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)
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 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
30/31 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
Petition for Lawyers and Legal Scholars
to sign:
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
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)
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
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. ... He 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
Portuguese:
Jan
25 OTL: A Indonésia arrasta o julgamento dos crimes cometidos em
Timor Leste
Reportagem de 14 fevereiro 2002
"Quanto tempo a comunidade internacional
vai conceder ao tribunal para apresentar resultados? Já passaram
mais de dois anos sobre os factos. A total ausência de balizas favorece
a estratégia de arrastamento. ... O julgamento não é
vingança: “é indispensável para abrir caminho a uma
verdadeira reconciliação
em Timor Leste” afirmou a comissão de inquérito das NU, mas
também para “encorajar as reformas democráticas na Indonésia
e ajudar a evitar que os oficiais das FA responsáveis pela destruição
de Timor Leste, a maior parte dos quais continuam a ter prestígio
e poder, continuem a cometer atrocidades contra os cidadãos indonésios”
(carta de 30 congressistas americanos a Colin Powell, 30-1-01)." Observatório
Timor Leste
Jan
25 ETO: Indonesia delays East Timor atrocities trials
Report added Feb 14
"How much time is the international community
going to give the [Indonesia’s ad hoc] tribunal to come up with results?
Over two years have already elapsed since the atrocities occurred. A total
absence of time limits serves to encourage further delay tactics. ... The
trial is not an exercise in vengeance, but rather essential: “to open the
way forward to genuine reconciliation
in East Timor” (UN Commission of Inquiry), and “to encourage democratic
reforms in Indonesia and help prevent the armed forces officers responsible
for the devastation in East Timor, most of whom
are still in positions of prestige and authority, from continuing to commit
atrocities against other Indonesian citizens” (letter from 30 members of
the US Congress to Colin Powell, 30-1-01)." East
Timor Observatory
Jan
25 JP: End game in East Timor Editorial added Jan 26
"Even though it has been almost two and
a half years since an eruption of violence in East
Timor, not a single Indonesian military and police officer responsible
for security in the territory at that time has been prosecuted. ... there
is no doubt that Indonesia owes the international community some credible
explanation. ... unless Indonesia lives up to its responsibility as a member
of the international community, an international
tribunal hearing for these officers will be the most appropriate alternative.
... The heaviest cost that the East Timor debacle is exacting on Indonesia,
though, is on its international reputation and image. This incident hurt
the entire nation, and not just the military. ... It is no wonder that
more and more people around the world see Indonesia as a pariah state.
If this image continues, more and more investors and tourists will shun
Indonesia. ... Clearly, it is in the best interest of this nation to accelerate
the entire legal process. These delays should come to an end, for our own
good. We need to put the East Timor nightmare behind us, once and for all,
and quickly, and restore our reputation and credibility among the international
community. Most of all, we need to get on with our lives." Jakarta
Post Editorial
Portuguese:
jan
25 SGTTL: Contactos - o Gabinete do Chefe
Informações de 25 janeiro
"Temos o prazer de informar que o Gabinete
do Chefe do Segundo Governo de Transicao de Timor-Leste terah, a partir
de 28 de Janeiro de 2002, os seguintes contactos: Telefone: (+ 670 390)
3339502 E-mail: chefe.do.governo@timor-leste.minihub.org
" Gabinete do Dr. Mari Alkatiri, Chefe do Segundo Governo de Transicao
de Timor-Leste
Jan
25 STGET: Contact info for Office of Chief Minister Info
added Jan 25
"We are pleased to inform that as from
28 January 2002, you may contact the Office of the Chief Minister of the
Second Transitional Government of East Timor via: Phone: (+ 670 390) 3339502
E-mail: chefe.do.governo@timor-leste.minihub.org
" Office of Mr. Mari Alkatiri, Chief Minister, Second Transitional Government
of East Timor
Jan
