-----Original Message-----
From: East Timor Relief Association <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Saturday, April 17, 1999 10:23 PM
Subject: URGENT INTERNATIONAL ACTION
East Timor Relief Association Inc.
(ETRA)
P.O. Box 23, Fairfield NSW 2165 Australia
ph: 61 2 9 891 5861; fax: 61 2 9 891 2876
e-mail:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
17 April 1999
Urgent International Action Needed to Save Lives in East Timor
The East Timor Relief Association calls on the international community and
the Australian Government to take urgent action to help end the escalating
state-sponsored violence in East Timor.
"It's time for the Australian Government to shift from a wait-and-see
approach to a more pro-active role to promote real peace in East Timor for
the planned UN ballot in July," says Ms Ines Almeida, the National
Secretary of East Timor Relief Association (ETRA).
Ms Almeida praises the timely arrival today in Dili of Ireland's Foreign
Minister David Andrews.
"This timely visit of Foreign Minister Andrews undoubtedly provides much
needed strong moral and political support to the people of East Timor
currently under siege by ABRI and its militia groups," said Ms Almeida.
"This action by a Foreign Minister from Europe exposes the weakness of the
stand of the Australian Government," said Ms Almeida.
Ms Almeida called on Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to
immediately follow Mr Andrew's example, and travel to Dili next week.
"It is only by such direct action that the Australian Government can
demonstrate its commitment to peace in East Timor. The future of East Timor
must be taken out of the hands of the Indonesian military. By travelling to
Dili immediately Mr Downer would send a strong signal to the military
leaders who openly flout the UN and the rule of law. "
Ms Almeida welcomed the strong statement by the European Union this week,
deploring the rise of violence in East Timor and calling on the Indonesian
Government to disarm and control the militias. She also welcomed US
Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific Mr Stanley Roth's visit this
week to Jakarta and in particular to CNRT�s President Xanana Gusmao.
"Mr Roth's visit and the European Union statement highlight international
concern about the ABRI-backed violence in East Timor. The President of
National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT) Xanana Gusmao has reiterated
that his earlier statement was merely a call for the people of East Timor
to
act in self defence, to stop being slaughtered like cattle. It was the
Indonesian media who shamelessly manipulated this statement to present it
as
a call to war. Xanana followed his meeting with Mr Roth by asking FALINTIL
to once again cease active operations."
Ms Almeida reiterated ETRA's unequivocal support for CNRT�s Xanana Gusmao
and his unswerving efforts to instigate dialogue and peace in East Timor.
"In the past 11 months since the fall of Suharto, Xanana Gusmao has met
constantly with the emissaries of world leaders. Without exception they
have
praised his commitment to peace, his moderateness and his intelligence.
This
has not changed. Xanana Gusmao remains the vital
leader for peace in East Timor."
Ms Almeida said that ETRA sees a number of key actions as necessary to
establish peace in East Timor to allow the UN-ballot to go ahead as planned
in July:
� The Indonesian government to instruct ABRI East Timor Commander Tono
Suratman to immediately disarm the militias, and to order the ABRI regular
forces to immediately cease their direct role in perpetrating violence in
East Timor;
� All members of ABRI and their militia groups involved in murder and other
human rights violations to be brought to justice;
� The Indonesian government to cease blocking international non-government
and human rights organisations from access to East Timor, and these
organisations to send human rights monitors into East Timor with full
access
to all areas of the country, with a mandate to investigate and report human
rights abuses;
� Guaranteed protection of international media from ABRI and its militia
groups;
� The UN to immediately send its mission of observers into East Timor;
By travelling into East Timor next week Mr Downer would signal the
Australian Government's real commitment to this process," said Ms Almeida.
________________________________
There will be a national protest at Canberra on Monday 19 April. Meeting at
the Department of Foreign Affairs Offices in Canberra at 11am to begin a
march to the Indonesian Embassy at 12 midday. This will commence rolling
action across Australia until peace is established in East Timor.
Matebian News
LL.AD
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