Campaign for an Independent East Timor (SA) Inc.
EMERGENCY RALLY
TO PROTEST CUTTING OF AID TO EAST TIMORESE REFUGEES
TIME: 4.30PM
DAY: FRIDAY
DATE: 31 MARCH 2000
VENUE: OUTSIDE INDONESIAN CONSULATE
45 KING WILLIAM ST, ADELAIDE
(NEAR HINDLEY ST CORNER)
On 31 March, the Indonesian Government intends to cut all humanitarian
support to East Timorese refugees trapped in West Timor. This could lead to
the deaths of thousands of these people who are in West Timor through no
fault of their own.
EAST TIMOR STILL NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
PROTEST INDONESIAN MILITARY/MILITIA TERRORIST ACTIONS IN TIMOR
SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION TO RETURN REFUGEES HOME FROM WEST TIMOR
BAN ALL MILITARY COOPERATION WITH THE INDONESIAN MILITARY
For further information: Phone: Bob 08 83443511 or Miriam 08 82956481
(Please copy this and distribute to friends and fellow workers)
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
Free Timor Campaign)
c/o Global Education Centre first floor 220 Victoria Square
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5000
MEDIA STATEMENT: THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
ADELAIDE RALLY TO PROTEST CUTTING OF AID TO EAST TIMORESE REFUGEES
The following statement was released by the Campaign's Information Officer,
Andrew Alcock, to protest the action being taken by the Indonesian
Government to stop humanitarian aid being given to East Timorese refugees
in West Timor:
"East Timorese refugees in West Timor will experience a dire humanitarian
crisis if the Indonesian Government persists in its threat to cut emergency
aid to them. The refugees have been living in makeshift camps since the
Indonesian military (TNI) and its militias forced them across the border
last year during their orgy of mass murder and destruction following the
announcement of East Timor's referendum result.
The refugees are trapped in these camps against their will. Every time they
try to return to East Timor, they are harassed and their lives are
threatened by the TNI and its militias.
Tomorrow the Indonesian Government has threatened to withdraw aid to about
20 refugee camps along West Timor's border. The number of refugees is
believed to be around 100,000. They will then be given a choice of
returning to East Timor facing threats to their lives or of applying for
Indonesian citizenship.
Those who apply for citizenship are likely to be moved to other parts of
Indonesia which will take them even further from their loved ones across
the border.
Although numerous international aid agencies are supplying humanitarian
relief to the border camps, Indonesian officials claim that international
aid organisations were supplying the refugees with less than 10per cent of
their needs.
Some aid agencies fear that if the Indonesian Government withdraws its aid,
thousands of East Timorese could be left to die.
During the past six months in excess of 500 refugees have died in the
camps. Most of the victims were children and the major causes of death were
stomach intestinal and respiratory problems.
The claim by the West Timor Vice-Governor, Mr Johannes Pake Pani, that
cessation of aid to the refugees does not indicate a lack of compassion on
the part of Indonesia cannot be taken seriously. Pani is concerned that the
province of West Timor has had to take responsibility for the care of the
refugees for over six months despite the fact that the majority of West
Timorese are very poor.
Even though the new Indonesian Government has been a vast improvement on
the previous dictatorship in terms of human rights, it must take
responsibility for the criminal actions of a number of its nationals like
former president Suharto and the generals who are responsible for the
genocide in Timor and the present plight of the refugees.
Indonesia should put greater pressure on its military to allow the East
Timorese refugees to return home. If the military does not cooperate, then
the international community needs to impose sanctions and step up emergency
humanitarian relief. There should at least be a ban on all forms of
military cooperation with the TNI which is still terrorising the refugees
and committing human rights abuses in West Papua and parts of Indonesia.
The nations like the US, Britain and Australia who colluded with the regime
for 25 years should lead the way.
The Campaign will hold an emergency rally outside the office of SA's
Indonesian Consul, Moulden's Solicitors, 45 King William St, to protest the
Indonesian action. It urges all those who want to see justice for East
Timor to attend the rally. Other rallies are being held around Australia
and the Pacific around the same demands".
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]
LL.SC
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