Homepage: http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood

lia-tetun

CONTENTS:
  URGENT ACTIONS: REFUGEES
  TOPICAL THEMES
  NEWS, ARTICLES & REPORTS
  * Terrorist attacks in the U.S.
  * Second Transitional Government of East Timor
  * Constitutional Assembly
  * A Popular Challenge to UNTAET
  UPCOMING AUSTRALIAN EVENTS
  Brisbane-Darwin-Melbourne-Perth-Sydney
  ABOUT BACK DOOR
  EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION

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URGENT ACTIONS: REFUGEES

Read about 'Refugees' and Missing Persons at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/refugee.htm

Until Oct 24 AI: Urgent Action - Fear for safety of East Timor refugees  Action added Sep 19
"Several hundred East Timorese refugees are thought to be planning to return from West Timor over the next week. They are feared to be at risk of attack from militia groups operating in West Timor, who oppose the repatriations and have previously attacked refugees trying to register to join it. ...
Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Bahasa Indonesia, English or your own language:
- reminding the Indonesian authorities that the right to return to one’s own country is a fundamental human right;
- urging the authorities to fulfil their international obligations to ensure that refugees wishing to return to East Timor are able to do so in safety and dignity, and that they have the opportunity to make a free and informed choice as to whether to return or not;
- urging the authorities to ensure that the refugee camps are humanitarian and civilian in nature, and that refugees are protected against threats or attacks from militia groups." Amnesty International - Australia

Sep 12 GLW: West Timor: Jakarta’s militia terrorise refugee camps  Article added Sep 19
“Where are our missing children? We have nothing—no land, no houses, nothing to do, no materials to work with to make an income. The women here are dying from childbirth because they have no money for doctors, there is little food and in some camps little water. We cannot afford to send our children to school or to the doctor.” Women in the refugee camps in Kupang and Atambua
“When we returned to Dili, in East Timor, the APCET [Asia-Pacific Coalition on East Timor] delegation held a press conference to announce its findings and make a number of recommendations, the most important being that the Indonesian government must disband the militia. The UN and international NGOs should take control of the camps, solve the social problems and facilitate the repatriation of the majority of the refugees. People who wish to stay should be given houses and the camps closed down.” Jill Hickson, independent film-maker and member of Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET)

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TOPICAL THEMES

These NEW collections of items relating to
particular themes have been added since
the last newsletter.

BD: UN appointed, East Timorese, Second Transitional Government of East Timor
The UN appointed, all East Timorese, Second Transitional Government of East Timor was sworn-in on September 20th 2001. This is a separate body to the Constitutional Assembly that the East Timorese people voted for on August 30th 2001.

BD: Political Parties / Partidos Políticos / Partai Politik / Partidu Polítiku

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NEWS, ARTICLES & REPORTS

CONTENTS:
  Terrorist attacks in the U.S.
  Second Transitional Government of East Timor
  Constitutional Assembly
  A Popular Challenge to UNTAET

Terrorist attacks in the U.S.

See also: BD: The Current World Crisis - A collection of statements on the recent terrorist attacks in the US and the subsequent 'war on terrorism'

Sep 23 TAPOL: Statement on the Megawati-Bush Joint Statement  Added Sep 25
"Indonesia and the current world crisis On 19 September, President Megawati  Sukarnoputri went to Washington to meet President Bush for a state visit that had been agreed before the horrendous events in New York and Washington on 11 September when more than six thousand people of many nations met their deaths as the result of a heinous, terrorist attack. TAPOL joins in mourning those who were killed, while continuing to mourn the one million or more Indonesians who met their deaths as Suharto took power in 1965/1966. On that occasion, Washington gave unstinting support to Suharto and the Indonesian army to continue with this massacre and made no calls on the world community to fight terrorism - state terrorism - which might well have halted the massacre in its tracks. ... Megawati’s measured response shows that she knows full well that support for Washington in Indonesia is less than enthusiastic." TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign

