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
FOR IMMEDIATE USE 16 APRIL 1999
ADELAIDE RALLY TO PROTEST ONGOING ATROCITIES IN EAST TIMOR
17 APRIL 1999
The Campaign for an Independent East Timor is holding a rally tomorrow to
call on the Australian Government to take stronger action to stop the
continuing bloodshed in East Timor. Its Information Officer, Andrew Alcock,
released the following statement:
"Recent violent events in East Timor indicate that the international
community needs to make more strenuous efforts in order to halt the ongoing
human rights violations being committed in East Timor.
During the Liquica Massacre of 6 April, 57 people were shot or hacked to
death by the Besi Merah Putih pro Indonesian militia. This group with the
other militias are now calling themselves the Forces for the Defence of
Integration. This is a smoke screen to allow criminal elements to frustrate
the East Timorese from achieving their independence.
Since the Liquica massacre, the following actions have been carried out by
militias in cooperation with the Indonesian military:
three civilian houses were destroyed in Maliana on 12 April (the Halilintar
militia and the Indonesian armed forces under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel Cav. Burhanudin Sigian)
Indonesian Armed Forces murdered 7 East Timorese in Maliana on April 14
The latest news from East Timor is that the Besi Merah Putih and Aitarak
militias have announced a three day 'invasion' of Dili beginning this
Saturday 17 April which they are calling Operation Clean-Up.
Part of their scheme is to make an attempt on the life of Nobel Peace
Laureate, Bishop Carlos Belo, as he officiates at an open air mass at Taci
Tolu on Sunday 18 April. (This location is significant to the East Timorese
as it is the site of a mass grave and it is where Pope John Paul conducted
a mass in 1989).
These threats and crimes are reminiscent of those committed by the Nazis.
They represent a total violation of basic human rights of the East Timorese
and should not be tolerated by the western world or the international
community.
It is good that the Australian Government has spoken out against the
militias, but it should be doing much more.
The Government should threaten sanctions against the Indonesian regime if
there is any harm to Bishop Belo or any other East Timorese. It should drop
its de jure recognition of Indonesian sovereignty over East Timor and cease
all military cooperation with the regime. Further, it should be urging the
UN to send a peacekeeping force to East Timor immediately to stop further
outrages against the people.
Our PM should be urging other governments to take similar action. Not to
do so is to condone one of the most sickening and disgraceful genocidal
crimes of the twentieth century".
RALLY
10.30 AM
SATURDAY 17 APRIL 1999
GARUDA AIRLINES OFFICE
76 WAYMOUTH ST
ADELAIDE
Speakers from Amnesty International, unions, church and other community
groups.
Andrew (Andy) Alcock
Information Officer
CIET (SA) Inc
Phone: 08 83710480 (home) 08 82053259 (work)
Pager: 08 84157467
Facsimile: 08 82236509
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL.SD
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