act of
self determination.
This public meeting therefore, calls upon:
1. the UN to:
1) Urgently coordinate the activities of relief agencies to distribute
humanitarian aid in East Timor
2) Negotiate the release of East Timor's respected leader, Xanana Gusmao,
so that he may participate in the continuing UN peace talks between
Indonesia and Portugal
3) Send an international peace keeping force with sufficient personnel
and resources to East Timor to:
maintain law and order and protect the civilian population from the
excesses of the Indonesian military and its militias
oversee the complete withdrawal of Indonesian troops
disarm and disband the pro Indonesian militias and supervise an act of
national self determination for the people of East Timor
4) Urge all member nations to cooperate with a ban on all military
cooperation with Indonesia which should include:
no sales of arms, military equipment, aircraft, ships or spare
parts
no military aid
no provision of training for personnel of the Indonesian armed forces
no joint exercises with Indonesian armed forces
no exchange of intelligence information
5) Conduct investigations of massacres and other human rights
violations - including the Alas Massacre of November 1998
6) Pressure the Indonesian Government to pay reparations for its
crimes in East Timor
7)Urge those governments that have provided arms and military
equipment to Indonesia during its illegal occupation of East Timor to
provide aid to East Timor which is at least equivalent to their income
from military sales
2. The Australian Government to:
1) Cooperate with the UN in its peacekeeping and self determination
coordinating roles
2) Cease all military cooperation with Indonesia and the Australian
Government's recognition of East Timor's incorporation into Indonesia
3) Revoke the shameful Timor Gap Treaty
4) Channel aid to East Timor through Ausaid, East Timor Relief Association,
APHEDA, Community Aid Abroad and other reputable aid organisations, but not
agencies of the Indonesian Government
5) Allow East Timorese refugees in Australia to remain here until the
Indonesian military withdraws from their country making it safe to return
6) Make an official apology to the East Timorese people for the long period
of official Australian betrayal and give an official thank you for their
costly support of Australia during World War 2
The resolution is being sent to the Australian Government and the UN
Secretary General for their consideration.
The meeting was preceded by the Campaign's twenty third Annual General
Meeting. Dr Richie Gun was elected as the Chairperson and Mr Bob Hanney as
Secretary".
Andrew (Andy) Alcock
Information Officer
CIET (SA) Inc
Phone: 08 83710480 (home) 08 82053259 (work)
Pager: 08 84157467
Facsimile: 08 82236509
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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