Sep 22 ET Solidarity Activists in US: An Open Letter to Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta  Letter added Sep 22
"We believe your statement [IHT 9/13/01] responding to the recent terrorist attacks in the United States reflects dangerous stereotypes about the Middle East and serious misconceptions about the role of the United States there. At a time of crisis such as this, when the United States government is preparing to launch a war somewhere in the Middle East, ignore international law, and further militarize the world in the name of fighting terrorism, your statement is most regrettable. Your depiction of Arabs and Muslims as hateful and violent feeds into the negative stereotypes that are now allowing an alarming number of Americans to support their government’s rush to war, regardless of the civilian casualties that will result. ...  the kind of statement needed from a Nobel Peace Prize winner is one that emphasizes the need for the U.S. to respect international law, avoid war, and halt its militaristic and unilateral foreign policy. We hope that your future statements more accurately reflect your commitment to peace and justice." Matthew Jardine; John Roosa; Will Seaman; Ben Terrall; Mizue Aizeki; Amy Goodman; Roger Bowers; Tom Foley; Garrick Ruiz; Kristin Sundell; Joann Lo; Ravinder Bhatia; Cynthia Peters; Diane Farsetta; Max White; Peter Mao; Brad Simpson; Sara Smith

Sep 13 IHT: The Tragedy That Has Engulfed America  Letter added Sep 22
"In East Timor’s long history of struggle, never once did it use violence against Indonesian civilians. We East Timorese did not even allow derogatory racial statements about the Indonesian people in our literature or rallies. Not one single Indonesian civilian was ever harmed in our 24-year struggle. We knew this was never a war against the civilians. ... My heart goes out to the American people. Stay the course. Our small nation of East Timor is with you." José Ramos-Horta, East Timor’s foreign minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate

Second Transitional Government of East Timor

Sep 20 Alkatiri: Swearing-in Ceremony of Members of the Transitional Government  Speech added Sep 22
"This Plan must be designed to alleviate poverty. In this regard we will be seeking the assistance of multilateral financial institutions, particularly the World Bank ... In our quest to promote economic development more rapidly, free enterprise and private sector led development shall form the essential tools of our macroeconomic strategy. In this regard, our government will, as a matter of urgency, initiate the creation of a conducive environment to encourage private enterprise. ... Allow me to use this moment to express our gratitude to the IMF for their assistance in the development of our fiscal and monetary institutions. We will continue counting on the IMF as well as the World Bank and UNDP to jointly engage in the task to end corrupt practices in management and to ensure the Administration is well respected." Mari Alkatiri, Head of Government, East Timor

Sep 20 FAETTA: Dr Ramos-Horta Hounored to Serve East Timor  Release added Sep 22
“It is an honor and my duty to serve the people of East Timor. A people the have suffered immensely, shown enormous courage and tenacity, resilience and creativity, and yet are asking so little. ... I hope that I can contribute to help improve the lives of the poorest of the poor.” Dr. Ramos-Horta

Sep 20 UNTAET: Second Transitional Government of East Timor List of appointments added Sep 21
Flow chart of new government structure, page 3 of PDF file [125k]: http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/2ndtransgovt.PDF

Sep 20 KY: ETimor announces cabinet lineup  News added Sep 21
"U.N. Transitional Administrator in East Timor Sergio Vieira de Mello, announcing the lineup, said the cabinet has 10 ministers, three secretaries of state and seven vice ministers. It consists of nine representatives from the Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of East Timor (Fretilin), two members of the Democratic Party, Fretilin’s closest rival, and nine members not affiliated with any party. De Mello said they were selected “not on the basis of party nominations but on the basis of their individual competence.” The nine politically independent figures in the cabinet, he said, were chosen “because of their proven sectoral expertise and their demonstrated dedication and patriotism with as broad a geographical representation as was possible.” " Christine T. Tjandraningsih

Sep 19 UNTAET: New East Timorese Government Established Tomorrow  Briefing added Sep 25
"The new all-East Timorese Council of Ministers of the Second Transitional Government, which will replace the current Transitional Cabinet, will be sworn-in tomorrow morning in Dili. This second Transitional Government and its Council of Ministers will govern East Timor during the remaining transitional period before the independence of a democratic and sovereign state. ... all of this in close consultation with the Transitional Administrator [Sergio Vieira de Mello] who retains the ultimate executive and legislative authority ... Furthermore, a Public Administration of East Timor will be formally established, implementing the programs and policies of the Council of Ministers, a body now totally composed of Timorese members, broadly reflecting the results of the election that took place on 30 August." UNTAET Daily Briefing

