Campaign for an Independent East Timor (South Australia) Inc.
(Affiliated to the International Federation for East Timor, the East Timor
Relief Association, the Australian Coalition for a Free East Timor and the
Australia East Timor Network)
c/o Development Education Centre first floor 220 Victoria Square
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5000
MEDIA STATEMENT: 16 OCTOBER 1999
ATTENTION: CHIEF OF STAFF
REMEMBER THE BALIBO FIVE - RECENT EVENTS IN EAST TIMOR & AUSTRALIA
The Campaign for an Independent East Timor released the following statement
today, the 24th anniversary of the slaying of the five Australian media
workers by the Indonesian military on 16 October 1975 in the frontier town
of East Timor:
"On the 24th anniversary of the slaughter of 5 Australian workers in
Balibo, East Timor, the attainment of peace for the long suffering East
Timorese is still hard to achieve. This week, there have been a number of
key events affecting East Timor.
A man who fought against the illegal Indonesian invasion in October 1975
has come forward to tell INTERFET how he witnessed the murder of the
Australian based workers in Balibo.
INTERFET personnel were attacked by the Indonesian military (TNI) and
militias. There has been more evidence of the barbarity of the post
referendum slaughter committed by the TNI and its militias - bodies washed
up on beaches, in wells or shallow graves; building interiors splattered
with human blood.
In Australia, East Timor's charismatic leader, Xanana Gusmao, visited
Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra to speak to East Timorese refugees, the
Federal Parliament and ordinary Australians. CIET's Information Officer
was present at a number of the functions in Melbourne to welcome Mr Gusmao.
'It is refreshing to meet a political leader who puts the needs of people
first. Xanana talked about being committed to social justice, free health
and education programmes, solidarity, working for peace and love.
I believe that the success of the East Timorese independence movement,
despite the appalling loss of life, has challenged the assumptions made by
economic rationalists. Even the Australian Prime Minister, a devotee of
economic rationalism and a former opponent to the concept of East Timorese
independence, admitted that he was impressed with Xanana's quiet sincerity
and dignity.
On this significant anniversary for Australia, Indonesia and the newly
independent East Timor it is obvious that much needs to be done to rebuild
East Timor and to repair the shattered lives of its courageous people.
Last night, the South Australian United Trades & Labour Council unanimously
carried a resolution (attached) addressing the tasks that need to be
undertaken to assist with this process. This will be sent to the UN,
Australian, US and British leaders.
In the meantime, the Campaign urges all media workers to wear black
ribbons, armbands or ties to remember the deaths of their colleagues killed
in East Timor - the Balibo 5 and Roger East and the many thousands of East
Timorese who have died over the past 24 years due to the illegal and brutal
occupation of East Timor by the Indonesian dictatorship".
IN MEMORIAM:
Greg Shackleton A third of the population of East Timor
Brian Peters
Tony Stewart
Malcolm Rennie
Gary Cunningham
Roger East
Andrew (Andy) Alcock (Information Officer)
Phone: 61 8 83710480 (home) 61 8 82053259 (work)
Pager: 61 8 82734382
Facsimile: 61 8 82236509
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
PROPOSED RESOLUTION ON EAST TIMOR
UTLC MEETING 15 OCTOBER 1999
This meeting of the UTLC held on 15 October 1999 congratulates:
Xanana Gusmao and other East Timorese leaders on the overwhelming
endorsement for independence registered by the courageous and long
suffering people of East Timor on 30 August 1999
the INTERFET force under Australian leadership in East Timor which is
effectively and systematically disarming the Indonesian terrorist militias
despite many difficulties
Council notes with concern the following events that have occurred and the
problems faced by the East Timorese after the announcement of the
referendum results :
thousands of East Timorese have been slaughtered by the Indonesian army
(TNI) and its militias
victims were hacked with machetes, shot, bludgeoned, dumped in
shark-infested waters, disembowelled, beheaded etc
over 200,000 were transported to West Timor and other parts of Indonesia
where they have been prey to the terrorist actions of the Indonesian army
and its militias
several thousand East Timorese independence activists are on death lists
and are on the run in various parts of Indonesia being pursued by the TNI
and its militias
about 400,000 East Timorese are unaccounted for and are believed to be
hiding out in various parts of the country in harsh terrain lacking food
and water and where they at risk of contracting disease
the UN INTERFET force is not large enough to get to many of these people
quickly enough
the monsoon season could begin within the next few weeks thereby making it
impossible for the provision of food and humanitarian supplies to those who
need it
It is the belief of the UTLC that the current cataclysm was predicted and
could have been prevented if UN and world leaders had heeded warnings of
the impending violence by authorities who have observed the TNI's behaviour
over many years and taken the appropriate steps.
Council therefore believes that the international community has a moral
responsibility to assist the new nation of East Timor to rebuild the
shattered lives of the people and the country's infrastructure.
It calls on the UN and the world community to:
1. pressure Indonesia to allow UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
personnel to have access to West Timor and other parts of Indonesia where
there are East Timorese refugees to assist their urgent repatriation from
Indonesia to safety
2. increase the size of the INTERFET mission to defend the border region
from TNI/militia incursions and safeguard all areas in the country where
there are concentrations of refugees so that their welfare and security can
be ensured
3. allow FALANTIL personnel to keep their arms to assist INTERFET with
peacekeeping and maintaining East Timor's security
4. maintain bans on all forms of military cooperation with the Indonesian
dictatorship and boycott Indonesian goods and services until it ceases its
belligerent actions and violations against human rights in East Timor and
the region and shows a real commitment to democracy
Council calls on the Australian Government to:
1. immediately cease its de jure recognition of Indonesia's occupation of
East Timor, to officially thank the East Timorese people for their great
sacrifice and support of Australia during World War 2 and to apologise for
its 25 years of betrayal while they suffered genocide
2. resume Australian radio and TV broadcasts to Asia
3. allow East Timorese refugees who are at risk to come to Australia on
flexible temporary visas
The UTLC calls on the ACTU and Australian community organisations to:
1. assist the people of East Timor in the reconstruction and reconciliation
processes that need to be undertaken (including the provision of all forms
of humanitarian aid and 4 wheel drive diesel vehicles that are urgently
being sought by Xanana Gusmao)
2. boycott Indonesian goods and services
Further, the UTLC calls on Australian political leaders to adopt a positive
and a bipartisan approach to Australia's role in peace keeping and
reconstruction in the new nation of East Timor.
12 NOVEMBER 1999
EAST TIMOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING
(8th anniversary of the Santa Cruz/Dili Massacre)
4.30 pm Protest Vigil
Victoria Square
(Organised by the Campaign for an Independent East Timor)
5.45 pm Commemorative Mass
St Francis Xavier Cathedral
(Organised by the Catholic Church)
20 NOVEMBER 1999
EAST TIMOR INDEPENDENCE DINNER
(28 Nov is the 24th anniversary of the declaration of independence)
Unley Senior Citizens Centre, Arthur St, Unley
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