Documents on East Timor from PeaceNet and Connected Computer Networks Volume 34: - December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995

Published by: East Timor Action Network / U.S. P.O. Box 1182, White Plains, NY 10602 USA Tel: 914-428-7299 Fax: 914-428-7383 E-mail PeaceNet:CSCHEINER or [email protected] These documents are produced approximately every two months and mailed to subscribers. For additional or back copies, send US$25 per volume; add $3 for international air mail. Discount rates: $10 for educational and non-profit institutions; $6 for U.S. activists; $8 international. Subscription rates: $150 ($60 educational, $36 activist) for the next six issues. Add $18 ($12 activist) for international air mail. Further subsidies are available for groups in Third World countries working on East Timor. Checks should be made out to “ETAN.” The material is grouped by subject, with articles under each category in approximately chronological order. It is also available on IBM-compatible diskette, in either Word for Windows or ASCII format. Reprinting and distribution without permission is welcomed. Much of this information is translated and supplied by TAPOL (London), Task Force Indonesia (USA), CDPM (Lisbon), CNRM, Free East Timor Japan Coalition, Mate-Bian News (Sydney), East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign, and other activists and solidarity groups, but they are not responsible for edi - torial comment or selection.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EVENTS IN EAST TIMOR...... 4 SYAHNAKRI: “IF THEY COME OUT AGAIN, I’LL CUT THEM TO PIECES”...... 4 INDONESIA TO DEPORT JOURNALISTS FROM EAST TIMOR...... 4 TIMOR BISHOP TELLS SECURITY FORCES TO BE HUMANE...... 4 BBC SAYS DOZENS TORTURED IN DILI ...... 5 (CHINESE) BOAT PEOPLE FOUND IN E. TIMOR ...... 5 EAST TIMOR’S NEWSPAPER VANDALISED BY PRO-GOVERNMENT YOUTH GROUP ...... 5 FRUSTRATIONS OF A PARTICIPANT (MANUEL CARRASCALÃO)...... 6 THE REPRESSION WILL BE RESUMED IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS ...... 9 MORE OIL FOUND IN TIMOR SEA ...... 12 FEAR FOR TORTURED TIMORESE ACTIVIST ...... 12 EAST TIMOR’S BISHOP NOMINATED FOR NOBEL...... 12 INDONESIAN SOLDIER’S DIARY...... 13 XANANA GUSMÃO END OF YEAR MESSAGE TO EAST TIMOR SOLIDARITY SUPPORTERS ...... 14 RIOTS ERUPT AS EAST TIMORESE TURN ON MIGRANT TRADERS ...... 16 FIVE KILLED IN EAST TIMORESE UNREST...... 16 BISHOP REPORTS ON INDONESIAN REPRESSION ...... 16 MORE BAUCAU DETAILS ...... 17 EAST TIMOR ON EVE OF THE TALKS ...... 17 RADIO AUSTRALIA ON MONDAY’S EVENTS IN DILI ...... 18 CNRM STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE AND TRANSMIGRATION ...... 18 24 ARRESTED IN DILI ...... 19 Page 2 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

WIDESPREAD TENSION IN EAST TIMOR...... 19 AI URGENT ACTION ON DILI ARRESTS ...... 20 FOREIGN VISITORS TO BE SCREENED ...... 21 SIX TIMORESE PRISONERS ON HUNGER STRIKE...... 21 MORE INDONESIAN LIES: MILITARY MURDERS 6 EAST TIMORESE CIVILIANS; 4 ABRI TROOPS KILLED .....22 AI ALERT ON CELSO OLIVEIRA ...... 22

EVENTS IN INDONESIA...... 23 VOA: RIGHTS SITUATION WORSENS – YLBHI...... 23 VOA: CHECHNYA AND EAST TIMOR ...... 23 ABILIO ARAUJO TO THANK SUHARTO ...... 24 TIMORESE ARRESTED IN JAKARTA, WEST PAPUA...... 24 RAP R.I.P...... 24

ADITJONDRO HARASSMENT CONTINUES ...... 24 INDONESIAN SUPPORTER OF EAST TIMORESE INDEPENDENCE ...... 24 UPDATE ON ADITJONDRO CASE...... 25 ADITJONDRO TESTIFIES AT NEVES TRIAL ...... 25 NEW POLICE SUMMONS FOR ADITJONDRO...... 26 ADITJONDRO WANTS SUMMONS POSTPONED...... 26 AI ALERT ON POSSIBLE ADITJONDRO ARREST...... 26

COMPREHENSIVE ARTICLES & EDITORIALS...... 27 COMING YEAR ‘CRUCIAL’ FOR EAST TIMOR...... 27 ASIAWEEK EDITORIAL: “TIMOR’S PAIN”...... 28 EAST TIMOR — IT’S HOT BUT NOT BOILING...... 29 EAST TIMORESE WOMEN TODAY ...... 31 EXPATRIATE TELLS OF CONTINUING HORRORS FACING EAST TIMOR ...... 32 RAMOS HORTA OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TIMOR’S FUTURE...... 32 VOA: EAST TIMOR’S FUTURE...... 32 INDONESIA- OUTLOOK: TEMPERED CELEBRATIONS IN 1995 ...... 35 KOMPAS REVIEWS THE YEAR FOR EAST TIMOR...... 35 APEC, THE UNITED STATES & EAST TIMOR...... 36

UN RAPPORTEURS REPORT, VISIT AGAIN...... 39 RAPPORTEUR ON EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS VISITS INDONESIA AND EAST TIMOR...... 39 FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT BY THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR...... 41 UN ENVOY TO GO TO EAST TIMOR ...... 53 TIMORESE WILL MEET ONLY AFTER JANUARY...... 53 LOBBYING AT UPCOMING UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ...... 54

FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN GENEVA...... 54 ALATAS: INDONESIA SEEKS COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT...... 54 VOA: ALATAS TIMOR COMMENTARY...... 54 VOA: UNSG TIGHT ON TIMOR MEETING...... 55 SMALL NOTES ON EAST TIMOR...... 55 VOA - TIMOR TALKS’ LIMITED OBJECTIVES ...... 57 UNSG COMMUNIQUÉ ON EAST TIMOR TALKS...... 57 BBC ON GENEVA MEETING...... 58 INDONESIA AND PORTUGAL ‘MAKE PROGRESS’ IN TALKS...... 58 INDONESIA, PORTUGAL AGREE TO NEW ALL-INCLUSIVE TALKS ...... 59 LISBON SAYS OF EAST TIMOR THAT ‘TIME IS ON OUR SIDE’ ...... 60 JAKARTA WARY OF FULL INDEPENDENCE TALKS ...... 60 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 3

NOTES ON MEETING IN GENEVA...... 60 ALATAS: HORTA CAN TALK (BUT NOT POLITICAL ISSUES) ...... 61 JIM DUNN’S THOUGHTS ON GENEVA MEETING...... 61

EVENTS IN ASIA...... 62 KOREAN DEMONSTRATION FOR EAST TIMOR ...... 62 MALAYSIA’S ATTACK ON WEST LACKS BITE ...... 63 CNRM MESSAGE TO WORLD YOUTH, MANILA ...... 63

EVENTS IN UK AND IRELAND ...... 64 INDONESIA USES THE NICHOLLS DELEGATION...... 64 MOTION IN IRISH SENATE ...... 65 BRITISH PEACE ACTIVIST TO SPEAK AT DUBLIN COMMEMORATION VIGIL ...... 66 SOME ATROCITIES ATTRACT A BLIND EYE...... 66 HUGH O’SHAUGHNESSY ON RTE WORLD REPORT...... 67 BRITISH ANTI-HAWKS COALITION MEETING...... 67 CATHOLIC CHURCH SELLS BAE SHARES ...... 68 JOURNALISTS IN THE LINE OF FIRE...... 68 M.E.P CALLS FOR UN OFFICE IN EAST TIMOR...... 68 THE TRIAL OF THE “WARTON FOUR”...... 68 TIMORESE STUDENT FOR N.U.S. HONORARY PRESIDENT...... 68

EVENTS IN EUROPE...... 69 HORTA GIVES PORTUGAL TWO MONTHS...... 69 TIMOR DIFFICULT TO PASS IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE? ...... 70 HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IN PARIS...... 70 LETTER TO BILL CLINTON (FROM PORTUGUESE ACTIVISTS)...... 70

EVENTS IN CANADA...... 71 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY LETTERS ON EAST TIMOR...... 71

EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA...... 71 PILGER CALLS FOR ESCALATION OF EAST TIMOR CAMPAIGN ...... 71 INTERVIEW: JOHN PILGER ...... 72 DECEMBER 7 IN DARWIN AND AUSTRALIA...... 74 DARWIN AND DILI UNIVERSITIES TO COOPERATE...... 75 FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM...... 75 INDONESIA AND REGIONAL CONFLICT AND RESOLUTION ...... 75

EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES...... 75 (PORTUGUESE) GOVERNMENT PAYS (WASHINGTON) LOBBY ...... 75 DECEMBER 7TH: “A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY”... IN EAST TIMOR...... 75 DECEMBER 7 PROTESTS TO MARK 19TH ANNIVERSARY ...... 76 INDONESIA PICKING U.S. SITE FOR PLANE PLANT...... 76 CSM: KEEP PRESSING JAKARTA ...... 77 FORGETTING TIMOR...... 77 A WITNESS TO U.S. SUPPORTED HORROR (ALLAN NAIRN)...... 77

RESOURCES...... 78 “QUITO” - OPERA IN SYDNEY ...... 78 AETA CALENDAR ...... 79 EAST TIMOR EXHIBITION VISITS IPSWICH...... 79 EAST TIMOR AND THE MEDIA...... 79

Page 4 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

At least four foreign journalists were The expulsions coincided with the visit EVENTS IN EAST TIMOR asked to leave East Timor last month on of two U.N. envoys to Dili today to pre- similar charges. pare for [talks on East Timor between the “The two journalists Irena Felak from the foreign ministers if Indonesia and Portugal SYAHNAKRI: Netherlands and L. Rosemary from Austra- next month.] “IF THEY COME OUT AG AIN, lia [given in AFP report as Jill Rose Mary REPORTERS SANS I’LL CUT THEM TO PIECES” Jolliffe] will be deported tomorrow (Fri- day). They are now at the quarantine of the FRONTIÈRES DENOUNCES Jawa Pos, 1 Dec. 1994. Abridged transla- immigration office,” East Timor Police chief JOURNALISTS ARRESTS tion Colonel Andreas Sugianto told Reuters. Le Monde dated Dec. 3, 1994. Translated Dili – Colonel Kiki Syahnakri, com- He said that the women, whose media from French mander of the Wira Dharma/164 military was not revealed, entered the province on November 28 with tourist visas and had The press freedom organisation Report- commander (East Timor) said the armed ers sans Frontières (Reporters without Bor- forces (ABRI) will not tolerate it if there are since conducted journalistic activities in the territory until they were arrested on ders) protests in an open letter addressed any more disturbances or demonstrations in Thursday, December 1st to President Su- East Timor, particularly in Dili, the capital. Wednesday in Baucau, 180 km (112 miles) east of Dili. harto against the summons of eight foreign If there is any repetition of recent actions journalists or photographers that occurred that have been damaging to the general pub- “They were caught hiding in the ditch when the police wanted to arrest them,” he since the APEC (Asia-Pacific Forum) sum- lic, ABRI will take stern action against those mit, which was organised in Bogor on No- who participate as well as the organisers. said. Sugianto said that the police were still vember 15. Two of these persons, Irena “If any more demonstrations occur, I will Felak and L. Rosemary, of Dutch and Aus- not hesitate to cut them to pieces (‘sikat’) trying to find out with whom the women stayed during their stay in East Timor. The tralian nationalities, remain “quarantined” in because there have been enough appeals and Dili, the capital of East Timor. there are limits to our patience,” said Kiki immigration office was not available for immediate comment. Syahnakri. These stern measures against TIMOR BISHOP TELLS participants or organisers will be taken in REPORTERS EXPELLED SECURITY FORCES accordance with the laws in force. FROM TIMOR “The disturbances and demonstrations TO BE HUMANE have been very brutal indeed. But this was 2 Dec. 94 done to provoke ABRI into shooting at DILI, Indonesia (AP) – The government Reuter, 2 December 1994. Abridged them. That’s what the clandestine wants, so expelled two foreign journalists today from Dili – East Timor’s outspoken bishop that the situation in East Timor continues to the disputed territory of East Timor, accus- told several hundred new policemen to be be on the boil,” said Kiki. ing them of working without proper per- humane when dealing with the local popu- Even so, demonstrators who behave in mits. lace. brutal fashion will be arrested and treated One of the journalists was Jill da Rose- “You have to learn the culture, history according to the law. mary Jolliffe, who in 1991 was refused and the Portuguese influence on East “I have the greatest admiration for the permission to accompany a Portuguese Timorese,” Carlos Belo told some 540 po- forces who were able to restrain themselves parliamentary mission to East Timor. That licemen about to be commissioned at police even though they were confronted by intol- led the team to call off its trip, prompting a headquarters in Dili. erable behaviour,” Kiki added demonstration in East Timor on Nov. 12, It was the first time Belo, a vocal critic of 1991 in which Indonesian troops shot and Indonesian rule in the former Portuguese John MacDougall: ‘cut them to pieces’ as a killed dozens of protesters. colony, has been invited to address such an translation for ‘sikat’? Seems a bit off to me. On Wednesday, Ms. Jolliffe, 49, of Aus- occasion, local sources said. Usually literally ‘brush’ or ‘rake’ and col- tralia and Irene Slagt, 42, of the Netherlands, “The problems of East Timor are com- loquially ‘wipe out’ or ‘clean out.’ entered Dili, the capital of East Timor, on plex,” Belo said. “East Timor does not need tourist visas. modern technology but humanitarianism.” Paul Salim: I didn’t read the original article. Maj. Laeden Simbolon told The Associ- Dili was rocked by a string of demonstra- However, IMHO, ‘sikat’ can also mean (in ated Press the journalists were interviewing tions and riots last month, sparked by a Indonesian) ‘serang’ or ‘pukul.’ So in Eng- people 40 miles east of Dili. It was not im- combination of anti-Indonesia sentiment and lish it will be translated into ‘smash.’ mediately clear what publications the two conflict between East Timorese and immi- women were working for. grants. INDONESIA TO DEPORT Journalists need permits to report from East Timorese said the disturbances were East Timor, a former Portuguese colony followed by house-to-house searches by JOURNALISTS annexed by Indonesia in 1976. Such permits police, who arrested some 150 people since FROM EAST TIMOR are rarely given. Exceptions were made last the first incident on November 12. month, when Indonesia hosted the Asia “Police should be patient when dealing Reuter, 1 December 1994. Abridged Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, but with demonstrators,” Belo said. “When the Jakarta – Indonesia will deport two fe- restrictions were reimposed afterward. situation gets critical, shoot into the air not male journalists, one Australian and one East Timor is the only Roman Catholic into the crowd.” Dutch, for lacking proper accreditation to region in overwhelmingly Muslim Indonesia, Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 enter the troubled territory, police said on which has often been condemned for re- and annexed it the following year, although Thursday. ported human rights violations by its troops the United Nations still recognises Portugal in East Timor. as the administering power. East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 5

U.N. envoys are in East Timor as part of (CHINESE) BOAT PEOPLE glass covering desks in the newspaper of- a fact-finding mission before U.N.-brokered fice. peace talks between Indonesia and Portugal FOUND IN E. TIMOR The witnesses said the men later beat up in Geneva on January 9. AP, Dec. 6, Abridged. the reporter, Yacob Herin, who was believed to have written a story about the local PP BBC SAYS DOZENS JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - A group of leader. Men later returned to the office and 89 Chinese boat people including 37 chil- TORTURED IN DILI warned the daily not to write any stories dren, was found stranded in the former Por- about the incident, the witness said. tuguese colony of East Timor, an official BBC, 8 Dec. 1994. By Catherine Napier said Tuesday. AJI STATEMENT CONDEMNING Jakarta – Reports from East Timor say Sri Triswojo, chief of immigration office ASSAULT ON THE ‘STT’ dozens of people arrested following distur- in East Timor, said the group was sailing to bances in the capital, Dili, last month were The following is an abridged translation of a Australia but was stranded in East Timor report in ‘Independent,’ the newsletter of subject to severe ill-treatment while in cus- waters when their boat had engine trouble. tody of the security forces. Usually reliable AJI, the Alliance of Independent Journalists, He disclosed that the Indonesian navy published on 7 December 1994: sources in East Timor told the BBC that found them stranded Tuesday morning in many had been beaten and several, including East Timor, about 1,250 miles northeast On Wednesday 7 December, the 19th an- a young teenager, had been tortured with Jakarta. They left Canton, China, Nov. 20. niversary of the invasion of East Timor by electric shocks. The reports provide further Triswojo said the officials of Dili port Indonesian troops, at 10 am, 6 to 8 youths evidence of a crackdown on pro- supplied them with food and water for hu- claiming to be from Pemuda Pancasila, en- independence support in the territory fol- manitarian reason. tered the office of Suara Timor Timur and lowing the most serious bout of anti- The boat people would immediately destroyed electronic equipment. They were Indonesian unrest for the past three years. leave for Australia as soon as the boat was looking for Jacob Herin who they blamed The allegations of torture and ill treat- fixed, he said. for writing a report about an attack on ment mark a renewal in what until now had Ahmad Alkatiri who heads the Advisory been regarded as a slight improvement in the EAST TIMOR’S NEWSPAP ER Council of the PP Dili branch. The item, human rights situation in East Timor. Al- published on 6 December was entitled: though the security forces were mostly VANDALISED BY ‘Ahmad Alkatiri clobbered, gets broken restrained in their public handling of the PRO-GOVERNMENT finger.’ The item reported an attempt to kill unrest, the reports of beatings and electric YOUTH GROUP Alkatiri on Sunday 4 December by a gang of shock treatment used against detainees are armed youths who broke into his house. He some of the worst to have emerged for many AFP & Reuter, 7 & 8 Dec. 1994 Abridged survived the attack. months. Most of the one hundred and thirty [Activities in East Timor by the infamous The youths could not find Jacob Herin, or so people rounded up in Dili were subse- Pemuda Pancasila, known in many parts of so they destroyed equipment including a TV quently released, but those who remained in Indonesia for its thuggish conduct against set, a tape-recorder, a video-tape and several custody were said to have been denied ac- pro-democracy groups, could signify an computers. Security guards tried to phone cess to their families and legal representa- attempt by certain forces to heighten ethnic the police but were unable to do so as the tives. In another district south west of Dili, tension in East Timor. phone line had been cut. Several journalists several youths, regarded as potential trou- in the building were powerless to halt the ble-makers were, reportedly stripped naked, Jacob Herin, the reporter who was beaten attack and fled through a back window. beaten and tortured with electric shocks by up, used to file fairly sympathetic reports Having caused widespread destruction, the military. They and others were also about East Timor in The Jakarta Post. – the youths left the building. They had man- ordered, apparently by the local mayor, to TAPOL] aged to find out that Herin was covering an have their heads shaved as a deterrent. Jakarta -- Members of Pemuda Pancasila, event at Hotel Mahkota which is some 50 Contacted by the BBC, the military a pro-government youth group smashed up metres from the STT office. They dragged spokesman in East Timor denied the allega- the office of East Timor’s only newspaper, him out, beat him up outside the hotel, caus- tions of ill-treatment and said there had been Suara Timor Timur on Wednesday. ing serious injuries, and kidnapped him, no cases of beatings or torture by either Six members of the PP who made the at- taking him to the home of Ahmad Alkatiri, soldiers or the police. The security forces tack were infuriated over the paper’s report- where he was again subjected to maltreat- have said many of the arrests in Dili were ing of an assault on a PP leader, the sources ment before being handed over to the police. for crimes committed during a riot when said. The STT had reported the violent as- Journalists and editors of the paper were widespread damage was caused to property. sault on Ahmad Alkatiri, the PP leader in in a state of fear throughout the day. The But the unrest included several pro- East Timor who was attacked Sunday night youths responsible for the assault were still independence protests as well and the recent outside his home in Dili. roaming freely whereas the police and secu- questioning of several leading independent Tensions are running high between native rity forces did nothing to protect the pa- activists and the detention of a civil servant, East Timorese and Indonesian settlers who per’s office even though the incident had said to be a key figure in the underground have moved in the past 20 years. been reported to them. But scores of young resistance, are all signs that the authorities people who support the paper stood guard are determined to put an end to any further Reuter reported Thursday that police at the office, along with journalists and edi- expressions of discontent with Indonesian were questioning eight youths after they tors. rule. apparently ransacked the offices of STT and For reasons that are unclear, the com- beat up one of its reporters. mander of a battalion in Dili made a threat to A witnessed to the Wednesday incident the paper by phone, saying that if the paper told Reuters the men cut phone lines, was unable to resolve the case peacefully, he smashed the TV and video set and broke would not be able to restrain his men. Page 6 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

According to our sources, the incident is FRUSTRATIONS OF A Felipe Ximenes Belo). Perhaps this is be- closely related to news items published in cause he is against keeping the “status quo,” the regular Saturday column ‘Hukum’ about PARTICIPANT (MANUEL and because he favours broader dialogue the murder (of a Timorese trader) in Becora CARRASCALÃO) leading to special status for his country, out Market on 12 November which led to a of which “autonomy with a view to self- wave of demonstrations, and some reports (INTERVIEW WITH MANUEL determination” could emerge. about the anti-integration demonstrations in CARRASCALÃO) Publico: When did the invasion of Timor Dili. really start? On 7 December, or on 15 In July 1994, the paper’s vehicle was de- Publico, 7 Dec. 1994. By Adelino Gomes Translated from Portuguese, Abridged October when a force took over Balibo stroyed by fire by unknown assailants out- and Maliana? side the office. Lisbon – The early hours of 7 December Manuel Carrascalão: Even before then. It all Statement of Concern 1975. Air Force One is still within Indone- sian air space, as it takes President Ford and started with the occupation of Batugade AJI expresses its profound disquiet at his diplomatic chief, Henry Kissinger, back early in October. We stayed there organising this incident when people took the law into to the USA. Aircraft, carrying paratroopers the forces. We had about 1,000 men - 400 their own hands and attacked the staff of the from Suharto’s army, take off and head for UDT and 600 Apodeti. The Indonesians STT and our colleague, Jacob Herin. Dili, capital of the Portuguese overseas col- had little faith in us. I did not take part in AJI vigorously condemns the assault on ony Timor. Dramatic appeals, launched over the defeat of Balibo and Maliana. The local the office of STT which caused widespread the radio by pro-independence Fretilin, meet forces that took part in that action were led damage. with the indifference of the world and par- by Tomas Goncalves (Apodeti) and João It strong condemns the action of mem- ticularly of Australia and Portugal which, Tavares (UDT), but the military operations bers of Pemuda Pancasila to threaten and for historical reasons, are Timor’s natural were under the command of Indonesians intimidate the staff of the paper in order to allies. The UN does not recognise annexa- pretending to be volunteers. It was they get them to reveal the whereabouts of their tion of the territory, but proves incapable of who appointed the Timorese commanders, colleague, Jacob Herin because of a news stopping the subsequent genocide, described not the parties. The commander was Colo- item deemed to be harmful to Ahmad by human rights organisations to have been nel Dading Kaboadi. Alkatiri. on a relatively greater scale than the geno- Q.: Where were you 19 years ago today? It also strongly condemns the maltreat- cide of the Kampuchean people under Pol A.: I was on board a ship with three or four ment of Jacob Herin while he was carrying Pot. Today, another anniversary of the in- out in his professional duties at Hotel hundred men. I can’t remember whether we vasion, Publico transcribes some of the set off on 6 or 7 December. We left from Mahkota which resulted in his being badly views and frustrations of a Timorese par- wounded. He was even taken to the home of Atabai, which we had defeated some time ticipant in the event, the pro-Indonesian before. We were anchored in the bay of Dili Ahmad Alkatiri before being handed over to deputy Manuel Carrascalão, who took part the police. for two days, and didn’t disembark. This in the operations one side of Suharto’s might have been because they (the Indone- 1. AJI calls on all sides to respect the laws troops, believing that this would bring in force and not take the law into their sian commanders) knew that, if we did, we “peace and tranquillity” to his country. would stop the slaughter. We eventually own hands which could lead to anar- Nineteen years later, Boutros Boutros chism. disembarked near Laga...and then walked to Ghali’s envoy ends up in Lisbon after com- Baucau, always backed up by Indonesian 2. AJI calls on the National Press to abide pleting a mission which took him to Indone- volunteers (as the soldiers and officials sent by the Journalist Code of Ethics, particu- sia and Timor as part of the process to find by Suharto for operation Komodo - the larly the right of reply of those who feel “a comprehensive, just and internationally invasion of East Timor - called themselves), that they have been damaged by a news acceptable solution” for East Timor, for and armoured vehicles. Baucau had already item. whose cause thousands of Timorese appear been occupied and there was, therefore, 3. AJI calls on the forces of law to investi- willing to continue to risk their lives. practically no resistance. gate this incident and bring those respon- In Portugal to visit a seriously ill niece, Q.: What operations did you take part in sible to court. the 60-year-old pro-Indonesian Timorese against Fretilin? 4. AJI calls on the national leadership of deputy, Manuel Carrascalão, agreed to talk Pemuda Pancasila to take firm measures about the time he was a member of the A.: I stayed until 27 December. We wit- against elements who act in the name of forces that, 19 years ago today, invaded his nessed several incidents in which people the PP. Since it bears the name Pancasila, country. Manuel is one of three “political” were killed just for their valuables. There the members should have a higher sense brothers of the legendary Timorese family was opposition to this and the Indonesian of discipline than other youth organisa- that owns one of the territory’s largest pri- authorities thought that I was the instigator tions. vate coffee plantations, and is the only of the protests. Then I was told that one of my children was sick, and asked if I wanted 7 December 1994 brother still living in Timor. His brother João living in Australia, is leader of the to go and visit him. I spoke to Sergeant Ahmad Taufik, Chair of the Presidium of Hornai who, coincidentally, had received a AJI UDT; Mario, formerly Governor of Timor, now heads the Indonesian Embassy in Ru- similar message about his son. I realised that mania. Although he is provincial deputy for I was walking into a trap, but went anyway. the ruling Golkar party, requested Indone- The plane made a stopover in Dili, but we sian nationality, and still believes that inte- were not allowed to get off. When we ar- gration constitutes the most useful option rived in Kupang (capital of Indonesian for the Timorese, his name is second on a Timor) we were taken to stay in a hotel. list of Timorese who the Indonesians would happily be without (first on the list is Ap- ostolic Administrator of Dili, Mnsgr. Carlos East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 7

Q.: How long were you in that situation? the Portuguese and by the Catholic faith. A.: I know different kinds of Indonesians. A.: Not for long. On the last day of the year Portuguese presence was not marvelous, but All 180 million of them are not criminals. I a young Protestant told me that mass was the Portuguese government never taught have some excellent Indonesian friends. We going to be said in a certain church. I decided them to be cowards, and never forced any- understand each other. The ones who go to to attend. Of course, there was no mass. I one to be Catholic. The way the Timorese Timor are the ones who are no good. People met up with the local Governor, General El express themselves is different. Now one is who go to Timor come away with the im- Tari, a friend of mine. He gave me protec- obliged to say that everything is fine. pression that Indonesia is murderous, tion and saved me from detention. Timorese people are not used to that; they bloody and criminal. If they went to Indo- are used to speaking their minds. nesia they would get a different impression. Different civilizations Q.: What do you think would be best for Q.: So what is the solution? Q.: Did you return to Timor? Timor? Self-determination? Special A.: A forum in which everyone may par- A.: No. As I said when asked that question status? ticipate, but in which there are neither mili- before, I wasn’t interested in blood. I went A.: Quite frankly, given the developments, I tary nor suspect infiltrators. Otherwise the there in 77 or 78, on the invitation of the am afraid that people would only start fight- majority will end up supporting integration. commander who led the invasion, Colonel ing again. Perhaps the best solution would Q.: What makes you say that? What can a Dading, and I disliked the atmosphere. It be a kind of special status which would country like Indonesia offer the Timorese was five years before I returned again. respect the rights of the Timorese and their after everything that has happened? Q.: What is your assessment of the situation Portuguese heritage. A.: The Timorese individual is unsure. I am after that? Q.: Is this what the young people have been afraid that, if troops are ever withdrawn, A.: My guiding principle has always been fighting for over the past few weeks? there will be a return to violence. this: when I was Portuguese, I tried to be a A.: Indonesia has done a lot in Timor. In Q.: All the plans put forward by the Resis- good Portuguese citizen; once Indonesian, I education, for example: everyone speaks tance provide for a transition period, so tried to be a good Indonesian. However, the Bahasa, in contrast to the time of the Portu- as to avoid that very danger. Don’t you situation made this desire a little difficult to guese, who never managed to get the people think that would work? fulfill. Our civilizations are different. I look to speak their language. However, in spite of back on that time with a feeling of frustra- the fact that the students who entered the A.: Yes I do. If it were to happen now, over tion. We had the support of a non- US Embassy speak Bahasa and not Portu- 90 per cent would choose independence communist country but, unfortunately, guese, they prefer to be here (in Portugal). without realizing the dangers involved. After things did not work out as we had intended. In my view, the Indonesians made a mistake another ten years they might be in favour of integration. Not all that Indonesia has ac- Q.: What did you find frustrating? when they did not try to enlist the partici- complished has been negative. A.: Indonesia’s attitude, represented by pation of the priests. Instead, they ran after Q.: According to your reasoning, that kind individuals without the preparation neces- the pseudo-Indonesians who only made of solution would suit Indonesia. Why sary to occupy a country with a different mistakes. If it had not been for those then does Jakarta not agree to such a tac- civilization, with a people unused to accept- Timorese, the Indonesian government would tic? ing injustice, but accustomed to being lis- not have committed so many abuses. I have tened to and respected. We thought we never been in favour of using violence. The A.: Even though there are many (generals, would be bringing peace to Timor, but we Timorese people need love and affection, people who fought for Indonesia’s inde- only brought it distrust and discontent. but that cannot be bought with money. pendence) who favour this way out, they have been marginalised. Q.: What about today? Q.: Given this scenario, what solution can there be? Q.: In that case, why do you stay on as dep- A.: I don’t know to what extent I can help uty? to improve things. I do all I can to make the A.: I don’t know. I think the solution is in views of the people heard, but our opinions discussion to find out what we really want. A.: I speak there as I am talking here now. are not listened to. Some Timorese work for I mean democratic discussion, and not the Being a deputy is the only way I can take an the people’s happiness, but there are others Indonesian kind, in which only a certain active part and defend the interests of the who do not. As it is easy for Indonesia to amount may be said. people. Having said that, when a deputy hand out money, they get drunk, they go Q.: Along the lines of the reconciliation speaks the truth, nobody pays attention. mad. meetings? There’s a saying there which goes: a deputy is an individual with five duties - he must Q.: But it all began with the invasion, ac- A.: Those meetings only involve those who “arrive, sit down, listen, keep quiet, and tively supported by you.. support Indonesia’s position. Everyone receive money for the province.” A.: At that time it was the only solution. should take part. I was not invited and nei- Q.: In spite of what you are saying, Indone- .The trouble is that the government deals ther was the Bishop. We both have credibil- sia accepts you. Why? with individuals who are not interested in ity in Timor. We are there to help when serving the people of Timor, but only in people’s lives are at risk. I can speak with a A.: I don’t know. At the last elections, my helping themselves. clear conscience, because I am not indebted name did not appear on the lists ... it was to the Indonesians for anything, especially the military commander’s decision which Q.: What exactly should Indonesia do? not financially indebted. got me in. A.: It should pay attention to the Timorese, 90% in favour of independence Q.: Abilio Osorio, the Governor, said that and be aware of their feelings. It is a differ- the recent events were no more than ac- ent civilization. Jakarta has still not fully Q.: You seem to be putting the blame on the tions undertaken by criminals, and that comprehended that even though our skins ambitious and corrupt Timorese rather there were no underlying political mo- are the same colour, we are different inside. than on Indonesia, which has blood on its tives. We have been influenced for 450 years by hands. Page 8 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

