The following is a letter to the Prime Minister of Australia asking for Australian commitment to an immediate peace-keeping intervention in East Timor. Names can be added to the bottom of the letter, and signatories are invited to forward the letter to other interested people. [PLEASE CUT AND PASTE to keep the forwarding symbols at bay!] *********************************************** TO: The Prime Minister Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Prime Minister: We, the undersigned, are writing to express our disappointment at the Australian Government's lack of action in response to the current situation in East Timor. While you cannot be held responsible for the policy failures of successive Australian Governments in relation to East Timor, as a long-standing member of Parliament, you will be judged to be complicit with those policies if you fail to use your influence to remedy this situation by supporting and contributing to an immediate peace-keeping intervention in East Timor. As the elected Prime Minister of this country, you and your Ministry are also responsible for the Australian Government's actions in the present crisis. I, and hundreds of thousands of other Australians, may hold you and your Government responsible for the carnage being wrought on the East Timorese people. These are people who, perhaps naively, placed their faith in an internationally sponsored democratic process. They have now been abandoned. We suggest that if you and your Government fail to exercise your power and responsibility to protect the basic human rights of the East Timorese people, you may find that the Australian people - a people which DOES have a commitment to justice - will hold you accountable now, and at the next election. Australia is in a position to use its friendship with Indonesia to help the people of East Timor. The following steps must be taken without delay. WITHDRAW DE JURE REGONITION OF THE ANNEXATION OF EAST TIMOR BY INDONESIA CEASE ALL ONGOING AID PROGRAMS AND MILITARY COOPERATION WITH THE INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES PRESS THE UN TO TAKE IMMEDIATE NECESSARY STEPS TO STOP THE MASS GENOCIDE OCCURRING IN EAST TIMOR THROUGH THE DEPLOYMENT OF A UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN THE TERRITORY PRESS THE UN TO MAKE INDONESIA ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL THE EAST TIMORESE PEOPLE HELD AT CONCENTRATION CAMPS THROUGHOUT EAST TIMOR BY THE INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES Australia should act NOW and avoid a legacy of shame. Yours Sincerely 1) Patricia L. Hill 2) Paul Allatson 3) Sarah Gleeson-White 4) Dr Justin Lucas 5) Bruce Williams 6) Rowena Lennox 7) Sophie Cunningham 8) Katherine Albury 9) Jane Mills 10) Andrew Tamandl 11) Adrian King, NSW 12) Aaron Rogers, Sydney 13) Adam Griffiths, Sydney 14) Matthew Harrison, Brisbane 15) Dion Giles, Fremantle 16) Lynn Giles, Fremantle 17) Brian Jenkins, Perth 18) Jean Jenkins, Perth Once 50 names are reached, please forward the letter to Trish Hill and Paul Allatson, [[EMAIL PROTECTED]], and we will forward it to the Prime Minister. Thanks. ---------------------------------------------------------------- This is the Neither public email list, open for the public and general discussion. To unsubscribe click here Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Subject=unsubscribe To subscribe click here Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Subject=subscribe For information on [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.neither.org/lists/public-list.htm For archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
