The contents of this
email newsletter is on a webpage:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/01apr30.htm
along with all other
items added to the website in the past week.
Go to the webpage
to click on the items and find them easily.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
These collections
of recent items relating to particular themes
have been added
in the past week:
BD: National Council of Timorese Resistance / Conselho Nacional de Resistência Timorense (CNRT)
BD: FRETILIN - Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor / Frente Revolucionaria do Timor
These collections have been up-dated in the past week:
Refugees
& Missing Persons
Women's
Issues
War
Crimes & Crimes Against Humanity
Military
and political aid to Indonesia
Calls
for International War Crimes Tribunal
Sexual
Violence as a weapon of war
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Apr
25 ETAN publishes text of suppressed UN report on East Timor destruction
Release & Link to full text of report added Apr 30
"The report is now available on the internet
at http://www.etan.org/news/2001a/dunn1.htm
The document, "Crimes Against Humanity
in East Timor, January to October 1999: Their Nature and Causes," was
written by former Australian diplomat James Dunn, an independent consultant
to the Chief Prosecutor for the UN Transitional Administration in East
Timor's (UNTAET). ETAN obtained the report from a source associated with
the United Nations.
UNTAET officials do not plan to release
the report, which was submitted to them in mid-February. It names some
of the key Indonesian commanders most directly involved in planning and
implementing the violence surrounding East Timor's UN-organized independence
referendum in 1999. A UN spokesperson has said that the UN is not releasing
the report out of concern that it will hinder negotiations with Indonesia.
"We believe it is crucial that those responsible
for East Timor's destruction be held accountable," said John M. Miller,
spokesperson for ETAN. "Prosecution of the Indonesian military officers
responsible is necessary both for East Timor's future security and Indonesia's
transition to democracy. Open discussion of the report's findings best
serves all involved -- the UN, the Indonesian government and people, and
the people of East Timor." " The East Timor
Action Network/U.S.
Apr
24 ACFOA: Briefing Notes on political parties and groupings
Report added Apr 30
"East Timor is now entering the last,
crucial stage of the transition process to full independence. National
elections for a Constituent Assembly to develop a Constitution for the
new nation will be held on 30 August 2001. Over the months that follow,
decision-making and power will be transferred from the United Nations Transitional
Administration (UNTAET) to democratically elected East Timorese legislative
and executive bodies. ...
Until now, the CNRT
independence umbrella body has occupied centre stage. This has
had the effect of obscuring the parties who, like the FALINTIL guerillas
in the run-up to the August 99 ballot, have endured a period of necessary
political cantonment in the interests of national unity. The scene is now
set, however, for the political parties to take their rightful place under
the spotlight as key players in the democratic process. This is a healthy
and positive development which excesses by some should not be permitted
to undermine.
In November 1999, ACFOA published a backgrounder
on CNRT called ‘From Opposition to Proposition: the
National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT) in Transition’, to contribute
to a more informed and positive reception for CNRT by the international
community. It is hoped these notes will play a similar role in relation
to the parties by answering the questions observers and others will have
about these new players. How many parties will contest the election? Who
are their leaders and how does one contact them? How have they changed
from previous times? What ideas and policies do they have for East Timor’s
development, foreign policy and so on?" Pat Walsh, Human Rights consultant,
Australian
Council for Overseas Aid
Current
AETA Resource List (Australia-East Timor Association)
Resources on ETimor added Apr 26
AETA
(Melbourne) provide a community-based non-profit service that includes
the provision of books, educational materials and music CDs/cassettes.
This diverse collection of resources includes materials that are otherwise
difficult to obtain. - BD
Apr
25 NGO Forum: Expression of Concern at Xanana’s Statement regarding an
International Tribunal Press Release from ETimor added
Apr 26
"The NGO Forum regards an International
Tribunal as an option that needs to be seriously considered given that
to date Indonesia has not made any progress in investigating human rights
offences committed by the Indonesian military in East Timor." ET
NGO Forum
"If an international court is not a priority
for resolving war crimes cases in East Timor, what other court is able
to ensure that the war criminals concerned do not just walk free?” Arsenio
Bano, Executive Director of the NGO Forum
Apr
24 TP: Carrascalao: No Evidence Of Indonesia Supporting Terrorists At Border
News from ETimor added Apr 26
“I think these rumours have been spread
to terrorize the Timorese people in the run-up to the 30 August election,
... A group of terrorists will not be able to defeat the Timorese people.
Even the TNI, for 25 years, could not subdue the Timorese people,” Mario
Carrascalao, Deputy President of CNRT
Apr
23 AP: Nobel Laureate Bishop Belo Appeals For East Timor Tribunal
News added Apr 25
"Justice must not be restricted to a chosen
few. It must be universal, ... We have no faith in the investigations being
conducted in Jakarta. Those who authorized the crimes in East Timor will
not face justice there, ... It is our belief that only an international
court will be able to prosecute the generals and commanders who were behind
the September 1999 violence. It is clear that what happened in East Timor
was not a spontaneous response by Timorese who wanted to stay with Indonesia."