A.: The events were set off by a crime we betrayed the people of Timor. We prom- for Timor. I have to be realistic. My coun- committed in the Becora market place, but ised peace and tranquillity, but there was a try has become Indonesia, so I have to be were taken over by a third force - I don’t lot of fighting for personal gain. Perhaps Indonesian if I want to work for my coun- know who it was - which emerged demand- that is what led to the problems. The Indo- try. I think the only way to improve the ing the withdrawal of Indonesia. nesians of the armed forces, who do not system is to work within it. In Indonesia, Q.: What was said in the Assembly about know us, misinterpret our intentions and those outside the system make a lot of these events? these problems arise. noise, but it makes no difference.” “Abilio Osorio is calling for autonomy A.: There was only one session, which I We, in Timor, need to help the people more, and we do not do so because we are afraid for Timor, but everyone knows that he be- missed, to express support for the Gover- longs to the Apodeti party which supports nor. we might lose our own livelihood. Those outside Timor don’t agree among themselves integration with Indonesia. The people are, Autonomy with a view to self- because they do not understand the reality therefore, suspicious of the autonomy he is determination of Timor today. It is different now: the asking for.” Q.: What do you suggest should happen in schools have brought considerable progress. “I find him (José Ramos Horta, spokes- the near future? People are up to date on what’s happening man of the Maubere Resistance National Council) a little fictitious. I don’t know to A.: I propose an open discussion until we in the world outside. There is a need to be more realistic, and that is why the inclusion what extent he interprets his representation. reach an agreement. It should take place in I don’t know...I am very wary... Up to a Dili, and possibly be supervised by neutral of the Church in the whole process is neces- sary. The Church is impartial. point he may be the Resistance’s chief rep- forces. resentative abroad. For those in Timor who Q.: Would you agree to a referendum? TIMORESE WOULD CHOOSE have any resistance sympathies, anyone A.: I would be against one because it would INDEPENDENCE making a noise on the outside is legitimate.” stir up feelings, and I don’t know whether it Diario de Noticias (DN), 7 December 1994. “I don’t know what the exact size of the would be in Timor’s interest. At the mo- By João Pedro Henriques. Translated from armed resistance movement is nowadays. ment everyone wants to chase the Indone- Portuguese, Abridged We have to realise that, after 20 years, the sians out of there, but they don’t stop to resistance out in the bush must be limited ... (Excerpts from Interview with Manuel Car- think about afterwards. I ask myself this It is not a matter of age, but rather a ques- rascalão) question: if the Timorese living overseas tion of survival in a situation in which there cannot agree among themselves now, what The leader of the Golkar party in Timor, are many who betray.” would it be like later in Timor? Who does Manuel Carrascalão, told DN that, in a ref- “I believe that, now, Abilio Araujo is no Ramos Horta represent today? Nobody has erendum today, the Timorese would opt for more than an opportunist. I say this because been elected. The only way might be to go independence. He also described Abilio he suddenly changed from being categori- towards autonomy with a view to self- Araujo as “an opportunist,” the reconcilia- cally anti-Indonesian, and has become an determination. Perhaps Indonesia would tion meetings as “a farce,” and the Timorese individual who loves Indonesia. Yes, I think agree to a federation. What is unacceptable as being “different from Indonesians.” he is more pro-Indonesian than I am! But is a direct administration as there is now, Manuel Carrascalão, brother of former his love is not really for Indonesia, but for because not everything can be applied in Governor Mario, and UDT leader João, Indonesian money. I cannot be absolutely Timor as it is in Indonesia. returns today to Timor. He said that, during sure but my impression is that, basically, what they want is to do business, using Q.: Nineteen years after the invasion, do you his stay in Lisbon, he met no celebrities their contacts to facilitate trade between regret the choice you made when you because his visit was unofficial. Portugal and Indonesia. For the meetings to opted to support the request for integra- Leader and deputy of the Golkar party be authentic meetings of reconciliation, tion? (the only party in Indonesia) at the Timorese Provincial Assembly, Carrascalão Ramos Horta, João Carrascalão and Vicente A.: To a certain extent I do, because I was said that the current Governor of Timor, Guterres ought to be included, and they seeing Indonesia through the eyes of my Abilio Osorio, is on the way out. He praised have not been invited. From the Indonesian friends. The system in force in Timor and Ximenes Belo highly, and managed to be side, perhaps I and possibly the Bishop its application are wrong. They do not allow more critical of Abilio Araujo than of José (Ximenes Belo), but we were not invited. leadership from anyone who does not agree Ramos Horta. The reconciliation meetings But I am sure we will be. The meetings are a with the oppression they practice. I would are, according to him, a farce. He went fur- farce. Their only purpose is to mislead eve- never go along with killings or unfair impris- ther by saying that if a referendum were ryone.” onment. held today, the Timorese would opt for “Timor, as a province of Indonesia Q.: What does Bishop Ximenes Belo mean to independence. “could be a closed case” as the Jakarta gov- the Timorese today? “Recent events in Timor are, to a certain ernment says. If we believe that the request A.: He is a symbol of freedom He emerges extent, the results of our (local govern- for Timor’s integration in Indonesia (decla- on the bitter days, when the people are ment’s) failure to resolve the people’s prob- ration of Balibo, signed just before the inva- suffering, when the people have no one else lems. A contributing factor is unemploy- sion in 1975) complied with the rules of to turn to. He does use his immunity for his ment among young people. There are about good sense, then perhaps it is a closed case. personal advantage but for the good of the 16,000 unemployed...” I for one would not mind if it were, as long people. He and the priests are essential “The Timorese blame the Indonesians for as the Indonesians respect individuals of a elements in reaching a solution to the prob- their unemployment and, to a point, they different culture, and of a different nature to lem. They are the most impartial; they have are right to do so because it is difficult for a themselves. Yes, autonomy would fit in neither partisan ambitions nor salaries to Timorese to compete for a job against an with this idea. I think that, whether they defend. Let me just add that we could have Indonesian. “ like it or not, we are not Indonesians as in done better and we did not. We, the leaders, “If I had chosen to be Portuguese, then I other provinces. We are only Indonesians would not be in a position to do anything because we asked to be integrated in Indone- East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 9 sia. So, Indonesia ought to treat us differ- The “mau uhu” (spies) are everywhere, landmark, and Xanana’s father would be ently on the political level, as well as house not to mention the omnipresent Intel (Indo- seen the following day at the door of his and road building, etc.” nesian intelligence) agents, who arrogantly house near the Cathedral, shouting at the “I don’t think Indonesia will ever consent flaunt their authority that even exceeds that “civilians” throwing stones at the demon- to a referendum because it considers Timor a of Jakarta’s civil authorities in Dili. strators who were demanding the release of fait accompli. If a referendum were held But the Portuguese-speaking Timorese his son. now, the independence vote would win. My (whose numbers are apparently decreasing Demo at the Cathedral choice would be the people’s choice. The rapidly) were willing to risk a special greet- Friday, 18 November. The journalists people see me as a leader. Therefore, I al- ing for the “journalist from Portugal” as had been tipped off. Something was going to ways have to interpret to thoughts of the they passed him in the street. Very soon, happened at the Cathedral after four o’clock people even though, sometimes, it is hard the whole city knew about the rare visit, and mass, which was being said for the souls of for me to do so. “ anonymous faces went out of their way the religious workers who had served in East “I believe Ximenes Belo to be coherent, during those days to catch the journalist’s Timor. Half an hour before, hundreds of well aware of his responsibility and posi- eye and say “Boa tarde, senhor!.” people had gathered. Most were on the tion. He is the kind of Timorese I would like Even in the Indonesian military headquar- Cathedral steps, but many were in the other Timorese to be. Yes, he is in favour of ters in Dili - the last place one would expect churchyard, separated from the road by a a referendum but, failing that, he would it to happen - the journalist’s nationality wall. Many were young and there were support broader autonomy too. If Indonesia had a noticeable effect. Timorese soldiers women and children too. Two nuns were wants peace and tranquillity in Timor, then enlisted in the Indonesian Armed Forces there in their white robes. The journalists it will have to go along with this broader even suggested - in excellent Portuguese - were also there. As we stood in almost total autonomy. Yes, I believe cultural and reli- that the reporter take packages for them silence, the air became thick with tension. gious autonomy is important. Political back to relatives living outside East Timor. Close to four o’clock a priest walked autonomy too, because the other Indone- “That Chinese s.o.b.” through the multitude telling the people that sians passively accept nominations, while in It was two o’clock on a hot afternoon in mass had been canceled. For a few minutes Timor that is not the case.” This kind of Dili. The small air terminal filled up with there was muttering, and then many people, political autonomy “would not go as far as passengers and others who were meeting especially the older ones, started to leave by allowing political parties, but would serve to people (and who, unlike the many who were a side door. The journalists carried on taking ensure a more effective participation by the waiting outside, obviously had special au- photos and filming the closed, tense faces. people. Participation in the Indonesian sys- thorization to be there). In the small, some- Suddenly, some young people started to tem is somewhat theoretical.” what dilapidated room an old Australian shout out in English - “Viva Xanana!,” gentleman, a veteran of the Pacific war, at- “Viva the CNRM!,” “Independence for East THE REPRESSION WILL tracted attention with his accent and his hat, Timor!,” “Death to Indonesia and the invad- BE RESUMED obviously bought in a tourist souvenir shop. ers!,” and pulled out banners bearing the IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS ... By his side a European looking woman was same messages. They also waved a chatting in English, but then reverted to FALINTIL (armed wing of the resistance) Portuguese to tell something to someone. “If flag. For a few minutes there was chaos in (REPORT FROM DILI) I catch that Chinese s.o.b. I’ll tear him apart the churchyard. The demonstrators sought Expresso (Magazine), 10 December 1994. .” she cried, filling the room with her pene- out the TV crews, knelt before the cameras, By Paulo Nogueira (journalist with LUSA trating Portuguese voice. We introduced shouting even more fervently. Then from Agency). Translated from Portuguese ourselves and after a while I was driven off within a group of protesters, an individual Dili – Nineteen years have gone by since to the Hotel Turismo in Arsenio’s (Ramos emerged with his face covered in blood. He the invasion of East Timor, and Jakarta’s Horta’s brother) bus. was being savagely beaten by the Timorese, generals suddenly decided to relax their pol- First impressions of the city were mud- who were accusing him of being an Indone- icy of forced integration. Only Bill Clinton dled. Many people in the first streets, less sian spy. He was chased, and fell near a and accompanying journalists noticed. towards the centre. Some buildings were Canadian TV crew, who tried to protect him Some Timorese officials on duty at Dili’s unequivocally Portuguese. There was the from being lynched there and then in the airport were quite openly studying the pas- Governor’s palace to the right, like a monu- churchyard. One of the Canadians pulled a sengers as they boarded the Merpati (Indo- ment to Prince Henry. To the left, the re- wooden pole out of the hands of one of the nesia’s domestic airline) Focker 100. When mains of boats on the sea shore were an- attackers and threw it far away, and that’s they noticed a Portuguese journalist, they other reminder of Henry the Navigator, just when the stones started flying around. approached the steps, waving, smiling, with as if these were the boats he had sent out of Panic reigns in the Churchyard Sagres into the unknown, and that were now a special twinkle in their eyes. They mo- A group of individuals in civilian clothes rested from their long pioneering journey. mentarily forgot their fear and, as well as who had concentrated in the street in front The Hotel Turismo was a hive of activ- wishes for a safe journey - shouted out (in of the Cathedral started stoning the demon- ity. Foreign journalists, who had been there good Portuguese) so they would not be strators. The latter immediately responded for several days, had transformed it into a drowned by the noise of the engines - they by throwing stones back at these individuals real Press Centre, from which news of East ask the journalist to come back to East who were, according to the Timorese, a Timor was being sent all over the world. Timor again. group of agents provocateurs in the pay of Mr. Costa, a hotel worker, and Cristina, the There is no mistaking the look in their the Indonesians, including soldiers and po- cook, remembered Rui Moreira from LUSA eyes. The Timorese in Dili are living in fear, lice in plain clothes. Panic reigned in the and the other Portuguese journalists who terrified of any complaint against them churchyard. Many people, including the had stayed there while they covered the which would result in them being harassed reporters, sought shelter from the hail of Xanana Gusmão trial in Dili. The house in by the Indonesian police or soldiers. stones thrown by the alleged Indonesian which the resistance leader was arrested is a provocateurs. The riot police arrived and the Page 10 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. first shot rang out - a tear gas grenade. A the hotel to find out what had happened. far more complex than what I had originally young girl shouted “The weapons will kill The young man was eventually given medi- imagined. Although accustomed to catego- us!.” She was terrified and did not know cal treatment and, two days later, the condi- rizing into good and bad guys (the invaded where to hide. The cries and scenes from tion of one of his eyes was still extremely and invaders, Timorese and Indonesians), I Santa Cruz flashed into mind... bad. In the hotel, an official, sent specially found that, even without leaving the city, A young Timorese tried to help the jour- from the office of Minister Ali Alatas, noted there is a multiplicity of nuances which nalists escape. He tried to jump over wire down details of the case. confound the observer. fencing on one of walls around the Cathe- It was nightfall when the young Timorese The presence of nearly 20 foreign jour- dral. He suddenly shouted in pain and fell to was finally taken to the hospital in Dili, and nalists in Dili significantly changed life in the ground, but got up straight away. The it was impossible for the journalists to the city. The Hotel Turismo, at which most palms of his hands had been completely know what was going on in the dead of night of the reporters stayed for over a week, torn by the barbed wire and were bleeding Disturbances at the University became the centre stage towards which profusely. But he still managed to show the many of the actors in the Timorese tragedy The weekend was relatively calm and on journalists a way out before disappearing, converged, each one attempting to play his Monday night the journalists started to when all the others were already fleeing part in the best possible way. There were leave Dili, even though there had been a few from the riot police who were surrounding those who sought to let the visitors know incidents at the University of East Timor the place. what it is like to live in Indonesia’s “27th (UTL), which had been closed since 15 No- Two members of TV crews were Province.” There were the pro-independence vember, in order to avoid any demos and wounded in the legs by stones thrown from activists who made the most of every op- disturbances. The preventative measure at the street. As the journalists left the Cathe- portunity to express their rebellion. The the UTL was extended to Thursday, 24 dral area on police orders, one was punched journalists were at risk as they went around November, the day on which classes were in the face and other reporters were insulted the city by involuntarily unleashing all kinds due to recommence. The students arrived by the alleged Indonesian agents and accused of expressions of protest - from the early, but a group of individuals was there of being the cause of the disturbances. clenched fists of young people in passing waiting for them - the same group the cars to organised demonstrations at the Ca- Mnsgr. Ximenes, the Savior Timorese accused of being agents provo- thedral or University of East Timor. Young About 140 people were surrounded and cateurs. They were assembled in the street activists wandered about the Hotel Turismo, forced to remain within the Cathedral for in front, and some even went inside the letting the journalists know that at such and some hours. One was an Australian citizen UTL. such a time in such a place there would be a who was “invited” to leave Dili the follow- The students saw this as provocation and demonstration.. It got to the point where ing day. The siege only came to an end when reacted violently. Stones rained down on they would almost demand the presence of Bishop Ximenes Belo intervened. He nego- either side and it wasn’t long before the TV cameras, without which it made little tiated with the military leaders and managed arrival of riot police, who were also wel- sense to run such risks. to get the protesters released without deten- comed by a hail of stones. The area was This does not mean that all the protests tion. The International Red Cross delegate immediately cordoned off, and witnesses were organised around the journalists. The ensured that the agreement was honoured said tear gas was used. causes of the disturbances which followed and the people were led away in buses to The two foreign journalists still in Timor the death of Timorese Mario Vicente, on 12 the areas where they lived. were prevented from going anywhere near November, in the market at Becora, east of Back at the Hotel Turismo, after all the the UTL and were not allowed to take pho- the city, were too specific to have been magnetic telephone cards for the only tele- tos of the police. They were insulted in premeditated, even though the Indonesian phone box there with access to the interna- Bahasa Indonesia (in which the reporter for authorities subsequently tried to justify the tional network had been used up, the second Time Magazine was fluent) by some of the fact that the troubles lasted for three days drama of another eventful Friday in Dili was uniformed agents. An official from the re- by stating that the Timorese were “taking about to commence. A young Timorese, gional Department of Information arrived, advantage of a crime to make political who said he was a boy scout, took refuge in worried about the safety of the two foreign- points.” the hotel room of a German TV crew, after ers. He only went there to protect the re- he had been badly beaten. He was unrecog- porters, but was rudely reprimanded by a The “gentle” soldiers nizable. The Germans said that the boy had plain clothes agent for allowing the reporters The Indonesian military were at pains to been attacked in their very presence by to be there at all. It seemed that military “treat demonstrators well” in order to avoid soldiers and civilians at the entrance to a power prevailed over civil authority in Dili. the disastrous consequences, for their own barracks. He had been trying to explain that At the UTL there was a repeat of the image and that of Indonesia, which followed he had not been involved in the demonstra- events at the Cathedral: the students were in the wake of the Santa Cruz massacre in tion. surrounded by police and there was an im- 1991. That is the reason the police were According to the Germans, the young passe. Some civil leaders negotiated the end armed with batons rather than the guns, man had asked the journalists to go with him of the siege and, after a few hours, every- with which they had killed scores of to the barracks so they could confirm his thing was back to normal in the area. How- Timorese at the cemetery. This attitude was innocence because, after being seen in the ever, the Indonesian military commander mirrored by the Indonesian military, namely streets of Dili in the company of journalists summoned UTL’s Principal and Vice- the Military Commander of Dili, Colonel (whom he had been showing the way back Principal and informed them that further Kiki Syahnakri who, at a meeting on 21 to the hotel), he was likely to be harassed demonstrations would not be tolerated. November with journalists, admitted he had by the police. The Germans, enraged by Political Games given strict instructions to Timorese police what had happened at the barracks, had not officers to avoid the use of violence. After a further week in Dili, now as the allowed him to be taken to the hospital until Journalists did not, in fact, see the Indo- plane heads for the West, I reflect on every- the ICRC delegate arrived. The Bishop, nesian riot police beat demonstrators. They thing I saw and heard, and come to the con- alerted by other journalists, also arrived at did see agents isolate the activists, and sur- clusion that the question of East Timor is East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 11 round them, as they did for example at the Then there are the cultural and religious Suharto about East Timor, Exxon signs a Cathedral and the UTL, until their “release” differences between Timorese and Indone- contract with Jakarta worth 40,000,000,000 had been negotiated with the civil or reli- sians (i.e. the Indonesians in general, because dollars. A member of the Indonesian Gov- gious authorities. The eventual conse- in the approx. 17,500 islands that make up ernment actually told me that Portugal is the quences for those who dared to risk public the archipelago, there are over 190 million only country in Europe that is not making protest in Dili are not known, and the world people who belong to about 300 different money out of the Indonesian market open- will only hear about it later through reports ethnic groups). Father Domingos Soares, a ing. from the underground resistance network. Timorese religious worker who does not Even the Vatican considers that the This is an important point to consider when always share the views of Bishop Ximenes 600,000 Timorese Catholics to be worth judging foreign journalists. Although impar- Belo, believes that the conflict in East Timor less than the nearly four million Indonesian tial observers of the Timorese question be- is not purely political but partly religious, Catholics. lieve in the suffering of the Timorese peo- and he talks about a kind of “holy war” Those in favour of integration are also ple, they tend to consider the reports of between Catholics and Moslems. “Although disillusioned and now looking at autonomy extreme violence that they have not wit- the Portuguese may not have developed as a possible way of ending the current im- nessed as being exaggerated. East Timor, they did conquer the hearts of passe in which there is an intransigent Indo- The frustrations of integration the Timorese because they taught them the nesia on one side and an unsatisfied and Catholic religion, and gave them a human repressed Timorese nation on the other. But There is no doubt that the Timorese in dimension. This contrasts with the Islamic nobody is sure about what kind of auton- general are not satisfied with the results of faith, based on constant fear of God,” he omy ought to be put forward, and those that 18 years of integration in Indonesia. Even says. “This attitude does not suit the dare suggest it to Jakarta, like the present those who supported integration from the Timorese ."The people compare everything Governor, Abilio Soares, risk facing Su- outset do not hide their frustration, and to the time of the Portuguese, and do not harto’s fury. Rumour has it in Dili that confess that this is not quite what they had accept what Indonesia wants to give them,” Abilio Soares’ days are numbered as Gover- wanted. “This” meaning total domination by he adds. nor of East Timor, and that not even Ja- the Indonesians of East Timor’s natural karta’s military like him anymore because of wealth and the consequent marginalization The Portuguese evil the “nuances” of his statements. In a meet- of the Timorese. And then there is the re- A member of the underground resistance ing with foreign journalists on 16 November, pression and the impunity with which the movement, claiming to be a former quarter- Abilio Soares admitted and defended re- soldiers sent by Jakarta act throughout the master in the Portuguese army and a believer course to house searches as a means of com- territory, which has nothing to do with the that independence is the only solution for bating the rebellion of young Timorese. picture of integration that the Indonesian Timor, told LUSA that given the choice Days later, Indonesian military commanders Foreign Office is trying to paint for every- “between Portuguese evil and Indonesian and police denied such a practice, exposing a one. “Indonesia builds many roads and evil, the Timorese would prefer Portuguese clear rift with the Governor whom they had houses, but it is Indonesian companies, evil.” An old Timorese makes a more roman- put in power. many of them linked to the army, which win tic comparison: “The Portuguese came, sat But what definitely irritated the Jakarta all the construction contracts, and nothing is at the table, ate, and made love with the authority must have been the Governor’s left for us,” said one Timorese. Timorese. The Indonesians came, sat at the proposal to the Indonesian President last Theories abound in Dili about the mili- table, ate, and then beat the Timorese.” May, which suggested that East Timor be tary. One, for example, suggests that East But the few who still talk about the re- given special status as a way of resolving Timor is a paradise for their business deal- turn of the Portuguese do so only to ask the problem. In Dili they say that Abilio ings and, faced with the constant threat of that “Portugal finish what it started,” i.e. the Soares was recently summoned to Jakarta to their numbers being reduced (as Jakarta decolonisation process. A Portuguese citi- hear President Suharto call his suggestion keeps promising), it is the military them- zen from Beja who has been living in East unconstitutional. selves who encourage destabilization, in Timor since 1965 believes that “one cannot In October, Mnsgr. Ximenes Belo also order to provide justification for their con- live on nostalgia” because “time and history proposed progressive autonomy for East tinued presence. never come back, and only time will resolve Timor, and now he complains that the Indo- According to official statistics, seven the problem of Timor.” nesians tried to kill him, setting up am- “social” battalions (i.e. battalions whose Difficult Solution bushes that did not work because those purpose is to assist in the reconstruction of For all these reasons, because of the dif- supposed to do the job were Timorese sol- the territory) and one combat battalion are ferent views of those in Timor itself, who diers in the pay of the Indonesian armed currently deployed in East Timor, with a have lived for 18 years under Indonesian forces, whose Catholic consciences made total of 5,300 men. However, Timorese domination, the solution is far from easy, them repent at the last minute. resistance sources have provided a list of 18 not just because of the intransigence of Ja- Every Timorese in Dili has a story to tell, ABRI battalions, which total over 15,000 karta (which, although it does not admit it, tragic stories, of the civil war that killed men. fears the spread of nationalist movements in relatives and very close friends, and of the Numbers relating to the armed resistance the archipelago if it were to give in on the invasion and integration that killed still also vary. The Indonesian military com- question of East Timor, and has other poli- more. A lot of criticism is also heard about mander in Dili affirms there are only 189 tico-economic reasons as well as the argu- those on the outside, including allegations, guerrillas left with a total of 103 weapons, ment that it was Portugal that abandoned unsupported by any evidence, that some and that they are active mainly in the the territory), but also because of the inter- have been making money out of the Lospalos, Baucau and Viqueque zones. The national community’s fear of confronting Timorese cause. resistance puts the figure at over 700 armed Suharto. In spite of feeling that they were aban- guerrillas and a further 600 unarmed, making The UN has not succeeded in getting In- doned by Portugal, the Timorese still hold a total of about 1,300 men. donesia to comply with its Security Council the Portuguese in high regard and even go as resolutions, and while Bill Clinton talks to far as saying that a whole nation should not Page 12 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. be stained by a few men who just happened TIMOR GAP BLACK GOLD MINE vehicle and driven away. His present where- to be in power in 1975. Barry Fitzgerald, in the West Australian, Sat abouts is not yet known. Generally speaking, the in the conversa- 17 Dec. 1994, tells of great riches in the Contacts in Dili have asked that this case tions they dared to hold with this journalist, oilfield that lies between Australia’s North be given all possible publicity as Belmiro’s they admitted that Indonesia has invested a and Indonesia’s provinces of Timor. life could be in grave danger. lot in East Timor, but confessed that roads are not everything. They complained about The maximum flow rate for the new REPORT ON THE ARREST OF the lack of respect for their dignity, and that Kakatua 1 well is 8,100 barrels per day. The HENRIQUE BELMIRO they would like to go down other paths. Elang well, in the same permit, flowed at up CNRM MEDIA RELEASE, Sydney, 15 Dec. They would at least like someone to ask to 5,800 barrels per day. 1994 them what they think. Laminaria is the other major oil strike in 1. Henrique Belmiro, was arrested on 4 I left Dili with the feeling that nothing the area. December and accused of being the master- was clear cut, that on both sides there is a Partners in Kakatua/Elang are BHP mind of all the recent disturbances and dem- lot of truth as well as a lot of imprecision. I Petroleum, Santos, Inpex Sahul and Petroz. onstrations in Dili. At present he is detained left with new clues on which to reflect, and Laminaria belongs to Woodside. at the SGI (Intelligence Headquarters) in rethink. But, above all, I left feeling ex- Dili. tremely sorry for the Timorese people be- FEAR FOR TORTURED He is being intensively questioned with- cause everything happened the way it did. TIMORESE ACTIVIST out being granted the right to be accompa- And I left Dili with a tremendous desire to nied by a lawyer. He is constantly being return again. TAPOL Report, 15 December 1994 tortured as part of the questioning. An East Timorese man, Henrique Bel- The accused had been heavily wounded MORE OIL FOUND miro Guterres, about 40, is currently under- in the head as a consequence of torture and IN TIMOR SEA going interrogation and is being subjected to beatings. His wrists have been severely severe torture at the headquarters of the wounded as a result of his being tied up and The Australian, December 10, By Matthew army intelligence unit, SGI, in Dili. He is continuously subjected to electric shocks. Steven: Summarized accused of being the ring-leader of the recent 2. On the same day of Henrique Bel- Preliminary drilling at BHP’s latest demonstrations in Dili. He has no access to miro’s arrest, a friend of his was shot in the Timor Sea exploration well, Kakatua I, has a lawyer, in violation of the Procedural back as he was trying to escape. His iden- found hydrocarbons. BHP Petroleum con- Code. tity is still unknown, since the persons who firmed last night that production tests Belmiro was arrested at his home in heard two shots fired were not able to see would be conducted over the weekend. If Manuleuana, Dili, on Sunday, 4 December, his face nor were they able to recognise him successful this will be the third oil discovery for allegedly having given refuge to a mem- as immediately after he collapsed he was made this year in the Zone of Cooperation ber of the resistance army, FALINTIL. No covered in cloth and taken away in a car. formed by Indonesia & Australia. Kakatua 1 evidence of this was found at his home Attempts have been made to find the corpse is 15km west of the first find at Elang which when he was taken into custody. but so far these have not been successful. is now being operated by BHP. Belmiro has spent years in Cipinang Jakarta, 15/12/94 In February, Elang 1, then run by Petroz Prison, Jakarta. He was first taken into cus- The above information was received from NL & the fifth well to be drilled in the zone tody in 1980 together with David Ximenes Dili along with a further report on the arrest permits area, flowed at 5800 barrels a day. after an attack on a TV transmitter on the of “enfermeiro Matias.” This arrest appar- Elang holds an estimated 70 million barrels outskirts of Dili on 10 June of that year. He ently took place also on 4/12/ 94, and the and production is expected to begin as early was subsequently released but re-arrested in report received from Dili is dated 11/12/94. as 1997 at a cost of $A 350 million. November 1992 in connection with the cap- The latest information is that this Matias has More importantly Kakatua 1 is close to ture of Xanana Gusmão, the leader of the since been released from detention, but is Laminaria 1, Woodside Petroleum’s boom East Timorese resistance, on suspicion of still under military custody. find which last month flowed at 7,500 bar- having been the guerrilla leader’s chauffeur (he was then working as a taxi driver). rels a day. It is believed to contain some 300 EAST TIMOR’S BISHOP million barrels. His arrest this month followed the brutal Laminaria 1, which excited oil analysts torture of a young East Timorese while NOMINATED FOR NOBEL being interrogated who may have be forced by its size, sits in a previously unexplored Peace Media Service, Dec. 16 area. Woodside projects that it has a poten- to mention his name. tial for 400 million barrels. Reports from Dili state that Belmiro has Bishop Carlos Belo of East Timor has Santos, one of BHP’s partners in suffered serious injuries to his head as a been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize Kakatua, confirmed that hydrocarbons had result of the torture and beatings he has by laureate Mairead Maguire of the Peace been found and that a great attraction of the sustained. His wrists are swollen after hav- People movement in Northern Ireland. site was that it could be joined to the pro- ing been tied very tight and he is being sub- Maguire praised Belo for “his spiritual posed Elang development by a submerged jected to continual electric shock. and moral leadership of the East Timorese production line. BHP was more circumspect On the day Belmiro was arrested, a friend people in these days of deep sorrow caused - it told the Australian Stock Exchange that was shot in the back as he was trying to by the brutality of the Indonesian invasion wireline tests were being run and that pro- avoid being arrested. His identity is not and aggression. He has inspired me as he duction tests would be conducted. clear. People in the vicinity heard two shots speaks out courageously for truth and jus- The partners in Kakatua 1 are BHP Pe- ring out but were unable to see his face be- tice in spite of death threats.” troleum (42.4%) Santos (21.4%) Inpex Sa- cause his face and body were quickly cov- Maguire said the Nobel Prize is most ef- haul Ltd (21.2%) and Petroz NL (15%) ered with a cloth, he was bundled into a fective “when given to people who, in the nonviolent spirit of King and Gandhi, work East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 13 at great personal risk to uphold human But José Ramos Horta, a spokesman for translations between Tetum and Indonesian rights and democracy. They give light in a the coalition resistance movement the Na- for such words and phrases as “gun,” “sur- dark world where poverty, violence and tional Council of Maubere Resistance, said render” and “bring water.” cruelty dehumanize so many people.” the group’s intelligence showed there were It also appears from the notes that the 20,000 Indonesian troops in East Timor. soldiers were given a brief psychology les- INDONESIAN This figure comprised 13,000 Indonesians son, perhaps to help them either understand SOLDIER’S DIARY from outside East Timor and 7000 ethnic the enemy or, as the Americans sought to do East Timorese conscripts. in Vietnam, to win the hearts and minds of Reports in the West Australian, Dec. 17, With about 1000 men per battalion, the the local people. 1994. By Michael Casey presence of eight battalions in one small part The details of the military briefings in the of the island showed how understated Mr. diary reveal the soldiers were neglecting to [Three articles, published with three photos Alatas’s claims were, Mr. Horta said. cover their footprints and were not paying of Indonesian troops from the Indonesian An agenda and instructions for a meeting attention to those of the enemy. They were soldier’s personal collection and a relief of of high-ranking officers in Dili in April also told to go to the toilet in groups of two or the battle plan map] came with the documents. Involving more three. than 100 personnel – most of them colonels They were not aggressive enough when SOLDIER’S DIARY TELLS OF WAR IN – the meeting was to be a full evaluation of they heard gunfire and they needed to fight THE FIELD the previous 12 month’s operations in East boredom in the forest. They had to be brave, Indonesian Army documents smuggled Timor. strong and resilient. out of East Timor reveal a far bigger level of The points of reference for the meeting They were not to oppress the local military engagement in the province than were divided between the intelligence opera- population and they were to pay attention Jakarta has admitted. tion, the combat operation, the “territorial” to the “matters of women.” The West Australian has obtained the operation, the “social and political” opera- The soldiers were told to remember that possessions of an Indonesian soldier be- tion, and the “peace and order in society” “guerilla warfare has high risks,” to “try to lieved killed in October by East Timorese operation. merge with nature,” to avoid well-known resistance fighters. A list of military supplies, which was tracks and above all, to pray. They include a battle map, the agenda for also given to the West Australian, shows Mr. Horta said the apparent death of Sgt. a secret command meeting in Dili, a diary of that for each patrol, each man in seven pla- Budianto was a powerful example of the military notes, a list of supplies and photo- toons from Battalion 431 was given only futility of the drawn-out war Indonesia had graphs of Indonesian soldiers in the forests four magazines and 90 rounds of ammuni- waged in East Timor. of East Timor. tion for his M-16 automatic rifle. “How come this young man – him and so After close analysis and cross- Resistance sources claimed the limit on many others – are still dying 19 years later? referencing, The West Australian is con- ammunition was to reduce the opportunity Yet the world allows the Indonesian regime vinced the material is authentic. for Falantil fighters to arm themselves with to continue this war,” he said. The battle map, pertaining to a region in the weapons of dead Indonesian soldiers. “It is not only the East Timorese who the east end of Timor, contains a coded Despite far-greater firepower and troops have been killed, but of course we suffered attack plan involving units from eight battal- outnumbering their enemy by 20 to one, the the most. Also young Indonesian soldiers, ions moving against more than 100 resis- Indonesians were still pessimistic about who in fact have nothing to do with East tance targets. their survival chances after 19 years of fight- Timor. The code for one of the battalion units is ing. “It is just unacceptable morally that this “Passus,” which suggests the involvement This was because the resistance fighters war should continue. It is not to the benefit of troops from Indonesia’s crack anti- were supported overwhelmingly by the of the Indonesians, let alone the benefit of insurgency force, Kopassus. local population, the sources said. the East Timorese people.” Kopassus troops were trained in Perth The photographs belonged to Sgt. Budi- this year by the Australian Army’s Special anto – believed to have been killed by resis- DIARY BARES ARMY LIFE Air Service regiment. tance sniper fire – who was second-in- The diary and other possessions of Sgt. The program drew criticism from many charge of a platoon within Battalion 431. Budianto give a revealing insight into life in East Timorese expatriates, who claimed His snapshots are of soldiers engaged in the Indonesian Armed Forces. Kopassus soldiers were guilty of the worst combat practice in scrub and forest settings, They suggest reasons why Indonesian atrocities committed during Indonesia’s 19- of army helicopters and of off-duty leisure soldiers may have dutifully followed the year occupation of East Timor and were activities in a mountain camp. brutal instructions of their superiors. directly responsible for the genocide of Sgt. Budianto’s diary, which was also re- Throughout his diary, Sgt. Budianto 200,000 people. covered, is a series of military notes in hand- wrote shorthand versions of military songs According to East Timorese familiar with written Indonesian focusing on guerilla tac- and oaths of allegiance. the Indonesian Army’s tactics in their tics. In this way, he would have been able to homeland, the circles on the map represent It describes eight ambush and counter- memorize their patriotic content, which he either the camps of the resistance army ambush attack plans, listing code names for would have had to recite regularly. Falantil or civilian villages providing assis- soldiers in the troop and setting out separate In translation, they appear as propa- tance to the guerrillas. roles for the group’s scouts, assistants and ganda, a means of indoctrination and an Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas leaders. unquestioning loyalty to the Indonesian has claimed there are only five battalions According to the notes, platoon members regime, couched in the language of national- deployed in East Timor, all of them engaged are instructed to rely on the local people for ism. solely in development projects such as road- information about movements of the enemy. An example of this is the second state- building. The diary includes basic notes on the cul- ment of the Sapta Marga, a list of missions ture of East Timorese people and a list of Page 14 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. statements for the Indonesian Armed Forces His personal belongings – his photo- As it was with the Americans in Vietnam (ABRI), of which Sgt. Budianto kept a graphs, diary, unposted letters – are striking 25 years ago, when a nation is forced to deal copy. It reads: “We are Indonesian patriots, for one reason: their familiarity. with the loss of its people, not just with the supporters and protectors of the national And while they now have taken on a statistics of war, pressure to end a futile war ideology who will never know surrender.” wider political significance, the picture they can mount. Another example is the first statement of present is not that of a political actor, nor of a list titled The Essence of ABRI as Soldiers a necessary victim of the brutal reality of XANANA GUSMÃO END OF of the People, Soldiers of the Struggle. It war, but of a son, a fiancé, and a friend – a YEAR MESSAGE TO EAST reads: “ABRI are soldiers of the Indonesian young man with a full life ahead of him. people, carrying out a pledge to fight the The politics seem irrelevant. A man who TIMOR SOLIDARITY struggle of the nation originating from the could have been anybody’s son, fiancé or SUPPORTERS people, borne and fought together with the friend has had that life cut short. people for the sake of the people.” To the resistance, he was an intruder, From Cipinang Prison, Dec. 31, 1994 There are the words to a song in the last who did not have the right to be there. But it CNRM-Falintil few pages of the diary. It begins: “We sons, should be clear, even to thousands of East To all solidarity groups and dear friends the brave soldiers of Kostrad.” (Kostrad is Timorese whose loved ones have been killed of East Timor the world over I send our an elite force of the presidential guard.) It by soldiers like Sgt. Budianto, that he too is greetings and most ardent hopes that 1995 continues with pledges of willingness to a victim of a war that only Indonesia can will bring successes to our struggle. 1995 sacrifice all for the people. end. opens its door to receive our concerns and A glance at Sgt. Budianto’s pay slips Sergeant Budianto’s photographs could expectations, and to receive our plans, ef- shows the importance of the indoctrination. be those of any young soldier on a tour of forts and achievements. This is a ritual, It is clearly not the money that lures young duty to a foreign place. They especially repeated for a 19 years now, reminding us Indonesians to the army. reflect the comradeship of war. that we are entering the 20th year of the Sgt. Budianto’s gross pay was the There are photographs of people stand- Indonesian invasion and military occupation equivalent of about $80 a month. But there ing with their weapons ready. But the of East Timor. Nineteen years have passed, was a range of deductions, most of which staged bravado seems empty against the and the most important difference to be would seem standard items for any soldier. hard lesson of mortality. noted is that the circumstances of 1975 are These included his boots, for which he paid Like all who leave to fight a foreign war, no longer compatible with conditions $5 in February, and his monthly rent of $3. Sgt. Budianto left loved ones behind. This is obtaining nowadays, and will never again He also appeared to be in debt, with a poignantly emphasised by the inclusion of repeat themselves. $20 loan repayment to the army bank every two non-military photos in his collection – 1974 was full of factors which led to ex- month. one of Tutik, his fiancé, with a friend of tensive analysis, and encouraged predictions On average, Sgt. Budianto’s net pay was hers, the other of two different women, and concerns, convictions and disappoint- about $50 a month. perhaps sisters. ments. As a natural result of the changed Paid a pittance and armed heavily, Indo- Tutik wrote a note on the back of the times, the two most important events of nesian soldiers would appear to have a great photograph she sent to Sgt. Budianto, urging 1994 have been the end of the Apartheid incentive to derive income violently from a him to “keep the photo close to you lest it regime, and the Middle East Peace Process. persecuted East Timorese population. be blown away by the forest wind.” Politicians and government leaders are more East Timorese resistance spokesman José Before his death, Sgt. Budianto wrote and more disposed to acknowledge past Ramos Horta said the Indonesian Govern- two letters that were never posted – one to mistakes, and have greater resolve to speed ment went to great extremes to keep the his parents, and one to Tutik. Those letters up the construction of the much longed for truth of its operations hidden from the pub- show a man concerned about the well-being new world order. This will only be possible lic. of his family. by defending the universal principles of He suspected Sgt. Budianto’s family had His letter to Tutik reveals little about the freedom, justice and peace. not been told of his death. nature of their romance. But one line, which Despite a quick response to prevent a “In the past, the Indonesian Army usu- was crossed out, began: “If you really care new attempted invasion of Kuwait, we still ally informed relatives of the death of a about me...” and in another, he suggested are regretting the inflexibility of the parties soldier six months to a year later,” he said. that when he returned home, the two of in dispute in the former Yugoslavia. Despite Mr. Horta said the family of another ser- them should meet in Madiun, in East Java. the return to power of a rightful government geant killed by guerrillas was told he died All these belongings have been removed in Haiti, the internal conflicts in various when a tree fell on him. from their original context. They now form parts of Africa are of concern. Besides ef- *The West Australian will pass Sgt. part of a collection of documents with a forts to create a new climate of peace and Budianto’s belongings to the International specific political importance. greater respect for universal principles, un- Committee for the Red Cross in Geneva to The records of Sgt. Budianto’s activities fortunately there still persist reactionary ensure they are returned to his family in in East Timor have become evidence with forces which oppose humankind’s efforts Indonesia. which the East Timorese independence for peace, freedom and progress. movement can call Indonesia’s bluff. They East Timor is a small example of this have entered the world of international di- general struggle. The dictatorial and colonial- WAR CUTS SHORT A LIFE IN THE plomacy. ist regime in Jakarta has tried everything to MAKING With Sgt. Budianto emerging as a pawn in attempt diplomatic diversion maneuvers to Like any soldier, in any war, Sergeant this political battle, the West Australian has deceive the world into thinking that there is Budianto carried with him mementos of a been faced with a moral dilemma. no need to resolve the issue of East Timor. life to which he hoped to return. But the decision to tell his story has been Jakarta tried to pretend that a Portuguese made in the knowledge that the human side general, who fought in Angola to preserve to it is the most important. the ‘unity and integrity’ of the Portuguese East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 15 empire, could, together with his business value of peoples’ consciousness, they pre- Indonesian dictator seems to think that by associate, represent Portugal and its people. tend that people are mere objects of regimes, meeting Abilio Araujo, he will have taken a However, Jakarta soon realised that the that they are simple instruments of manipu- most appropriate step, opening a way for a good old times, when more than half the lation by power holders. solution. For this purpose, Lopes da Cruz world would applaud every new lie spread Colonialist and dictatorial regimes ulti- and his wife, assisted by Tututs and the by its diplomacy, have gone not to return. mately fall under the pressures of the times. like, are hoping to mobilise East Timorese Jakarta also again deceived itself when it However, before this can happen they dis- students in Indonesia on 7 January. By commissioned its roving Ambassador, play an ideology to legitimize their own throwing a big Christmas/ New Year party Lopes da Cruz, to carry out a new ‘Balibo conceptions about themselves. They justify they are hoping that Indonesian Television declaration’ as part of an updated ‘Operasi in this way their crimes, the denial of free- will be able to show an assembly of East Komodo’ together with Abilio Araujo. But dom, the exploitation of peasants, social Timorese in Indonesia as a sign of support 1994 is so far away from 1974 in every injustices, repression of workers. The po- for the group of Abilio Araujo. sense and for everybody, except for the litical and financial elite rises on the basis of Suharto does not wish to grant auton- mentality of the murderous Jakarta generals. such costs. They usually are in the prox- omy, may be because this does not feature The East Timor issue has for the first imity of the presidential family and of those in the strategies of the ‘reconciliation’ time penetrated into the highly controlled favoured by the system, military officials, group. This group, in the joint statements neighbourhood, and the solidarity of the the true supporters of political power. issued by rupiah-greedy Abilio Araujo and neighbouring peoples alarmed Jakarta, who Dictatorial regimes are inflexible. The Lopes da Cruz, has already placed totally quickly reacted as a regional bully, attempt- stronger they feel economically, the more out of question the denouncing of the cow- ing to impose its will on neighbouring coun- arrogant they become in dictating to the ardly and shameful invasion and the criminal tries. world their repressive conceptions about military occupation of the territory. The third anniversary of the hideous principles and rights. In this way Jakarta is totally unprepared Santa Cruz massacre was magnificently The Jakarta generals have waited for too to present concrete ideas regarding a possi- celebrated by the Maubere youth, proving long to appreciate a historical reality: the ble solution to the East Timorese problem. once more to Jakarta that a people’s nation- nationalist consciousness of the Maubere We are almost certain that Ali Alatas will alist conscience can not be bought, neither people is not killed by repression, nor is it only be able to repeat once again what has by rich nor by poor colonialists. suffocated by crimes. been said for 19 years, namely that the East Sometimes I ask myself why, after 49 Indonesia should realise that this is the Timorese people have freely chosen integra- years of independence, the Indonesian rulers appropriate moment for it to rehabilitate tion; and that Jakarta will not accept a refer- still find it necessary to praise the advances itself before universal principles of interna- endum, not because it may be worried that it of the ‘New Order’ and stress to the people tional law. Minister Ali Alatas defines the may loose it, but because many people have its difference with the colonial situation. Is problem as a ‘no-win situation,’ thus under- suffered already. it because of a lack of political topics, or is lining the fact that UN maintains the politi- And Ali Alatas will smile victoriously for it due to a need to alienate the Indonesian cal status of East Timor as a non self- having once again passed off one of his intel- people, as often done by the generals invok- governing territory. This clearly shows that ligent observations onto countries like Aus- ing a supposed communist threat? Is it the the so-called ‘provisional’ or ‘definitive’ tralia, Netherlands, or Spain for example. search of a common sacrificial lamb to mar- assemblies, elections, DPRs, which have This way the Indonesian generals will have shal all the political and social forces into been inflicted on East Timor during these the feeling that despite the little problem of the shadow of the dictatorial regime? Is it past 19 years are simply not recognised as East Timor, Indonesian credibility is in- that the generals still do not realise that the valid, let alone as legitimate. creasingly being strengthened at the interna- people are fed up and do no longer believe in This was the perception which led Ali tional level. the theory of an alleged communist threat? Alatas to state to the DPR/MPR that while And Ali Alatas will try to escape once Is it that the generals have noted that the it may be easy to deceive the Indonesian more facing the fact that it is time to seek a Indonesian people have realised that such people into believing that East Timor is solution. Only because Jakarta is not offer- topics are being utilised to ‘unite’ political already Indonesian, it is a different matter to ing solutions. sensibilities, with the intention of deviating do this with the world. Therefore, considering from the ex- public attention from the real ills of the The Minister avoided saying that East tremely high costs of keeping the East regime? Have the Indonesian generals real- Timor has already integrated into Indonesia, Timor war to the heavy burden which -as ised that the people are aware that the gen- as he knows that this has never taken place, the DPR would say- needs to be borne by erals are keeping a death spectre, exaggerat- and that it merely could use the expression the passive and accommodating Indonesian ing its dangers, merely so as to justify ‘East Timor is mine’ as it has in reality been East Timor diplomacy, CNRM sees no ABRI’s placement in the combat front line. occupying it militarily for the last 19 years. other truly just way out than the previously With its ‘dwi fungsi’ ABRI is expected to We know that the reference to the prob- presented peace plan leading to a referen- be able to perpetuate their regime of corrup- lem made by President Bill Clinton to Su- dum. tion and repression over the Indonesian harto caused serious repercussions among Only this way will Indonesia be able to people. many Indonesian politicians, who wish that save its face in the wake of a conflict in The East Timor problem can be placed East Timor stops for good being the pebble which it has been placed as a violator of under these same questions, when we look in Indonesia’s diplomatic shoe, and a blood universal principles and of international law. at it from the perspective of the Indonesian stain on the image of the country which There is no solution possible which generals. holds the Chair of the Non Aligned Move- skirts around the essence of the problem. In We have always stated that if Jakarta ment. essence this was and will remain a problem tried to play with time, this would be the Apodeti members try to convince Su- involving the UN. boomerang causing its defeat. All regimes harto to grant a statute of autonomy to the 1995 is the most appropriate year for Ali oppressing and dominating peoples commit ‘27th Province,’ but one gets the impression Alatas to prove that Jakarta finally accepts the same historical sins. They minimize that that Suharto no longer trusts anyone. The resolving the East Timor issue, as is befit- Page 16 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. ting to the duties of a UN Security Council The crowd in Baucau attacked shops and It was the second outbreak of violence member. homes believed to belong to Indonesian since November in East Timor, which Indo- 1995 will be a year of changes. Changes traders from South Sulawesi. The alleged nesia annexed in 1976 amid international in our own attitudes, both individually and killer was believed to be a trader from South condemnation. collectively. Especially those of the East Sulawesi. The death of an East Timorese trader Timorese. Among ourselves, and between In an effort to defuse tensions, the army during a fight with a migrant food stall ourselves and yourselves. It will be a year of took the body of the victim, Arenando Xi- owner, also from Sulawesi, at Dili’s Becora changes in attitudes by Jakarta, by politi- menes, to Dili, an officer said. market in November, led to three days of cians, by diplomats and by generals. 1995 There was no official comment on the in- unrest there that cause damage to buildings demands these changes from all. cident. and vehicles. Finally, I wish to use this opportunity to A new year celebration for East In Darwin today, an East Timorese resis- express to all East Timor solidarity groups Timorese, government employees and mem- tance leader called on the Australian Gov- and to all our friends throughout the world bers of the armed forces was interrupted as ernment to monitor the treatment of East our most sincere gratitude, our friendship guests rushed out to look at the fires in the Timorese injured in latest ethnic violence. and recognition for your constant dedication marketplace a few miles away. José Gusmão, of the National Council of to the Maubere People’s cause. The libera- Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, the Roman Maubere Resistance, said he feared injured tion of the East Timor people will be an Catholic bishop of East Timor, said: “I people could suffer ill-treatment at the event also based on your political generosity know one person was killed during the vio- hands of Indonesian security forces. and moral grandeur. lence but I don’t know the reason why it “We has (such an) experience after the We wish each of you a very happy New happened.” 1991 massacre, so we would ask Australia Year. To all of you we send the love of our In November 1991, Indonesian troops to try to do something positive and guaran- people, the embrace of the Falintil fighters, massacred dozens of pro-independence tee the safety and proper treatment of the and a ‘Hai amigos’ from all the East demonstrators in Dili. injured,” Mr. Gusmão said. Timorese political prisoners. The jailed leader of pro-independence The Associated Press reported that in an HOMELAND OR DEATH! THE guerrillas fighting Indonesian rule called effort to defuse tensions the army took the STRUGGLE CONTINUES ON ALL yesterday for a referendum and urged both body of Arenando Ximenes to Dili accord- FRONTS! TO RESIST IS TO WIN! sides to make political compromises. ing to a military officer. For CNRM, In a year-end message written in his cell The officer said the reason for the fight Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, at Jakarta’s Cipinang jail, where he is serv- between Ximenes the South Sulawesi man CNRM Member, Commander of Falintil ing 20 years for armed rebellion, José was not clear. Cipinang, Jakarta 31 December 1994 Xanana Gusmão predicted “1995 will be the Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo, the Roman year of change” for Indonesians and Catholic Bishop of East Timor, blamed the Timorese. police and the military for not taking proper RIOTS ERUPT AS EAST security precautions during the holidays, TIMORESE TURN ON FIVE KILLED IN EAST AP reported. MIGRANT TRADERS TIMORESE UNREST “I know one person was killed during the violence but I don’t know the reason why it The Guardian, 3 January 1995. By Agencies The Canberra Times 4 Jan. 1995. AFP,AAP happened. It is the responsibility of the in Dili police and the military. They should been JAKARTA, Tuesday, five people have able to prevent this from happening,” he At least one person was killed and seven been killed a town market torched in fresh told AP by phone . injured in ethnic riots that swept a town in unrest in East Timor, sources in the Indone- Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 the troubled territory of East Timor, resi- sian ruled former Portuguese colony said and annexed the territory the following year, dents and exile sources said yesterday. today. in a moved not recognised by the United They said hundreds of youths burned a Hundreds of people, mostly youths, ri- Nations but recognised by Australia. market, shops and houses in the coastal oted in Baucau town about 115km east of town of Baucau, 120 miles east of the capi- the capital Dili, after an East Timorese iden- tal, Dili, after an Indonesian immigrant alleg- tified only as Amandino, was killed on Sun- BISHOP REPORTS ON edly killed an East Timorese man, and pos- day by a migrant from South Sulawesi, they INDONESIAN REPRESSION sibly also his aunt, after a dispute on Sun- said. day. Part of Baucau’s small market was By Mario Dujisin Police and soldiers clashed with a mob of burned in the unrest and a public mini bus LISBON, Jan 5 (IPS) - Bishop of East about 200 East Timorese and finally man- was wrecked as the disturbances continued Timor José Ximenes Belo Thursday re- aged to disperse it, a witness said, speaking yesterday, according to Dili sources reached ported that the Indonesian army is repress- on condition of anonymity. by telephone. ing independence-minded Timorese in Bau- The rampage on Sunday followed similar The sources who requested anonymity, cau, the second largest city on the former violence last November between local peo- said a group of East Timorese youths at- Portuguese colony. ple and outsiders in Dili that later turned tacked a military officer, slightly injuring Ximenes Belo told reporters on the island into anti-Indonesian demonstrations in the him in the temple of Kota Lama, the old invaded by Indonesia in 1975 that two 17- former Portuguese colony, annexed by In- part of Baucau. year-old students – Armindo Ximenes and donesia in 1975. Security troops shot four people dead af- Domingos Muhamad – had been gunned Dili was calm but tense yesterday. There ter unsuccessfully trying to disperse the down by Indonesian soldiers Wednesday, were unconfirmed reports of disturbances in with warning shots fired in the air, they and he feared that other killings had taken at least one other town. added. The East Timor military spokesman place in a bid to silence the independence could not be reached for confirmation. movement. East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 17

