May
2001 AsiaFound: Nat'l Survey of Voter Knowledge Foreword
and executive summary added June 28
"This report presents the findings of
the first ever random nationwide survey to assess East Timorese political
opinions and knowledge. ... The survey involved 1,558 in-person interviews
of potential voters in a total of 392 Aldeia in 196 villages in all the
13 districts of East Timor. It addresses critical issues related to the
national mood; voter and civic education issues; access to media; language
use and preference; and demographics." The Asia Foundation
May
30 AAP: East Timor's Horta calls for over 90 pct of Timor Gap royalties
News added June 25
“Eighty-five per cent I hope is the minimum
that the current [Australian] government will offer, ... (But) I hope that
John Howard and Alexander Downer will want to do more than what Labor [opposition
party] has offered. ... Kim Beazley and Laurie Brereton have said a Labor
government will offer 90 per cent of the revenues to East Timor. ... So
if I were John Howard and Alexander Downer, I would never allow Labor to
be seen as more generous that I. ... So the minimum that the current government
should do is to offer 91 per cent or 95 per cent. The Australian community
will applaud that,” Dr Ramos-Horta
May
29 A People’s Constitution for East Timor Release added
June 22
“A constitution should be a living document
reflecting the needs, hopes and aspirations of the Timorese people. It
is important that the Constitution is not only owned by the elite, but
also by ordinary men and women. It is important that all the Timorese are
involved enough in the process so that we can call it a People’s Constitution,”
Joaquim Fonseca, Advocacy Officer, Yayasan
Hak
May
28 AidWatch: Letter to World Bank Letter added June 9
"At the seminar you [Mr
Klaus Rohland] explained World Bank reasons
for vetoing the public grain silo. ... However you did not address the
main point of my question, which was: how was this ‘vetoing’ of funds,
given for the people of East Timor by the donor countries, consistent with
the human right of self-determination of a people (Article One of both
the Covenants of the International Bill of Rights)?" Tim
Anderson, researcher, AID/WATCH:
Monitoring the Development Dollar
May
25 GLW: World Bank dictates development Article added
June 9
"There is a common perception that the
World
Bank is a subsidiary or support group for the UN, which is not the
case. ... The World Bank is indirectly at the moment - and I think with
stronger pressure in the future - pushing the East Timorese into developing
cash crops for export, in particular, organic coffee. This will create
pressure on old traditional title and [lead to] the resolution of land
disputes in favour of large landholders [who seek] to consolidate and create
cash-cropping areas, which also poses the threat of environmental degradation."
Tim
Anderson, researcher, AID/WATCH:
Monitoring the Development Dollar
May
23 Rondo: East Timor's Refugees: the Growing Crisis Event
added May 24
"Indonesian plans for refugee registration
on June 6 by military and militia-associated groups will put the refugees
in grave danger. ... Mr. Rondo and CIS are currently working to ensure
the refugee registration process scheduled for June 2001 allows refugees
to choose between repatriation to East Timor and resettlement within Indonesian
freely and without intimidation. Concerns include the prominent role of
the Indonesian military and militia in the process."
May
20 FRETILIN: Electoral Commitment 2001 Position statement
added July 4
"The struggle of our People was always
aimed at restoring independence. FRETILIN, as the driving force of the
resistance, believed in the unwavering capacity of the Maubere People to
resist and to win. ... Together we will Restore Independence and Free the
People. Vote for FRETILIN." FRETILIN: Frente Revolucionária
Do Timor-Leste Independente
May
17 ETO: East Timor Defence Force: the price of security
Report added June 8
"Continuing instability (largely due to
the behaviour of militias, and Armed Forces and Government of Indonesia)
has forced the international community and the Timorese to shift from their
original position that the territory should not have armed forces. By the
end of 2001, only 600 members of the ETDF will have been trained, which
means that the presence of international military and observers will have
to continue, until militias in West Timor are disbanded, disarmed, and
their members brought to trial." East Timor
Observatory
Portuguese:
May
17 OTL: Forças de Defesa de Timor Leste: custos da segurança
Report added June 8
"A situação de instabilidade
continuada (fortemente dependente do comportamento das milícias,
Forças Armadas e governo indonésio) obrigou a comunidade
internacional e os timorenses a alterar a posição inicial
de não criação de FA para o território. Apenas
600 efectivos das FDTL serão treinados até finais de 2001,
o que impõe a necessidade da continuação de uma presença
de militares e observadores internacionais até que as milícias
em Timor Ocidental sejam desmanteladas, desarmadas e os seus elementos
levados a julgamento."
Observatório
Timor Leste
May
17 ETAN/US: U.S. House of Reps Supports Timor Rights & Reconstruction
Release added May 19
“U.S. support is critical to East Timor’s
future, and we appreciate the deep continuing involvement demonstrated
by the House of Representatives. We must build on this step to institute
socially, environmentally, and economically just relations between the
two countries. Given past U.S. support for Indonesia’s illegal occupation,
that is the least our country can do for the people of East Timor,” Karen
Orenstein, Washington Coordinator, East Timor
Action Network/U.S.
