AUSTRALIA-EAST TIMOR ASSOCIATION (AETA) / NSW
PRESS RELEASE
(TUESDAY 16TH OCTOBER
2001)
26TH ANNIVERSARY OF BALIBO
INCIDENT
FAMILIES STILL WAITING
FOR JUSTICE
Today marks the 26th anniversary of the death of five Australian-based journalists in Balibo, East Timor. In spite of the progress that has been made by the Serious Crimes Unit of UNTAET in Dili in uncovering those responsible for these horrendous crimes the prosecution appears to be currently stalled.
The widow of one of the slain journalists Ms Shirley Shackleton earlier today told AETA that their is now so much evidence compiled that it is only political factors that are delaying prosecution. She added that the Australia Government should hand over the remaining files in their possession to Dili so that the prosecution case can be made even more water tight.
Ms Shackleton reiterated the call for a Royal Commission here in Australia that was made following the release of the Ball/McDonald book ‘Death in Balibo, Lies in Canberra’. “It is in the interests of the health of the Australian body politic to purge the web of lies and deceit that every Federal Government and Prime Minister has been accused of over the past 26 years of cover up and withholding of information despite the two abortive Sherman Inquiries that only muddied the waters”, she argued.
Ms Shackleton intends to attend the Melbourne book launch at Reading’s bookshop in Carlton of journalist Jill Jolliffe’s new contribution to the issue entitle “COVER-UP, the inside story of the Balibo Five” published by Scribe. Meanwhile in Darwin it is significant that the incumbent Prime Minister of East Timor Mari Alkatiri will be present at the opening of the first sitting of the new government in the Northern Territory. AETA calls upon him to add his voice to this who want justice for the families of the Balibo Five and Roger East.
end.
further details available
from
Jefferson Lee (AETA/NSW)
02-9519-4788/9500-1638
or Shirley Shackleton
(after 8.30pm EST) (03) 9699-1002
The Australia East Timor
Association (AETA) Updated Oct 13
The Australia East Timor Association was
the first and longest serving solidarity organisation for East Timor in
Australia.
The Melbourne Branch is 25 years
old. The Melbourne Branch has an extensive
book list via mail order.
Melbourne contact: John Sinnott Email:
aetamel@aetamel.org
Phone: 61 3 9416 2960 Postal address: PO Box 93, Fitzroy Victoria
3065, Australia
The Sydney Branch was formed in
1992. The Sydney Branch brings out a Newsletter [available to anyone upon
request: jefferson.lee@bigpond.com]
which includes NGO Report Backs, Coming Events And Media Digest. Contact
Sydney thru email bdd@one.net.au
The Sydney Branch meets the 4th Wed of the month at UTS Tower Building,
3rd floor. Details Stephen Langford (02) 9331-5986.
Current AETA (NSW) Events: http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/sydney.htm
Current AETA Resource List (Melbourne):
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/aetaresources.html
The lack of response or protest from the Australian ALP government over this event led Indonesia to understand correctly it would have no problems with Australian or US governments with a future full-on invasion of East Timor. This duly happened, so 300,000 lives are on the hands. It took until September 1999 to reverse the trend.
Jill Joliffe has just published a book on the issue, haven't seen it yet. I hope she republishes her East Timor-Nationalism and Colonialism.
The NT Parliament will reopen on 16th October,
first time under an ALP government, for many of us this is fairly liberating
too.
I believe Mari Alkatiri will be an honoured
guest. [I must have missed my invitation in the post.]
Wes
Robert Wesley Smith rwesley@ozemail.com.au
See also:
BD: Military and political aid to Indonesia - A collection of recent reports, articles and news