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CONTENTS:
  NEWS, ARTICLES & REPORTS
    * Justice, Reconciliation and Liberation
    * The Government of East Timor
    * Constitution Process
    * Japan: Past mistakes require apology and compensation
    * Western Sahara: Lessons learnt from East Timor
    * Timor Sea Watch
  UPCOMING AUSTRALIAN EVENTS
  National & Int'l-Brisbane-Darwin-Melbourne-Perth-Sydney
  ABOUT BACK DOOR
  EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION

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NEWS, ARTICLES & REPORTS

* Justice, Reconciliation and Liberation

Jan 25 JP: End game in East Timor  Editorial added Jan 26
"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

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

* The Government of East Timor

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 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

* Constitutional Process

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 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

* Japan: Past mistakes require apology and compensation

Bahasa Indonesia/Malay:  (lihat juga)
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." Takahashi Shigehito, Perwakilan East Timor Desk, Konferensi Uskup Katolik Jepang

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." Takahashi Shigehito, Resident Representative of East Timor Desk, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan

Dec 8 ETNGOs: Commemoration Day of the Commencement of the Pacific War  Letter added Jan 24
"History is very important in order to build a better future. For that reason, mistakes of the past have to be straighten out before steps can be made forward. If not, human history has already proven similar mistakes will be repeated. We are aware that Japan is the largest donor nation for the East Timor Trust Fund and has given major attention to the reconstruction of East Timor. And we too would like to express our gratitude for this assistance. However, this assistance may not simply cover up the wounds that have been inflicted by the Japanese military on this land of East Timor. If there is no justice, there can be no betterment of life. One needs to remember that the government of Japan is not only responsible for the Second World War, but also for its support of the invasion by the Indonesian military in East Timor over the time period of 24 years. ... We demand an official apology and compensation from the government of Japan to the people of East Timor so that our people may feel consoled." Representatives of 20 East Timorese Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)

* Western Sahara: Lessons learnt from East Timor

Dec 11 Leite: Legal imperative of self-determination: Lessons from E Timor for W Sahara  Article added Jan 26
Identical situations must be treated by law in the same way. Since the famous UN Resolution 1514 of 1960 the right to self-determination is recognized as a basic right of all peoples. ... President Habibie had already proposed autonomy as a way to solve the conflict of East Timor. The Timorese, Portugal and the UN rejected it, keeping firm on the application of the principle of self-determination. Therefore, the question put to the voters in the referendum was: “Do you ACCEPT the proposed special autonomy for East Timor within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia? OR Do you REJECT the proposed special autonomy for East Timor, leading to East Timor’s separation from Indonesia?” The proposed autonomy was there, but as a conclusion of a process of free choice by the East Timorese, together with the other option, the independence. Contrarily, in the “Framework Agreement” for Western Sahara, autonomy is determined from the beginning; it is thus imposed on the Sahrawi people, before they have the chance to freely choose their status." Pedro Pinto Leite, Secretary of the International Platform of Jurists for East Timor & member of the Executive Council of the International Association of Jurists for Western Sahara

* Timor Sea Watch

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

Bahasa Indonesia/Malay:
Feb 3 STL: Uskup Belo meminta pendirian “Timor Gap Watch”
Berita ditambahkan tanggal 22 Januari, 2002
"Agar supaya honorarium pasti digunakan hanya untuk bangsa, Uskup Belo meminta pendirian badan independen yang bisa mengawasi setiap liter minyak dari Timor Gap dan cara honorarium dihasilkan dari minyak itu. Juga cara honorarium itu digunakan akan diawasi dengan teliti. Badan independen itu bisa didirikan oleh pemerintah baru, kata Uskup Belo. Tetapi, Uskup Belo memperingatkan bahwa komposisi badan itu harus memasukkan orang yang bisa dipercayai dari sektor swasta, organisasi sosial dan gereja. Dia menekankan bahwa badan itu harus merupakan badan nasional." Suara Timor Lorosae

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

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL EVENTS:

Access details of National & International Events at:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~wildwood/national.htm

SBS TV program - Lafu story on Oecusse (an East Timor enclave within Indonesia)

BRISBANE EVENTS:

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

Australia West Papua Association Brisbane (AWPAB) - Meeting
Info: Rachael Harrison Email: legoullon@powerup.com.au
AWPAB: http://www.geocities.com/awpab
West Papua Information Kit: http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/cline/papua/core.htm
West Papua referendum petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/westpap/petition.html
Emma’s Bookstore, West End
Sat February 2nd

DARWIN EVENTS:

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

Action in Solidarity with Indonesia & East Timor (ASIET) Meeting
Ph Sibylle (08) 8941 7080 Email: darwin@asiet.org.au
Thur Feb 7, 7pm. 9 Douglas St, Parap.

East Timor Work Brigades
If you are interested in joining an ASIET Work Brigade to East Timor contact Darwin ASIET at darwin@asiet.org.au

MELBOURNE EVENTS:

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

Proposed new laws threaten Australian human rights
The Human Rights Alliance has called an urgent public briefing on the proposed new anti-terrorist laws which will go before Australian Parliament in February.
"New legislation will be introduced based on the UK Terrorism Act 2000. This act allows the government to ban organisations and makes it an offence to be a member, attend a meeting, provide any support, and indeed even wear T-shirt with the organisation's symbol. ... 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)
Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace, Lansdowne and Cathedral Rooms
383 Albert St (cnr Lansdowne St) East Melbourne
6.30 PM - 8.00PM, Thursday, January 31, 2002
See also:
Urgent Action: Dec 16 WSLS/LV: New Terrorist Laws Threaten Democratic Rights
BD: The Current World Crisis & East Timor - terrorist attacks in the US and the 'war on terrorism'

Communicating in East Timor: Tetum for Beginners

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

Hear John Pilger speak on “The War on Terrorism, Truth, Silence & Lies”
Mediating Human Rights & Democracy conference
$20 plenary & film, $15/$10 film only. Bookings essential ph Chris (08) 9218 9608
Mon Feb 4, 3.30pm (film screening at 5pm)

International conference:

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

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