Bishop Carlos Belo of East Timor, the only Catholic bishop ever to receive
the Nobel Peace Prize
Apr
23 SMH: Mary Robinson supports repatriation of Timorese 'war prize'
News added Apr 25
"The United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, has thrown her support behind efforts
to free an East Timorese teenage girl taken as a “war prize” by a pro-Indonesian
militia leader. ... The case of 16-year old Juliana dos Santos was raised
at last month’s 57th congress of the UN Commission on Human Rights
by Mrs Kirsty Sword Gusmao, the Australian wife of East Timor’s independence
leader, Mr Xanana Gusmao." Mark Dodd, Herald Correspondent in Dili
Apr
20 CNRT/CN: Gusmao: “The Liberation Movement in East Timor”
Speech in Jakarta added Apr 25
"War is a monster that devours human lives.
People died but have not disappeared for they have left behind links of
remembrance. This is the other side of sacrifice, of the grief carried
by those who did not die. In this new millennium, all the peoples of the
world should unite to set up a front for peace, to promote dialogue and
strive against any incitement to violence and war. Timor Lorosae was a
stage of war ... for twenty-four years! Today, it is attempting to
rebuild itself from the ashes of total destruction and from profound psychological
trauma and human grief. It is a hard but an exciting task ... because the
East Timorese are motivated to overcome yet again. Beyond physical reconstruction
and the establishment of Institutions, the hardest process will be healing
the wounds. There is nothing motivating us against the Indonesian people,
who also suffered under the former regime. There is nothing motivating
us against the present Indonesian regime who we know are trying to make
the democratisation process a success." Xanana Gusmao, President of the
CNRT
Apr
19 RadioNeth: Komnas HAM Sec.Gen supports International Tribunal for Timor
Interview added Apr 25
" ... there has been so much delay not
only on the part of the executive but also by parliament. So who can blame
the international community and groups here in Indonesia for coming to
the conclusion that the government is not serious about dealing with these
crimes by setting up ad hoc courts? In other words, an International Tribunal
will prove to be the only alternative if people’s demands for justice are
to be met. ... Bearing in mind all the delay, it is better to set up an
International Tribunal. This is the only way for justice to be done." Asmara
Nababan, secretary-general of Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission,
Komnas HAM
Apr
3 AAP: Genocide legal in Australia News added Apr 25
"Australia would remain a safehaven for
suspected war criminals unless it legislated against genocide ... Senator
Greig [Australian Democrats Justice spokesperson] said Australia needed
to have its own laws to investigate, prosecute and expel alleged war criminals.
He said Australia’s existing War Crimes Act applied only to European war
between 1939 and 1945 and ignored recent cases of war crimes in East Timor,
Rwanda and Cambodia." AAP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Nov
28 2000 FRETILIN: Lu Olo's speech during the hoisting of RDTL flag ceremony
Speech added Apr 27
"Today we commemorate the 25th anniversary
of Democratic Republic of East Timor (RDTL) proclaimed by Central Committee
of FRETILIN. In order to officialise this historical date. We will hoist
the flag that signify the clear conscious of the political, cultural, moral,
and social responsibilities. To affirm the long responsibility of FRETILIN
towards Maubere People during the toughest 24 years of resistance and the
struggle to materialise the will of being free and independent. ...
We serve as an engine of construction,
for a tolerant society, and the backbone to achieve peace and stability
to our nation. We contribute decisively to finding ways in the process
of democratisation, to respect each other differences. Here we reaffirm
that democracy is our priority and another quest for our struggle. Multi-party
system is the way to go without any complexity. We are embarking on a history
of glory without violence. To respect the rights of Mau-Beres and Bi-beres,
Children, young and old, as well as every Timorese with different ethnic
background." Lu Olo, General Coordinator of FRETILIN
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Peaceful M1 Blockade
M1 Alliance
Mining Industry
House, the home of the Minerals Council of Australia,
216 Northbourne
Avenue, Bradden
The blockade is
to commence from 7am, May 1st.
East Timor Benefit Quiz Night
Timor nia Klamar, (Tetun for Spirit or
Soul of Timor)
through Mary MacKillop Institute of East
Timorese Studies
Whitlam Room, Canberra Workers’ Club,
Childers St, Civic.
Friday May 11, 7.30pm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
East Timor Action Network U.S.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conselho Nacional de Resistencia Timorense / National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT)
The Australia East Timor Association (AETA)
Australian Council for Overseas Aid
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
BACK DOOR supports human rights, East Timorese
self-determination and promotes East Timorese
voices.
More about BACK DOOR:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/AboutBD.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To un-subscribe include the words "Unsubscribe BACK DOOR".
More about Email
subscription:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/Subs.htm
- - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -