Bahasa Indonesia:
Maret
2001 ACFOA: Partai-Partai Dan Kelompok-Kelompok Politik Di Timor TimurTéks
[150KB]
added June 29
"Timor-Timur kini tengah memasuki tahap
akhir yang penting dari proses transisi menuju kemerdekaan penuh. ... Tetapi
sekarang partai-partai boleh menduduki ‘centre stage’ untuk memainkan peranan
penting mereka dalam suatu proses demokrasi. Ini adalah suatu kemajuan
yang positif dan sehat di mana kelebihan seseorang tidak menjadi faktor
yang melemahkan. ... Berapa banyak partai yang akan bertanding dalam pemilihan?
Siapa pemimpin partai-partai tersebut dan bagaimana mereka dapat dihubungi?
Seberapa berbeda partai-partai ini dibandingkan dengan yang sebelumnya?
Apa ide-ide dan kebijakan mereka terhadap pembangunan di Timor Timur, kebijakan
luar negeri dan sebagainya?" Pat
Walsh, Badan Bantuan Luar Negeri Australia
Mar
31 Reut: Ramos-Horta replaces Gusmao as Timor leader News
added Apr 1
"Nobel peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta,
foreign minister of U.N.-run East Timor, will take over as head of the
territory’s de facto parliament, the United Nations said on Saturday. He
replaces independence leader Xanana Gusmao, who quit last week over internal
squabbling which he said was hampering the tiny territory’s push for independence."
Reuters
Mar
30 STL: CPD-RDTL’s Antonio Aitahan Matak Wants Proof News
from ETimor added Mar 31
“We are not accepting the accusations
made against us by Ramos Horta, Mari Alkatari and Lu-Olo that we are linked
with the TNI. Prove it! If they can’t prove the allegations then we will
take them to court both nationally and internationally,” Antonio
Aitahan Matak, General Co-ordinator of CPD-RDTL
Mar
29 Tempo: US President urged not to support Indonesian military
News added Apr 3
"About 30 [Indonesian] women activists
held rally at the US Embassy on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan here today. They
asked President Bush not to support the Indonesian military (TNI) in any
form, including supporting education program for TNI officers in the US.
The demonstrators also asked the US government not to lift military embargo
imposed since the East Timor referendum, until TNI is no longer involved
in the power play." Tempo
Mar
29 RDP: Timorese leader Gusmao criticizes use of aid funds
News added Mar 30
"An ironic Xanana Gusmao told the donors’
representatives that if ministers in Sergio Vieira de Mello’s [head of
UNTAET, UN Transitional Administration in East Timor] government left the
country less often and visited the districts in the interior of East Timor
instead, listening to the people’s complaints and aspirations, then the
level of trust would be different. Xanana said that the people would
feel the funds were being used properly." Antonio Veladas
Mar
29 RA: Allies back Gusmao's decision to quit East Timor assembly
News added Mar 30
"The civil society needs more his time
and work rather than the national council. So he wants to continue to bring
the people together to really reflect on the constitution so that it can
be a legitimate one, reflects the peoples’ wishes, spirit and soul as he
puts it, so his time is better used elsewhere rather than in the national
council." Agio Pereira
Mar
28 BBC: Gusmao resigns as East Timor leader News added
Mar 30
"I feel, as president of the National
Council, that any attempt to overcome the deadlock is in vain due to the
lack of willingness [of Council] members, ... As I refuse to be part of
a politically irresponsible process, I hereby tender my resignation,” East
Timor independence leader Jose “Xanana” Gusmao
Mar
28 GLW: Indonesian troops out of Aceh! Article added Mar
30
"We must force the Australian government
to end all military ties with Indonesia. While the training of Indonesian
special forces by the Australian military was put on hold following the
rampage by the TNI and its militia groups in East Timor after the 1999
independence referendum, Canberra continues to train members of Indonesia’s
regular army in Australia. It is likely that the Australian government
will offer increased military cooperation as a “goodwill” gesture when
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid visits Australia in April." Pip
Hinman, national secretary, Action in Solidarity
with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET)
Mar
28 GLW: Timor war criminals remain free Article added
Mar 30
"The establishment of an international
war crimes tribunal for East Timor faces opposition from Indonesia’s main
Western allies also, who have repeatedly stressed their preference for
Indonesia to conduct its own trials. ... if such a tribunal was established,
why should it not investigate the actions of those states who condoned,
aided and abetted Indonesia’s illegal occupation of East Timor, and who
have consistently lied about the extent of their involvement?" Jon Land
Mar
28 LUSA: Francisco Xavier do Amaral Announces New 'Third Way' Party
News added Mar 30
"He [Francisco Xavier do Amaral] has repeatedly
been linked to the radical party CPD-RDTL
(Popular Defense Committee - Democratic Republic of East Timor), which
indicated he was the group’s top official for education and culture in
its founding document." JBC, Lusa
Mar
28 LH: Sexton: Update on ET NGO Forum: Rushed Constitutional Process
Letter & News added Mar 29
"As you have likely already seen, things
are moving very quickly on this issue, and not in the direction we had
hoped. ... With the news of the defeat in yesterday’s NC vote, the working
group is trying to think strategically about where we can go from here.
Unfortunately, there seems to be little room to argue alternatives." Pamela
Sexton, La'o Hamutuk:
The East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
Mar
23 LH: Job announcement for La'o Hamutuk in East Timor
Request added Apr 7
"With this job announcement, we are actively
seeking international (non-East Timorese) as well as East Timorese applicants
(from within East Timor and overseas). Women are particularly encouraged
to apply. ... La’o Hamutuk staff persons work collaboratively with other
staff and advisory bodies to develop and implement the organization’s work
plan. Together with the organization’s Board of Directors, they are responsible
for coordinating some of La’o Hamutuk’s main activities." La’o
Hamutuk - The East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
Mar 27 STL Bishop Belo: Planned and Democratic Economic Development Needed News from ETimor added Mar 28
Mar 27 STL: April 6, Peace Campaign To Be Launched In Dili News from ETimor added Mar 28
Mar 27 STL: The Fate Of The People In A Political Arena Editorial from ETimor added Mar 28
Mar
26 About HR: US Court Goes After Architect of ETimor Terror
News with background added Mar 28
"The East Timorese have been seeking to
hold accountable those responsible for the great suffering inflicted upon
them by Indonesia’s invasion and occupation of their country. They are
especially concerned that, barring the creation of an international tribunal,
the Indonesian military leaders who gave the orders will escape justice.
The lawsuit and hearing provide a forum for the East Timorese to tell their
stories and to have a court officially acknowledge and rule on one of those
responsible." John Miller, East Timor Action
Network (ETAN)
Mar 26 STL: Bishop Basilio: People Beginning To be Frustrated With UNTAET News from ETimor added Mar 28
Mar 26 TP: Horta: Timor Lorosae Will Be In ASEAN News from ETimor added Mar 28
Mar
23 AP: Pro-Jakarta Militias Vow To Continue Fighting ETimor Government
News added Mar 24
"At the moment we are in a cooling down
period.