23 GLW: East Timor: Campaign launched for new elections
Article added Jan 22
"An alliance called the Group for the
Defence of Democracy, Peace and Stability in East Timor (GDDPE) issued
a public statement and petition on January 3, calling for the “simultaneous
holding of presidential and legislative elections” by May 20 (the date
set for the formal transfer of power from UNTAET) or “legislative elections
soon after independence, preferably on August 30”. The GDDPE is headed
by Manuel Carrascalao, former head of the National Council, and includes
representatives from the PST, the Democratic
Party (PD), the Social-Democratic Party (PSD),
the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) plus a number
of independents. The PD and PSD form the largest bloc in the Constituent
Assembly after Fretilin. In response to the
formation of the GDDPE, Alkatiri claimed the group was merely “dreaming
of better results than at the last elections”." Green
Left Weekly
Jan
22 UNTAET: Chief Minister, SRSG Speak Out Against Domestic Violence
News added Jan 24
"Chief Minister
Marí Alkatiri and SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello led the launch today
of a nationwide campaign against domestic violence
with strong words of support for the women of East Timor. ... The campaign,
organized by UNTAET’s Office of Communication and Public Information, aims
to use television, radio and other media to disseminate information on
domestic violence throughout each of East Timor’s 13 districts. The campaign
works in concert with the Civilian Police’s Vulnerable Person’s Units in
each district. ... Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo lent his voice
to one of two public service announcements that will be broadcast on national
television." UNTAET Daily Briefing 22 January 2002
Jan
22 UNTAET: Ministers Discuss Development Of Tetum Language
News added Jan 24
"The Council of Ministers of East
Timor’s Second Transitional Government met today to discuss issues
relating to Tetum, one of two planned official
languages. The Council was briefed by Benjamim Corte-Real, rector of
East Timor’s National University. Corte-Real, who is also director of the
university’s National Institute of Linguistics, described the institute’s
work to encourage the use of Tetum as the lingua franca of the nation in
order to preserve the cultural identity of the country. The institute has
collaborated with other foreign institutions—including the Camões
Institute of Portugal and the University of Sydney—in developing its Tetum-related
activities." UNTAET Daily Briefing 22 January 2002
Bahasa Indonesia/Malay:
Jan
22 Shige: Jepang dan TL: Luka Kekerasan Sulit Dilupakan
Artikel ditambahkan tanggal 22 Januari
2002
"Seandainya pemerintah Jepang sungguh
mau membangun hubungan bilateral yang baik dengan Timor Lorosae, langkah
awal adalah pengakuan kesalahan atas perbuatan dan kebijakannya pada masa
lalu yang kejam, baik pada masa Perang Dunia II maupun masa pendudukan
militer Indonesia di mana pemerintah Jepang selalu mendukungnya, dan meminta
maaf kepada rakyat Timor Lorosae. Mungkin ada yang mengatakan (pejabat
Japan Mission dan UNTAET?) bahwa Pasukan Bela Diri
berbeda dengan tentara Kaisar Jepang dulu yang terkenal dengan fasisme
paksaan, kekerasan keji dan metode-metode teror. Atau, Pasukan Bela Diri
adalah pasukan yang semata-mata mengajar ilmu “bela diri”. Tetapi kenyataannya,
itu adalah penjelmaan kembali tentara Kaisar Jepang yang pernah membantai
kira-kira 20,000,000 jiwa di kawasan Asia-Pasifik, termasuk sekitar 40,000
jiwa di Timor Lorosae selama Perang Dunia II." Takahashi Shigehito,
Perwakilan East Timor Desk, Konferensi Uskup Katolik Jepang
Jan
22 Commission for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation sworn in
Biographies updated Jan 24
"On 21 February [January?] 2002, the National
Commissioners of the East Timor Commission
for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation were sworn in to office, with
speeches by Jose Ramos Horta, Sergio Vieira de Mello and Xanana Gusmão,
and messages from Mary Robinson and Rev. Desmond Tutu. The following are
the names and brief biographies of the Commissioners, from the program
for the swearing-in ceremony."
Jan
21 ABC: East Timor: Truth Commissioner says process will liberate people
Interview added Jan 22
"This is a most deep division between
the pro-autonomy and pro-independence groups.