“It is very difficult to determine the So far, after four half-yearly summit part of the cultural genocide which Australia number of victims,” Ximenes Belo said, meetings between the chiefs of their respec- and in particular, foreign minister Evans and having travelled Wednesday from Dili, capi- tive diplomatic corps, Jakarta and Lisbon prime-minister Keating, prefer to let hap- tal of Timor, to Baucau. “Many houses are unable to reconcile their differences on pen. have been burnt to the ground, the young how to resolve the issue. Further more, an AFFET member in East people are in rebellion and everyday life is The first indication of an opening came Timor reports that new Indonesian military completely paralyzed..” with the acceptance by Jakarta to discuss are being added every week. Two barges of The situation in Baucau “is very serious, the case at the foreign minister level, which Troops landed in Dili yesterday. much worse than in Dili,” warned the catho- was followed by authorisation granted to We call on the UN at the talks with Por- lic bishop. United Nations missions to visit the dis- tugal and Indonesia in Geneva on Monday 9 Jakarta has come under a lot of criticism puted territory. Jan 95, for peace keeping troops to be from human rights organisations for its re- On basic issues, however, profound dif- placed in East Timor. We also call on the pressive measures in East Timor and in ferences remain between Indonesia, Portugal world to send weapons the armed resis- particularly Dili, the capital of the island and the locally organised resistance move- tance, if peace keepers won’t be sent. which Jakarta invaded shortly after East ment with respect to Timor. We also echo José Gusmão (CNRM) Timor declared independence from Portugal Indonesia maintains that in invading the Darwin, in his call for President Clinton and on Dec. 1, 1975. island on Dec. 7, 1975 it did so at the re- the Japanese, Canadian and other world East Timor, with a population of quest of its inhabitants, thereby accomplish- leaders to hold Suharto at his word to pro- 750,000, is surrounded by the rest of the ing “an act of liberation, freeing the territory tect Timorese human rights. archipelago which makes up Indonesia, a from 450 years of Portuguese colonialism.” country of 190 million people, the majority This military action, according to the in- EAST TIMOR being Muslims. dependent humanitarian organisation Am- ON EVE OF THE TALKS In Baucau, the most recent clashes were nesty International, eventually ended up triggered by events at the weekend when, with “the genocide of 210,000 Timorese.” AFP and Reuter, 8 January 1995. By Jim according to eyewitnesses, Indonesian sol- Portugal’s position is based on a resolu- Della-Giacoma and Jeremy Wagstaff, diers opened up with a burst of machine-gun tion passed by the United Nations Security Abridged fire at a picture of Jesus Christ at the end of Council Dec. 22, 1975 which designates it as Sunday’s High Mass. “the administrating power of the territory [In this report, the AFP focuses on the re- To protest the action, demonstrators until a referendum is held on its autonomy,” sponse to recent events by the Buginese gathered outside the Church of San Antonio and demands Indonesia’s immediate with- community, saying little about the East de Baucau on Wednesday when the two drawal. Timorese response. There may be others.] students were killed by Indonesian soldiers East Timor – Hundreds of Indonesians who had been ordered to disperse the MORE BAUCAU DETAILS are waiting to escape the latest racial flash- crowd. point in East Timor on the eve of UN- Bishop Ximenes Belo also said that 16 of From Australians for a Free East Timor. organised talks. the demonstrators had been wounded and Darwin, Jan 7. The fatal stabbing of a Timorese by an that five were in hospital in critical condi- The Baucau markets were burned on ethnic Indonesian last week triggered new tion as a result of bullet wounds. Sunday 1 Jan 1995 but this information disturbances and further complicated the “The streets of the city were occupied didn’t come to light until our PR on 2 Jan search for a solution. by the students, and I myself had to use a 95. Since the killing in Baucau on 1 January, megaphone to ask them to disperse in order Now it seems that many more deaths like the remnants (sic) of around 700 Indonesian to avoid further violence,” said Ximenes the Dili Massacre were avoided only by the Buginese traders and there families (does Belo. physical differences of the sites. this mean several thousand people?) have Sources in the inland resistance move- The markets were burned after the un- gone into a military base. Most say they ment contacted by Lisbon radio stations provoked killing of 2 East Timorese, so the cannot stay in the town they have called also reported that a warship from the Indo- next day, priests held a discussion with a home for more than a decade. nesian Navy berthed Tuesday in the port of large group of people assembled near the The Timorese and his Buginese attacker Dili. It was carrying “several hundred sol- church to calm the situation. were killed. According to independent diers” to reinforce the local garrison, the The Indonesian military gathered at a sources another three were killed by secu- sources reported. spot physically below the crowd and with- rity forces after a mob torched two markets. These events take place ahead of sched- out warning or discussion, opened fire with Local youths were said to have set light to uled U.N. mediated talks in Geneva next automatic weapons. Many people ran to- stalls run by Indonesians with the owners week between Portuguese Foreign Minister ward the church but 3 or 4 were shot. Oth- still in them. The official death toll however José Manuel Durão Barroso and Indonesian ers got shelter and youths attacked the mili- remains at three, with only one shot dead. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas. tary with rocks finally achieving a cessation Indonesia has encouraged thousands of This week in Jakarta, Alatas accused Por- of shooting. The face of the church and the its citizens to move to East Timor. tugal of maintaining “an aggressive attitude” Madonna were sprayed with automatic gun “Before we were kind to each other but which was prejudicial to finding a solution fire. now, I don’t know,” said Syamsuddin, a to the conflict on Timor. Latest news we have is that transmigra- trader from Sulawesi who was attacked in The Portuguese foreign ministry has de- tion of Indonesian has been stepped up and the disturbances and took shelter in the nied the allegations, saying they are “en- the East Timorese face the prospect of be- army base with ten of his family. tirely false” and has challenged Jakarta to coming a minority in their own country. “If there is a way, I want to go now,” he cite concrete examples of this alleged aggres- Already in some areas they are out num- said. The local government has offered to siveness. bered by Indonesians. This is a deliberate repatriate all those ruined by the troubles. Page 18 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