May
16 SBS: See No Evil TV documentary added May 18
"We reveal the extent of intelligence
gathered by the Australian Army in East Timor after the ballot and the
bloodshed in 1999. And we show how that information was withheld at a critical
time. This report from Mark Davis examines Australia‘s ongoing silence
- a silence which has helped rehabilitate Indonesia in the eyes of the
world, and continues to impede the establishment of an International War
Crimes Tribunal." SBS Dateline (Australia)
May
16 DPA: U.S. reassures East Timor leaders of support News
added May 18
“There is no alternative but for the (U.N.)
Security Council and the secretary general of the United Nations to push
for a war crimes tribunal,” Ramos Horta, Nobel Peace laureate
May
16 IHRN & ETAN: Rights Groups Oppose Military Cooperation with Indonesia
Release added May 20
"The East Timor
Action Network (ETAN) and the Indonesia
Human Rights Network (IHRN) today condemned Indonesia’s participation
in joint military exercises with the U.S. The groups warned that any military
cooperation sends the wrong message to the Indonesian military (TNI), which
has yet to be held accountable for past human rights abuses in both East
Timor and Indonesia and continues to engage in systematic violations across
the archipelago."
May
14 SC: Petroleum Related Education, Training And Employment For East Timorese
Release added June 9
"The Steering Committee ... is pleased
to announce that its Member Organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
to develop programs designed to enable East Timorese people to compete
effectively for employment in the oil and gas industry and related East
Timor Government administration." Dr Mari Alkatiri, Chair of the Steering
Committee
May
14 LH: NGO Forum declines to join UNTAET Constitutional Process
Letter added May 16
"The NGO
Forum has chosen to coordinate with, but remain independent of, the
UNTAET Constitution building process because of strong concerns that UNTAET’s
process is rushed and highly inadequate." Lao
Hamutuk, East Timor Institute for Reconstruction Monitoring and Analysis
May
14 IHRC: NZ Foreign Minister Urged To Act On International Tribunal
Release added May 20
"The Indonesia Human Rights Committee
has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs [Aotearoa
New Zealand] to urge him to mobilise international support for an
effective international tribunal to try those responsible for mass murder
in East Timor. The Committee also wants stronger action to enforce an end
to militia violence in the West Timor refugee camps and on the border with
East Timor." Indonesia Human Rights Committee
May 11 STL: Peter Galbraith: Timor Gap negotiations Slow But Certain News from ETimor added May 13
May
10 RadNeth: Horta - Bumpy Road to Independence News added
May 19
“As long as necessary, at least the peacekeeping
forces should stay beyond independence for two or three years to guarantee
peace and security in the territory. After independence, we will still
need quite a few international advisers for various sectors, particularly
banking, finance and justice. But they will be there at our request under
the responsibility of the elected Timorese government." Ramos-Horta
May
10 Woodcroft-Lee: Concerns over expatriate attitudes Reflections
updated May 12
"My observations of the following is cause
for concern:
a total lack of cultural and political
awareness; a reluctance to involve local East Timorese staff in the running
of organisations; an apparent disregard of proper industrial relations;
and the ‘foreigners know best’ attitude."
Trish
Woodcroft-Lee, volunteer in East Timor
May
10 Reut: Portugal lawmakers censure E. Timor administration
News added May 13
"UNTAET was exemplary in accomplishing
its mission to maintain security and socio-economic stabilisation in the
territory, ... But its administration is costly and not very efficient
and has not brought about the prompt preparation of Timorese bodies for
future administration,” report compiled after a visit by a Portuguese parliamentary
commission
May
9 GLW: UN lets Indonesian military off the hook Article
with comments from BACK DOOR updated May 16
"The East Timorese people have been extremely
patient over these last 18 months both in coping with the trauma and subsequent
disruption of their lives caused by the TNI-directed destruction, as well
as having to cope with the large, well-paid and arrogant foreign presence
of the UN here. However, this patience is wearing thin. Without organised,
consistent pressure from the East Timorese people and their international
supporters, those who laid waste to East Timor will get away with their
crimes unpunished." Vanya Tanaja
TV documentary added May 13
"In an extraordinary investigation, reporter
Mark Davis returns to East Timor to disclose disturbing new revelations
about Australia’s secret intelligence information prior to the country’s
independence referendum. ... A senior officer has now revealed for the
first time that Canberra knew the Indonesian Army had plans to destroy
East Timor and murder independence supporters, and failed to alert those
most at risk." SBS Dateline (Australia)
May
8 JP: Atambua sentence: Ever elusive justice on Editorial
added May 10
"International condemnation came swift
and fast on Friday as soon as a district court in Jakarta sentenced six
pro-Indonesia East Timorese to between 10 and 20 months in jail for their
roles in the September murder of three United Nations humanitarian aid
workers. ... As people in this country and abroad must realize by now,
it is one thing for Indonesia to carry out due process of law and completely
another whether this process ensures the delivery of justice, which is
the very objective of this whole exercise." Jakarta Post editorial
May
8 Catholic aid agency CAFOD calls for war crimes court on East Timor
Release added May 10May 9 SBS: Australias
East Timor secret
“It is clear that there is no political
will in Jakarta for any serious steps to be taken against those who commit
human rights atrocities. Jakarta’s efforts on this front have lost all
credibility. ... One of the best steps towards the development of democracy
in the long-run is the promotion of justice and the rule of law. CAFOD
is concerned that groups being seen as clearly above and outside the law
will affect the development of democratic principles in both East Timor
and Indonesia, and will only promote the use of violence in both societies.