And you see, among the pro-independence and pro-autonomy people, there
are also groups that cannot accept one another. And all the groups are
still fighting for their own interests. That’s why I think the Commission
is a very, very, very good opportunity. It’s a place for East Timorese
people meet and to accept that they did (things), they are the perpetrators,
they are the victims. It is the process of liberation.” Fr. Jovito Araujo,
Catholic priest & National Commissioner of Commission
for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation
Jan
21 affet: Selling E.Timor Short: Timor Sea gas project decision postponed
Statement added Jan 22
"Timor Lorosae may be fortunate that the
Oil companies have not yet determined their favoured options for processing
Oil
and Gas from the Timor Sea areas. ... Although negotiations by East
Timor authorities have been cloaked in a great deal of secrecy, at
some point it appears to have been agreed that East Timor’s claim on Greater
Sunrise would be accepted as 20%. How could this decision be reached when
there has been no declaration of Maritime Boundaries for East Timor? This
determination [of Maritime Boundaries] should be made under international
law, with East Timor fighting for its rights, not conceding before the
battle plan has been even considered." Rob Wesley-Smith, australians for
a free east timor, darwin
Jan
21 UNTAET: East Timor Constitution To Be Approved On 9 March
News added Jan 24
"East Timor’s Constituent Assembly today
set 9 March as the date for completion and final approval of the
nation’s first Constitution.
An Assembly working commission produced
a revised constitutional debate schedule over the weekend after the full
Assembly voted Friday to extend its deliberations. ... All 151-articles
of the draft Constitution are expected to be approved by the end of January.
The Portuguese-language document must then be translated into Tetum and
distributed to various civil groups for review. The final text is
scheduled to be ready by 5 March, and a formal promulgation vote and ceremony
is to be held on 9 March. " UNTAET Daily Briefing 21 January 2002
Jan
19 auskadi: Constituent Assembly passes articles on court structure
Letter added Jan 24
"Article 118 provides that the Supreme
Court has the jurisdiction to make declarations of illegality or unconstitutionality
upon application by the Prime Minister, President, President of Parliament,
Attorney General, Ombudsman, or one fifth of the members of Parliament.
Why
don´t ordinary citzens who can demonstrate an interest in the law
at issue have a right to seek to have a law declared unconstitutional or
acts of the government illegal....? It seems that only the political class
will have the right to enforce the law and constitution. Why is this so
and who argued for and against it? Is not the effect of this that nobody
will challenge the constitutionality of
a law becuase only the people who have passed the law or assented to it
(other than the Ombudsman) can enquire as to its validity." auskadi
Jan
17 HTLee: Asbestos epidemic in East Timor, but UNTAET negates its responsibility
Article added Jan 18
"There is a big asbestos problem in East
Timor. UNTAET has been made aware of it since December 1999. However, UNTAET
has failed to make the removal of asbestos a priority and has not notified
the East Timorese and the thousands of foreigners working there about its
dangers. ... Asbestos is a silent killer and there is no safe level to
its exposure. The victims do not even know they have been attacked until
10 or more years down the track. By then it is too late and the victim
suffers an agonising death." HT Lee, freelance photojournalist
Jan
17 Lee, McKinley King, Shaw: Asbestos problem in East Timor
Report added Jan 18
"The removal of asbestos using Australian
NOHSC standard must be made a top priority. The East
Timor Constituent Assembly can and is in a unique position to make
UNTAET accept this fact and act on it. The cleaning up of the asbestos
will be a huge task which will require additional
funding from donor countries as well as additional assistance from
abroad. Many organisations including trade unions in Australia would be
more than happy to provide the assistance ... Finally, the clean up of
the asbestos would require the importation of large quantities of disposable
asbestos overalls and masks. These items could be manufactured in East
Timor as a cottage industry to provide local employment." HT Lee, Julian
McKinley King & Andrea Shaw
Jan
15 ETAN: Indonesian Judges Will Not Provide Long-Delayed Justice for ETimor
Release added Jan 15
"The multiple delays in establishing the
court, its limited jurisdiction, and the continued impunity with which
the Indonesian military operates throughout the archipelago only reinforce
our belief that the special Indonesian court will be a sham, ... The Indonesian
military remains too powerful and the courts too corrupt. Without an
international tribunal, those most responsible for Indonesia’s scorched
earth campaigns in East Timor will escape punishment,” John M. Miller,
spokesperson for East Timor Action Network U.S.