Baucau military commander, Lt. Col. Su- RADIO AUSTRALIA ON genuine solution to the increasingly costly listyo said a new town market would be and damaging issue. If they fail, it will have built where one of the two markets were MONDAY’S EVENTS IN DILI been brought about solely by Jakarta’s re- burnt. Radio Australia newscasts, Jan 9. calcitrant disregard for their international, The situation remained tense Sunday Constitutional and moral obligations. with some local people, who requested ano- Radio Australia quoted the Indonesian- It is clear that Jakarta’s understanding of nymity, saying security forces continued appointed governor of East Timor as saying ‘confidence-building’ is limited to recruiting house to house searches for the ring leaders that President Suharto had rejected the idea governments into a conspiracy of silence of the disturbances. The military say four of autonomy or special status for East about the true East Timor situation. The people have been arrested, with two re- Timor last May, when the governor had persistent Indonesian attempts include a leased Wednesday to the International Red proposed those options in a meeting with variety of ruses such as the ‘diplomatic’ Cross. Suharto. The governor’s remarks were said initiatives of General Suharto’s daughter to be in response to a snap demonstration at –––––––- Tutut, backed by his protégé and Military East Timor University today, in which foe, Technology Minister Habibie. It is According to Reuter: about 30 demonstrators unfurled pro- heartening that Portugal has so far retained For East Timorese battered by a new independence banners and shouted slogans its integrity with regards to its obligations wave of unrest, the UN-brokered talks be- to mark the beginning of the talks in Geneva towards East Timor. Unfortunately, in con- ginning Monday in Geneva seem a very long between Portugal and Indonesia. The stu- trast, Jakarta’s perfidy seems to have suc- way off. dents were reported to have escaped before ceeded with the craven Australian govern- New Year’s Day riots in at least three the Indonesian security forces arrived and ment. separate towns shattered Jakarta’s efforts to sealed off the campus. promote an image of fostering reconciliation In a later newscast, it was reported that GROWTH IN URBAN VIOLENCE while senior East Timorese figures are scath- four Australian citizens who observed the The National Council of Maubere Resis- ing when they talk about the Geneva meet- demonstration at ETU had been hustled to tance expresses its profound alarm at the ing. the airport by security forces and put on a rapid growth of violence among the urban “I do not expect any substantial progress plane to Kupang. A spokesman for the In- civilian population in East Timor in recent out of the meeting but I still hope the big donesian government said the four had been months. The serious incidents in Dili last countries will not go on treading on small expelled from East Timor “for their own November, witnessed by a large number of ethnic groups such as the East Timorese,” safety.” foreign observers, have been followed in said Florentino Sarmento, head of a local aid recent days by equally violent clashes in the agency, in an interview here. CNRM STATEMENT ON town of Baucau, as well as clashes in Er- The talks will be held in the shadow of VIOLENCE AND mera, Viqueque, Same, and Liquica. Using renewed ethnic and civil clashed in Dili and the excuse of protecting public order from at least two other towns, Ermera and Dili, in TRANSMIGRATION inter-ethnic conflict, the occupying Indone- which at least five people have died, accord- sian military has again reacted with murder- ing to East Timorese and aid sources. STATEMENT ON CONTINUING ous intentions against the East Timorese Baucau was quiet but tense Sunday URBAN VIOLENCE IN EAST TIMOR population. Reports of latest casualties of morning with 700 Bugis immigrants (not AND INDONESIAN TRANSMIGRA- military violence vary, in the absence of independent verification possibilities. While families, according to Reuter) holed up in TION POLICIES CONDEMNATION; the military camp for safety. the military, as usual, attempt to minimize CALL FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS Troops fired on unarmed youths in the the figures, human rights organisations in Baucau incident on New Year’s Day, caus- COMMISSION RAPPORTEURS’ VISIT Jakarta put death totals well above 20. Veri- ing some of the casualties, witnesses say. From José Ramos-Horta, Sydney, Jan. 9, fication is made even more difficult by the Dili itself was quiet after what residents The Foreign Ministers of Portugal and carting off in military vehicles of the dead said was a clash in the early hours of the Indonesia meet on 9 January for their fifth and wounded, who then ‘disappear.’ New Year between civilian intelligence round of UN-sponsored talks on East Timor NEW MASSACRE IN BAUCAU agents and local villagers, apparently while widespread urban violence rocks the CNRM particularly denounces the latest sparked by a stone-throwing incident. Sev- territory. Ongoing brutality by the Indone- military violence against the East Timorese eral people were injured. sian military authorities uses local protest population of Baucau. CNRM has learned Military spokesman Major L. Simbolon actions against aggression of East Timorese that on 2 January another major civilian said: “Generally the people of East Timor by Indonesian transmigrants as a pretext to massacre has been avoided, only because of are okay; some don’t like the Indonesians, commit further massacres of the local popu- a terrain feature. Local people, angry that but they are a few.” He said more than 15 lation. Indonesian trans-migrants had killed two Indonesian soldiers had been disciplined and These actions take place while Foreign people the day before, assembled in front of five discharged for breaches of discipline in Minister Alatas again unabashedly pro- the church for a meeting. The unjust re- the past few years. fesses Indonesia’s commitment towards a sponse of the authorities was to order Many East Timorese are more skeptical, confidence building process with Portugal. troops to deliberately fire into the crowd. questioning Indonesia’s efforts to woo over- The cunning Foreign Minister even dares to Massive deaths were only avoided by the seas Timorese and its focus on international criticise Lisbon, for its continuing exp osure fact that most people were able to seek forums to gain legitimacy for its 19-year old of the woeful situation in East Timor, as refuge behind a small hill. The number of rule. They point to the absence of any East supposedly failing to reciprocate in the deaths, estimated by some sources at above Timorese residents in its territory or in In- confidence-building process. This way 20, make it yet another massacre. donesia, including those supporting Jakarta, Alatas tries to hedge against the likely fail- Only some two weeks ago, the report of at the Geneva talks. ure of the 9 January Geneva talks, despite the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, his earlier pretense to have been seeking a East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 19

Summary and Arbitrary Executions of the gitimate protests by the local population are “We will carry out a thorough investiga- United Nations Commission on Human used by the military as excuses to further tion into the case to find out who master- Rights, Mr. Bacre Waly Ndiaye, confirmed repress and even massacre the local popula- minded the demonstration,” the police chief that the massacre of unarmed civilians at the tion. said, Police patrolled the campus and others Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili, on 12 Novem- The National Council of Maubere Resis- were posted at strategic points around Dili ber 1991, was a premeditated action ordered tance therefore expresses its profound alarm to prevent more disorders. by the highest Indonesian authorities. It at the continuing violence against the East [Regarding the events in Baucau] expressed concern that the conditions which Timorese population caused by the 19 year- Human rights activists said security allowed the Dili killings to take place still old illegal Indonesian occupation. On the forces killed four East Timorese in quelling persist in East Timor. Last week’s massacre specific issue of Indonesian population the riot. Troops opened fire after their in Baucau vindicates Mr. Bacre Ndiaye’s policies in East Timor, CNRM strongly commanding officer was beaten, said an concerns. condemns the population transfers fostered activist close to the ruling Golkar party. by the illegal Indonesian occupation authori- Governor Abilio Soares said that in an ef- ILLEGAL POPULATION TRANSFER ties. These transfers, are the root cause of fort to minimize tensions, a regulation will POLICIES the escalating civilian violence currently in soon be issued to restrict the flow of outsid- The recent urban violence points to a evidence in the territory. Rather than further ers into East Timor. He said outsiders with- new dimension of the East Timor drama, repressive measures to control ‘ethnic ten- out jobs would be sent back to their prov- which has been gathering salience in the last sions’ being taken by the authorities, it is inces. About 2,500 come to the remote is- few years. This is the impact of the illegal the illegal population transfers which need land each year population transfer policies of the Jakarta urgently to be ceased. government, aimed at changing the demo- graphic composition of the East Timorese NEED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WIDESPREAD TENSION population. This is pursued in gross viola- COMMISSION RAPPORTEURS IN EAST TIMOR tion of accepted international norms on The National Council of Maubere Resis- population transfers in occupied territories. tance calls for the UN Commission on Hu- The following report was received by fax at Jakarta’s prime aim has been to serve its man Rights to take a strong position on TAPOL early 10 January 1995 from some- political objective of integrating the terri- these and other ongoing human rights viola- one identifying himself only as a young tory, despite the profound rejection, even tions in East Timor at its next meeting be- Timorese who has just returned to Jakarta after 19 years, among the local population. ginning end of January in Geneva. The seri- from East Timor. The report was written in The flood of official as well as private ousness of the situation requires the urgent English and has been slightly edited, for transmigrants taking place since the early visit to East Timor of the Special Rappor- clarity: 1990s has been consistently denounced, by teur on Torture and the Working Group on The residents of East Timor are very agi- the East Timorese, NGOs, Churches, and a Disappearances, as recently recommended tated, because of the activities of the Indo- variety of others, and also by the current by the UN Human Rights Commission Sp e- nesian army and its intelligence. They are Indonesian-appointed governor of East cial Rapporteur Mr. Bacre Ndiaye. spying on all the activities of individuals and Timor and his predecessor. The extremely groups and are visible almost everywhere in negative impact on the East Timorese peo- 24 ARRESTED IN DILI Dili. They continuously patrol the streets in ple has been repeatedly condemned. Results groups of between 10 and 12, armed with include the displacement of people from AP, 9 January 1995. Abridged sticks 1 metre long; some wear black jackets traditionally owned land by transmigrant Comment: 1) The idea of restricting the with an eagle’s wings logo, others wear red farmers, the marginalization of East influx of Indonesians floated by Abilio jackets with yellow stripes with the word Timorese from urban economic life, their Soares may not find favour with his Indone- keamanan (security) emblazoned on the exclusion from public service jobs, and the sian masters. The governor has recently front. difficulties they face in competition for been taking what one might call a more Since the incident at Becora market on 12 places at higher education institutions. In nationalist stance to reduce tensions, but November last year, all the residents but addition, urban centres such as Dili and they have not been to the liking of Jakarta. especially the youth, are worried about Baucau have experienced rapid population The figure of 2,500 arriving each year is further persecution. There is widespread growth, with the new arrivals putting great certainly a gross understatement of the fear of systematic arrests, torture and kill- pressure on existing infrastructural facilities, problem. 2) Note how, once the APEC spot- ings by army personnel. leading to a lowering of housing and sanita- light has gone, firearms are again being Christmas could not be properly cele- tion standards. used. – TAPOL brated. Most people preferred to stay at Protection and favoritism by the authori- home rather than visit relatives and friends. East Timor –Police arrested 24 East ties have encouraged many newcomers to Only those connected with the military Timorese on Monday following a melee at a treat the local population and its cultural enjoyed privileges (to celebrate). On university, police chief Col. Andreas Soegy- and religious values with disdain. This has Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, the ianto said. The demonstrators, waving anti- been repeatedly denounced in recent months military engaged in provocative activities. A Indonesian and anti-integration banners by local leaders, such as Provincial Parlia- fully-armed riot brigade with six to eight broke into the university early in the day, ment representatives, former pro- vehicles patrolled around the churches, the urging students to join them. Other banners integrationists and Church members. As a Vila Verde Cathedral and in Becora and Mo- demanded freedom for rebel leader Xanana result, previously unknown ethnic tensions tael, provoking those who attended mass. Gusmão. are now widespread in East Timor, adding On 9 January, the day of the tripartite A brawl (sic) erupted when the students yet another tragic dimension to the suffering talks in Geneva, there was widespread anxi- refused to join the protest and police arrived of the East Timorese people under the bru- ety of a terrible incident, recalling the to arrest the protesters. Shots were fired in tal Indonesian military occupation. To com- bloody events of 20 years ago when Indone- the air to disperse the crowd. pound the seriousness of the situation, le- sia invaded East Timor. People feared that Page 20 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. this could bring economic stagnation or 43, who lives in Bairo Pita, was detained. BACKGROUND INFORMATION worse. In preparation for this day, residents He has sustained injuries to his legs and Since November 1994, there have been hoarded food, anticipating the worst. arms and has seven ‘knits’ [stitches?] in his increased, and sometimes violent, demon- Because of the terror, educational activi- temple. strations against Indonesia’s occupation of ties have been suspended, as well as other Conditions in other places such as Bau- East Timor. The authorities have responded governmental and private activities. Some cau, Same, Lospalos, Viqueque and Ermera to the demonstrations with arbitrary deten- people still go to work but there is fear on are even worse. It is very risky for any tion, including detention of peaceful pro- their faces. Some 2,000 Chinese families Timorese to take the long journey to Dili. testers, and beatings and torture. Over 100 have decided to flee to Australia. Some people have gone missing when mak- East Timorese were arrested following No- This atmosphere is the result of military ing such journeys. The only people here vember demonstrations and some 25 to 30 operations. Whereas previously there were who are monitoring the human rights situa- are believed to be still detained and may face 15 battalions conducting military operations tion are two officials of the International trial. Concern for those detained on 9 Janu- in East Timor, the number has been in- Committee of the Red Cross. ary is heightened by reports that some of creased following the Becora incident. At All this military terror means that the those detained following the November the end of November, more troops landed. people of East Timor are losing their Loro demonstrations were beaten in military de- There are now seven battalions of red-beret Sae (their name for the motherland). tention and several were allegedly subjected (Kopassus). Some landed secretly in Lospa- to electric shocks. They were also report- los while others arrived publicly on 3 Janu- AI URGENT ACTION edly denied access to lawyers and their ary 1995 at 10 am in Dili. Along with them ON DILI ARRESTS families. came heavy equipment, including heavy RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please artillery and tanks, which reached Dili in EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and convoy from Kupang. There was a military Index: ASA 21/06/95 airmail letters either in Bahasa Indone- ceremony to welcome these new arrivals at Distr.: UA/SC sia or in your own language: 9 am on 4 January: Colonel Kiki Syahnakri 11 January 1995 (the military commander) was the inspector · expressing concern that 24 East UA 05/95 Fear of torture/arbitrary detention of the parade. Timorese, arrested during a demonstra- Following these new arrivals, an ‘identity INDONESIA/EAST TIMOR José Antonio tion at the University of East Timor in card operation’ has been started. This has Belo and 23 others Dili on 9 January 1995, appear to have been detained for the peaceful expression had the effect of preventing villagers from Twenty-four East Timorese youths have of their beliefs; going to Dili because military personnel are been detained during a pro-democracy dem- blocking entry points and controlling all onstration at the University of East Timor · expressing concern at the reports of two newcomers. This happened in Tibar, west in Dili. Two were reportedly badly beaten of those detained being beaten on arrest, of Dili, in Marbia on the south, and Hera- on arrest, heightening fears that the detain- and seeking assurances that the 24 are metinaro on the east. Anyone, men and ees may be ill-treated or tortured in custody. now being treated humanely in accor- women, wanting to enter is being forced to Amnesty International is also concerned dance with international standards; undress. The controls apply only to that some of the 24 may have been detained · urging the authorities to clarify the iden- Timorese. Anyone found not in possession solely for the peaceful expression of their tity and whereabouts of the 24 under po- of an ID is arrested and tortured. beliefs. lice detention; The worst conditions of all have been ex- On 9 January 1995, about 30 East · urging that the authorities allow access perienced by people who were arrested after Timorese youths began a pro-independence for those in detention to the International the 12 November 1991 event, as well as by demonstration around the university. De- Committee of the Red Cross, lawyers freedom fighters. These have been sum- tails of the demonstration are still unclear, and their families; moned and interrogated by Satuan Gabungan but eyewitnesses reported that a group of Inteligen/SGI. They include: Mahunu, Ma- · urging that the authorities immediately about 30 youths held banners and shouted and unconditionally release those who are hudu, Alexo Cobra, Dr. Mathias, Ze slogans denouncing East Timor’s integration Manuel. Activists who were involved in the being held for the peaceful expression of into Indonesia. Shortly after the protest their beliefs. Cathedral demonstration in Dili on 18 No- began, riot police and plainclothes security vember 1994 have also been arrested and forces arrived and arranged for the departure APPEALS TO: tortured. They include Bobby Xavier, 21, of up to 100 students who were inside the Chief of Police for East Timor: who lives in Matadouru; he was picked up campus at the time of the demonstration. Lt. Col. Sugianto Andreas in the night of 27 December 1994 by intelli- Eyewitnesses then saw at least two of [Salutation: Dear Lieutenant-Colonel] gence agents and has been in custody ever the demonstrators being forced by plain- Kapolda Timor Timur, Dili. East Timor, since. It has been difficult for his family to clothes officers into security forces’ vehi- Indonesia visit him. Intelligence agents are meanwhile cles. One of the youths has been identified Telegrams: Kapolda Timor Timur, Dili, monitoring and torturing other activists. as José Antonio Belo. The witnesses claim East Timor What usually happens is that before picking that the two were beaten inside the vehicles Military Commander for IX/Udayana: up the person, the SGI dispatch the local before being driven away. intelligence - MAUHU - [The Tetum word After dispersing the demonstration, a re- (covers Bali, Lombok, Nusa Tenggara and used for locally recruited intelligence agents. gional military spokesman for East Timor East Timor) The word actually means ‘to spit poison acknowledged that 24 East Timorese were Brig. Gen. R. Adang Ruchiatna like a snake.’] to visit the homes of the vic- being held for questioning while an investi- [Salutation: Dear Brigadier-General] tims. gation is conducted into the demonstration. Pangdam IX/Udayana There has been a heightened level of de- Markas Besar KODAM IX/Udayana taining and torturing members of the Clan- Denpasar. Bali, Indonesia destine. A man named Henrique Belmiro, East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 21

Telegrams: Pangdam IX/Udayana, Den- On Monday, the military authorities in ing in East Timor. Added to this the Indone- pasar, Bali, Indonesia East Timor expelled four foreign tourists, sian government have announced that they AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE three Australian men and one Dutch woman, are going to place restrictions on foreign FOLLOWING: who were present at that day’s demonstra- journalists and tourists. I also feel that we Minister of Foreign Affairs: tion in and around the campus of the Uni- must remember that six western journalist versity of East Timor. have died in trying to bring out he story of Ali Alatas SH what has happened to the people in East Menteri Luar Negeri ALARM OVER EAST TIMOR CURBS Timor. And this latest development is most Jl Medan Taman Pejambon No 6 The Irish Times, 13 Jan. 1995 worrying. Jakarta Indonesia Faxes: 01062 21 36 0517 DUBLIN: East Timor resistance solidar- David Shanley; What’s our own govern- ment’s record in this respect? Chair of the National Commission on Hu- ity groups in the west have expressed alarm man Rights: at the announcement this week that foreign- Tom Hyland; I think that the Irish govern- ers wishing to visit the disputed territory as Ali Said SH ment have played a very good role in this tourists will be heavily screened, writes matter. They have raised the issue with the Ketua Komisi Nasional Hak Azasi Clair Crawford. Manusia Indonesian government and particularly at A spokesperson for the Indonesian em- the European Union, where decision are Jalan Veteran No 11 bassy in London said the restriction would Jakarta Indonesia made, they have been to the front in bringing not affect journalists who went through the up the issue of East Timor. But I have to Faxes: (c/o Ministry of Justice) 01062 21 official channels and applied for working 314 1625 say that the real power-brokers, Britain, visas. Germany and France are the main suppliers SOURCE; RTE RADIO AND THE of weapons and I think that Ireland is seen FOREIGN VISITORS to play a minor role. TO BE SCREENED ASTRA SATELLITE TO EUROPE, JAN 13. PROGRAMME; MORNING David Shanley; What can we do? UPI, 11 January 1995. By Sukino Harisu- IRELAND Tom Hyland; I feel that we have to put marto, Abridged. [With news of a new build- pressure and in effect plead with Dick up of troops in East Timor it is feared that ANCHORMAN; DAVID SHANLEY Spring to go to the Council Of Ministers, sit the army of occupation is planning a new We move now to East Timor, so far and down and say that that situation in East crackdown. TAPOL] so neglected, not to say ignored by the Timor is an indignity and atrocity that can- western media. Ten journalists have been Jakarta – Alarmed by a string of anti- not be tolerated any longer, and if need be expelled from East Timor in the past two government protests, the government has we have to break with European policy in months which may partly explain the seem- announced plans to tightly screen foreign this matter. ing indifference of the west. Tom Hyland, citizens seeking to visit East Timor, a mili- David Shanley; They won’t do this will they? co-ordinator of the East Timor Ireland Soli- tary spokesman said Wednesday. Major L. darity Campaign is here with us now. Tom Hyland; Well they may do. We can Simbolon, the military spokesman in East only hope that, depending on how Dick Timor said, as quoted by East Java’s Jawa First of all Tom on that question of the indif- Spring approaches this, if he does as I have Pos newspaper that the screening against ference, or seeming indifference, of the suggested they may in fact listen. west is it just that, so far away ? foreign visitors was important because the David Shanley; Tom Hyland, co-ordinator presence of foreigners always causes trou- Tom Hyland; Well, I think that there are a of the East Timor Ireland Solidarity ble, “particularly the security order.” number of reasons. It is far away, and in Campaign thank you for coming into stu- Indonesian authorities have recently ac- Ireland we have never had that much contact dio. cused foreign journalists of fueling the recent with that region, we have no missionary or waves of protests in East Timor and already expatriate people there, but one of the other expelled 10 journalists from the troubled problems is that the difficulties of East SIX TIMORESE PRISONERS province (sic) during the past two months. Timor has been compounded by western ON HUNGER STRIKE He said a concrete example was the holding intervention in it’s backing of Indonesia of pro-independence banners in front of a with military supplies and trade. I think that TAPOL Report, 15 January 1995 Catholic church in Dili last November, add- may explain some of the difficulties we According to a report in the Indonesian ing that at the time foreign journalists encounter. daily Suara Merdeka (which we have been brought the posters and gave them to the David Shanley; So its not indifference, there informed about but have not seen), the six East Timorese youths and then took pic- is an approach that supports the Indone- East Timorese political prisoners now being tures for publication. sians. held at Kedungpane Prison, Semarang, He said every foreign citizen wishing to started a hunger strike on 9 January, the day visit East Timor, either journalists or tour- Tom Hyland; People have asked me why talks took place in Geneva between the ists, would be “watched out and screened the west intervene. In effect they have in- Portuguese and Indonesian foreign ministers, carefully,” before being allowed to enter and tervened, when they have supplied the under the aegis of the UN Secretary- stay. weapons for the genocide that has taken General. Simbolon’s statement came just two days place in East Timor. Information reached TAPOL earlier of after a pro-independence demonstration David Shanley; There’s been a massacre the intention of the six prisoners to start a took place in Dili, hours before the foreign (Santa Cruz) and there is a rumour that hunger strike, the primary purpose being to ministers of Indonesia and Portugal held there may be another massacre. demand transfer back to Dili, to be near their talks in Geneva on the future of East Timor, Tom Hyland; We are extremely worried by families, ending their seven months-long under the auspices of the UN Secretary- the latest developments. In effect we have isolation. General. heard that more Indonesian troops are arriv- Page 22 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