We will wait for the United Nations to leave before we go back in," Cancio
Lopes de Carvalho, former commander of a pro-Indonesian armed group
Bahasa Indonesia:
Mar
23 CNRT: Kirsty Sword Gusmão Beserta Keluarga Perempuan Yang Diculik
Milisi Akan Release added Mar 24
"Isterinya Presiden CNRT-CN akan berangkat
ke Geneva besok bersama bibinya Juliana dos Santos, seorang perempuan berusia
15 tahun yang diculik dan ditahan di Timor Barat sejak tahun 1999. Di Geneva
Kirsty Sword Gusmão akan menghadiri suatu konperensi yang diselenggarakan
oleh UNHCR dengan tema kekerasan terhadap kaum perempuan. Bersama dengan
Ny. Domingas Santa Mouzinho, Ny. Sword Gusmão juga bermaksud untuk
menyampaikan suatu pernyataan mengenai situasi Juliana pada Komisi PBB
untuk Hak Azasi Manusia." Sarah Niner & Lurdes Bessa, CNRT
Mar
23 CNRT: Kristy Sword Gusmao & Kidnap Girl's Family to plead case in
Geneva Release added Mar 24
"[Ms Sword Gusmão and kidnap girl's
family] hope that if Juliana can be returned it will offer a glimmer of
hope to other women, their families and communities and believe that other
East Timorese women being held in West Timor by militias in similar circumstances
must also be returned." Sarah Niner & Lurdes Bessa, CNRT
Mar
22 LH: ET NGO Forum: Rushed constitutional process Request
& Letter updated Mar 29
"The [East Timorese] NGOs
are demanding the establishment of a mechanism for thorough consultation
throughout East Timor on the constitution, and for adequate time and resources
to be allotted for this critical process. Clearly, this process is a crucial
step in East Timor's struggle for self-determination. We ask for your immediate
assistance in lobbying the UN Security Council through your
national governments and in passing this letter to others." Pamela
Sexton, La'o Hamutuk:
The East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
Mar
22 JRS: Refugees Going Hungry Briefing added Mar 24
"The refugees in the camps are suffering
great hunger. They have had no support from local aid groups since January
and from international agencies since September last year, when they withdrew
following the killing of UNHCR personnel by militias,” Jesuit
Refugee Service (JRS) West Timor
Mar
21 SMH: UN retreats on spying allegation News added Mar
23
"The United Nations mission in East Timor
admitted yesterday that an internal security memo accusing a group of shipwrecked
Indonesians of being spies was untrue. ... Other concerns raised in the
report are being taken seriously, including a warning that a lack of safeguards
on the Atauro-Dili sea lane poses a security threat to Dili." Mark Dodd,
Herald Correspondent in Dili
Mar
20 SP: Bishop Belo's conditions for return of pro-integration refugees
News from WTimor added Mar 31
"UNTAS
[pro-integration group: ‘Uni Timor Aswain’] figures have called on
Bishop Belo to retract the 13-point statement he recently issued regarding
the conditions for return of pro-integration refugees. They want reconciliation
with no preconditions." Sasando Pos
Mar
19 Watch Indonesia: German MP demands stronger committment for Human Rights
Release added Mar 29
"At the 56th UNCHR a one year deadline
has been set for the Indonesian Government to accuse all those human right
violators. Since then nothing has happened and the time limit has been
exceeded. Because of that there is no other alternative but to establish
an international ad-hoc court as soon as possible." Mrs. Leutheuser-Schnarrenberger,
Committee for Human Rights and humanitarian aid of the German Parliament
(Bundestag)
Mar
19 STL: Xanana Gusmao: CNRT To Be Officially Dissolved in June
News from ETimor added Mar 23
“In June, CNRT
will close as its role will be taken over by the on-going political process
... I know that self-government will be difficult, therefore in my personal
capacity as an ordinary citizen, I will cooperate with all sides to have
dialogue to support the on-going process” Xanana Gusmao, CNRT/NC president
Mar
18 PUB: Extracts from an interview with Abílio
Interview added Mar 31
"Are you refuting, therefore, the accusation
that you are financing the CDP-RDTL
? What I refute is being behind the alleged attempt
on the life of Xanana Gusmão and other acts of violence. I do
not deny that, should someone ask me for money and if I happen to have
some, I would help that person." Abílio Araújo, President,
Timorese
Nationalist Party (PNT)
Mar
17 TP: The Dynamic Of ‘Quota Politic’ Editorial from ETimor
added Mar 24
"We have spoken many times on women’s
demand for a 30 % quota and do not want to say more. Except that, Timorese
can emulate the example set by REDE (East
