from East Timor Relief Association (ETRA)
posted for National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT)
(please distribute to your networks, especially your politicians'
networks)
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Statement of the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT)
Participants of the Conference for Strategic Development Planning for
East Timor
We the participants of the Melbourne Conference for Strategic
Development Planning for East Timor, under the auspices of the National
Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT), conclude the second phase of
preparations for independent government with great hope for the future
of a peaceful, democratic nation of East Timor. We express this hope,
despite the current escalation of violence by the Indonesian military
and its agents against the civilian population of East Timor. This
calculated programme of violence remains the only obstacle to achieving
this aim of peace and democracy in East Timor.
In five days of intensive planning, the Conference has prepared a
blueprint which marks the beginnings of a new future for our country.
Our vision is based on the fundamental principal of a free, independent,
peaceful and democratic East Timor. The CNRT is committed to working to
establish a free country where all citizens are equal before the law,
where all people have equal opportunity to participate in and contribute
to all aspects of society, and where we live together in peace.
We have developed strategic plans for development in the eight (8) key
areas of:
Governance/Public Administration
Law and the Judicial System
Economics
Agriculture
Health
Education
Infrastructure/Environment
Mass Communications
-with attention to gender, culture and human rights in all these areas.
We have mapped out the way ahead for the immediate transitional period,
the establishment of the necessary institutions and programmes for a
newly independent East Timor, and the longterm vision, goals and
strategies for development across all sectors.
Throughout the Conference we have liaised with key international
development agencies and non government organisations, who have
committed to working with the people of East Timor within this
structured development plan.
We have achieved a landmark in the nation building of a democratic East
Timor at this Conference. From the strategic development plans drawn up
across the sectors, we have initiated ongoing taskforces who will
continue on with detailed work in consultation with and support from the
international community.
The success of this Conference demonstrates to the international
community that the people of East Timor, even in the most difficult
circumstances of the current violent situation, are ready to undertake
the work of nation building in a responsible, prudent and inclusive
manner. We are desperate for the peace necessary to undertake this great
challenge.
We want to make it absolutely clear that we, the participants of the
Conference, fully support the President of the CNRT Xanana Gusmao in his
moderate call for the East Timorese people to defend themselves. Xanana
Gusmao has pursued the path of dialogue at all times. In calling for the
people of East Timor to be protected he is seeking to preserve the lives
of innocent children, women and men. We note that Bishop Belo affirms
Xanana Gusmao's call as moderate and appropriate in
the desperate situation in East Timor.
We are distressed at the calculated escalation of the violence by the
Indonesian military and its agents this week in East Timor. We
understand that the Indonesian military is now targeting individuals
considered key independence supporters, particularly in Dili. The use of
a grenade to attack the church of Liquica and the storming of a priest's
house are calculated to demonstrate that there is no refuge for
the people of East Timor.
At the same time as this military escalation, the government of
Indonesia has frustrated limited international attempts at providing
emergency humanitarian relief to East Timor, by blocking shipments and
refusing offers of assistance to the people of East Timor. The
Indonesian government has also delayed again the scheduled United
Nations talks between Portugal and Indonesia on the content of the
proposed autonomy package.
We reiterate that CNRT is committed to a peaceful, inclusive process of
transition to independence in East Timor. Our leaders Xanana Gusmao and
Jose Ramos Horta initiated dialogue with the Indonesian Government and
military leaders, and have demonstrated time and again their moderate
and reasonable approach.
At the end of this historic Conference, as we prepare to begin the
process of national reconstruction, we the participants of the Strategic
Planning for Development in East Timor call on:
-The United Nations Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan to intensify his
efforts to resume dialogue between Indonesia and Portugal, particularly
with the aim of immediately disarming the paramilitary forces in East
Timor and achieving a drastic reduction in Indonesian troops;
- The United Nations Security Council to discuss East Timor, with the
aim of devising realistic options for action to secure peace in East
Timor;
- The United Nations to implement an immediate inquiry into the
massacres on 4 and 6 April respectively, and to hold those responsible
accountable under law;
- The United Nations to deploy a mission to East Timor immediately to
ensure peaceful progress towards the act of self-determination;
- Governments of the world to demand that the Indonesian military cease
its programme of violence in EastTimor;
- The international community to support the nation building process
initiated by the National Council of Timorese Resistance at this
Conference.
We therefore call for immediate international action to stop the
Indonesian army-sponsored violence in East Timor, to protect the people
of East Timor and to preserve the process of dialogue for transition
towards a solution in East Timor. We the participants of the Conference
on Strategic Development Planning for East Timor, in spite of this
difficult times endured by our people, declare our total commitment to
continue to work on the big task towards accomplishing the national
reconstruction of our homeland.
9 April, 1999
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Kieran Dwyer
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.pactok.net.au/docs/et/
East Timor Relief Association
PO Box 1102 - Parramatta NSW 2124, Australia
email : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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