CONTENTS:
CURRENT
URGENT ACTIONS
* Legal
experts Call for International Tribunal
* Australia:
Terrorist Laws Threaten HR Support
NEWS,
ARTICLES & REPORTS
* ETimor/Japan:
Calls for International Tribunal
* East
Timor's 2nd Crimes Against Humanity trial
* Decisions
made in Constituent Assembly
* United
Nations Security Council Meeting
* Brazil:
ETimorese NGOs at World Social Forum
* Dr.
Ramos-Horta on Fretilin
UPCOMING
AUSTRALIAN EVENTS
* Nat'l & Int'l-A.C.T.-Melbourne-Perth-Sydney
ACTIVE
RELATED EMAIL LISTS
ABOUT
BACK DOOR
EMAIL
SUBSCRIPTION
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* Legal experts Call for International Tribunal
Petition for Lawyers and Legal Scholars
to sign:
NEW Jan
31 Attorneys and Legal Scholars Call for International Tribunal for East
Timor Release added Feb 1
"The time to prosecute the crimes inflicted
upon the East Timorese through the establishment of an
International Criminal Tribunal is now. Each step by the international
community to prosecute the acts perpetrated against the East Timorese advances
the rule of law, and signals that neither state-condoned nor state-perpetrated
terror, wherever it occurs, will be tolerated." Nearly 50 Legal Experts
from around the world (Signatures at: http://www.etan.org/news/2002a/01law.htm
)
“We intend to keep pressing for justice
for the people of East Timor, and will continue to collect signatures in
support of a tribunal, ... A tribunal is necessary to hold those high ranking
officials who organized and implemented the destruction of East Timor accountable.
The international community cannot countenance impunity.” Anthony DiCaprio,
Center for Constitutional Rights & lead attorney in a civil action
against General Johny Lumintang
See also: ETAN/U.S.: Current
Action Alerts:
http://www.etan.org/action/urgntMnu.htm
[includes actions to: End the Refugee
Crisis]
* Australia: Terrorist Laws Threaten HR Support
Update:
Until
Feb 18 WSLS/LV: New Terrorist Laws Threaten Democratic Rights
Urgent Actions & Briefing Paper updated
Feb 1, 2002
"New Laws: * ASIO to get powers
of arrest and detention for up to 48 hours * The removal of the right to
silence when under questioning * The creation of terrorist offences and
related legislation violating the rights to freedom of expression, assembly
and association * Removal of privacy rights and increased powers for government
to seize organisation's assets * Denial of the right to legal representation
... In Australia ... Federal Cabinet has announced some extraordinary proposals
and over the coming months proposed legislation will be made public. The
legislation is likely to be considered in February so it is important for
civil society to act now and influence the debate over what are acceptable
changes, if any, to our democratic and civil rights. ... In Australia,
support for the East Timorese's independence movement
could have been banned." Damien Lawson, Western Suburbs Legal Service,
Melbourne & Anne O'Rourke, Liberty Victoria (Australia)
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* ETimor/Japan: Calls for International Tribunal
Jan
29 AP: Horta urges UN to set up court News added Jan 31
"[Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta] urged the United
Nations to set up a criminal tribunal to deal with the worst abuses in
East Timor, as it sponsored tribunals for the Balkans and Sierra Leone,
but said he was not optimistic. “The U.N. Security Council does not seem
to have the courage to do what is logical, to set up a war
crimes tribunal,” he said." Peter James Spielmann
Jan
30/31 Free East Timor Japan Coalition letter to UNSG Letter
added Feb 1
"We therefore call on you to strongly
commit yourself to: (1) the establishment of an
international tribunal to properly investigate crimes
against humanity committed in East Timor, not only in 1999 but throughout
the entire period of the Indonesian occupation, and prosecute those responsible
for these atrocities; and (2) the provision of proper funding and resources
for East Timor’s judicial system to
ensure that low-level militia members within East Timor are brought to
justice." Free East Timor! Japan Coalition
* East Timor's 2nd Crimes Against Humanity trial
Jan
31 JSMP: Second crimes against humanity trial commences in dili
News added Feb 1
"The Second Special Panel of the Dili
District Court has begun hearing the second trial involving crimes
against humanity charges in East Timor. The trial relates to
militia violence in Liquica District in March and April 1999, including
the massacre of a group of villagers who were hiding in the Liquica Church
on 6 April 1999. One charge also relates to another massacre at the
house of Manuel Carrascalao in Dili on 17 April 1999. The accused,
Armando Dos Santos, is charged with 3 counts of murder and one of other
inhumane acts." Judicial
System Monitoring Programme (JSMP)
* Decisions made in Constituent Assembly
Jan
31 UNTAET: Assembly Votes To Transform Itself Into Legislature
News added Feb 1
"The Constituent
Assembly voted today to transform itself into East Timor’s first legislature
upon final approval of the Constitution.