Timor Women Network) yesterday at UNTAET headquarters. We welcome the
day when the actions of interest groups or political groups are based on
dialogue, debate and discussion. ... REDE has shown the correct political
path for our country. We hope that future political actions for democracy
in our country will take into account this dynamism. This is the democratic
model that needs to be created in our country." Timor Post Editorial
Mar
17 SMH: UN fears sabotage of ETimor elections News added
Mar 20
"The UN memo says CPD-RDTL
supporters had clashed with members of the East Timorese pro-independence
Fretilin party on Atauro on February 22, the same time as the seven Indonesians
[suspected spies] were seen there. Last week, Mr Gusmao warned of links
between senior RDTL officials and shadowy Indonesian army intelligence
agents." Mark Dodd, Herald Correspondent in Dili
Mar
17 Lancet: Growing Pains of ETimor: Health of An Infant Nation
Report added Mar 19
"Let us not be tempted to build and develop
modern hospitals that are costly and in which only half a dozen people
benefit from good treatment. Let us concentrate above all on planning intensive
campaigns of sanitation, prevention, and the treatment of epidemics and
endemics for the whole population." Xanana Gusmão, de-facto President
of East Timor
Mar
17 OPMT: Australian ESL teachers required to work with OPMT leaders
Request added Mar 17
"OPMT (Popular
Women's Organisation of East Timor) leaders have expressed the urgent
need for OPMT members to learn English so that women can better participate
in the political development of their country. Alice Springs Friends of
East Timor (ASFOET) has responded, [along with the NTEU & others] to
sponsor properly qualified ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers
to develop a course for both OPMT leaders and FRETILIN." Alice
Springs Friends of East Timor (ASFOET)
Mar
16 LUSA: National Council Members Explain Rejection of Quotas for Women
News added Mar 20
"Members of East Timor’s National Council
transition legislature justified Friday their rejection of quotas for women
candidates on party election lists. ... Simultaneous to the press conference,
a group of several dozen protesters from East Timor’s most prominent women’s
rights organizations demonstrated in front of the Government Palace in
Dili." JBC
Mar
16 LH: Salzer: News from La’o Hamutuk Report from ETimor
added Mar 19
"There is always so much happening here
[in Dili], and we are often slowed down in our communications by still-regular
power-outages. We hope to share more regular updates on our work. For now,
we offer a run-down of what we have been up to since the start of 2001."
Mark Salzer, La’o Hamutuk
Mar
16 CHART: Clearing House for Archival Records on ET Initiative
added Mar 17
"For the East Timorese, these records
[of the dramatic, often tragic events in ET since 1974] include irreplaceable
parts of their history, much of which has been lost due to loss of life
and property destruction. The preservation of this material will fill critical
gaps in their historical record and contribute to nation building in East
Timor. ... CHART aims to promote the preservation of archival materials
about East Timor for future generations of Australians and East Timorese."
John
Waddingham, initial national coordinator, CHART (Clearing House for
Archival Records on ET)
Mar
16 CNRT/NCP: Gusmao: Speech at signing of the Electoral Regulation
Speech added Mar 18
"[This is the] English version of the
speech of the Presdient of CNRT/CN and
National Council (NC) at the signing of the Electoral Regulation for the
forthcoming and first elections to be held on August the 30th this year.
The original speech was said in Portuguese
and translated into English by the Media Unit of CNRT/CN Presidency." Ines
Alemeida, Head, Media Unit CNRT/CN
Portuguese:
Mar
15 CNRT/CNP: Gusmão: O Regulamento Assinado pelo Dr Sérgio
De Mello Speech added Mar 18
"Intervenção do Presidente
do CNRT/CN, Xanana Gusmão na ocasião da assinatura, pelo
Dr Sergio Vieira de Mello, Administrador Transitório, do regulamento
sobre a eleição de uma Assembleia Constituinte para a elaboração
de uma constituiçâo para um Timor Leste independente e democrático"
CNRT/Congresso
Nacional Presidência
Mar
15 STL: Bishop Belo: Do not choose party that destroys Timor
News from ETimor added Mar 20
“I have met with Fretilin, UDT, and even
with CPD-RDTL (Aitahan Matak, Fil
Fernandes and Feliciano). I said to them that I would only support parties
in Timor that work for peace, democracy human rights justice, social peace,
tolerance. The church supports pluralism and democracy in East Timor."