... It is time for the international community to realise that we can best
support these fledgling democracies by bringing to justice those guilty
of such atrocities. Indonesia cannot and will not do this itself, and it
is time for the establishment of an international tribunal on East Timor.”
Catherine
Sexton, CAFOD Programme Officer for East Timor
28
April – 5 May 2001 CSW: Joint Mission to East Timor Report
added June 30
"The words of an East Timorese song performed
before the 1999 Referendum read thus: "Our people are suffering and dying,
our hearts cry out but no one knows. Please remember our little homeland.
Please remember East Timor. Oh, our little homeland! Oh, East Timor. Deeply
suffering the world’s rejection, stripped by strangers, repressed by torture.
Oh, my homeland, will you be free?" We sincerely hope and pray that the
people of East Timor will never again have to suffer the anguish of torture,
of their land being stripped by strangers, and of being rejected and forgotten
by the world. We hope that they will experience true freedom and independence.
We will stand with them." Dr
Martin Panter & Benedict Rogers,
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
May
5 GLW: East Timor: Big business press backs Australian oil theft
Article added May 5
"In the wake of the second round of negotiations
between Australia and East Timor on the Timor Gap
Treaty and the disputed seabed boundary, Australia’s big business press
are stepping-up its support for Canberra’s push to deny East Timor a fair
share of the revenue from oil and gas deposits. ... There has been no indication
that the UNTAET is pursuing any goals [in relation to Timor oil] different
to the wishes of the East Timorese leadership. There have been no public
criticisms from the National Council or the East Timorese members of the
transitional cabinet. Although the Australian government and its
supporters in the capitalist media look set to continue their blackmailing
and bullying tactics, and misrepresentation of the views of East Timor’s
negotiators, UNTAET and the East Timorese leadership seems determined not
to falter." Jon Land, Indonesia - East Timor
Campaign Watch
May
4 CNS: Pressure will bring Timorese refugees home, says former JRS head
News added May 10
“The allies of Indonesia can help by direct
contact with the Indonesian government or its military, imploring them
to take that control, [of the militias] ... There is no process of accountability
for the perpetrators of the violence, and in those camps are many militias,
... Without the help of the international community, these camps will not
be liberated from the control of the militias, ... The East Timorese people
were my first teachers in the field of humanitarian aid [in 1975]. And
my first lesson began with that bad smell produced by the false dichotomy
... between principle and pragmatism, ... Being pragmatic does not exclude
being principled, righteous and respectful of human rights, ... Foreign
policy based solely on pragmatism makes for poor governance," Jesuit Father
Mark Raper, former head of Jesuit Refugee
Service
Bahasa Indonesia:
May
3 ACFOA: Partai-Partai Dan Kelompok-Kelompok Politik Di Timor Timur
Catatan Briefing added May 16
"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
May
3 IT: War Crimes in East Timor Letter to the Irish Times
[Dublin] added May 10
"Any international war crimes tribunal
for East Timor will serve several purposes. It will let the Indonesian
people know the full extent of the savagery and horror of what was done
in their name. And it will let them and the world know the Indonesian military
for what they are - a gang of murderers and criminals. They won’t just
become international pariahs, but become pariahs in their own country.
Last but not least, for those of us who saw many members of our families
die, it will give us some comfort at the thought that those responsible
will one day have to face justice and answer for what they did." Jose Lopes
May
3 TP: NC members off to Darwin to gather data on Timor Gap
News from ETimor added May 5
"Twenty-six councilors out the 30-member
National Council will be making their way to Darwin between 8 May - 10
May to seek further data on the Timor Gap. This data will be used by the
National Council to analyze the involvement of the Australian government
and Philips Petroleum in the development of the Timor Gap, said National
Council President Manuel Carascalao yesterday." Timor Post
May
2 IO: Solidamor demands Wiranto be charged News from Indonesia
added May 3
"The Solidarity
Without Borders (Solidamor), led by its chairman Bonar Tigor Naipospos,
was received by senior prosecutor Rahman, who chairs a Attorney General's
Office (AGO) team investigating human rights abuses in East Timor. The
AGO last week named 18 suspects in the destruction of East Timor by pro-Jakarta
militias after the East Timorese people voted for independence from Indonesia
on August 30, 1999. However, the list sparked outrage from human rights
activists as it excluded Wiranto and other former high-ranking officers,"
Indonesian Observer