The six political prisoners are: Gregorio For action in support of the demand of cion of organising demonstrations last 12 da Cunha Saldanha who is serving a life the six prisoners to be moved back to Dili, November in Dili. sentence, Francisco Miranda Branco, who is please fax: Mr. Baharuddin Lopa, Director- serving 15 years, Jacinto das Neves General for Prisons, Ministry of Justice, AI ALERT ON Raimundo Alves, who is serving 10 years, Fax no: +62-21 310 4149. CELSO OLIVEIRA Filomeno da Silva Fereira, serving 5 years and 8 months, Saturnino da Costa Belo, MORE INDONESIAN LIES: AI UA011/95 INDONESIA Detention serving 10 years, and Juvencio de Jesus, MILITARY MURDERS 6 EAST serving six years and ten months. They were AI Index: ASA 21/07/95 suddenly transferred from Dili to Kedung- TIMORESE CIVILIANS; 4 ABRI 16 January 1995 pane in May 1994, just a few weeks before TROOPS KILLED INDONESIA AND EAST TIMOR “Rui” the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra- Celso Oliveira, 23, human rights activist judicial, Summary and Arbitrary Killings CNRM Media release, 17 Jan. 1995, Sydney East Timorese Celso Oliveira has been ar- visited Dili to examine Indonesia’s handling On 13 January the Indonesian news- rested in Jakarta after sending information of the investigation of the Santa Cruz mas- agency ANTARA distributed a release overseas about the situation in East Timor. sacre in November 1991, making it impossi- quoting Indonesian military source (ABRI) Celso was reportedly arrested without a ble for him to interview them. [The Special claims that 6 East Timorese resistance fight- warrant, and Amnesty International is con- Rapporteur stated in his report that their ers had been shot dead by Indonesian cerned that he may be being held solely removal made it impossible for him to speak troops. It was alleged that “the rebels were because of his peaceful activities in opposi- to them directly, though he did send a mem- trapped after a battle with government tion to Indonesian rule of East Timor, and in ber of his team to see them.] troops” (The Guardian, London, particular, the dissemination of information According to information reaching 14/1/95(AP)). The item was published concerning human rights. The organization TAPOL, the six prisoners have written world-wide. urges that Celso be provided with immediate three times to the Director for Prisons, Ba- The events that actually took place on 12 access to lawyers of his own choice. haruddin Lopa (who is also secretary of the January once again confirm the total lack of Celso Oliveira was arrested around 11am country’s National Commission on Human credibility of Indonesian reports. It is again on 13 January 1995 after a security guard in Rights) requesting transfer back to a prison evident that only lies emanate from Jakarta a bookshop handed him over to police. It is in Dili but they have not received any reply. on the dirty war its troops conduct in East believed that Celso was then transferred Before commencing the strike, the six Timor. from police custody to Jakarta’s regional made known their views on several impor- According to Church sources, whose military intelligence headquarters, Bakor- tant issues: name can not be revealed to protect their stanasda. At the time of his arrest Celso 1. They welcomed the willingness of security, what actually happened was: Oliveira was carrying a document describing President Suharto, made public by Lopez da Indonesian troops, unsuccessful at look- the current atmosphere in East Timor which Cruz, to hold dialogue with the East Timor ing for guerrilla fighters supposedly active in he had distributed to human rights organiza- resistance, adding that this could only be the region between Liquiça and Maubara, tions in Indonesia and overseas. taken seriously at home and by the interna- executed by shooting six young East It is believed that lawyers from the Indo- tional community if there was dialogue with Timorese civilian males they suspected of nesian Legal Aid Institute (Lembaga Ban- the legitimate leader of the resistance, supporting the resistance. The victims are: tuan Hukum), LBH, are currently negotiat- Xanana Gusmão, because he is the only José Nunes (35 years) Village Head (Kepala ing with the authorities to visit Celso leader recognised by the people of East Kampung)of Gariana; Abel Nunes (20) Vil- Oliveira in military custody. Just prior to Timor, and also by the national political lage Head of Bauboa (Bahuboa?)- Maubara; his arrest Celso Oliveira stated that he had forces, the UDT and Fretilin as well as by Victor (24) of Gariana-Maubara; Augusto been visited twice by the military at his the pro-integrationist Apodeti. Pinto Nunes (20) of Gariana; Americo home in Dili, East Timor, although the rea- 2. They hoped that the Indonesian For- Araujo (20) of Leotila-Liquiça; Osorio son for their inquiries was not clear. eign Minister would give substance to the 6 Soares (20) of Leotila-Liquiça). BACKGROUND INFORMATION May 1994 statement of the two foreign These people were murdered by two sol- ministers in Geneva, to show Indonesia’s diers of KODIM (local military command) The arrest of Celso Oliveira is consistent seriousness in resolving the question of East of Liquiça Benny Kilo and Pavo Leotela, with a pattern of short-term and arbitrary Timor. commanded by First Lieutenant Jeremias detention of real or alleged opponents to 3. They urged the Indonesian government Kase, KASI I - ( Intelligence First Assistant Indonesian rule of East Timor. Thousands to conduct a new investigation of the 12 ) of Liquiça. of East Timorese have been held without November 1991 massacre, involving inde- The same day there was indeed an armed charge or trial for periods ranging from a few pendent and international experts. clash between the East Timorese Resistance days to several months, since late 1991. 4. They asked the Indonesian government Army Falintil and ABRI troops in Goana. Many have been denied access to their rela- to return the bodies of the victims of the 12 near Lois. As a result a young guerrilla tives and lawyers and some are known to November massacre to their families for fighter was injured in the hip and four Indo- have been ill-treated and tortured. Others have been tried and sentenced for their proper burial in accordance with East nesian soldiers were killed. Timorese tradition. Further news from Dili indicate that well peaceful activities. José Antonio Neves (see UA 198/94, 23 May 1994, and follow-ups ––––––- known East Timorese former political pris- ASA 21/15/94, 2 June; ASA 21/23/94, 20 This report is being made as the six men oner David Ximenes of Dili is being har- assed by the Indonesian military intelli- June; ASA 21/26/94, 27 June) is currently enter the second week of their hunger strike. being tried on charges of anti-government Given that access to Kedungpane Prison is gence. They are looking for pretexts to ar- rest him after arresting and severely tortur- activities, in part because of attempts to extremely difficult, it will prove very diffi- send information about human rights viola- cult to monitor the progress of their strike. ing his neighbour Enrique Belmiro on suspi- East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 23 tions in East Timor to foreign organizations. tion center, but there is no confirmation of On the eve of world human rights day, A verdict for Neves is expected this month. that. the Jakarta-based Center for the Study of RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please Human Rights also released a statement send telegrams/express and airmail let- critical of government policies. ters either in English, Bahasa Indonesia EVENTS IN INDONESIA The Center’s chairman, Todung Mulya or in your own language: Lubis, said an award would be presented (Saturday) to a lawyer who defended Yudi · expressing concern that Celso Oliveira VOA: RIGHTS SITUATION Susanto – a factory owner who was sen- was arrested on 13 January 1995 without tenced last year to 17 years for the murder an arrest warrant, and that he may have WORSENS – YLBHI of a labor activist (Marsinah). been detained solely for his peaceful ac- Voice of America, 12/9/94 A higher court later overturned the sen- tivities in opposition to the Indonesian tence. Eight other people on trial in connec- Government; By Yenni Djahidin (not voiced), Jakarta tion with the case retracted confessions · urging that he be immediately and uncon- Intro: the leading human rights organiza- saying they were obtained under torture. ditionally released, unless he is to be tion in Indonesia says conditions in that Legal activists say the labor activist was charged with a recognisably criminal of- country got worse in 1994, and it has called killed in a military installation and say the fence under existing laws; on the government to ease some restrictions. police should open a new case. · urging the authorities to ensure that Celso Yenni Djahidin filed this report from Ja- Oliveira has immediate access to lawyers karta. VOA: CHECHNYA of his own choice. Text: in its annual review of human rights conditions in Indonesia, the Jakarta-based AND EAST TIMOR APPEALS TO: Legal Aid Foundation says its assessment Minister of Justice: Haji Utoyo Usman was based on four indicators. Voice of America, 12/20/94. By Yenni Dja- SH [Salutation: Dear Minister Utoyo Us- They are restrictions on freedom of as- hidin, Jakarta man] Menteri Kehakiman Jl Rasuna Said sembly and opinion, government attitudes Intro: in continuing reaction to the situa- Kav 6-7 Kuningan Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia toward mass and political organizations, the tion in Chechnya, Indonesian students dem- Faxes: 01062 21 314 1625 Telegrams: use of criminal legal procedures to limit onstrated in Jakarta Tuesday to protest Menteri Kehakiman, Jakarta, Indonesia political activities, and the use of violence. Russia’s military attack. Yenni Djahidin Military Commander for Region The executive director of the Legal Aid filed this report on the protest in the Indo- X/Jakarta Raya (covers Greater Jakarta): Foundation, Mulyana Kusumah, spoke to nesian capital: Maj. Gen. Wiranto [Salutation: Dear Maj. reporters in Jakarta to release the report in Text: About 100 students came from Gen. Wiranto] Pangdam X/Jakarta Raya advance of World Human Rights Day. universities in Jakarta and elsewhere in Java. Markas Besar KODAM X/Jaya Jl. Mayjen In my opinion, the condition of human They carried banners condemning Russian Sutoyo Jakarta, Indonesia Telegrams: Pang- rights in Indonesia during 1994 was a set- attacks in Chechnya and demanding a with- dam X/Jakarta Raya, Jakarta Indonesia back compared to 1993 based on the four drawal of Russian troops. AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE indicators. Among the slogans on the banners were: FOLLOWING: He says that since Indonesia is now Russia give Chechnya rights and freedom – Minister of Foreign Affairs: Ali Alatas playing a greater international and economic and Russia get out of Chechnya. SH Menteri Luar Negeri Jl Medan Taman role – as underscored by its recent hosting The students also called on the Indone- Pejambon No 6 Jakarta, Indonesia Faxes: of Asia-Pacific meetings – it should change sian government, the Islamic conference 01062 21 36 0517 its approaches toward civil liberties. organization and the 111-member non- Chair of the National Commission on He urged the government to ratify inter- aligned movement to help Chechnya gain Human Rights: Ali Said SH Ketua Komisi national conventions on civil and political independence. Nasional Hak Azasi Manusia Jalan Veteran rights. Indonesia has ratified just four of 25 During a visit to Indonesia earlier this No 11 Jakarta, Indonesia Faxes: c/o Minis- international conventions dealing with hu- month, the Russian parliament’s deputy try of Justice 01062 21 314 1625 man rights. speaker compared the action taken by Mos- Indonesia continues to face criticism from cow in Chechnya with Indonesia’s actions FROM SYDNEY JONES, HUMAN human rights groups and foreign govern- in East Timor in 1976. Jakarta took control RIGHTS WATCH ments over worker’s rights and a crackdown of the former Portuguese colony, by force. Celso Ximenes de Oliveira, aged 22, the on the media. The demonstrators rejected that state- East Timorese arrested in the Gunung In November, the government announced ment. One of the banners in Tuesday’s pro- Agung bookstore in Senen, Jakarta, last a new program aimed at improving worker’s test read – East Timor is integration, Chech- week, was carrying documents with him rights. Minimum wage increases are being nya is invasion. from Konis Santana, as well as an Infight implemented gradually in various regions. The protesters also condemned Russian publication and the White Book on the June However, the leader of the largest inde- policy in Bosnia, accusing Moscow of, in press bannings. Customers are apparently pendent labor union, Muchtar Pakpahan, is their words: helping the Serbs in the assas- supposed to check their bags at Gunung serving a jail sentence after being convicted sination of Muslims in Bosnia. Agung, and when he walked into the store on charges he led worker unrest in the city The demonstration outside the Russian without doing so, the Satpam got him. of Medan. embassy dispersed peacefully after about Celso’s father, Dominggos Ximenes, was an The government also continues to be one hour. Apodeti member; his mother works at the criticized for its banning of three popular Earlier this month, students in Jakarta East Timorese house in Taman Mini. It is publications (DeTik, Editor, and Tempo) and Bandung staged demonstrations against not yet clear where he was being detained; earlier, which journalists say ended a period Serb attacks on Bosnian Muslims and de- there was some fear he had been taken to of openness. manded an immediate lifting of the arms Kramat V, the military intelligence interroga- embargo on Bosnia. Page 24 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

Indonesia – the world’s most-populous the Gunung Agung Bookshop, Kwitang, Muslim country – is one of seven members Jakarta this morning. ADITJONDRO of a contact group of the Islamic conference It is not clear whether he is currently a HARASSMENT organization dealing with Bosnia. resident in Jakarta or in Dili. He was arrested by a member of the CONTINUES ABILIO ARAUJO store’s security, SATPAM, handed on to TO THANK SUHARTO the Jakarta regional military command and taken to the interrogation centre in Kramat INDONESIAN SUPPORTER Forum Keadilan, 22 Dec. 1994. Abridged Lima. It is more than likely that he will have OF EAST TIMORESE immediately been subjected to torture. INDEPENDENCE The following extracts are taken from an Our contact said the security authorities interview of Abilio Araujo, shortly after he had found a document in his possession By Max Lane, Green Left #169, Nov. 30 arrived in Jakarta: which details recent events in East Timor Indonesian dissident academic George Q: How are your connections with Ramos and which had been faxed to a number of Aditjondro addressed a meeting of more Horta? human rights organisations overseas, includ- than 60 East Timorese at Cabramatta Com- A: I don’t have any problems with Horta, ing TAPOL. munity Centre on November 22. The meet- but maybe he has problems with me. In This may have been the document that ing was chaired by the president of the 1989, he left Fretilin because he wanted to was posted on reg.easttimor several days Timorese Democratic Union (UDT), João have an election for chairman and he rejected ago, entitled ‘Widespread tension in East Carrascalão. Representatives of Fretilin also my leadership. I was elected chair of Fretilin Timor.’ attended the meeting. in 1984 by a Fretilin Congress. At the time, There are fears that this will develop into Aditjondro, on a visit to Australia, earlier Xanana Gusmão was a member of the con- a case like that of José Antonio Neves who spoke at the Northern Territory University, gress. When Xanana left Fretilin, he ap- is now on trial in Malang, East Java, on a Rainbow Alliance meeting in Melbourne pointed Horta as his deputy. So, I am the charges of rebellion. and other functions. one who was lawfully elected by the con- Meanwhile, we have just learnt that the Aditjondro assure the East Timorese of gress. daily, Kompas, reported on 5 January the his continuing support for the East He (Horta) was never elected. I don’t want arrest in West Papua of three East Timorese Timorese cause. He reiterated his argument to speak to anyone who has no base. If on 28 December, as they were trying to flee that current Indonesian policy is not in ac- there are new elections, I’m fully prepared Indonesia and go to Australia. cord with the Indonesian constitution and to run against Horta. According to Major-Gen. Ketut Wird- not in the interests of either the East hana, commander of the Trikora military Timorese or Indonesian people. Q: Is it true that you are regarded as a trai- command covering Maluku and Irian Jaya, tor by the Horta group? He explained that only a small handful of the three had come to Sorong for a match Indonesians, mostly related to top officials, A: I spent my whole youth fighting for East with a local team but remained there after benefit from the Indonesian occupation of Timor. A grandparent of mine died in the the team left for home and “obtained iden- East Timor, through the operations of the Portuguese colonial war. My father was tity cards, certificates of good conduct, birth Bhatara Indra Company, which controls murdered in that war. In 1978, a brother certificates and passports to escape to Aus- most of East Timorese trade and commerce. disappeared after surrendering to the Indo- tralia.” They were arrested before being able Aditjondro has called for direct talks be- nesian army. Two other grandparents-in-law to leave Sorong. He alleged that one of the tween the Indonesian government and were murdered during that war. It’s now three had taken part in an anti-integration Xanana Gusmão, as the central leader of the time to say: “We’ve had enough war!” demonstration in Dili. East Timorese resistance. He has opposed Q: When are you going to meet President They were being handed over to the the current talks between the government Suharto? Udayana military command based in Bali and pro-"integration” East Timorese Abilio which covers East Timor A: Most probably after the New Year. Araujo. On November 19, he told Sinar magazine in Jakarta that only Xanana Gus- Q: What do you want to convey to him? RAP R.I.P. mão can talk on behalf of the East Timorese A: I will show my appreciation for the sup- movement. port President Suharto gave, from the very The Guardian, 14 January 1995. By: Tom He also told Sinar that these talks should start, to the initiative I launched for recon- Bussmann (Zeitgeist column) include a discussion of how sovereignty can ciliation talks. I have confidence in the Indo- Indonesia might not be top of your list be transferred to East Timor. “A referendum nesian government and I am grateful for the for a peaceful holiday, but wait. According is the way,” Aditjondro stated. positive things that have been done during to Bisnis Indonesia, the research and tech- When Aditjondro repeated this call for a the past twenty years in East Timor. The nology minister, Jusuf Habibie, has con- referendum in Australia, the suggestion was reconciliation process is an opportunity for demned rap music, saying it was decadent. immediately rejected by Australian foreign East Timorese abroad to make a contribu- What’s more, it ‘must not be allowed to minister Gareth Evans. According to Evans, tion to the development of East Timor enter Indonesia’s culture.’ Declaring the Indonesia has to change its policies so as to country a rap-free zone will do much to better facilitate “reconciliation” in East TIMORESE ARRESTED IN assert the quality of Indonesian civilization, Timor. The ALP government would do JAKARTA, WEST PAPUA and go far to outweigh the occasional deca- nothing which would “help raise unrealistic dent, uncultured slaughter of the odd half a expectations” of independence. TAPOL Report, 13 January 1995 million East Timorese. In the meantime, Indonesians raising their A reliable human rights contact in Jakarta voice in support of the East Timorese resis- today told TAPOL that an East Timorese tance movement do so at considerable cost. named Celso Oliveira, 23, was arrested at Aditjondro has already suffered considerable East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 25 harassment. On October 22 the authorities Meanwhile, George will go to Malang, struggle of the Indonesian people leading to formally charged Aditjondro, a lecturer at East Java, on 14 December, to testify for their independence declaration in August the Satya Wacana University in Salatiga, the defence in the trial of the East Timorese 1945. He likened East Timorese studying in Central Java, with “insulting the Indonesian activist, José Antonio Neves, on trial for Indonesia to Indonesian nationalists who government.” If convicted, he could face a rebellion because he maintained contact with studied in the Netherlands before the Pacific one-month jail term. the outside world. He hopes that, besides War and came under similar influences, their The “insult” is supposed to have oc- helping the defendant, his appearance on the own struggle and that of the Dutch people curred during a seminar last August at the witness stand will help to draw greater at- themselves. Indonesia Islamic University titled “The tention to the trial which has hardly been He also told the court that the position of Urgency of Political Development in the mentioned in the domestic or international the Catholic Church in East Timor changed Process of Democracy in Indonesia.” Adit- press. dramatically after the invasion in 1975 be- jondro is alleged to have made the remarks cause of the many attacks on the Church while he analyzed papers by retired General ADITJONDRO TESTIFIES itself, on its buildings and the seminary in Sumitro, who was the head of the much AT NEVES TRIAL Dare. This had persuaded the Church not to feared intelligence agency Kopkamtib support integration and to take a position (Command for the Restoration of Security TAPOL Report, 19 December 1994 supporting a referendum as a way out of the and Order) and former minister of home problem. affairs Rudini. George Aditjondro, senior lecturer at the For two-and-a-half hours, Aditjondro Aditjondro, who will be defended by the Satya Wacana Christian University in was questioned by the defence lawyers. The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), Salatiga and Indonesia’s leading activist for presiding judge made little attempt to inter- said he planned to summon both Sumitro East Timor self-determination, testified for fere with the presentation of his testimony. and Rudini as well as outspoken legislator three hours at the trial of José Antonio Ne- The defendant, Neves, when asked, told the Sri Bintang Pamungkas, who was present at ves in Malang, East Java on 14 December. court he fully agreed with Aditjondro’s the seminar. José Antonio Neves, an East Timorese testimony. theology graduate, is on trial in Malang, For the remaining half-hour, Aditjondro accused of rebellion (‘makar’), after being was questioned by the prosecutors’ team UPDATE ON discovered faxing information abroad about ADITJONDRO CASE and members of the judges’ panel. The the situation in East Timor, from a post prosecutors sought to discredit his informa- office fax service in Malang last May. The TAPOL Report, 11 December 1994 tion about the history of East Timor and to charge carries a maximum sentence of life or accuse him of not being a good patriot or In an interview by phone with George twenty years. nationalist. The defence lawyers intervened Aditjondro on 10 December, he told Aditjondro was called to testify by the whenever the questioning was directed at TAPOL that it appears likely that charges defence as an expert witness. He told making an attack on his integrity as an ex- will be laid against him, possibly some time TAPOL that he elaborated on the history of pert witness. in the new year. His lawyers have informed East Timor, the international status of the The hearing was well attended, with doz- him that the Yogyakarta police have been question of East Timor, as well as the cur- ens of East Timorese students from several busy interrogating several people at the rent economic and social conditions of the towns occupying many of the seats in the Universitas Islam Indonesia where he deliv- people of East Timor. During his testimony, public gallery. They arrived before ‘intel’ ered the lectures that will be the subject of he drew comparisons between the righteous officers were able to occupy most of the the charges. Several deputy deans of the struggle of the people of East Timor and the seats, which is what normally happens in university have been questioned by the struggles of the Palestinian people, the Sa- political trials. Some Indonesian students police, including the one responsible for harawi people and the struggle of the people were also present. There was a lot of cheer- student affairs. of Bosnia. He also drew comparisons with ing for Aditjondro and jeering for the prose- Once the police investigations are com- the anti-apartheid struggle of the people of cutors when they tried to impugn his char- pleted, the next step will be for them to South Africa. acter. hand the case over to the regional prosecutor With regard to reaching a solution for His remarks about Portugal being the (jaksa tinggi) who will be responsible for East Timor, he told the court that the talks Administering Power evoked a lot of cheer- deciding whether to press charges. Accord- taking place under the aegis of the UN ing from the public gallery. ing to George, the regional office is likely to should involve Xanana Gusmão, the leader The only Indonesian paper to report the want to press charges, possibly aiming to of the East Timorese resistance, who is session was Java Pos. No international jour- limit the damage by seeking a sentence lower currently serving a 20-year sentence in Cip- nalists were present. The only diplomat than the 18 months allowed under Article inang Prison, Jakarta. He told the court that present was an official from the US consu- 207 of the Criminal Code. However, their Xanana Gusmão is in touch with the resis- late in Surabaya. superiors in Jakarta may have other ideas tance movement in East Timor, the East Two other expert witnesses had been and instruct them to drop the case, not Timorese activists who are currently in called by the defence but neither was able to wanting to face the international campaign Indonesia and the East Timorese diplomatic appear: Bishop Belo, and Mochtar Kusu- that could unfold around his trial. front overseas. When talking about Xanana maatmadja, a legal expert and Indonesia’s George’s defence team has been formed. Gusmão, he drew a comparison with Nelson former foreign minister. Mochtar had been It consists of five lawyers. Two are from Mandela, whose release from prison paved called with reference to a standard textbook the Yogyakarta LBH - Nur Ismanto and the way for negotiations to end the apart- on law by him which deals at some length Artijo Alkostar, one is a private lawyer in heid system. with the 1949 Geneva Convention on the Yogyakarta. The other two are from Jakarta: He dwelt at some length on the two laws of war. Mochtar stresses that the Ge- Luhut Pangaribuan of the Jakarta LBH and forces that have influenced East Timorese neva Convention is applicable to a war another well-known human rights lawyer, studying in Indonesia - the nationalist strug- situation, even if one of the protagonists in Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara. gle of their own people and the nationalist Page 26 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. that war does not consider that a war situa- office. He said that the police have no inten- AI ALERT ON POSSIBLE tion exists. tion of dropping the case because “it is so Aditjondro told TAPOL that the forth- special.” ADITJONDRO ARREST coming trial hearings are scheduled as fol- Although formally speaking, the police lows: would only be able to place Aditjondro FI369/94 INDONESIA POC arrest · Wednesday, 21 December: Questioning under arrest if he were to fail to cooperate EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI of the defendant. with the police in their investigation (he has Index: ASA 21/05/95 · Wednesday, 28 December: Summing up cooperated throughout, in the sense of ap- Distr.: UA/SC by the Prosecutor who will present his pearing when summoned), we should not 5 January 1995 demand for a sentence (‘tuntutan’). disregard the possibility that the police may decide this time to keep him in custody. Further information on UA 369/94 (ASA · Wednesday, 4 January: Statement by the 21/45/94, 6 October 1994) and follow-up Defence The new factor that may further aggra- vate the case for Aditjondro is that he testi- (ASA 21/46/94 12 October) - Imminent · Wednesday, 11 January: Verdict by the fied last week on behalf of José Antonio arrest as prisoner of conscience court. Neves who is on trial in Malang on charges INDONESIA Dr. George Aditjondro, He told TAPOL that he thought the hear- of rebellion. academic ings had been postponed for the period of Dr. George Aditjondro, a prominent In- the APEC summit because it was feared that ADITJONDRO WANTS donesian academic at Satya Wacana Univer- foreign journalists in Indonesia for that sity in Salatiga, Central Java, remains at risk event might try to attend a court hearing. SUMMONS POSTPONED of arrest for his peaceful academic and po- In our experience, there could be further TAPOL Report, 25 December 1994 litical activities. If detained he would be a exchanges between the prosecution and the prisoner of conscience. defence following the Statement by the De- George Junus Aditjondro has instructed Dr. Aditjondro is wanted for questioning fence which could mean the Verdict being his lawyers in Yogyakarta to notify the on charges of “insulting a government au- delayed. Yogyakarta chief of police that he is not thority or body,” under Article 207 of the Aditjondro also told TAPOL that he prepared to answer the summons to appear Indonesian Criminal Code, a charge which fully realizes that his decision to testify on for interrogation on 28 December. carries a maximum penalty of 18 months’ behalf of Neves could lead the police and The period from Christmas Day up to imprisonment. The pretext for the question- prosecution authorities in Central Java to the Twelfth Day of Christmas on 6 January ing appears to arise from comments Dr. pursuing his own case even more vigor- is sacred for Catholics and, as a practising Aditjondro made regarding possible scenar- ously. In reply to a recent request for in- Catholic, he cannot agree to have any inter- ios for the Presidential succession in Indo- formation from his lawyers, the Yogyakarta ference from the authorities during those nesia during a penal discussion at the Uni- police said that they are continuing to pre- days. He will only be willing to appear after versitas Islam Indonesia (UII) in Yogyakarta pare the case for presentation to the Prose- 7 January 1995. in August last year. Amnesty International cutor’s Office who will decide whether to Aditjondro will shortly be making an ap- believes however that the authorities are lay charges. He feels that the only thing proach to the National Commission for attempting to punish Dr. Aditjondro for his likely to lessen the chances of his being Human Rights about his case. He has noted past criticism of government policy relating formally charged is pressure on Singgih, the that a member of the Commission from the to human rights and environmental problems Attorney General. Diponegoro University in Semarang has initiated a series of Free Forums at the Uni- in Indonesia and East Timor and to prevent him from taking part in further peaceful NEW POLICE SUMMONS versity. It is quite anomalous for him to be under investigation for speaking at a free activities. FOR ADITJONDRO forum at Universitas Islam Indonesia while Dr. Aditjondro received his first sum- at another university, free forums are being mons on 5 October 1994, requiring him to TAPOL Report, 23 December 1994 organised by a member of the National report to Yogyakarta Police on 8 October, George Junus Aditjondro, senior lecturer Commission. while he was outside Indonesia. He was at Satya Wacana Christian University in again summoned on 15 October and ques- Salatiga, has just received another summons tioned over two days on 22 and 24 October. from the Yogyakarta Police to appear for On 21 December, Dr. Aditjondro received interrogation at 9 am on Wednesday, 28 another summons to appear for questioning December 1994. on 28 December. Through his lawyers, Dr. As in the previous interrogations, he is Aditjondro argued that as a practising Chris- being summoned as a ‘suspect’ (tersangka), tian, he should not have to be questioned under Article 207, for ‘offending a state over the Christmas religious holiday. On 1 authority’ that carries a maximum sentence January 1995, the police delivered a sum- of 18 months. mons requiring Dr. Aditjondro to report to When previously interrogated, Aditjon- Yogyakarta police at 9 am on 7 January. dro underwent questioning that lasted for 15 However, as he may be outside Java on 7 hours, over two days. January, it is not clear whether Dr. Aditjon- On 8 December, according to a report in dro will be able to comply with the sum- Jakarta Post [9 December], the police chief mons. of Yogyakarta, Colonel Zairin Bustami, Under Indonesia’s Code of Criminal Pro- notified Aditjondro’s lawyers that they cedure (KUHAP), a person suspected of were continuing to process the case and having committed an offence cannot be ar- would submit the file to the prosecutor’s rested unless they have failed to comply East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 27 with legal summons on two consecutive fight the Indonesians. We had been at war occasions without presenting valid reasons. COMPREHENSIVE with Fretilin, but there was no way we were Dr. Aditjondro has so far complied with the ARTICLES & EDITORIALS going to accept the Indonesians.” legal summons with which he has been pre- Leaving his prison with just a pair of sented. Amnesty International is concerned shorts and a shirt, Tavares travelled east however that, as in the case of labour leader COMING YEAR ‘CRUCIAL ’ with the army and ended up staying with a Dr. Muchtar Pakpahan (see Amnesty Inter- FOR EAST TIMOR family he knew in the countryside. “We national Indonesia: “Operation Cleansing,” were under attack all the time. We were November 1994, ASA 21/50/94), the au- By Arun Pradhan. Green Left, Dec. 4,1994 targeted by the planes, there were bom- thorities may argue that Dr. Aditjondro bardments from warships and mortar at- failed to comply with the two summons For Helio Tavares of the Timorese De- tacks ... they couldn’t tell the difference dated 28 December 1994 and 7 January mocratic Union (UDT), political life started between UDT and Fretilin. As long as you 1995, placing him at greater risk of arrest. young. Today a member of UDT’s regional were Timorese that was it!” directorate, since the age of 16 he has seen BACKGROUND INFORMATION The community of 300 people who Ta- his country through a civil war and an inva- vares stayed with were soon captured by The questioning of Dr. Aditjondro is sion by Indonesia. He has been imprisoned the Indonesian army. “We were on the top symptomatic of official harassment and by Fretilin and captured by the Indonesian of a hill, and I saw the army coming. We intimidation of alleged government critics army. “I have seen many people killed. I said goodbye and then the people amongst which escalated in the second half of last was just lucky to get through unharmed,” he us who were armed, left; the rest of us al- year. These measures included prevention or told Green Left Weekly. lowed ourselves to be captured. We were breaking up of meetings and seminars, the Many people have heard of Fretilin, but mostly women and children with no guns, arbitrary arrest of human rights activists, Tavares points out that the first political so they didn’t see us as a threat. We were and the torture or ill-treatment of some po- party formed in East Timor was UDT. taken to a village. We didn’t get brutal litical detainees. “Once Fretilin changed its name from ASDT treatment, but in some instances where there FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: (Timorese Social Democratic Association), was a fight, the Indonesians would wipe out Please send tele- they became more like a radical movement everyone, including civilians.” grams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail than a party. UDT was a more centrist Unity in resistance letters: party.” However, the key difference be- Throughout the early ‘80s the resistance - expressing concern that Dr. George tween the two lay in their attitude towards broadened. Links between UDT and Fretilin Aditjondro remains in imminent danger of Portugal’s role in independence. were formalized by the signing of a Declara- arrest for the peaceful expression of his “East Timor had been neglected by the tion of National Convergence in 1986. views; Portuguese administration for so long. Even “The convergence brought the parties to- - urging that the case against Dr. Aditjon- in terms of education, we had less than 10% gether. Falantil [the armed forces] became dro be immediately and unconditionally literacy and out of them, 90% would reach non-partisan, and Xanana stepped down as dropped. primary school. Because they were a colo- nial power it was in their interest to keep leader of Fretilin. He no doubt had the same APPEALS TO: everyone in the dark. ideas as Fretilin, but he had to do it to be- Minister of Foreign Affairs: “UDT demanded that Portugal take up come a leader and a symbol of the whole Ali Alatas SH [Salutation: Dear Minister] its responsibility. In a period of eight to resistance. It got to the stage were every Menteri Luar Negeri Jl Medan Taman Pe- nine years, and possibly even up to 15, we fighter is identified with him and he is the jambon No 6 Jakarta, Indonesia Faxes: demanded that Portugal actually put in the one that inspires everyone to continue the 01062 21 36 0517 or 7781 or 7782 Tele- resources to develop East Timor before we fight.” grams: Foreign Minister, Jakarta, Indonesia go for self-determination and independence.” This unity has continued inside and out- Attorney General: Civil war side of East Timor. On a grassroots level, Agung Singgih SH [Salutation: Dear At- activists such as Tavares work tirelessly torney General] Despite their differences in January with Fretilin activists organising protests, Jaksa Agung, Jl Sultan Hasanuddin No 1, 1975, UDT and Fretilin signed a coalition rallies and other events. On an international Kebayoran Baru agreement to strive for independence. Ta- level a diplomatic delegation, which met Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia vares emphasised the destabilization role Indonesian foreign minister Alatas a few Telegrams: Attorney General, Jakarta, Indonesia played. “They tried to divide months ago, is composed of the external Indonesia UDT and Fretilin. There’s no doubt that if leaders of the two parties and the special we continued to work together, independ- representative of the National Council for AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE ence would have been more realistic.” FOLLOWING: Maubere Resistance. However, the destabilization was suc- As for UDT’s politics today, Tavares Chair of the National Commission on cessful. UDT withdrew from the coalition in says, “If we look back, the only party that Human Rights: late May and staging a coup in August. hasn’t changed the core of their ideology is Ali Said SH, Ketua Komisi Nasional Hak Fretilin was able to mobilise supporters in UDT. We realised early on that East Timor Azasi Manusia, the general population and the army to de- lacked infrastructure and had underdevel- Jalan Veteran No 11, Jakarta, Indonesia feat the coup. Many people on both sides oped resources, which is why we aimed for Faxes: (c/o Ministry of Justice) 01062 21 were killed in the fighting. Tavares was one a longer process. We were labelled, people 314 1625 of many UDT members captured and later who didn’t agree with us used to say that