Constitutional Assembly

Sep 19 Amaral-Arlindo chosen to be Constituent Assembly Vice-Presidents  News from ETimor added Sep 20
"The President of ASDT, Francisco Xavier do Amaral, and Secretary-General of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Arlindo Marcal, were chosen yesterday to be vice-presidents of the Constituent Assembly. ... With ASDT and PDC holding on the vice-presidency, chances are almost zero for the second and third winners of the election ­ PD and PSD ­ to hold any position in the Constituent Assembly." Suara Timor Lorosae

Sep 17 KY: Independence veteran elected ETimor assembly speaker  News added Sep 19
"The 88-member assembly elected Guterres, popularly known by his guerrilla name Lu Olo, after U.N. Transitional Administrator in East Timor Sergio Vieirra de Mello, who chaired the election, named him as a single nominee in the election. ... Following his election, Guterres, who is coordinator of the presidential council of Fretilin, the Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of  East Timor, asked the assembly to cooperate and work together." Christine T. Tjandraningsih

Tetum:
Junho 2001 BLH: Harii Kapasidade Liu-Liu ba Iha Prosesu  Editorial from ETimor added Sep 21
"Konstituisaun Timor Lorosa’e nian sei sai fundasaun ida importante tebes ba nasaun independente. Prosesu ida nebe ema Timor Lorosa’e hakerek konstitusaun mos importante. Ba ema Timor Lorosa’e mane no feto tenke partisipa iha prosesu kritikal ida nee. Sira tenki iha informasaun no tempo halo diskusaun no haburas sira nian hanoin / opiniaun" La’o Hamutuk, Institutu Timor Lorosa’e ba Analiza no Monitor Reconstrusaun

A Popular Challenge to UNTAET

Sep 20 A Popular Challenge to UNTAET’s Achievements  Statement added Sep 20
"UNTAET has recently published in the September issue of its broadsheet Timor Tais 20 of the UN’s major achievements in East Timor. Many of these achievements are either misleading or things that UNTAET has been forced to do under pressure from Timorese people, civil society and leaders and international critics. It is time for UNTAET to be held accountable, once and for all, for not fully achieving its mandate, and for now preparing to withdraw and redefining its mandate according to the few things it has done rather than what it was supposed to do."

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UPCOMING AUSTRALIAN EVENTS
 Brisbane-Darwin-Melbourne-Perth-Sydney
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/events.htm

BRISBANE EVENTS:

Access details of Brisbane Events at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/brisbane.htm

The Oxfam Community Aid Abroad National Conference
Themes include "Conflict Development" and "Changing World, Changing NGO's"
Hear from program partners about their experience of creating positive change and of the effect of conflict on development in places like Bougainville, East Timor, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Email: caaact@caa.org.au
Brisbane
28th 29th and 30th of September

"Remembering Forgetting" by Ciaron O’Reilly. Book Launch.

DARWIN EVENTS:

Access details of Darwin Events at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/otherevents.htm

ASIET solidarity brigade to East Timor
Live with Timorese families & experience social, political & economic conditions first-hand.
Ph Sibylle (08) 8941 7080 Email: darwin@asiet.org.au
Sat Sept 29 — Sun Oct 7

MELBOURNE EVENTS:

Access details of Melbourne Events at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/melbourne.htm

30th Resistance National Conference

PERTH EVENTS:

Access details of Perth Events at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/perth.htm

Abstracts DUE 28 September 2001

SYDNEY EVENTS:

Access details of Sydney Events at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/sydney.htm

Post-elections Report back from Dili from AETA activists:
Dr Andrew McNaughtan & Jefferson Lee, Gaby Grammeno (Springwood Group), Beatrice Miranda (SBS Radio), H.T.Lee (CFMEU / Freelance)
Australia East Timor Association (AETA) Monthly Meeting
Details: AETA Secretary Stephen Langford (02) 9331-5986
UTS Tower Bdg, Level 3, behind SA Office
Wednesday 26th September 6.30pm

Corporate Power Or People’s Power?

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BACK DOOR supports:
 . human rights,
 . East Timorese self-determination and
 . promotes East Timorese voices.

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