Jan
12 ETDF: Ruak on occasion of Offering of 2 Patrol Boats
Speech added Jan 16
"The interests of our country and the
territorial constraints arising from the fact that it is a half-island
with an enclave, a small island and an islet, inevitably compel us to look
towards the sea with a strategic perspective. The political leadership
of our country presented and underscored this strategic importance and
the national interests of East Timor in its discussions with Portugal.
Such interests were clearly understood by Portugal which responded with
the donation of these two Oecussi class patrol boats." Brigadier General
Taur Matan Ruak, Força de Defesa de Timor-Leste
Jan
12 STGET: Alkatiri on occasion of Offering of 2 Patrol Boats
Speech added Jan 16
"The East Timorese have become accustomed
to looking towards the sea as a potential source
of income only from petroleum and gas. However,
the wealth of our country and its potential to diversify its income stream
is far wider. We need to further develop the fishery sector and build our
enforcement capacity through the patrolling of our coastal waters. At the
same time we will also be able to avoid the illegal exploration of our
resources without the benefit to our People." Mr. Mari Alkatiri, Chief
Minister, Second Transitional Government of East
Timor
Jan
11 JP: ETimor’s patience wears thin over rights tribunal
News added Jan 15
"The East Timor
transitional government is considering turning to an
international tribunal due to the repeated delays in the trial of officers
allegedly involved in the 1999 human rights abuses
in the former territory. Philipe Rodriguez of the East Timor Public Administration’s
Department of Foreign Affairs said in Jakarta on Thursday that the East
Timor people’s wish to see the perpetrators taken to the court of justice
has not materialized." Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Jan
10 Shige: Japan & ET: Wounds of Violence are Hard to Forget
Article added Jan 22
"If the Government of Japan really wanted
to build a good bilateral relationship with Timor Lorosae, the first step
it should take is to acknowledge the mistakes of its brutal policies and
actions toward the people in the past, both during WWII, and during the
Indonesian military occupation - which Japan’s government consistently
supported it - and ask the pardon of the people of Timor Lorosae. There
may be those that say that the Self-Defense Forces
is different from the Imperial Japanese Army of the past, infamous for
its fascist coercion, and its shameless, terrorist methods. Or, they may
say that the Self-Defense Forces is only going to teach the science of
“self-defense”. In fact, however, the SDF is a reincarnation of the army
of the Japanese Emperor, the army that claimed the lives of some 20 million
people in the Asia-Pacific region during WWII, including around 40,000
people in Timor Lorosae." Takahashi Shigehito, Resident Representative
of East Timor Desk, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan
Jan
10 CNS: Former ETimor guerrillas receive job training at Salesian center
Article added Jan 16
"Cipriano Alves Amaral seems an unlikely
freedom fighter. The soft-spoken, 26-year-old grew up wanting to become
an electrician. Instead, he became a guerrilla, joining East Timor’s
armed resistance movement four years ago. For two years, he fought from
the jungles surrounding the town of Same against Indonesia’s 24-year occupation
of East Timor. The guerrillas, known by their Portuguese acronym, Falintil,
disbanded in February 2001, more than a year after the East Timorese overwhelmingly
rejected Indonesian rule in a 1999 U.N.-sponsored referendum. Now more
than two years after the referendum, Amaral is learning to become an electrician."
Christine Kearney, Catholic News Service
Jan
10 CONG: Letter to Constituent Assembly Letter added Jan
16
"From our end, we want to assure you that
we would like the Constituent Assembly to
have as much time as it needs to write the best possible constitution for
East Timor. In this regard, we propose that you consider further extending
the session, perhaps by two months beyond that date. Your Constitution
would still be finished well before formal independence. The extra time
would enable more thorough discussions and additional consultation
within the Constituent Assembly and throughout East Timor." U.S. Members
of Congress: Dennis J. Kucinich, Barbara Lee, Chris Smith, Anthony D. Weiner,
Tammy Baldwin, Bernard Sanders, Lane Evans, Sam Farr
1 Janeiru 2002: Feliz Anu Novu! Kontinuasaun de boasfestas