The overwhelming vote for the transformation
- 65 in favour, 16 against, two abstentions and five absent - ended a heated
debate on whether or not legislative elections should be held in concert
with the 14 April presidential election or shortly after East Timor marks
its independence on 20 May." UNTAET Daily Briefing 31 January 2002
Jan
31 JSMP: Constituent Assembly adopts Serious Crimes articles
Comment added Feb 1
"The Constituent
Assembly yesterday adopted three new articles to the East Timorese
constitution who all relates to the process of bringing perpetrators of
previous serious crimes in East Timor to justice. The articles, however,
surprisingly limits the process quite significantly compared to the system
already established by UNTAET. ... JSMP fear that the limitations of the
adopted articles derives mainly from confusion over legal terminology and
lack of knowledge of the system currently in place for trying Serious Crimes
in East Timor. The end result may be that some of the most severe crimes
will not be tried, or tried in a court system already overburdened with
cases and where the lack of resources may seriously endanger the defendant’s
right to a fair trial. In another surprising decision, the assembly adopted
a regulation establishing the right of the East Timorese Parliament to
revise the mandate of the Reception, Truth
and Reconciliation Commission. The suggestion was raised by Chief Minister
Mari Alkatiri, and will limit the independence of the commission drastically."
Judicial
System Monitoring Programme (JSMP)
* United Nations Security Council Meeting
Jan
31 UN: Security Council extends mandate to 20 May 2002
Resolution added Feb 1
"Welcoming the strenuous efforts of the
Second
Transitional Government and people of East Timor to reach independence
by 20 May 2002, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) until
that date. ... Looking forward to receiving further specific proposals
from the Secretary-General for the mandate and structure for a successor
United Nations mission after independence at least one month before the
date of independence," United Nations Security Council
Jan
30 MFAC: Horta Addresses UN Security Council Release added
Jan 31
"Indeed, we are confident that our people
have the capacity to govern ourselves and to establish and maintain a sustainable
economy. This will all develop gradually. The country does not as yet have
the means to support itself without assistance. In time, there will be
revenues from oil and gas exploitation. Tourism will also thrive once we
have created the necessary infrastructure and facilities. But in the short
term, East Timor will need all the assistance it can get to build up its
fragile economy. In conclusion Mr. President, I earnestly request, on behalf
of the Second Transitional Government and the entire country that this
Council endorse the concept of a successor mission, which has been carefully
thought out and planned by my colleagues at UNTAET. In this way, the gains
that have resulted from your tremendous commitment to East Timor so far
will be consolidated and maintained in the crucial first years of Independence."
Dr
Jose Ramos-Horta is Senior Minister & Minister for Foreign Affairs
and Cooperation, Second Transitional Government
East Timor
* Brazil: ETimorese NGOs at World Social Forum
Feb
3, 2002 ET NGOs at the World Social Forum in Brazil News
and event added Feb 1
"IBASE-INSTITUTO BRASILEIRO DE ANÁLISES
SOCIAIS E ECONÔMICAS was the sole Brazilian NGO in East Timor last
year, and I had the great opportunity to coordinate the project Sharing
Experiences on Community Empowerment and Policy Development in partnership
with Oxfam Australia-CAA. Now 10 Timorese NGOs will present a seminar at
the WORLD SOCIAL FORUM. If you happen to come to Brazil for the WSF, please
join us in the discussions that will follow the seminar." Regina Domingues,
Coordinator, Ibase Timor Leste Project,
Brazil
"Timor Lorosa’e (Timor Leste) nasce em
meio à globalização. Venha refletir e propor alternativas
ao modelo econômico imposto ao mais novo país do terceiro
milênio. Timor Lorosa’e (East Timor) is being born amid globalization.
Come and join us thinking and proposing alternatives to the economic
model imposed on the newest country of the Third Millennium." Ibase,
Oxfam
Austrália-CAA,
Women’s Political
Caucus, Fokupers, La’o
Hamutuk, Centre for Peace and Development,
Labour Advocacy Institute, CDEP,
KSI,
Sah’e
Institute for Liberation, Haburas,
Yayasan
Hak
Jan
30 MFAC: Ramos-Horta on Fretilin Release added Feb 1
"I was very impressed by the moral and
political courage of the current Fretilin leadership
in their decision to set up, early last year, its own investigation to
establish the facts about what happened in the past. ... I am impressed
by the maturity that all political parties have
shown thus far. The democratic elections of August
30, 2001, which included 16 political parties, passed without one single
incident, this is the result of the maturity displayed by the leadership
of all 16 parties, and credit must go to impartial East Timorese leaders
such as Xanana Gusmao and Bishop Belo
for their guidance.” Dr Jose Ramos-Horta,
Senior Minister & Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Second
Transitional Government East Timor
Jan
29 AP: Horta: East Timor Asked to Admit Wrongdoing News
added Jan 31
"East Timor will have to face up to atrocities
committed by the liberation movement during the 25-year independence campaign
if the new nation hopes for true reconciliation and peace, interim Foreign
Minister Jose Ramos-Horta said Tuesday." Peter James Spielmann
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UPCOMING
AUSTRALIAN EVENTS
Nat'l
& Int'l-A.C.T.-Melbourne-Perth-Sydney
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/events.htm
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
EVENTS:
Access
details of Nat'l & Int'l Events at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/national.htm
SBS TV program - Lafu story on Oecusse (an East Timor enclave within Indonesia)
International conference:
March 9, 2002: Completion and final approval of first Constitution of Timor Lorosae
UN Commission on Human
Rights
The next session of the
Commission will require concerted lobbying to ensure that pressure for
justice for East Timor through an international
tribunal is maintained.