Bishop Belo
Mar
14 ETAN: U.S. law bars U.S. military aid and training for Indonesia
Info added Mar 23
"If President Bush, Secretary Powell,
Assistant Secretary Wolfowitz, the Indonesian government or anyone else
would like to resume U.S. military relations with the Indonesian government,
they must either meet the conditions in the law or change the law by an
act of Congress." Charles Scheiner,
National Coordinator, East Timor Action Network/US
Mar
14 GLW: Tanaja: Debate over Constituent Assembly election process
Report added Mar 22
"The heated debate
surrounding citizenship is an indication of the resentment that
exists toward former East Timorese emigres by those who stayed in East
Timor or in Indonesia during the liberation struggle. ... Another
hotly debated issue is quotas for women. In its recommendations,
the NC argued that 30% Constituent Assembly seats must be filled by women."
Vanja Tanaja, Dili
Mar
14 Japan: NGO Joint Petition on UNCHR 57th session Petition
added Mar 17
"The Japanese government should also call
for clarification, as part of any investigation into crimes against humanity
and war crimes committed in East Timor, of the responsibility borne by
countries which provided financial assistance, weapons and diplomatic support
to the Indonesian government and military, and were therefore indirectly
involved in the massive human rights abuses perpetrated in East Timor."
NGO Joint Petition on UNCHR 57th session
Portuguese:
Mar
12 OTL: Sistema de saúde: sustentável no futuro?
Report added Apr 14
"O sistema de saúde actual corre
o risco de ser pautado por metodologias e equipamentos inadequados à
realidade timorense, sobretudo após a retirada dos técnicos
e organismos estrangeiros. O desenvolvimento não tem de passar obrigatoriamente
pela implementação de sistemas sofisticados de topo de gama.
A preocupação deverá ir antes de encontro às
reais necessidades e capacidades da população, de forma a
poderem ser os timorenses a criarem as suas própria instituições
e a definirem as suas prioridades. Provavelmente, os resultados seriam
mais lentos e menos brilhantes a curto-prazo, mas com certeza mais sólidos
e duradouros." Observatório Timor
Leste
Mar 13 ETO: The
health service: sustainable in the future?
Report added Apr 13
"The present health system is in danger
of being hindered by methodologies and equipment that are quite unsuited
to the Timorese context, particularly after the foreign technicians and
agencies leave. Development does not necessarily have to involve implementing
sophisticated state of the art systems. The focus should be on addressing
the population’s real needs and building its capacity, so that the Timorese
themselves are able to create their institutions and set their own priorities.
This may mean that it takes longer to achieve results, and these might
be less spectacular in the short-term, but they would certainly be more
solid and long lasting." East Timor
Observatory
Mar
13 TP: Support For Xanana Pours In News from ETimor added
Mar Mar 23
"Following the incident
of 7 March 2001 in the Dili Gymnasium, several quarters have expressed
their stand on the matter. Apart from strongly condemning CPD-RDTL supporters
and regretting Civpol’s method of arresting the three political activists,
there is full support for the leadership of Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao as President
of CNRT/NC." Timor Post
English and Bahasa
Indonesia:
Mar
13 E.Timor NGOs protest police predictions of violence
Letter & Commentary added Mar 17
"On February 8, and Australian news article
interviewed the civpol Commander of Operations in East Timor who predicted
violence
as the election process progresses, basing
it on myths of East Timor having little experience with democracy and a
culture of
violence. After a phone conversation in
which the Commander confirmed that the interview does reflect his opinions,
a coalition of East Timorese NGOs wrote him a letter on 17 February. As
there has been no response to the letter for three weeks, the NGOs