released in 1976, following the Indonesian ‘UDT would eat Portuguese shit,’ but we Chief of Police Yogyakarta, Colonel (Pol) invasion. just wanted a transition period.” Drs. H Anwari SH “We still believed in our nationalism, so UDT’s immediate demands include the Kapolda Yogyakarta, Markas Besar Ke- many of the UDT members who were liber- freedom of Xanana Gusmão and that he be polisian DIY, Yogyakarta, Indonesia ated immediately joined the armed forces to Page 28 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. involved in negotiations with Indonesia. ASIAWEEK EDITORIAL: countries - and their vast markets - in trade. Tavares stressed that the aim of any talks The latest episode in Indonesia ought to must be “total self-determination and inde- “TIMOR’S PAIN” dispel lingering illusions that any foreign pendence. There’s no way we will consider The Showy Antics of Activists Only force, even the US, can effectively pressure some form of autonomy as a solution.” Make It Worse Jakarta on East Timor. Mr. Clinton’s asser- Solidarity tion during a speech that human rights Editorial in Asiaweek of December 7, 1994, would be developed through increased trade Tavares emphasised the importance of p 21. and investment doubtless seemed to activ- solidarity in achieving independence. “Sup- As a showstopper during the recent ists like a statement of surrender. To many port from the Indonesian democracy move- APEC summit in Indonesia, it was certainly others, it was a welcome acknowledgment of ment is essential, and since the occupation effective. When 29 young East Timorese reality - and of the folly of curbing prosper- of the embassy there is now greater con- activists stormed the US embassy com- ity in pursuit of human rights. After twelve sciousness about East Timor. I even hope pound in Jakarta, a global audience bored exhausting days, the Jakarta protestors that East Timor will be a major contribution with smiles and handshakes suddenly had earned themselves asylum in Portugal - but to the downfall of the Suharto regime, and something to talk about. The protestors gained precious little for East Timor. that the movement there uses it to bring demanded the help of US President Bill Their tactics proved not just ineffectual down the government. Clinton in securing the release of one of their but counterproductive. The inevitable “Successive Australian governments have leaders. They went on hunger strike to crackdowns began even before the APEC played a public relations role for Indonesia. oblige his secretary of state, Mr. Warren summit ended. In the next two weeks, Indo- In 1974 the capitalist world were scared that Christopher, to meet with them. “America nesian authorities arrested many of their East Timor would be another Cuba, and so is the only superpower left in the world,” compatriots and fellow dissidents. The pub- Australia and the United States became said one dissident. “We think the Americans licity surrounding the embassy protest may accomplices in the invasion. Even with can use their influence to save the situation have reminded the world about a festering APEC you can see that Australia has a lot in East Timor.” sore. But it also embarrassed and angered to gain economically from the invasion. Once again, the spotlight fell on the Indonesia, the party East Timor can least Now Evans calls for autonomy, but that is United States to play the earnest champion afford to antagonize. Unlike the Portuguese, only because Indonesia is already talking of human rights. Asserted Mr. Christopher: who simply abandoned their colony in about it. “The relationship between the US and In- 1975, Indonesia has poured huge resources “In Australia we need to continue what donesia can never reach its highest level into its development. It has built schools, we’ve been doing in the last few years. unless Americans have the confidence that roads, electric lines and hospitals. Indeed, We’re working with groups such as Resis- there is effort here to respect human rights.” Jakarta has given more attention than other tance, Aksi, the Australian East Timor As- He added a call for greater autonomy in East province. sociation and the Democratic Socialist Party Timor. Mr. Clinton delivered the same mes- Of course, throwing money at a deep- to organise actions. This year we had the sages to President Suharto when the two rooted problem won’t make it go away. The biggest demonstrations across Australia, met after the APEC summit. The Indonesian killing of demonstrators in a Dili cemetery which shows what impact we can have. The leader politely but firmly rebuffed his guest. three years ago remains a symbol of the politicians in Canberra will only act when It was normal for sovereign states to differ military’s contempt for the lives of ordinary they have to, which means we have to build on issues, a spokesman for Mr. Suharto East Timorese. The arrival of settlers from these things even bigger.” afterwards quoted his boss as saying. Few other parts of the nation has also alarmed Still optimistic, Tavares points out the Indonesians were surprised that the Ameri- local inhabitants, who have begun to feel key time is yet to come. “I believe next year can intervention got nowhere. disenfranchised not just politically but also is crucial for the future of East Timor. In The crux of the matter is that Washington economically. Jakarta could display more East Timor we are not just relying on the hasn’t been putting its money where its sensitivity to such concerns. Although Mr. armed resistance. Resistance has become mouth is - and, increasingly, both Asians Suharto told Mr. Clinton that East Timor much more widespread, more generalized, and Americans know it. Instead, the money shouldn’t be treated differently from the and today the masses are prepared to go out is going into deals like a $35-billion venture rest of the country, the province’s unique and protest. At the same time, international between an affiliate of US petroleum giant history and culture do require some special solidarity is constantly growing. Exxon and Indonesia’s state oil company, consideration. At the same time, the East “We are still prepared to struggle, and we Pertamina. Signed the same day Mr. Clinton Timorese would do themselves a big favor won’t settle for second best. It’s independ- was dispensing his advice to Mr. Suharto, by accepting the fact that Jakarta is there to ence or nothing!” the contract is said to be one of the biggest stay. Cooperative rather than confronta- of its kind ever, worth the equivalent of tional behavior is likely to lead to improve- Portugal’s annual budget. It was just one of ments in the relationship. And if Indonesia seventeen major agreements signed between is able to feel less besieged and more secure Indonesia and American companies on the about the issue, it is more likely to ease up sidelines of the summit. on military repression and, in time, agree to By ignoring both Mr. Clinton’s urgings greater autonomy. Then all involved - the and the protestors’ demands, Indonesia people of East Timor, the government of essentially called America’s bluff - as China Indonesia and concerned parties everywhere had done earlier this year over the issue of - can finally let the curtain fall on a tiresome most-favored-nation trading status. Both melodrama that is long past its natural end. Jakarta and Beijing demonstrated that Wash- ington’s ideological posture was out of sync with its economic imperatives. Despite its complaints, the US continues to engage both East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 29

COMMENT FROM PETER WESLEY- because Indonesia as a rule does not release its ethnically and culturally diverse, 13,677- SMITH: information on East Timor and prevents island archipelago. The military is profitably foreigners from entering. Michael Shari was dug in to the local economy, controlling I confess I find the tone of this editorial recently allowed to travel freely through coffee and sandalwood concessions that quite nauseating and I fear that my response East Timor, one of the first journalists to do account for virtually all of the province’s below is inadequate. I hope others will also so in years. His report: exports and that fetched $7.7 million in respond (to The Editor, Asiaweek Head The mass graves around the town of 1992, according to João Mariano de Sousa Office, 34/F Citicorp Center, 18 Whitfield Aileu are in four locations, all well known to Saldanha, a senior research fellow at Austra- Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong; fax (852) residents. More than 300 bodies are buried lia’s Northern Territory University. There 571 0916, 887 3662). My draft letter is as in Manfoni, 200 in Montane, 100 in Saboria are doubts about Fretilin and its strength: follows: and about 60 in Aisirimou. The executions some East Timorese believe the military When a powerful neighbour, on the most took place in December 1975; today each of allows the guerrillas to survive to justify its specious grounds, brutally invades your the killing fields has its own concrete continuing presence in the province. homeland, murders scores of thousands of whitewashed slab marked with a black According to a senior army officer, the your fellow citizens, causes the deaths of cross. insurgency is down to 189 guerrillas and 103 scores of thousands more through famine The people buried there were not victims antiquated rifles; in the same breath, he pre- and repression, destroys your culture, sup- of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor, dicts a “long, slow battle” against them. presses your language, overwhelms the which took place that same month with Fretilin claims to have 700 fighters. population through migration, seizes control heavy loss of life. The mass killings were In the nearly 19 years since Indonesia of the local economy, and forcibly sterilizes the work of Fretilin, the pro-independence took East Timor as its 27th province, a many of the women, the advice of Asiaweek guerrilla group that serves the U.N. in real- seizure the U.N. does not recognize, there editorialists is to cooperate. To protest is politik terms as the representative voice of has been frightful bloodshed. Fretilin admits merely to perpetuate “a tiresome melodrama the 750,000 people of East Timor. The that its cadres executed hundreds of political that is long past its natural end.” Such is the victims in the mass graves all made the same opponents. The toll for which the Indone- Asiaweek view of East Timor, repeated mistake: they belonged to the wrong politi- sians are blamed is much higher. During the most recently in the issue of December 7 cal party. “There were five different ID first five years of the occupation, an esti- (the anniversary of the Indonesian invasion cards, one issued by each party,” recalls mated 100,000 East Timorese died of vio- of East Timor in 1975). Francisco Pereira. “If your ID card wasn’t lence, disease or starvation. While Jakarta At the same time, former Indonesian for- issued by Fretilin, you died.” Pereira, who poured in money for roads and schools – the eign minister Mochtar is quoted as saying was later appointed the chief of Aileu’s Portuguese had left behind few in either that outsiders ought to adopt a “hands-off police force, was marked for execution but category – along with the money came tens policy” in East Timor, as in Cambodia escaped during the fighting that followed the of thousands of non-Timorese immigrants, whose problems “can only be solved by invasion. merchants and soldiers. Violence flared on Cambodians.” From afar, East Timor may look a bit like and off, most notably in 1991 when soldiers Precisely. Let East Timor’s problems be the West Bank or Kashmir, with a strong, fired on a crowd of pro-independence solved by East Timorese. Outsiders such as homegrown freedom movement, in this case marchers in Dili, the capital, killing more Indonesians - who have no historical, legal, Fretilin, and an oppressor from without, than 100. moral, or other claim to East Timor - should Indonesia. Up close, the view is thoroughly Occupation is an ugly business. The mili- merely “provide the conditions that will different. Fretilin is enfeebled, its grip on tary says it has 5,300 troops in the prov- help them do that.” And Asiaweek should local hearts and minds loosened by a history ince, runs a network of informers whom it stop sounding off like a branch of the Indo- of brutality. Though most of the people of pays $12 a month or, in the case of freelanc- nesian Ministry of Information. East Timor remain bitterly opposed to In- ers, $1 to $1.50 per tip. There are few donesian rule, there are many who talk places where one does not run into members EAST TIMOR — about accommodation – provided the prov- of “Intel,” the local shorthand for military IT’S HOT BUT NOT BOILING ince is offered autonomy. “There is division intelligence. Agents sit at the next table in in the Timorese community,” says Bishop restaurants or lounge on the sidewalks, eas- Time Magazine, Dec. 12 Carlos Ximenes Belo, one of the most influ- ily recognizable in their new sneakers and [The following is the full article that ap- ential voices in the predominantly Roman black sunglasses. In villages outside Dili, peared in December 12, 1994 edition of Catholic territory. informers routinely listen outside the win- Time Magazine in Canada and Asia. Pre- The headlines abroad portray a cauldron dows of houses and burst in if they hear the sumably it appeared in other international in need of cooling. Twenty-nine East Voice of America, the BBC, Radio Australia editions as well, but not in the US edition.] Timorese, protesting against the Indonesian or any other source of news that might not occupation, scampered over a fence at the be totally sympathetic to the cause of inte- On a rare visit, a TIME reporter finds the U.S. embassy in Jakarta last month on the gration. “They won’t go away until you guerrillas weak and the Indonesian army eve of the APEC summit and last week were change the station or turn off the radio,” resented but in firm control. A desire to flown to asylum in Portugal. Also last week, says a resident. Magazines are scanned be- resolve the standoff, however, is hard to U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros- fore delivery for offending articles. Letters find. Ghali dispatched special envoys to Jakarta are frequently perused by censors. One Since Indonesian troops landed in East and Lisbon to discuss a solution with the woman wrote the BBC for its program Timor in 1975, the former Portuguese col- two governments. guide; in return, she got a visit from the local ony has been depicted as a place with a On the ground, though, the situation re- police chief. Recently police in that village fervent independence movement and wide- mains a standoff – and, oddly, some of the started administering tribal-style oaths of spread human-rights abuses. Yet the outside players look as if they actually like it that allegiance to Indonesia, in which residents world has only a hazy idea of what is really way. The Indonesian government is not were forced to drink the blood of a freshly happening in the troubled province, largely eager to offer autonomy to any province in killed chicken. “I’ve seen people crying in Page 30 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. the church because of this,” says a priest. some in his flock talk about integration with or other Indonesian officials about them, or “People do whatever they have to do to Indonesia, others about independence. the Indonesian Red Cross for that mat- survive. But there will come a time when Would East Timor be happier one way or ter.(The “Indonesian Red Cross team” fig- they won’t.” the other? “I don’t know,” he says at his ures prominently in the “Fretilin massacres” When that day will come and how is no whitewashed colonial-style mansion in Dili. propaganda publications and is shown exca- less a mystery now than it was in 1975. The “I’m not a prophet.” His bottom line is that vating the graves in Aileu, evidently circa outside world sees East Timor as a place “the problem is a political one. It’s about Feb. 15, 1976, less than two months after where a solution is urgently required, but integration and self-determination.” A solu- the massacre!). If the Indonesian Red Cross there are few signs of pressure in the strug- tion is not visible on the horizon of the could so speedily excavate the 1976 graves gle between Indonesian troops and Fretilin Timor Sea. why can’t it get around to excavating the guerrillas. Though the military lost 10,000 1991 “incident” victims graves? men between 1976 and 1980, casualties COMMENT FROM JEAN INGLIS, these days are few. When the East Timorese FREE EAST JAPAN COALITION FROM JOHN MACDOUGALL plan a protest, the security forces react with Regarding “Fretilin Massacres,” Indone- ‘Catalog the errors’ on this article? I’d fevered aggressiveness. Last Nov. 24, after sia put efforts over the years into publiciz- not jump the gun. Michael Shari has been students started to beat up a suspected ing massacres and other cruelties against filing from Indonesia for a long time and is informer near the University of East Timor UDT, Apodeti, etc. by Fretilin. Three nobody’s hack. He usually gets his facts in Dili, riot police instantly surrounded the “massacre” publications “found their way” right. On the contrary, I see potential good campus, carrying long bamboo sticks and into my hands after our Kure solidarity use for this article in campaign work. It lengths of garden hose, which they tapped group became known to the Indonesian ‘reads’ even-handed but is basically critical threateningly against their khaki-clad legs. Embassy. of the occupation. I’d fault it mainly for The students melted away, leaving the po- Because their purpose is propaganda, leaving out discussion of the international licemen and soldiers holding the town under these publications do not attempt to put the diplomacy going on openly and behind the a state of siege for the rest of the day. To disparate “information” (lists of names of scenes and not inquiring further in Jakarta counter an independence rally scheduled victims, place names, dates) on the massacre into military scenarios and studies. two days later in Dili, the security forces together. I am not saying that this indicates FROM ADAM BOGACKI rounded up 30 young men in Aileu, paid they are groundless (Jim Dunn’s book, them $23 each, armed some of them with Timor: A People Betrayed, estimates the The DGSE agents sent to blow up the pistols and trucked them to the capital for a number of UDT and Apodeti executed by Rainbow Warrior in Auckland must also demonstration in favor of “integration.” Fretilin at the end of Dec. 1975 at 150), have thought that New Zealand was a quiet Young men from other towns were said to only that it seems that Indonesian propa- backwater. One even managed to have a have arrived in Dili under the same type of ganda needs are evidently better served by a brief affair with the local police chief’s wife. package tour. A bloody confrontation be- certain disjointedness in presentation that Little did they know ... tween the two rallies was narrowly averted. frustrates checking. Political passions can be easily missed by Violence is frequent between East Timorese The point with the Time article is: outsiders in the outward calm of an island and the immigrants and merchants who have state. poured into the province from other parts of Has Indonesia has gotten its act together Indonesia since 1976. “The common person to the extent that it can convince Time FROM MATTHEW JARDINE doesn’t care if they’re from Java or Sumatra magazine that these Fretilin massacre stories I’m not in position to critique Michael or Sulawesi,” says Armindo Maia, vice rec- are the most relevant news in the “East Shari’s reporting from Indonesia. I’ll take tor of the University of East Timor. Timor” file and should be reported as hard John’s word for it that Shari “usually gets “They’re all outsiders.” fact, even though the news text itself stands his facts right.” In terms of his recent report Virtually all East Timorese are reluctant as naked hearsay? Or has the journalism that on East Timor, however, Shari’s reporting is to be seen talking to foreigners, and it does many people in the world depend on rather shoddy. While not having any obvi- not take long before their nervous smiles stooped to the level that it can feed directly ous major errors, there are some statements betray someone who knows the conse- on official propaganda (which may of course of questionable validity. The bigger prob- quences: about 20 people are serving prison have some relationship to truth) with nary a lem, however, is one of tone. By opening terms ranging from a few years to life on the burp from an editor worried about substan- the article (which is intended to “hook” the loosely defined charge of “subversion.” The tiation on the one hand, and historical per- reader) with an account of a supposed few who do have the courage to open their spective on the other? FRETILIN atrocity, Shari sets a tone that mouths say that a police state thrives in the The article in Time cites one source by subtly suggests that FRETILIN is the moral province and that the men in uniform rou- name, the Aileu police chief, and reports the equivalent of the Indonesian forces of occu- tinely incite confrontations as an excuse to four graves and the numbers buried there as pation. Furthermore, the historical and cur- continue their presence. The Indonesian hard fact and “all well known to residents.” rent role of Western governments (specifi- government denies such charges, and Foreign Did the author go to the graves? And speak- cally, the U.S.) in facilitating and assisting Minister Ali Alatas reiterates its willingness ing of graves, did the Time reporter also look Indonesia’s brutal occupation is totally to negotiate a solution. Yet President Su- for the graves of the Santa Cruz “incident” absent. Such an analysis is fundamental to harto sometimes sends a different signal. victims? Did he or she not find it strange understanding why (assuming Shari is cor- Last week he said he would be happy if that although the Indonesian authorities rect) that “[a] solution [to the East Timor pro-independence East Timorese emigrated admit that 50 (or 19 or 4, depending on problem] is not visible on the horizon of the en masse to Portugal: “The more the better.” which “official” source is speaking) died, Timor Sea.” The most widely heeded voice in the nobody knows where they are buried? In terms of minor errors, Shari equates province is that of Bishop Belo, who I personally find it strange that reporters FRETILIN with the formal resistance, stat- quelled rioting in Dili last Nov. 15 simply who go to East Timor never try to track ing that FRETILIN “serves the U.N. . . . as by appealing for calm. According to Belo, down these graves and never ask the ABRI the representative voice of the 750,000 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 31 people of East Timor.” Of course, it is the If Shari were truly interested in atrocities from the combined effects of that invasion CNRM that represents East Timor in a in Aileu, he might have consulted John Tay- and continuing atrocities have created wide- diplomatic capacity at the U.N. Also, lor’s Indonesia’s Forgotten War (pp. 80- spread resistance to Indonesian rule. There FRETILIN is not the same as FALINTIL. 81): is a strong desire for a fair referendum to Since Xanana Gusmão’s departure from “Faced with military stalemates [in determine the future of East Timor, and FRETILIN in 1989, FALINTIL has served 1976] . . . , Indonesian troops took out only Indonesia stands in the way. Your as the armed wing of the entire resistance as their frustration on the local popula- article says little about the East Timorese embodied by the CNRM. tion in their controlled areas. Amongst who, according to the church, were savagely Regarding some of the numbers, the fig- such incidents was the following re- beaten and tortured by Indonesian forces in ure of 5,300 Indonesian troops is ridicu- ported in July: recent weeks. Some of them are still being lously low. As Shari admits, the figure “‘In the second week of June a abused as I write. comes from ABRI. Had he checked with woman escaped from an Indone- (The Right Rev.) Paul Moore Jr., Bishop Belo whom he mentions a number of sian concentration camp in Aileu. Episcopal Bishop of New York (1972- times in the article Shari would have discov- She said that the attempt to take 1989), New York City ered that informed people within East Lequica [sic] on 7 June had re- Timor put the figure at closer to 20,000 sulted in heavy Indonesian casual- troops. ties, including two Indonesian of- I was astonished and indignant upon As for the number of people killed at the ficers. She said that the enemy reading your article about East Timor. In Santa Cruz Massacre, the most systematic forced the captured population particular I found the use of selective quotes study (completed within East Timor and from Atsabe, Quelicai, Ermera from Bishop Belo unforgivable. Belo has distributed by “Paz E Possivel” in Lisbon) and Aileu to take part in the at- accused Western governments of deliber- states that 273 were killed at the cemetery. tack. Most of them died. The In- ately obscuring the truth about the genocide And Max Stahl, based on interviews during donesian officers were angry. of the Timorese people. Ireland’s President, his clandestine visit to the territory in late They had been told Fretilin would Mary Robinson, took a keen interest in this 1993, believes that another 50-200 East not offer resistance to the attack. issue when she was a member of our Parlia- Timorese were killed at the hospital in Dili They punished the captured fe- ment, and our Foreign Affairs Committee, by Indonesian soldiers. (See Max Stahl, male population by forcing them recently unanimously adopted a resolution “Dili, the Bloody Aftermath,” Sydney to do heavy work in the ricefields, condemning the Indonesian genocide and Morning Herald, 12 February 1994. Also completely naked, in the role of calling for East Timor’s right to self- see Max Stahl, “Indonesians Fed ‘Death buffaloes.’ determination. Can such a call not be recip- Pills’ to the Wounded,” The Sunday Times “Such violent forms of retribution rocated in the home of the brave and the (London), 13 February 1994.) persuaded those and more of the land of the free. Such issues are relatively minor, how- population to flee Indonesian areas. Senator David Norris ever, in comparison to the overall thrust of When the Indonesian troops entered Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Af- the article. Given the rarity of reporting on Aileu in February 1976, it contained fairs, Dublin East Timor by Time, such an article can 5000 people; when a group of Indone- only serve to confuse the average reader sian relief workers visited it in Sep- who is not familiar with East Timor. As tember 1976, only 1000 people re- The solution for the drama of the Jean Inglis pointed out, the report of mass mained–they were told that the re- Maubere people can be found in the vision graves in Aileu filled with victims from a mainder had moved to the mountains.” of a conflict-free world evoked by John FRETILIN killing spree in December 1975 Perhaps this account explains the source Lennon in his song IMAGINE. East (prior to the Indonesian invasion) is quite of the supposed mass graves. At least such Timorese may have been massacred , may questionable–especially given the apparent an account deserves as much credence as the have been frightened and humiliated, but one source of the information, Francisco Pereira one received by Shari from Aileu’s police thing is for sure; they can always imagine a “who was later [after Jakarta’s invasion] chief. . . . There are a number of other points better future. The obligation of all of us who appointed the chief of Aileu’s police force.” I would contest, but this is all I have time to live in free and democratic countries is to Someone working for the Indonesian occu- say. I don’t agree that this article could po- help the East Timorese dream come true. I pation authorities is hardly a credible source tentially prove useful for campaign work. In sincerely believe Lennon would have sup- for reports on human rights violations. terms of the mainstream media, there’s ported that effort. According to James Dunn (again, as much better. Filipe Carreira da Silva, pointed out by Jean Inglis), the total number Matthew Jardine, ETAN/Los Angeles Agualva-Cacem, Portugal of political opponents killed extrajudicially by FRETILIN numbers around 150. Ac- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR EAST TIMORESE cording to Shari’s account, there are 660 in Published in TIME, January 16 1995 WOMEN TODAY Aileu alone! If such a massacre did indeed occur, why have we not heard of it before? EAST TIMOR’S TROUBLE From Peace News, December 1994 (When I was in Aileu in July 1992, no one As one who has visited East Timor and Elizabeth Exposto, an East Timorese mentioned such events to me.) I am not remains in contact with the territory’s Ro- trying to suggest that it is impossible that woman living in Australia and working with man Catholic bishop, Carlos Ximenes Belo, the Timorese association of Victoria, visited such a massacre could have taken place, but I am dismayed by your article (Dec. 12). At simply that such an accusation demands Sweden, England and Ireland this month, the beginning you highlight internecine kill- speaking about Timorese women and the serious investigation and corroboration be- ings at the time of the Indonesian invasion fore being published in Time’s once in a blue Indonesian occupation, writes Maggie 19 years ago. Helwig. moon report on East Timor. I certainly condemn any such outrages, but the deaths of perhaps 200,000 people Page 32 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