Info: Paul Barber,
TAPOL,
the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
Tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653
0322 Email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Venue: Geneva
March/April 2002
See: October
2001 LHB: Justice for East Timor?
Access
details of Canberra Events at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/ACTEvents.htm
Tetum Language Course (Introductory - East Timorese)
Access
details of Melbourne Events at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/melbourne.htm
Communicating in East Timor: Tetum for Beginners
Weekly Nike Pickets - Protest Indonesian Sweatshops
Access
details of Perth Events at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/perth.htm
International conference:
A one day workshop on: Australia - Indonesia
Border Tensions:
Continuing The Dialogue On Refugees,
Asylum Seekers And People Smugglers
http://russic.curtin.edu.au/refugees_workshop.htm
Info: Dr Nonja Peters n.peters@curtin.edu.au
6th February 2002
deckchair theatre and PLAY IT SAFE present:
MAVIS GOES TO TIMOR
The story of Mavis Taylor, an 86-year-old
haberdasher and mother of nine, who travels to Timor to set up a sewing
co-operative for Timorese women. ... The country is in ruins, most of its
houses gone, its people are dislocated and its economy is in tatters. Amid
this destruction and buoyed by the people's overwhelming faith and positivity,
Mavis struggles on with her daughter Elwyn, tackling the deprivation and
red tape and her own doubts that she is up to the job.
Bookings: BOCS on 08) 9484 1133.
Info or interviews with Angela Chaplin,
Kavisha Mazzella or any of the other artists:
David Gerrand or Shauna Weeks on 08) 9430
4771 or e-mail admin@deckchairtheatre.asn.au
Fremantle Arts Centre, 1 Finnerty Street
in Fremantle
Previews: Thursday & Friday
7,8 February
Opening Night: Saturday 9
February
Season: Tuesday to Saturday Nights
until the 2 March
LORN FOUN (New Beginning)
An exhibition of photographs by award
winning Irish photojournalist, Paul Stewart
The photographs cover the recent elections
in Timor and the visit by Angela Chaplin, Kavisha Mazzella, Katherine Thomson
and David Gerrand to Dili to research this production.
Tel: 08) 9430 4771 or e-mail admin@deckchairtheatre.asn.au
Displayed in the foyer of the sea container
theatre
Fremantle Arts Centre, 1 Finnerty Street
in Fremantle
Feb 7 - Mar 2
Access
details of Sydney Events at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/sydney.htm
"Leaving the Crocodile" Exhibition:
Australia East Timor Association (AETA) Meetings
John Pilger speaking on
BREAKING THE SILENCE: War, Propoganda
and the New Empire
John Pilger, an award winning journalist,
has written four books, produced numerous films and been a regular contributor
to Green Left Weekly. His latest film, ‘the New Rulers of the World’ tackles
the issue of corporate globalisation and, in particular, corporate exploitation
in Indonesia. Come and hear what John Pilger has to say about media ownership,
refugees, the US ‘war on terrorism’ and more.
Guarantee your seat:
Book Now 96901977 $16/$10
concession
presented by Green
Left Weekly newspaper
Email: Asia Pacific Institute apiaustralia@greenleft.org.au;
Max Lane max_lane@bigpond.com
Sydney Town Hall
8.00pm Friday March 1
update
east-timor
list [US based] Updated Feb 2, 2002
About 10-15 emails a day, (frequency
varies with the pace of East Timor-related events); 1 full item/email:
east-timor focuses on news distributing
items from a wide range of sources, including East Timorese groups, ETAN/US,
TAPOL,
and other support groups. Reports and translations from wire services and
the East Timorese, Indonesian, Portuguese, Australian, British, U.S. and
Irish press also regularly appear there, as well as official documents
and statements from the U.N., national governments, and other sources.
(East-timor began as a list server echo of a conference (newsgroup) called
reg.easttimor and is sometimes known by that name.)
This list is available by email; write
john@etan.org
if you want to subscribe or use the web form at: http://www.etan.org/resource/etlist.htm
NEW
TAPOL.ETIMOR[UK
based] Updated Feb 2, 2002
About 2 emails a day; 1-2 full items/email:
TAPOL.ETIMOR is limited to an average
of two postings per day from the larger east-timor
list. If you think the east-timor list will be overwhelming, you
can subscribe by visiting visit http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/tapol-etimor-l
A selection of news postings from the
list are also placed weekly on ETAN’s web
site at http://etan.org/et/
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BACK DOOR:
* upholds human rights,
* supports East Timorese self-determination
and
* promotes East Timorese voices.
More about BACK DOOR:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/AboutBD.htm
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