have decided to release the letter to
the public and the media." Charles Scheiner, International
Federation for East Timor
Mar
12 TP: Fretilin Declaration: Do Not Commit Violence News
from ETimor added Mar 20
"In the last few days, the
symbols of Fretilin, especially the RDTL flag, have been used by certain
groups to create trouble and to deceive the people into carrying out demonstrations,
violence and other undesirable actions." Lu Olo (president) and Mari Alkatiri
(vice-president) of Fretilin
Mar
12 TP: Garcia: International Women’s Day News from ETimor
updated Mar 20
"To commemorate International Women’s
Day in East Timor, women’s organisations such as Et-Wave,
Fokupers,
OMT,
OPMT
and youth organisations joined in a long procession." Rosa Garcia
Mar
12 Age: Burchill: Not guilty on Timor? Explain this then
Article added Mar 13
"[the Australian Hawke and Keating governments]
did as much as we possibly could to advance the East Timor cause within
the environment as we faced it with the cards that we had" Gareth Evans
Mar
10 AU: East Timor's children of the enemy Article added
Apr 5
"Investigators and women’s organisations
agree rape plagued both East Timor and West Timor following the ballot
on independence in 1999, and in many cases constituted both
a war crime and a crime against humanity. “A lot of rapes happened
in the chaos,” Wandita says, explaining that women separated from their
families were pounced on by marauding packs of men. But beyond that, she
says, many of the rapes were planned, organised
and sustained as a joint effort by the military and the militias. “There
was obviously collusion,” she says." Sian Powell, Dili
Mar
10 ETAN: Memo to UN Commission on H. Rights Memo added
Mar 17
"At last year’s Human Rights Commission
session, Indonesia’s representative Susanto Sutoyo expressed confidence
that his government’s internal processes would satisfy the requirements
of the international community. U.S. representative Micheal Dennis stated
the U.S. sincerely hoped that at the next session of the Commission, it
would be able to note further progress by Indonesia in bringing those responsible
for human rights violations in East Timor to justice. Unfortunately, such
progress has not occurred." East Timor Action
Network/U.S.
Mar
10 ETAN: Re: US Government's Travel Warning on ET Letter
added Mar 17
"this recent edict from the U.S. government
cannot go unchallenged. The U.S. State Department warns American citizens
travelling to East Timor to "exercise
extreme caution" because "During the year 2000, East Timor witnessed a
significant increase in all categories of crime, violent and non-violent"
" Charles Scheiner, East Timor Action Network/U.S.
Mar
9 STL: Fretilin Not Behind CPD-RDTL News from ETimor added
Mar 20
"Their [CPD-RDTL] actions on Wednesday
were criminal in nature. They are using the
Fretilin flag without our agreement. And we have reminded them umpteen
times to stop using Fretilin symbols, but to no avail,” Mari Alkatari,
Fretilin Vice-President
Mar
8 FEER: Searching For Closure: the fate of those missing in ETimor
Article added Mar 4
"In the meantime, the Missing Persons
Unit is struggling to make itself better known in East Timor. Its three
officials are fanning out through East Timor to encourage local government
administrators and village leaders to gather material to plug into the
database. In early February, the unit received a major boost when Bishop
Belo, the Catholic church's leading official in East Timor, endorsed its
work and requested that all church officials in East Timor cooperate."
Stewart Taggart
Mar
7 CNRT/CNP: A Threat on the life of the President Press
Conference summary of events added Mar 8
"Commissioner Costa e Souza [of CivPol]
ended his report by stating that he has no doubt that this was a planned
action designed to disturb the meeting between President Xanana Gusmão
and the students and that given the
level of violence it was also designed to threaten the life of the President."
