Precedence: bulk
CNRT Timor Leste
XANANA GUSMAO
STATEMENT
East Timor is facing a delicate and crucial moment of its history.
East Timor has been on the UN agenda since December 1975. The UN General
Assembly and the Security Council adopted strongly worded resolutions
demanding total, immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the invading
Indonesian army and recognising the right of the Timorese People to self
determination and national independence.
However, in 1984, negotiations were initiated between Portugal and Indonesia
under the auspices of the of the UN Secretary General. The period of 15 long
years of frustration and failures that followed further highlights the
unquestionable importance and the decisive nature of the upcoming meeting in
New York.
May 5 means that a new road has been paved; one that leads to the
implementation of international mechanism and that will end the illegal
situation in the territory which lasted for 23 and a half years.
We want to believe that the Indonesian government will not seek further
reasons, as it has done before to delay the signing of the agreement.
During the recent months, the People of the East Timor endured extreme
hardships in a situation of permanent intimidation, terror and worse, cold
-blooded massacres.
We recall the Bali summit where, once again, The Indonesian government
publicised its commitment to the international community to abide by the
agreed dates (May 5 and August 8), to implement a peaceful and democratic
process and , above all, to respect the outcome of the consultation.
The major question lies within the security mechanisms to be implemented.
When the Dili peace pact was signed, On April 21, four traditional weapons
were symbolically handed back to Gen. Wiranto. The Mausers, G3s, SKSs and
the M-16s remain in the hands of armed militia groups which, with ABRI
support, continue to threaten the population and force them to sign their
allegiance to the integration.
To consider ABRI(Armed Forces) as a neutral froce is a historical abberation
in this long lasting problem of East Timor. We cannot but hope that the
International Community can fathom the scope of such an aberration.
It is therefore of vital importance that, immediately after the agreement is
signed, the UN establishes a permanent presence in the teritory to implement
the mechanisms which will guarantee the population the gradual return to
peaceful environment.
I wish to seize this opportunity to address the international human
organizations and appeal for an urgent campaign to assist the population in
East Timor whose belongings and home had been destroyed and burnt down by
murderous gangs. The population was forced to abandon the fields to flee
from threat and violence. There is need for immediate assistance for
clothing and medicines.
The hope of the East Timorese is for the International Community to continue
to demand an end to this inhuman violence, that the universal principle of
democracy and justice be respected and that dialogue be chosen as the path
in conflict resolution.
Salemba, May 4 1999
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao
CNRT President
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