“Timorese women have gone through “I had sensed the tension and fear in the RAMOS HORTA OPTIMISTIC some of the most traumatic and distressing air but the most memorable moment was experiences. Being women, they are easy when I went into an ice-cream shop in Dili, ABOUT TIMOR’S FUTURE targets for the Indonesian soldiers. As in all the capital, and an Indonesian soldier walked Journal de Noticias, 12 December 1994. wars they are the victims of rape, tortures, in with an M16 casually slung over his Translated from Portuguese bashings, abuse, of degradation and humilia- shoulder. That’s when I knew that this is tion of every kind. But we are not just im- how my cousins feel....that feeling of waking The special representative of the CNRM potent spectators and victims of the atroci- up and thinking “Am I going to die to-day.” (Maubere Resistance National Council), ties that are perpetrated by the Indonesian According to Ms. Exposto, one in three José Ramos Horta, is convinced that Timor military against us; we are also active par- Timorese have been “killed, disappeared or will achieve its independence “earlier than ticipants in our own liberation. died of war-induced famine.” She says that most people think.” “In the towns and villages, women as- the genocide is intended to wipe out future During an interview for Banobero, pub- sume vital political responsibilities and un- generations. Timorese nurses have said they lished weekly in Guinea, Ramos Horta said dertake secret but very dangerous assign- saw women and school girls being injected he had no doubt at all that the fight for East ments. There are Timorese students in Bali, with the contraceptive drug Depo Provera Timor’s self-determination “is now in the whom the Indonesians had viewed as being without their consent. In 1987, the drug final stretch” and that “the aspirations of ‘just women’ and therefore of no impor- accounted for almost 60 per cent of the the Timorese will soon become reality.” tance or threat to them at all. Little did they contraceptive methods used in East Timor, “It has been 19 years of cruel struggle, know that these women were the ones re- compared to 19 per cent in Indonesia. without any let up, in which 200,000 peo- sponsible for collecting and transmitting While Ms. Exposto considers herself ple have died, and during which our people messages from the resistance to the outside lucky to have escaped East Timor in 1975, have suffered massacres, abuses of all kinds, world and vice versa.” the life of a Timorese immigrant in Australia the plunder of our riches, but in spite of Elizabeth reflected that, paradoxically, was not easy. Her parents did not speak everything, they have never lost their faith, the Indonesian invasion may have served to English and her mother, who had been a hope and determination,” he said. improve the status of Timorese women in primary school teacher in East Timor. had Ramos Horta was interviewed by the di- their communities, because of the important to work in a factory. Her mother’s parents, rector of Banobero, Fernando Jorge Pereira, roles which women – catholic nuns as well who stayed in East Timor, were moved during the II International Congress of Por- as laywomen – have taken in the resistance. from their rural village into a resettlement tuguese Language Journalism, which took camp, where they were “transformed into place in Rio de Janeiro from 1 to 4 Decem- EXPATRIATE TELLS OF living skeletons.” ber. The Timorese leader reaffirmed the pro- CONTINUING HORRORS Now an Australian citizen, Ms. Exposto is critical of the Australian governments posal made to the Congress that a special FACING EAST TIMOR support for the Indonesian annexation of post be created for an East Timor represen- East Timor. “If the Australian people tative at the Community of Portuguese The Irish Times, 12 December 1994, Re- thought the way the government did, then it Speaking Countries, to lobby on behalf of porter: Catherine Clery would make my life hell. But they don’t. the Timorese. Elizabeth Exposto talks to Catherine The public and the media are very sympa- Ramos Horta said East Timor should be a Clery about the situation in East Timor thetic.” The expatriate community in Mel- full member of the Lusophone community, where, she says, one in three have been bourne is closely connected to the resistance and urged journalists to contribute towards “killed, disappeared or died of war-induced movement in East Timor, which Ms. Ex- “creating greater public awareness of the famine” and the genocide is intended to wipe posto says, “is made up of almost all the Maubere people’s fight for freedom.” out future generations. people in East Timor. The Indonesians are When Elizabeth Exposto gets a letter amazed. They’ve done all these things in VOA: EAST TIMOR’S FUTURE from East Timor she has to read between Timor and the resistance still goes on. the lines. “The weather is too hot here,” Ms. Exposto believes in battling against “Focus” program, Voice of America, 16 usually means that tensions in the country the compassion fatigue which can accom- Dec. 1994. By Dan Robinson, Dili, East are more severe than usual here” pany such a remote conflict. She is cau- Timor. Ms Exposto was visiting Dublin and Bel- tiously optimistic that the situation may Anncr: in January, Indonesia, Portugal fast at the weekend, on a trip organised by improve , with the recent shift in US policy. and the United Nations are scheduled to the Dublin based East Timor Solidarity At a news conference following the signing hold another round of talks on the future of Group. She is one of the thousands of exp a- of an agreement at the Asia Pacific Eco- East Timor. Two special UN envoys visited triate Timorese living in Melbourne, Austra- nomic Co-operation (APEC)last month, East Timor recently in preparation for the lia. A 19 year-old politics student, she talks President Clinton told reporters that the discussions, which observers do not give authoritatively about the horrors of the people of East Timor should have “more much hope of achieving a breakthrough in Indonesian regime which annexed her coun- say over there own local affairs.” Mean- the long-running controversy over the for- try 18 years ago. while the Timorese population in Australia mer Portuguese colony. During a visit to She was just 8 months old when she and will continue to press for a change. “We East Timor, VOA southeast Asia corre- her parents left the country on a Norwegian have to always put the pressure on so that spondent Dan Robinson spoke with local cargo ship bound for Australia. East Timor won’t be forgotten,” she says. leaders, Indonesian officials and others Ms. Exposto talks about the experiences about the situation and hopes for restoring of friends and family who remained in the peace in the troubled territory: country, as well as her parents accounts. Truth seems elusive in East Timor. Mili- When she was 14 she took what she de- tary authorities, government officials, reli- scribes as a “pilgrimage” to the country that gious leaders, and pro-independence forces – she will always regard as her homeland. East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 33 all seem sincere in telling their side of the what he calls some physical and material A university official says that of the last story. development in East Timor since Indone- graduating class at the university of East Unfortunately, there appear to be few sia’s takeover in 1976. But he says Timor, 23 were Timorese, while 70 were answers to problems in East Timor 20 years Timorese are still not happy. He says part non-Timorese. Bishop Carlos Belo says after Portugal pulled out of one of its last of the reason is the pervasive security young Timorese are frustrated and see their colonial outposts. Tensions are just beneath measures taken by authorities against dis- horizons limited: the surface and emotions are running high – sent: Belo: “Since we have no kind of in- not only about Indonesian rule but about the Belo: “Well, because of the pres- dustries or factories, just traditional economy, social problems, and religion. sure. We are human beings. We like to agriculture, it is impossible to have Indonesia annexed East Timor in 1976 af- express ourselves, even with different jobs. Even the few jobs in the govern- ter an invasion, following Portugal’s depar- opinions, and we are forbidden to do ment offices, there are many, many ture and a brief war between Timorese fac- that. This is not a democratic country people from outside come to try and tions. The United Nations does not recog- as yours, in America, where you can get these jobs. We have, how do you nize Indonesian control, although a number tell everything you like.” call it in Indonesian – people coming of nations – including the United States – do It’s also clear that cultural and religious from the university [graduates] and not contest it. differences between East Timorese and In- Timorese – they are still waiting to get Despite having brought a significant de- donesians continue to cause problems. In- these jobs in the government offices.” gree of development to East Timor, Indone- donesia is predominantly Muslim, while Timorese interviewed in Dili offer differ- sia continues to face allegations by human East Timor is mostly catholic. Indonesia’s ent opinions as to how much Indonesian rights groups that integration has led to the development model emphasizes harmonious authorities have learned since East Timor deaths of thousands of Timorese. Even as coexistence among people of different reli- was annexed in 1976 and what benefits can Jakarta moved to show a more flexible ap- gious and ethnic groups. be attributed to Indonesian rule. One resi- proach on East Timor in 1994, Indonesian The Indonesian government maintains, in dent says poverty – and to some extent the foreign minister Ali Alatas was often the words of foreign minister Alatas, that human rights situation – were worse under pressed to respond to such allegations with there is complete freedom of religion and the Portuguese. Another says that while defenses of Indonesian policy: culture expression in East Timor, and that Indonesia can point to dramatic develop- Alatas: “What has happened in awareness of East Timorese culture is being ments in statistical terms, the battle has not East Timor 17 years ago was essen- fostered among all other Indonesians. been won in a critical area – respect. Indone- tially a bungled de-colonization proc- Kaman Khairudin, vice inspector general sia thinks it owns us, he complains, but has ess by the erstwhile colonial power, of Indonesia’s ministry of religion, says not won our hearts and minds. Portugal, which resulted in a tragedy people from any part of Indonesia should be Amy Goodman is a radio journalist who for the Timorese people of East able to live and work together without fric- witnessed the 1991 massacre of civilians at Timor, which have been subjected to tion: Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili. She says the 400 years of colonial rule by Portu- Khairudin: “Here in Indonesia, explanation that Indonesia has improved the gal.” [there is] no problem between one re- lives of East Timorese does not excuse past East Timor remains poor, economically ligion and another religion. We can excesses or what she calls continuing abuses: the weakest of the regions making up the work together, we can live together in Goodman: “That is a standard line vast Indonesian archipelago. With a popula- society, no problem, I think. I think used since 1975. As someone once tion of about 800,000, the territory’s per we can live here in Dili, I as a Muslim, said, ‘if Timor had been improving the capita income is low – about 120 dollars. and also catholic, if they want to live way everyone said, every year – like Indonesia’s military commander in East in Java, it is no problem.” the United States says every year it is Timor, colonel Kiki Syahnakri, acknowl- However, the reality seems to be much improving, it is improving – Timor edges that East Timor lags behind, but says different, as demonstrated by at least two would be paradise on earth.’ The fact pro-independence forces are taking advan- incidents this year involving Catholics and is, yes, the Indonesian government has tage of economic, social and ethnic difficul- Muslim Indonesian soldiers. put in money into development ef- ties to stir up political protests. Dili residents say an influx since 1989 of forts, into roads and hospitals and This may be the case, but Timorese lead- people from other areas of Indonesia has schools and they often pull this [ex- ers say Indonesian rule – and what many created rising resentment. Bishop Carlos planation] out to say we are improv- describe as a lack of social sensitivity on the Belo says that despite a 20-year presence, ing the situation, but as one Timorese part of Indonesian authorities – is at the Indonesian authorities do not seem to un- pointed out, it doesn’t matter how root of tensions. Carlos Belo is Roman derstand the significance of catholic belief many schools you build if you kill all Catholic bishop in Dili: and says immigration is making matters the students inside.” Belo: “They don’t like to under- worse: Helder da Costa is head of development stand the political, social and religious Belo: “They only transport the re- and external relations at the university of aspects. For them [Indonesia] integra- ligions from Java to East Timor. They East Timor, a flashpoint for demonstrations tion is already finished. This is Indo- don’t learn what is happening here; against Indonesian rule. He says Indonesia’s nesia, [there must be an] Indonesian yes, from the background, from the military learned a hard lesson from the 1991 way of thinking or doing, nothing else. grassroots here.” killings in Dili: But from the people, there is another East Timorese are also angry over what Da Costa: “It is fair enough to say perception of the problem. We are they perceive as the loss of jobs and other that the military authorities learned a Timorese. We have a different back- opportunities to outsiders. Immigrants have big lesson since the 1991 incident here ground, social, cultural and religious come to dominate the cash sector of the in Dili. As a matter of fact, they are background. So we are different.” economy, by one estimate accounting for 40 now using a sort of prosperity ap- One of the most outspoken critics of In- percent of private sector activity. proach and if any sort of demonstra- donesian rule, bishop Belo acknowledges tion happens here, or takes place here Page 34 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

in Dili, they try to deploy riot police a very, very small Protestant minor- Alatas: “We have tried to explain to crack down on demonstrators, or ity, 500 people or one-thousand. what really is the essence of the so- use teargas or batons, to disperse the There was never at any time in our called East Timor question and I think crowd. But they don’t carry any guns history any religious or ethnic inci- I shall not go tonight into a longish at all, unlike 1991.” dent. There was never any incident be- definition or explanation again on this. Symeon Antoulas, international red cross tween Timorese and Chinese, Chinese We believe these questions can be ex- representative in Dili, agrees authorities and Portuguese or anything. These in- plained rationally and if people are have changed their approach to controlling cidents that happened in East Timor prepared to listen to these rational ex- civil unrest. He says the ICRC – by visiting were of Indonesia’s own making. planations with an open mind and not prisoners and interacting with authorities – When Mr. Alatas says we should not with a prejudicial disposition, then I plays a key role in times of trouble: talk about religious conflict in East think everything can be put in the Antoulas: “Basically spreading the Timor, he should say so to the mili- right proportion.” word. Approaching military person- tary, to the intelligence people in East As for proposals that Indonesia grant nel, police, but also civilian authori- Timor, in Jakarta, who have created, East Timor autonomy, or declare some sort ties. Telling them what the red cross is who have provoked this religious con- of special status for the territory, Timorese all about and depending on who we are flict deliberately in order to change the say they can only hope that negotiations addressing adapting the message. Tell- nature of the conflict in East Timor, lead to a reduction of tensions. ing them very simple messages, giving which is eminently political, into a re- Diplomats and analysts in Jakarta say them very simple messages about in- ligious one.” president Suharto’s position may have ternational humanitarian law, the law José Ramos-Horta says Indonesia can no hardened further as a result of the protests of war, and respect of human dignity.” longer dismiss the East Timor problem as a in November which proved embarrassing for In an interview in his residence in Dili, creation of over-zealous human rights, reli- him during Asia-Pacific leaders’ meetings. Bishop Carlos Belo recalls a homily he de- gious and non-government groups. Observers say there is little chance Indo- livered in a Sunday mass for about 1,000 In comments that rankle in Jakarta, the nesia would agree to key demands made by worshippers. The mass followed riots activist maintains that the lack of progress pro-independence groups – such as the re- sparked when a Timorese was stabbed to in East Timor has helped draw attention to a lease from prison of East Timorese rebel death by an immigrant from outside East range of other problems in Indonesia – from leader Xanana Gusmão, and his active par- Timor, and pro-independence demonstra- labor rights to press freedom. ticipation in negotiations with Jakarta. José tions leading to at least 30 arrests. Although they met in New York in Oc- Ramos Horta is spokesman for the East Bishop Belo, who says his power to in- tober, foreign minister Ali Alatas calls Mr. Timor Resistance Council: fluence events is often limited, says his Ramos-Horta part of an unrepresentative Ramos Horta: “We are prepared – religious messages emphasize non-violence. minority pursuing what will probably never this is our position – to negotiate as But he complains of difficulty in making come about – namely, an Indonesian mili- flexibly as possible without precondi- Indonesian authorities understand how to tary withdrawal and referendum on inde- tions, but within the framework of the deal with the people: pendence. mandate of the secretary general of the Belo: “The first problem is, we Pro-independence Timorese say they are United Nations, to resolve the issue, can’t solve the problems with physi- pleased that world attention was re-focused without preconditions. The Indone- cal violations [violence]. Yes? This is on East Timor, however briefly, during sian government must negotiate with my message. There is a way to dia- meetings of Asia-pacific leaders in Indonesia Xanana Gusmão, with bishop Belo logue and mainly for the East Timor in November. Twenty-nine Timorese stu- and other resistance leaders to resolve people, if there are injustices – for ex- dents staged a dramatic sit-in on the grounds the problem.” ample, distributing places in the mar- of the US embassy in Jakarta, eventually Freelance journalist Allan Nairn is an- kets – OK, you talk to the authorities. receiving political asylum in Portugal. Pro- other witness to the 1991 killings of But as I told them also, in my homily independence forces took advantage of the Timorese in Dili. Still on a blacklist of jour- on Sunday, that unfortunately our au- Jakarta events to stage more demonstrations nalists banned from East Timor, he never- thorities here are, are so, sometimes so in Dili. theless recently completed a brief secret stupid. They don’t hear the com- At the same time Timorese express dis- visit to Dili. Mr. Nairn says the core prob- plaints of the people. Every time we appointment that during his visit to Jakarta, lem remains the desire of the Timorese peo- complain and they say, ‘OK, yes, we president Clinton seemed unable to achieve ple to determine their own future: will solve it, we will see,’ but didn’t anything concrete in his brief discussion Nairn: “When you are in East get any solution.” with president Suharto about East Timor. Timor and you talk to people, there is Predictably, independence activists oper- Mr. Clinton told president Suharto the this overwhelming sentiment for inde- ating outside of East Timor take an even United States believes the people of East pendence and self-determination. In harsher view of problems in the territory. Timor should have more say in their own fact, everyone you talk to, including Speaking to reporters in Bangkok earlier this affairs. Mr. Suharto said the Indonesian the Indonesian military people who year, José Ramos-Horta, a key spokesman government feels it is dealing with East have been there awhile and know the for pro-independence forces, said Indonesia Timor, and human rights issues, fairly. In situation, they acknowledge that. And is responsible for many of the social and comments to VOA in Dili, Timorese ex- I think that is why Indonesia does not religious tensions in East Timor today: pressed the view that Mr. Clinton and other want to allow a referendum, because I Ramos-Horta: “The Muslim com- US officials seemed more concerned with think they realize it would go against munity in East Timor, for over 400 economic interests than human rights. them and the Timorese would opt for years, there were always a very small Foreign minister Ali Alatas was asked independence.” minority, 500 to one-thousand. We about Indonesia’s attitude in a news confer- sound of Sunday mass in Dili, (fade under had a Buddhist community, from the ence in Jakarta: text ethnic Chinese, the hakka. And we had East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 35

In a high-ceiling room in his residence on The press, which had enjoyed relative Analysts have said Indonesia’s renewed Dili’s waterfront – with a portrait of pope openness in the past two years, also suf- self-confidence in international fora stems john Paul the second hanging on one wall – fered a major setback in June when the gov- largely from the success of its high-growth bishop Carlos Belo responds to questions ernment closed down three outspoken pub- economic policies. with a look of frustration and worry. When lications. Well into its sixth National Five-Year talk turns to the question of East Timor’s In addition, demonstrations in East Development Plan, experts are upbeat about future and possible autonomy, he is not Timor, which Indonesia invaded in 1975 and Indonesia’s economic performance next optimistic: formally annexed a year later, marred Ja- year, bolstered by recent discoveries of new Belo: “I don’t know, I don’t have karta’s attempt to put its best on display natural gas reserves of Natuna Island and hope about that. There is [could be] during the meetings of the Asia-Pacific Eco- new copper as well as gold deposits in min- not any kind of talk or dialogue. The nomic Cooperation (APEC) forum last eral-rich Irian Jaya Island. talk respected by the government is month. Manufacturing and construction are also that you confess that integration is al- Several Timorese students also staged a expected to continue being major contribu- ready finished. This annexation, this sit-in at the U.S. embassy compound, de- tors to the growth of Indonesia’s Gross kind of colonization, has let [forced] manding freedom for jailed East Timorese Domestic Product. Experts add that the the people of East Timor down, resistance leader José Alexandre Gusmão. predicted recovery of the agricultural sector, down, down, sank down, without giv- Still, political analysts and economists which experienced a serious setback as a ing the opportunity to, at least, how predict 1995 may turn out to be one of In- result of a prolonged drought, will be an- do you say in Portuguese – respirar – donesia’s better years yet since becoming other plus next year. to be at home? Respiration – to feel at independent in 1945 after three centuries of “If that happens, the recovery will be home.” Dutch rule. able to prop up the GDP growth rate to 7.2 Indonesia says it is committed to the They point out, for instance, that there is percent, even though other sectors may be search for a solution to the East Timor dis- progress in talks between Indonesia and stagnating,” says economist Syahrir, noting pute, saying such a solution can only be Portugal, East Timor’s former colonial mas- that this year’s growth rate was a little more achieved through dialogue, negotiations and ter, that have been bolstered by increasing than six percent. confidence-building measures. contacts between Indonesian officials and But analysts say Indonesia should be on On January 9th, Foreign Minister Ali expatriate Timorese leaders. the look-out for a widening of the current Alatas and his Portuguese counterpart (José This year, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas account deficit, resulting from increasing Manuel Durão Barroso) are scheduled to held his first officially-acknowledged meet- imports of capital goods needed for new hold a fourth round of talks sponsored by ing with resistance leaders in exile José investments, both local and foreign. the UN secretary general, Boutros-Boutros Ramos-Horta and Abilio Araujo in New The government estimates that the cur- Ghali. Looking ahead to the Geneva talks, York. rent account deficit will reach 3.2 billion Mr. Alatas told a parliamentary hearing in And while Jakarta failed to have its ‘per- dollars in the 1994-95 fiscal year, as com- Jakarta that while Indonesia considers the fect party’ during the November APEC pared to 2.9 billion dollars in the previous East Timor issue to be over, it cannot ignore meetings, Indonesia can still claim to have period. questions about its role as long as the been the site where the Bogor Declaration, Yet another problem that needs to be ad- United Nations does not recognize the terri- which had 17 of the world’s economies dressed is that of increasing bad loans, par- tory’s integration. In East Timor, Mr. pledging to a goal of trade and investment ticularly in real estate, where about 40 per- Alatas, said Indonesia faces a “no-win situa- liberalization in the Asia-Pacific by 2020, cent of private bank loans are concentrated. tion. was signed. The Central Bank recently warned banks Indonesia is already looking forward to to slow down their lending growth to pre- INDONESIA- several high-profile diplomatic activities vent economic overheating. It has pointed OUTLOOK: TEMPERED next year, including a short stint at the U.N. out that in the last eight months of 1994, Security Council as a non-permanent mem- lending growth has exceeded the govern- CELEBRATIONS IN 1995 ber. ment’s ‘safe level.’ The country believes its participation in By Yuli Ismartono the prestigious Council will further enhance KOMPAS REVIEWS THE JAKARTA, Dec. 19 (IPS) - Fresh dis- its status as chair of the Non-Aligned YEAR FOR EAST TIMOR coveries of gold, copper and natural gas Movement (NAM). As NAM leader, Ja- deposits along with a two-year stint as a karta has been campaigning hard for the Kompas, 24 December 1994, Editorial. non-permanent member of the U.N. Secu- reduction or review of Third World debts to Translated from Indonesian. Abridged rity Council have ensured that Indonesia industrialized countries. will have something to celebrate when it Within Asia, Indonesia will be busy me- An unsigned editorial piece accompany- marks its half-century of independence next diating talks between bickering parties such ing an article reflecting on Indonesia’s for- year. as the Muslim minority demanding auton- eign policy throughout 1994 quotes Ali But the issue of East Timor is predicted omy in southern Philippines and the gov- Alatas’ frustrated response mid-February 1994 to an aggressive Parliamentary Com- to douse any strong party mood in Jakarta, ernment in Manila. along with queries regarding the govern- Jakarta will also be hosting discussions mission pressing him to be more ‘offensive’ ment’s stance on such matters as labour and among the six claimant nations of the re- on East Timor. Alatas says ‘certain agen- press freedom. source-rich Spratly Islands in the South cies’ [read the Armed Forces] interfere in Indeed, Indonesia is entering the new China Sea: China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, the Foreign Affairs Department’s work on year still licking its wounds from a violent the Philippines and Malaysia. the issue. Unlike these others, the work of labour uprising that rocked the north Suma- Recently, Jakarta even said it was keen to Foreign Affairs begins and ends with the tran provincial capital of Medan in mid- host new talks on the conflict in Bosnia- reality that the UN does not recognize East year. Herzegovina. Timor’s incorporation into Indonesia. The Page 36 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. result has been that the issue has only re- of natural resources have made it very at- criticized the repressive operation which gressed rather than progressed throughout tractive to Western interests. Its liberal in- often served as a smoke screen to snuff out 1994. Indonesian reactions to the Philippine vestment laws and repressive labor condi- political dissent. (In June, for example, In- seminar on ET were widely regarded as tions have helped it develop into a major donesian troops wearing black T-shirts em- excessive. The 29 youths who scaled the US center for multinational corporate activity blazoned with Opsih, violently suppressed Embassy fence during the APEC meeting with extensive mining, logging, and oil ex- a peaceful demonstration in Jakarta protest- dominated foreign reporting on Indonesia traction operations. With a legal minimum ing the closing of the three news media.) and overshadowed Indonesia’s achievements wage of less than $2 a day, Indonesia is a Finally, Jakarta committed a major mis- in becoming NAM chairman, APEC chair- leading manufacturing site for products rang- take in late May when it pressured the Phil- man, and a non-permanent UN Security ing from Nike footwear to Levi Strauss ippines to disallow the holding of the Inter- Council member. The lesson is to review jeans. national Asia-Pacific Conference on East once again what has been done for the East U.S. support in 1975 for Indonesia’s de- Timor (APCET) in Manila. While the Timorese in the past. signs on East Timor was principally a re- Ramos government did not prohibit the ward for Suharto’s cooperation with West- conference from going forward, it blacklisted APEC, THE UNITED STATES ern geopolitical and political-economic ob- and barred a number of foreigners from at- & EAST TIMOR jectives; to a lesser extent it also grew out of tending, including the “first ladies” of France concerns that an independent East Timor and Portugal, Indonesian pro-democracy might lead to regional instability. Similar advocates, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Soft-peddling the U.S. involvement in interests motivated other Western countries, Northern Ireland, East Timorese resistance one of the worst genocides since World the majority of which followed the U.S. leaders in exile, and four Christian bishops. War II lead. The Clinton administration was pleased By Matthew Jardine, Z Magazine “Interna- But East Timor in and of itself was of that Jakarta served as the venue for the most tional Report,” January 1995 relatively marginal concern to U.S. policy- recent meeting. Indonesia’s hosting helped Bill Clinton breathed a sigh of relief on makers; Indonesia was and is what matters. reduce the impression and fear of many Thanksgiving Day when 29 East Timorese Suharto’s Indonesia has been traditionally member-states that APEC is merely a tool ended their 12 day occupation of the U.S. among the region’s more regulated econo- for the U.S. (and Australia to a lesser extent) Embassy compound in Jakarta, Indonesia mies and resistant to APEC’s free trade to extend their economic influence through- and left for exile in Portugal. The Embassy goal. In the last couple of years, however, out the proposed free trade region. Despite occupation was only one in a series of Jakarta has greatly reduced its opposition to an apparent receptivity to the Pacific Rim’s events in and around East Timor during the trade liberalization and has become con- version of NAFTA, however, Indonesia and APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) vinced that Indonesia will have to open up many other APEC countries still fear that meeting that stole the spotlight from Clin- in order to improve the country’s competi- increased trade liberalization will lead to a ton’s and Indonesian President Suharto’s tiveness in the world economy. At the same flood of U.S. goods that will overwhelm free trade showcase in Jakarta. CNN and time, Jakarta hoped to use its hosting of the domestic producers, especially in agricul- many national networks showed scenes APEC forum as an opportunity to spruce ture. Many also worry about potential nega- from the Embassy compound and violent up its image as a country of slightly-suspect tive repercussions that the free trade ideol- clashes in Dili, the East Timorese capital. political stability due to its authoritarian ogy will have on their national economies as Most major newspapers in the U.S. (and nature. In this regard, Jakarta proved to be they will be forced to dismantle the state- throughout the West) reported these inci- its own worst enemy. A series of heavy- corporate relationships so vital in nurturing dents and many, including the USA Today, handed actions by the Indonesian state in and protecting domestic capital. the New York Times, and the Wall St. Jour- the months preceding the APEC meeting Such concerns are, of course, well-placed. nal, ran editorials criticizing Jakarta’s heavy- only served to highlight the repressive na- From the U.S. perspective APEC represents handedness in the former Portuguese col- ture of the Suharto government. an opportunity to regain its economic pre- ony, often calling for East Timorese self- In June, the government closed down two eminence through the establishment of a determination. of Indonesia’s biggest magazines, Tempo U.S.-dominated free trade region to counter Most mainstream analyses, however, and Editor, as well as the weekly tabloid the European trading bloc. In this sense, we soft peddled the issue of U.S. involvement newspaper DeTik, for their reporting on a should not view APEC in isolation, but in what is - proportionately-speaking - one recent banking scandal, government corrup- rather as one component of an overall U.S. of the worst genocides since World War II. tion in military purchases, and ongoing effort to open up the markets of the Asia- They also failed to appreciate the reasons problems in and around East Timor. Indone- Pacific region (and the world in general) and for U.S. cooperation in Jakarta’s colonial sia has also harassed and intimidated a num- to provide U.S.-based multinationals access project in East Timor. Such analyses often ber of high-profile pro-democracy and hu- to the human and natural resources of the presented the problem as one of an errant man rights activists, most notably Professor area. child (Indonesia) that a strong parent (the George Aditjondro whose publication in U.S. interest in APEC is an outgrowth of U.S.) needs to convince of the error of its Australia of two papers (previously distrib- a shift in the world economy from the in- ways, rather than seeing Indonesia and the uted in Indonesia), detailing the environ- dustrial economies of the Atlantic to those U.S. as partners in crime in East Timor. mental and socio-economic impact of Ja- of the Pacific Rim. Over the last ten years Indonesia is today the world’s fourth karta’s invasion and occupation of East the Asia-Pacific region has replaced Western most populous country and the world’s Timor outraged the authorities. Europe as the U.S.’s largest regional trading largest Muslim country. It is a moderate The launching of “Operation-Clean-Up” partner in terms of both imports and ex- member of OPEC, the Organization of Pe- (Operasi Bersih or Opsih), an anti-crime ports. U.S. trade in the Asia-Pacific region troleum Exporting Countries, and generally campaign meant to clean up Jakarta before in 1993 was more than $374 billion, 63 per- supportive of U.S. and Western foreign the APEC meeting, proved to be a further cent more than transatlantic trade. U.S. di- policy objectives. Indonesia’s staunch anti- embarrassment for Jakarta as Indonesian and rect investment in the region reached $92 communism, strategic location, and wealth international human rights groups heavily East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 37 billion in 1993, 17 percent of total U.S. inger’s departure from Jakarta, well over Jordanian government of four U.S.-made F- overseas investment. 200,000 East Timorese - about one-third of 5E fighter jets to Jakarta. And in early 1994, Begun in Canberra, Australia in 1989, the 1975 population - have lost their lives as the State Department announced a ban on APEC has quickly grown to 18 members- a result of the invasion and ongoing occupa- the sale of small arms to Indonesia. states: the six members of the Association tion of the former Portuguese colony. But Jakarta’s continuing economic and of Southeast Asian Nations-ASEAN According to the State Department, U.S. strategic importance has exposed the limits (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philip- companies supplied some 90 percent of the of Clinton’s concern for human rights and pines, Singapore and Thailand), Australia, weapons used by ABRI during the invasion. international law. As reported by columnist Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Japan, When it looked as if Jakarta were actually Mark Baker in an August 1993 edition of Mexico, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, running out of military equipment in late the Melbourne Age, “[a] U.S. official said South Korea, Taiwan, and the U.S. In the 1977 due to its activities in East Timor, the the extent to which the administration was first four years of its existence, APEC was Carter “human rights” administration re- prepared to press Indonesia on human rights simply an annual meeting among foreign sponded by authorizing U.S.$112 million in was tempered by the continuing economic ministers that focused on dialogue about commercial arms sales for fiscal 1978 to and strategic importance of Jakarta.” Dem- customs procedures. While APEC was Jakarta, up from U.S.$5.8 million the previ- onstrating such logic, the Clinton admini- originally seen as an Australian project, the ous year (an almost 2,000 percent increase). stration has provided $180 million in eco- U.S. has come to play the dominant role. U.S. arms sales to Indonesia peaked during nomic assistance to Indonesia’s rulers over In the short term, U.S. objectives for the presidency of Ronald Reagan, exceeding the last two years through the World Bank- APEC are to accelerate the integration of U.S.$1 billion from 1982-84. chaired Consultative Group on Indonesia APEC member-states into the General As in the case of arms sales, military as- (CGI), a consortium of donor countries and Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). sistance also increased. In the year following organizations. In the long term, the U.S. would like to see the invasion, the Ford administration more The U.S. also sold more than $30 million the APEC countries move beyond GATT in than doubled its military assistance (to in weaponry in 1993 to Indonesia in gov- terms of lowering tariffs outside of the pur- U.S.$146 million) to Jakarta. Similarly, U.S. ernment-to-government transactions alone. view of the recently-concluded Uruguay military aid increased during the Carter and U.S. corporate arms sales - which require Round of GATT, this would include tele- Reagan administrations, during which the State Department approval - are estimated communications and further agreements on bulk of the killings were taking place in East at $57 million for 1994. The Clinton admini- intellectual property. Timor. Since the invasion, over 2,600 Indo- stration has even side-stepped a September It is against a backdrop of ongoing U.S. nesian military officers have received mili- 1992 Congressional ban on IMET funds to efforts to maintain and to strengthen the tary training in the U.S. under the Interna- Jakarta by allowing Indonesia to purchase economic position of U.S.-based capital in tional Military Education and Training the training. And joint U.S.-Indonesia mili- the region that we can understand United (IMET) program. There is even strong evi- tary exercises continue. States policy toward Indonesia and East dence to suggest that U.S. military advisers Thus far the Administration has tried to Timor since the 1975 invasion. APEC is were present in Indonesian-occupied East put the most positive spin on the APEC only the latest manifestation of U.S. empire- Timor in the late 1970s. meeting, emphasizing Clinton’s stem lecture building and helps explain the Clinton ad- The U.S. policy of complicity with In- on human rights to Indonesian President ministration’s response to the recent wave donesia’s occupation of East Timor re- Suharto and the signing of 15 separate busi- of unrest in and around the former Portu- mained essentially the same through the ness deals totaling $40 billion over the next guese colony. Bush administration. As for Clinton, East decade (including a $30 billion deal for ex- The U.S. Sacrifice at the Indonesian Timor supporters around the world saw ploitation of natural gas reserves by Exxon). Altar some hopeful signs in the candidate who The Embassy occupation and a series of promised to put human rights in the center events in and around East Timor, however, Clinton’s APEC visit was the first trip to of U.S. foreign policy. Thus far, these signs have helped to divert the international media Jakarta by a U.S. president since 1975. have proven to be of little substance. spotlight away from APEC toward East Whether by coincidence or design, President Timor. Ford and Secretary of State Kissinger were The Clinton Administration: End of On November 12, the day before Presi- visiting Indonesian President Suharto during Complicity? dent Clinton’s arrival in Jakarta, Indonesian the two days preceding the December 7, During the presidential campaign, candi- soldiers arrested U.S. journalists Amy 1975 Indonesian invasion of the newly- date Clinton called U.S. policy on East Goodman and Allan Nairn as they tried to independent East Timor. There is little Timor “unconscionable,” but his record return to East Timor on the anniversary of doubt that the U.S. gave Suharto the green since taking office is mixed at best. At the the Santa Cruz Massacre. (Indonesian au- light to invade. In Jakarta the day before the March 1993 meeting of the UN Human thorities released Nairn and Goodman after invasion with President Ford, U.S. Secretary Rights Commission, the U.S. delegation 20 hours, but blocked a subsequent attempt of State Kissinger told reporters that “the reversed its historical intransigence and co- by the pair to fly to Dili from Jakarta. Nev- United States understands Indonesia’s posi- sponsored a resolution condemning Indone- ertheless, the two were able to later sneak tion on the question” of East Timor. sian human rights violations in East Timor. into East Timor where they spent several According to columnist Jack Anderson, (Me fact that a number of Western countries days undetected.) On that date in 1991 the Ford admitted that, given a choice between - including Australia, who would have oth- Indonesian military opened fire on a de- East Timor and Indonesia, the U.S. “had to erwise voted against the resolution - sup- fenseless crowd gathered at a cemetery in be on the side of Indonesia.” Suharto was ported it is indicative not only of the pre- Dili, the East Timorese capital, killing hun- eager to obtain U.S. support for the invasion eminent position of the U.S. in international dreds. because of ABRI’s (the Indonesian Armed politics, but also the key role of the U.S. in Goodman, news director of WBAI Forces) heavy reliance on U.S. weaponry East Timor’s future.) Pacifica Radio in New York City, and Nairn, which, by U.S. law, could only be used for Later that year, Clinton’s State Depart- a freelance journalist who has written for defensive purposes. Since Ford and Kiss- ment also blocked a proposed sale by the The Nation, The New Yorker, and Vanity Page 38 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