National
Council of Timorese Resistance/Congresso Nacional Presidency (CNRT/CNP)
Mar
6 TP: Civic Education, Urgent? Editorial from ETimor added
Mar 10
"For us, the model that President Xanana
used in the gymnasium is most effective. It began "hot" and finished
with Xanana embracing and crying. This is not to say that the model we
are proposing is one of embraces and tears. What is most important is how
to create dialogue and debate, during which the people are given unlimited
time to freely argue without protocol or moderator ... " Timor Post editorial
Mar 6 STL: Gusmao: “I’m Not Dreaming To Be The First President of Timor Lorosae” News added Mar 8
Mar
6 UPI: Army key to Indonesia's power Analysis added Mar
18
"in East Timor in the late 1990s, TMI
[Indonesian army] did not hesitate to equip and lead paramilitary forces
that inflicted a reign of terror on a population seeking independence from
Indonesia. ... When Habibie angered Wiranto and other army commanders by
agreeing to a referendum over independence in east Timor, they retaliated
by unleashing a wave of terror within East Timor." Martin Sieff, Senior
News Analyst, United Press International
Portuguese:
Mar
5 OTL: Partidos políticos e Forças pró-independência
Report added Mar 22
"Oito partidos apresentam-se sob a bandeira
da independência. Dos cinco partidos criados em 1974, quatro foram
levados a colaborar, mais ou menos, com o ocupante indonésio. A
FRETILIN sempre se opôs à ocupação. Consciente
da vantagem que adquiriu, a FRETILIN sente-se limitada na frente comum
proposta por Xanana Gusmão, e quer partir à conquista do
poder. Mas para alguns isso faz renascer a lembrança da guerra civil
de 1974 e provoca apelos angustiados de Xanana Gusmão a favor da
unidade nacional." Observatório
Timor Leste
Mar
5 ETO: Political parties and Pro-Independence Forces Report
updated Apr 27
"There are 8 parties behind the independence
flag. Of the five parties set up in 1974, four eventually collaborated,
to a greater or lesser extent, with the Indonesian occupiers. FRETILIN
always maintained its opposition to the occupation. Aware of its present
advantage, FRETILIN now feels restricted as part of the united front proposed
by Xanana Gusmão, and wants to leave it to conquer its own territory.
For some, however, talk of such a move only rekindles memories of the 1974
civil war and impels Xanana Gusmão to appeal for national unity."
East
Timor Observatory
Mar
5 AFP: Horta calls for UN tribunal in East Timor News
added Mar 8
"If Indonesia proves incapable of bringing
the culprits to justice, we believe the UN Security Council will have no
alternative but to create an ad-hoc tribunal for East Timor ... There can
be no reconciliation without justice, we cannot declare an amnesty" Jose
Ramos Horta, Foreign minister in East Timor's transitional government
Mar
5 SMH: Militia chief's new role confirms Indon army ties
News added Mar 8
"The information is alarming on two counts:
it confirms that the militias and the Indonesian military intelligence
apparatus are one and the same; it also goes some way towards explaining
the difficulty for Jakarta in trying to disband the militias." Mark Dodd,
Herald Correspondent in Kupang, West Timor
Mar
4 Simpson: The Truth About Timor Letter added Mar 8
"The United States could help East Timor
by declassifying documents that reveal its own role in supporting Indonesia's
invasion and occupation since 1975. Those countries that turned a blind
eye to East Timor's enormous suffering must also seek reconciliation with
the Timorese, and with their own shameful pasts." Brad Simpson
Mar
2 TP: Bishop Belo: No Violence During Lent Editorial from
ETimor added Mar 17
"in many aspects, the history of East
Timor is written in gold, with Christian and Catholic spirit and confidence
that the people’s right to independence is sacred." Timor Post Editorial
Mar 2 SMH: UN lays down East Timorese refugee deadline News added Mar 4
Mar
1 ETAN/US: Letter on women and upcoming election Letter
added Mar 4
"Although they have made many contributions
to their society through the independence movement, literacy campaigns,
and other community service efforts, East Timorese women remain one of
the most marginalized segments of the population. ... We hope that UNTAET
will, at the behest of the East Timorese society it serves and in keeping
with the United Nations’ commitment to women’s empowerment worldwide, rule
in favor of a requirement for at least 30 percent women candidates in the
upcoming elections in East Timor."
Charles
Scheiner, National Coordinator, East Timor Action Network
Mar
1 NYT: Sexual Violence as Tool of War: Pattern Emerging in East Timor
Article added Mar 3
"Mr. Senior [UN chief investigator of
sex crimes] said the reports he had gathered suggest that some instances
of mass rape coincided with massacres that occurred both before the independence
vote — in April and May 1999 — and in the three weeks of destruction that
followed the Aug. 30 vote. ... Ms. Alves [Timorese counselor] said it was
possible that the rapes were part of the destruction of East Timor that
investigators are now piecing together as an orchestrated scorched-earth
policy commanded by Indonesia's military." Seth Mydans