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 Global Education Centre first floor 220 Victoria Square
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5000
MEDIA STATEMENT: SUNDAY 12 MARCH 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
MORE TNI/MILITIA RAIDS INTO EAST TIMOR
- STOP ALL MILITARY COOPERATION WITH INDONESIA
The Information Officer of the Campaign for an Independent East Timor (SA)
Inc, Andrew Alcock, released the following statement following an increase
in the number of raids by the Indonesian military and its militias into
East Timor:
"The international community needs to give the new Indonesian Government
strong support as it seeks to bring its military (the TNI) under control.
This week saw the boldest move by Indonesia's president Abdurrahman Wahid
so far since his September 1999 election. He ordered the military to disarm
all of its militias that have been making cross border attacks into East
Timor. There have been 16 such attacks in the past few days.
It must be remembered that there are still more than 100,000 East Timorese
refugees in West Timor who are still being threatened and harassed by the
TNI and its militias.
In addition, there are other peoples in the region who suffer from the
oppression of the Indonesian military. West Papuans continue to suffer
genocide at the hands of the TNI. This has continued since 1962 when the
Indonesian army moved into the territory. It is estimated that over a third
of the population has been wiped out since the 38 year occupation. Now
there are reports that Timor-style militia groups are being formed in an
attempt to defeat West Papuan independence movement that has been
encouraged by East Timor's successful bid for freedom.
Further, the world is now aware of the human suffering caused by the
excesses of the Indonesian generals of the peoples of Ambon, Flores and
Acheh. There is still a fear that many generals including Suharto would
like to remove the democratic Indonesian government.
The only way to put a stop to this is to maintain bans on all forms of
military cooperation with the TNI and to develop strategies to ensure that
humanitarian aid money is not used to fund military programmes. Responsible
world leaders should condemn the move by the European Union to restore
military cooperation with the TNI while it continues to destabilise the
security of the SE Asian region and cause massive human rights abuses.
In particular, the Blair Government should receive particular condemnation
because of its indecent haste to resume arms and military equipment sales
with the TNI. The US administration should also be criticised because it
has agreed to resume limited training of TNI officers in the year 2000.
It is a good sign that the Australian Government has protested at the
recent attacks into East Timor. Australians who desire to see peace and
justice prevail in the region, call on their leaders not to resume any form
of military or intelligence cooperation with the TNI.
It has to be said that the two regional leaders who are making the greatest
effort to observe human rights and meet human needs are Xanana Gusmao, the
President of the CNRT of East Timor and President Abdurrahman Wahid of
Indonesia. They should be given every possible assistance in their quest
and should not be hindered by the amoral policies of self interest being
pursued by a number of world leaders".
Andrew (Andy) Alcock
Information Officer
CIET (SA)
Phone: 61 8 83710480 (home) 61 8 82053259 (work)
Pager: 61 8 82734382
Facsimile: 61 8 82236509
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
YOU ARE INVITED TO A PUBLIC MEETING:
EAST TIMOR - BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
3.00pm SUNDAY 19 MARCH 2000
PROMETHEAN THEATRE
116 Grote St, Adelaide, South Australia
SPEAKERS:
Dr Michael Sullivan (Politics Lecturer)
An East Timorese who has been in East Timor since the independence
referendum)
The meeting will be preceded by the CIET (SA) Inc AGM at 2.30pm
After 450 years of repressive Portuguese colonialism & 25 years of
Indonesian genocidal terror, the East Timorese people have finally won
their independence. Their struggle is not over, however. The Indonesian
military and their militias are still holding 100,000 East Timorese
refugees in West Timor and are carrying out attacks in the border region.
Many people are suffering from disease and malnutrition. the infrastructure
is devastated. Hear what is happening and what you can do to help East
Timor rebuild.
For further information:
GENERAL:
Bob Hanney (Secretary) 61 8 83443511
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE:
Miriam Tonkin 61 8 82956481
Crystell Halliday 61 8 83731121
Jacinta Azevedo 61 8 82857471
--
Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html
Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop
Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink
Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