Fair, were eyewitnesses to the massacre. being tortured and that some have been growing civilian resistance which often op- Both journalists were badly beaten. Nairn, “disappeared.” erates outside of traditional resistance struc- who was struck repeatedly by soldiers On the day following the beginning of the tures. The recent wave of unrest demon- wielding the butts of U.S.-made M-16 rifles, Embassy sit-in, a small pro-independence strates not only the failure of Indonesia to suffered a fractured skull. Nairn’s and rally took place after a Sunday morning win the hearts and minds of the vast major- Goodman’s award-winning reporting Catholic mass in Dili to commemorate the ity of the population, but also the growing brought the massacre and the issue of East 1991 Santa Cruz Massacre. With dozens of organizational and political strength of the Timor to world attention. foreign journalists present in Dili for the East Timorese resistance, adept both in On the same day as the arrests, 29 East APEC conference in Jakarta, several dozen limiting Indonesia’s ability to subjugate the Timorese students and workers scaled the young people marched with FRETILIN territory and its people and in helping to spiked fence of the U.S. Embassy, unfurling flags and banners calling for independence raise and maintain consciousness in Indone- banners and shouting pro-independence and President Clinton’s support. Following sia and abroad regarding Jakarta’s criminal slogans. Camped out in the embassy parking the peaceful march, over a thousand East occupation of East Timor. lot, the demonstrators called for East Timorese youths rioted in Dili, attacking Within Indonesia, a growing number of Timorese self-determination and the with- Indonesian-owned homes, stores and hotels, national elites understand the high cost that drawal of Indonesian troops from their burning cars and clashing with riot police Indonesia is paying both in a material sense country. In a written petition to Bill Clin- who responded with tear gas. Frequent and and in terms of international opinion, by ton, the protesters demanded that he call violent protests continued for at least two maintaining its occupation of East Timor. In upon Indonesia to release East Timorese weeks. Several were reported dead and hun- terms of the pro-democracy and human resistance leader Xanana Gusmão and all dreds arrested. rights movements, significant components other East Timorese political prisoners and Reminiscent of the U.S. Reaganesque champion East Timorese self-determination, to enter into direct negotiations with the policy toward South Africa of “constructive a position unthinkable prior to the Santa different elements of the resistance, includ- engagement,” the Clinton administration has Cruz Massacre. Increasingly, elements of ing the East Timorese Catholic Church and clearly made the unsurprising decision of the East Timorese resistance are forming to allow for “an independent and impartial privileging economic interests over basic links with progressive Indonesians. George mission with the aim of conducting a serious human rights. Recent events have largely Aditjondro, for example, has recently investigation into the Santa Cruz massacre.” served to highlight the tragedy of Indone- formed the Indonesian Campaign for a Ref- The students vowed not to leave the Em- sia’s imperial project in East Timor and of erendum for Self-Determination for East bassy compound until the U.S. met their U.S. policy, leading to a sobering assess- Timor. demands, including a meeting with Secretary ment of the possibilities for progressive Internationally, principally as a result of of State Christopher or President Clinton. change in U.S. practice toward Indonesia Santa Cruz and the recent APEC debacle, (They turned down an offer of a meeting and East Timor -especially in light of the East Timor is almost universally synony- with the U.S. Ambassador to Jakarta, recent House and Senate elections. At the mous with Indonesian repression. In a num- Robert Barry.) While both Clinton and same time, however, there are a number of ber of countries throughout the world, East Christopher promised that the 29 were wel- reasons for hope for East Timor’s future. Timor solidarity and human rights groups come to stay in the compound for as long as While Clinton’s response to the recent have emerged and developed. In terms of they desired and that they would not be wave of unrest has been totally inadequate, both public and elite opinion, Indonesia’s pressured to leave the Embassy grounds, the his public censure of Indonesia marks the isolation is growing. behavior of the Embassy staff suggests oth- first time the U.S. government has made any Regarding the United Nations, the public- erwise. sort of critical statement regarding the po- ity that grew out of the Santa Cruz Massa- The East Timorese were given no water litical administration of East Timor. Fur- cre combined with the new UN Secretary- for two days. After that they were only thermore, although the Administration has General, Boutros Boutros Ghali, have rein- provided with water and two servings of maintained the essence of U.S. policy to- vigorated activity on East Timor in the in- white rice a day. The Embassy also denied ward Indonesia and East Timor, noteworthy ternational body. UN-sponsored talks be- them shelter and access to sanitary facilities. changes (outlined above) have taken place. tween Indonesia and Portugal resumed in Such conditions, combined with the Clinton Prior to 1992, the U.S. had never taken 1992, this time, however, accompanied by administration’s lack of compliance with the any action limiting assistance to Indonesia consultations with East Timorese independ- demands and repeated exposure to taunts on the basis of the latter’s presence in East ent of Jakarta. And recently, Indonesian and death threats from the hundreds of In- Timor. Significantly, due to grassroots pres- Foreign Minister Ali Alatas ended Jakarta’s donesian military personnel ringing the fence sure and mobilization, U.S. policy in East refusal to meet with pro-independence East around the compound, convinced the pro- Timor is now a public and Congressional Timorese and sat down with José Ramos- testers to finally accept Portugal’s offer of subject of debate. The fact that important Horta, co-leader of the umbrella group of the political asylum. (Under international law, voices in the U.S. corporate-owned media resistance, the National Council of Maubere Portugal remains the “administering author- are calling for East Timorese self- Resistance (CNRM). ity” of East Timor as the territory has never determination and implicitly, and sometimes That said, while such hopeful signs have been properly decolonized.) explicitly, for an end to U.S. complicity) is emerged in the three years since Santa Cruz, Shortly after the original 29 scaled the certainly cause for concern in Jakarta. not much has changed in East Timor. As Embassy fence, Indonesian authorities ar- In terms of East Timor, while Jakarta has Bishop Belo-the head of the East Timorese rested about 50 other East Timorese who defeated the East Timorese militarily, a Catholic Church and a nominee for the 1994 were on their way to the U.S. Embassy to small guerrilla force (FALINTIL) continues Nobel Peace Prize-recently stated, “the join in the sit-in. While Indonesia has re- to challenge ABRI and to serve as an impor- situation is as bad as ever.... We live in a leased some of the group, a number of them tant symbol of resistance to Indonesian scorched land.” Jakarta maintains a heavy have been re-arrested. As of this writing, the domination. Of greater significance, how- military presence in the territory and, de- whereabouts of many of the arrestees is ever, is the East Timorese clandestine front spite the UN-sponsored talks, refuses to unknown; it is feared that many of them are (with formal links to FALINTIL) and the discuss East Timorese self-determination. East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 39

And there are definite limits to the ability of Furthermore, interviews with eyewitnesses the East Timorese to force Jakarta’s hand UN RAPPORTEURS were not conducted confidentially. Investi- given the vastly-superior resources at the REPORT, VISIT AGAIN gations carried out to clarify the where- Indonesian state’s disposal. abouts of numerous persons who had dis- In terms of U.S. policy, the types of appeared during the violent events at Santa “pressure” brought to bear upon Jakarta are RAPPORTEUR ON Cruz cemetery or in their aftermath were clearly inadequate. Entrenched economic EXTRAJUDICIAL not thorough nor systematic. The NCI pub- interests will certainly resist any sort of lished a preliminary report. Its final report policy toward Indonesia perceived as puni- EXECUTIONS VISITS was never made public, nor were reports of tive. U.S.-based weapons contractors and INDONESIA AND EAST TIMOR any other inquiries. Forensic examinations multinationals such as mining conglomerate as well as criminal investigations were also Freeport McMoRan and AT&T have The following Press Release was issued by inadequate. Only very few military person- championed Jakarta’s cause. While support the U.N. in Geneva on 14 December 1994. nel were brought to trial before a Court for East Timor within the U.S. Congress has From 3 to 13 July 1994, the Special Martial, none of them charged with homi- grown, Indonesia’s supporters, including Rapporteur of the Commission on Human cide. some prominent Senate Democrats, such as Rights on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbi- Procedures for the investigation of human Bennett Johnson (Louisiana), Daniel Inouye trary Executions, Mr. Bacre Waly Ndiaye, rights violations in East Timor are clearly (Hawaii), and Dianne Feinstein (California), undertook a visit to Indonesia and East inadequate. Civilians have no access to any have helped to undermine East Timor’s Timor within the framework of his mandate. effective legal remedy, the only possibility cause. His report on the visit was made public for them being to file complaints with the Apart from radical changes within Indo- yesterday. The purpose of Mr. Ndiaye’s police, which is part of the armed forces. nesia, it is doubtful that East Timorese self- visit was to gather reliable information on The civilian District Attorney for East determination will become a reality in the the situation of the right to life in East Timor has no power to initiate investiga- foreseeable future. Barring such change, it is Timor and, in particular, assess the Gov- tions. Members of the armed forces are tried only through Western - principally U.S. - ernment’s compliance with its obligation by the military judiciary, even if accused of pressure in the form of a cut off of military under international law to conduct investiga- human rights violations against civilians. and non-humanitarian economic assistance tions into the violent events at Dili in No- Victims or their families have no possibility that Jakarta will perceive a withdrawal from vember 1991, bring to justice those respon- of participating in the proceedings. East Timor to be in its best interest. Anx- sible, provide adequate compensation to the The Special Rapporteur noted with con- ious to maintain good relations with the families of the victims and prevent the re- cern that the same conditions that allowed United States, Indonesia would be under currence of violations of the right to life. the killings in Dili to happen still persist in intense pressure to withdraw from East During his mission, the Special Rapporteur East Timor. With a view to preventing vio- Timor in the face of such clear U.S. resolve. met with civilian and military authorities of lence in the context of public manifestations, But without a strong signal from the Clinton the Indonesian Government in Jakarta, he recommended that the new law on dem- administration, Indonesia’s occupation of Denpasar and East Timor. He also met with onstrations currently being drafted explicitly East Timor will continue, as will U.S. com- representatives of non-governmental human recognises the right to peaceful assembly plicity with one of history’s ugliest chap- rights organisations in Jakarta, members of and manifestations and clearly reflects the ters. the clergy in East Timor, witnesses of viola- obligation of the security forces to respect The South African and Central American tions of the right to life in East Timor as the restrictions and limitations on the use of solidarity movements demonstrated the well as a number of prisoners. force and firearms, as contained in the perti- power of ordinary citizens to limit Washing- On 12 November 1991, security forces nent international instruments. With a view ton’s imperial destructiveness and to facili- had opened fire at the Santa Cruz cemetery to prevention of similar acts, he particularly tate progressive change abroad. Thus far, in Dili against unarmed civilians who had called on the authorities of Indonesia to human rights activists and East Timor soli- participated in a march demanding inde- ensure full respect for these constraints and darity groups have played a key role in pendence for East Timor. According to the limitations on the part of law enforcement making East Timor an issue of public dis- authorities, 19 persons were killed. Most officials. In this context, the Special Rap- cussion and in bringing about the small but sources however, estimate the total number porteur emphasised the need for the estab- significant changes in U.S. policy. Such of persons killed between 150 and 270. lishment of a civilian police, whose members efforts must continue and intensify as the The Special Rapporteur concluded that should receive adequate training in crowd road ahead is a long one. the security forces proceeded in a planned control methods and the appropriate non- military operation against unarmed civilians lethal equipment to carry out such opera- manifesting political dissent, in clear breach tions. of the international standards limiting the The Special Rapporteur also called on the use of force and firearms by law enforce- authorities to comply with their obligation ment officials. The security forces em- under international law to conduct thorough, ployed their arms in a way that was neither independent and impartial investigations necessary nor proportionate. The steps into all alleged violations of the right to life. taken by the authorities of Indonesia in the To this effect, he made the following rec- aftermath of the killings revealed a number ommendations: the civilian prosecuting au- of shortcomings. Investigations carried out thorities should be endowed with powers to by police, which is part of the armed forces, initiate judicial proceedings against members lacked independence, impartiality and pro- of the security forces; civilian courts should fessionalism. A National Commission of be given jurisdiction over cases involving Inquiry (NCI), set up to investigate into the human rights violations against civilians; killings, was not totally independent either. provisions should be made for the participa- Page 40 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. tion of victims of human rights violations or the Chairman. The mild statement, instead disappearances and the persistent practice their families in judicial proceedings; an of a strongly worded resolution, was im- of torture, must be co-sponsored by Austra- independent Human Rights Commission in posed by Australia, the US, Japan and the lia, the US and the EU. They must also East Timor should be set up with participa- UK who argued the line that the Dili massa- impress upon Indonesia to invite at least tion of non-governmental organisations and cre was a local, isolated “incident,” resulting two more thematic bodies of the UN to visit representatives of different sectors of the from actions taken on the ground by junior East Timor in the course of 1995, namely society. More specifically, with regard to army personnel without orders from the the Special Rapporteur on Torture and the the Dili killings, Mr. Ndiaye recommended above. Indonesia was praised for its Working Group on Disappearances. that a new commission of inquiry, com- “prompt” action in “investigating” the mas- Solidarity groups, friends of East Timor posed of independent experts and endowed sacre. and NGOs should call upon governments with sufficient resources, be established. Australia’s Foreign Minister, Gareth Ev- around the world to support specific action Mr. Bacre Waly Ndiaye was appointed ans, repeatedly rejected tough action against at the CHR and at bi-lateral level with Ja- Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Jakarta because, in his view, the Dili “inci- karta. Human Rights on Extrajudicial, Summary or dent” was an “aberration,” not evidence of a Arbitrary Executions in 1992. He has since systematic practice. The then Prime Minis- “SANTA CRUZ SHOULD NOT BE A examined issues related with the protection ter, Bob Hawke, assured a visiting East THING OF THE PAST” of the right to life in more than 80 countries. Timorese delegation in Canberra, in Decem- Publico, 15 Dec. 1994. By Joaquim Trigo de In the framework of his mandate, Mr. ber 1991, that if there were any evidence Negreiros. Translated from Portuguese Ndiaye has also carried out visits to the that the Santa Cruz massacre was a pre- Lisbon – The official Indonesian version former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Peru and Co- meditated action ordered by higher authori- of the Santa Cruz massacre - the term now lombia. ties, Australia would review its entire East also used by the UN - is taken apart, piece The Special Rapporteur wishes to thank Timor policy. by piece. Justice has not been done, says the Government of Indonesia for the invita- The report challenges the credibility and the UN Special Rapporteur. But it is not tion for and its cooperation during the visit integrity of the Indonesian Foreign Minister too late to find out the truth. and hopes to continue a dialogue with all himself. After all, wasn’t Mr. Ali Alatas “The Special Rapporteur will refer to the interested parties for a better protection of who assured the world that the massacre events of 12 November as deaths, a word the right to life in East Timor was a “regrettable incident” (not a massacre) which, in his opinion, is more appropriate resulting from the action of “local” authori- than the term incident used by many, includ- COMMENT FROM CHARLIE ties? Wasn’t Mr. Alatas who rejected the ing the Indonesian authorities. In fact, given SCHEINER, ETAN/US: parallel between the Santa Cruz massacre the number of victims, the Special Rappor- and the Tiananmen massacre because, ac- Although the report was released in mid- teur considers it appropriate to refer to the cording to him, the latter was an action or- December, it is dated November 1. Unfortu- massacre. dered by the Beijing authorities, while the nately, the U.N. Secretariat chose to keep it This is the short note attached to the re- Santa Cruz massacre was an action under- under wraps during the focus of interna- port of Bacre Waly Ndiaye, the UN Special taken by local commanders? tional attention on East Timor during APEC. Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or The report by Mr. Bacre Ndiaye, in ex- It could have given the many reporters who Arbitrary Executions, that sets the tone for posing Indonesia’s official lies over the visited a lot of leads to explore. the content of the document which, from Santa Cruz massacre and the persistent and beginning to end, contests the official Indo- THE NDIAYE REPORT : INDONESIA widespread pattern of abuse of human rights nesian version of the Santa Cruz massacre. MUST NOW FACE FIRM in East Timor, calls into question the con- Ndiaye was in East Timor and Indonesia ciliatory approach by Australia, the US, INTERNATIONAL ACTION from 3 to 13 July this year. The Jakarta Japan and the UK in their bi-lateral dealings Editorial, Matebian News, Issue No. 8. De- authorities were forced into inviting him in with Indonesia and compromising spineless cember 1994 order to meet one of the conditions enumer- posture at the CHR. ated in the consensual statement on Timor The report of the Special Rapporteur on It is unlikely that Foreign Minister Ga- which they agreed to sign at the UN Human Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Exe- reth Evans did not have access to classified Rights Commission to avoid an unfavorable cutions, of the United Nations Commission intelligence and Embassy reports about the vote. on Human Rights (CHR), recently released, true dimension of the Santa Cruz massacre. After four and a half days in Jakarta, and raises troubling questions for Indonesia as Yet, for three years, the Australian govern- another few in East Timor (Dili, Viqueque well as for the international community. ment (and for that matter and the US and and Ossu), passing through Bali (Denpasar), The report by Mr. Bacre Waly Ndiaye, a UK governments) covered up and lied to the Special Rapporteur compiled a 30-page respected Senegalese jurist, who visited East their own people and the international report. In its Conclusions, the report states Timor in July 1994 at the invitation of the community about the facts surrounding the that “no confidence measure can be effec- government of Indonesia, following the great Santa Cruz massacre. Foreign Minister Ev- tive, and no solution for the problems of success by the East Timorese in March ans must have known (as did the CNRM) East Timor can be found before justice is 1993 meeting of the CHR in Geneva, con- that the massacre was a premeditated action done.” firmed the CNRM’s long-standing charge ordered by the highest military authorities. Bacre Ndiaye is convinced that justice is (corroborated by independent eyewitnesses) In light of this authoritative UN report, far from having been done. That is the con- that the massacre of unarmed civilians on 12 Australia, the US, Japan and the EU must clusion the report establishes by disman- November 1991 at the Santa Cruz cemetery review its entire East Timor policy. It must tling, one by one, the arguments which Ja- in Dili was a premeditated action ordered by forcefully support firm action in the CHR in karta presents to keep Santa Cruz a closed the highest Indonesian authorities. February 1995 when the report is consid- case. Following the massacre, the CHR met in ered under item 12 of the CHR’s agenda. A Ndiaye concludes that, far from the In- Geneva in February/March 1992 and strongly worded resolution condemning the donesian military’s action being a spontane- adopted a mild consensus statement read by continuing human rights abuses, enforced East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 41 ous and uncontrolled reaction against an late” to find out the truth. The recommenda- 2. In its reply, the Government of Indo- enraged crowd, their action was in fact “a tions include setting up a civil police force in nesia drew the Special Rapporteur’s atten- military operation planned to deal with the Timor, allowing international organisations tion to the fact that the Commission mem- public expression of political dissent, carried access to the territory, creation of a new and bers had adopted resolution 1993/97 by a out in a way which did not comply with credible commission of inquiry, establish- vote; Indonesia and many other member international human rights standards.” The ment of mechanisms through which lawsuits countries had rejected the resolution. There- demonstrators were not armed. The murder- could be brought against the military by fore, Indonesia did not feel compelled to ers were men of the regular security forces, Timorese civilians and through which they abide by its provisions. It was further stated and the information about the digging of could be tried by ordinary courts. They are that the Government of Indonesia would mass burial sites before the massacre even predictable suggestions. What was not ex- give due consideration to a request for a visit occurred speaks for itself. pected, however, was the recommendation to Indonesia, including East Timor, of any Investigations that lack credibility The that Jakarta accelerate and broaden the de- special rapporteur, as long as it was based official investigations carried out or spon- militarisation of East Timor, so that “fami- on United Nations consensus resolutions. sored by Jakarta are not worthy of credibil- lies feel safe enough to denounce the murder 3. In a letter dated 24 January 1994, the ity, in the view of the UN Special Rappor- or disappearance of their relatives.” Government of Indonesia extended to the teur. Ndiaye states that even the figures Special Rapporteur an invitation to visit given by the Indonesians themselves are FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT Indonesia (Jakarta and East Timor) in accor- contradictory. In Jakarta they put the BY THE SPECIAL dance with resolutions 1993/71 and deaths at Santa Cruz at a total of 19, while 1993/47. the National Commission of Inquiry, ap- RAPPORTEUR pointed by Suharto, mentioned “about 50” 4. During a meeting with the Indonesian fatalities. UN ECOSOC: E/CN.4/1995/61/Add.1 dated delegation at the fiftieth session of the The Special Rapporteur also found that 1 November 1994 but not released until Commission on Human Rights, the Special the people do not trust the National Com- mid-December, in Geneva. Rapporteur expressed the wish not to limit his mission to East Timor, but also to visit mission of Inquiry - they do not report COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS violations to the Commission for fear of some regions of Indonesia, such as Aceh and Fifty-first session Irian Jaya, where, according to the reports reprisals - and that it lacks “the necessary Item 12 of the provisional agenda technical capacity” to challenge the investi- brought to his attention, grave violations of gations conducted by the police themselves. the right to life, continued to occur. This QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN request was not accepted by the representa- Ndiaye describes Jakarta’s latest inspira- RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN tion, the creation of a National Human tives of the Indonesian Government. ANY PART OF THE WORLD, WITH Rights Commission, instituted by a June B. Purpose of the mission PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO COLONIAL AND 1993 Presidential decree, as a “positive 5. The purpose of the Special Rappor- step,” but goes on to note that this new OTHER DEPENDENT COUNTRIES AND teur’s visit should be seen in the framework organism has simply “not dealt, to date, TERRITORIES of the mandate entrusted to him by the with any human rights violations in East Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary exe- Commission on Human Rights (see Timor, especially the Santa Cruz murders.” cutions E/CN.4/1994/7, paras. 5-12) and in the light Jakarta comes in for particularly harsh of the Chairman’s statement on the situation criticism the question of the punishment of Addendum of human rights in East Timor, agreed upon Indonesian military involved in the massa- Report by the Special Rapporteur, Mr. by consensus by the Commission on Hu- cre. Bacre Ndiaye points out the “unreason- Bacre Waly Ndiaye, on his mission to man Rights at its fiftieth session able discrepancies” between the sentences Indonesia and East Timor (E/1994/24-E/CN.4/1994/132, para. 482). In received by the Timorese - terms ranging from 3 to 13 July 1994 this statement, the Chairman declared that from 9 years to life imprisonment - and the the Commission noted with concern con- disciplinary action taken against the military I. BACKGROUND tinuing allegations of human rights violations - the most any soldier received was one and A. Framework of the invitation by the in East Timor and that a matter of preoccu- a half year’s detention, absolute impunity Government of Indonesia pation to the Commission was the incom- for the commanding officers. plete information (emphasis added) concern- 1. In a letter dated 19 November 1993, On the question of the “disappearances” ing the number of people killed and the per- the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, - 56 cases according to Jakarta, 224 cases sons still unaccounted for as a result of the summary or arbitrary executions expressed documented by international organisations - Dili violent incident of 12 November 1991. to the Government of Indonesia his interest the UN Rapporteur states that “no investi- While acknowledging the efforts made to in carrying out a visit to East Timor. In this gation of any kind is underway.” Ndiaye account for those persons, the Commission context, he referred to Commission on Hu- tells of his amazement at hearing Timor’s called upon the Government of Indonesia to man Rights resolution 1993/71, “Extrajudi- Police Chief say that he was unaware of the continue its investigation on those still miss- cial, summary or arbitrary executions” and cases submitted by the UN Working Group ing in the circumstances surrounding the resolution 1993/47; “Human rights and the- on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances matter. to the Indonesian Government. matic procedures,” in which the Commis- sion encouraged Governments to invite spe- 6. The objectives of the Special Rappor- The report ends with a series of recom- teur were therefore the following: mendations. After stating he had “clearly cial rapporteurs to visit their countries, and sensed the terror among the many 1993/97, “Situation in East Timor,” in (a) To collect more information about the Timorese” with whom he had spoken, Bacre which the Commission urged the Govern- tragic events that occurred at the Santa Ndiaye recommends that what happened at ment of Indonesia to invite the Special Rap- Cruz Cemetery in Dili on 12 Novem- Santa Cruz should not be considered “a porteur to visit East Timor and to facilitate ber 1991 (see below, paras. 16-23 and thing of the past,” stating that “it is not too the discharge of his mandate. E/CN.4/1992/30, paras. 279-286), and Page 42 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

in particular to assess the Govern- Jakarta Raya Military Commander, Minis- Human Rights have received, and acted ment’s fulfillment of the standards ter for Home Affairs, Chief of National upon, allegations of human rights violations under international law concerning the Police, Secretary-General of the Department by members of the Indonesian security use of force by law-enforcement offi- of Defence and Security, Chief of General forces in East Timor and, in connection with cials and its obligation to investigate Staff of the Armed Forces, Military Com- events in East Timor, in Indonesia. The all allegations of summary executions, mander of Zone IX (which includes East Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, sum- to bring to justice their perpetrators, Timor), Governor of East Timor, East mary or arbitrary executions repeatedly to provide compensation to the fami- Timor District Attorney, Chief of the Court expressed concern at reports of shortcom- lies of the victims and to prevent their of East Timor Province. Members of the ings in the investigations into the Santa Cruz occurrence. The Special Rapporteur East Timor Local House of Representatives, killings. The Special Rapporteur on the based his analysis on several interna- Chief of East Timor Police, East Timor question of torture transmitted to the Gov- tional instruments falling within his traditional leaders, Military Resort Com- ernment of Indonesia information concerning mandate (see E/CN.4/1994/7, paras. 9- mander of East Timor, members of the Na- several persons who were allegedly sub- 10), and in particular the Principles on tional Commission of Human Rights, mem- jected to torture while in detention. Some of the Effective Prevention and Investi- bers of the Human Rights Commission of them were said to have been detained in gation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and the People’s Consultative Assembly, Min- connection with the events of 12 November Summary Executions, endorsed by the ister of Justice, Attorney-General. 1991. The Working Group on Arbitrary General Assembly in its resolution 11. In addition, the Special Rapporteur Detention investigated the case of one per- 44/162, adopted by consensus on 15 interviewed Xanana Gusmão (former leader son accused and convicted of masterminding December 1989. Given the particulari- of the Timorese clandestine resistance) at a demonstration in Jakarta to protest against ties of the situation of the right to life Cipinang Prison (Jakarta), one prisoner at the Santa Cruz killings. The Working Group in East Timor, the Sp ecial Rapporteur Becora Prison and four at Balide Prison decided that his arrest and continued deten- also took into account the Declaration (both in Dili, East Timor). He had also ex- tion upon conviction were arbitrary. In the on the Protection of All Persons from pressed the wish to meet with six persons case of another person serving a prison sen- Enforced Disappearance, endorsed by convicted by an Indonesian court of having tence of nine years for his involvement in the General Assembly in resolution organized the Dili demonstration of 12 No- the demonstration on 12 November 1991 in 47/133 of 18 December 1992; vember 1991. However, since those prison- Dili, the Working Group on Arbitrary De- (b) To gather reliable information about ers had been abruptly transferred from Be- tention transmitted to the Government of the situation of the right to life in East cora Prison (Dili) to Semarang Prison (Cen- Indonesia an urgent appeal after receiving Timor since the Dili killings. tral Java) on 12 June 1994, and taking into reports that he had been subjected to ill- During his visit, the Special Rapporteur account his already full schedule, the Special treatment putting his life at risk. The Work- clearly indicated to all the Indonesian au- Rapporteur decided, with the consent of the ing Group on Enforced or Involuntary Dis- thorities and the members of the security Indonesian authorities, to send his assistant appearances also examined the situation of forces he met with, that, as mentioned in the to Semarang to interview the six prisoners disappearances in Indonesia and East Timor. Chairman’s statement, the information so on his behalf. At the time of its most recent report, there were still 375 outstanding cases (see also far provided to the Commission on Human 12. The Special Rapporteur also met rep- Rights was insufficient, and that since the below, para. 22). More detailed information resentatives of non-governmental human on the activities of the thematic mechanisms Indonesian Government had extended an rights organizations in Jakarta, members of invitation to him, he expected to receive new may be found in their respective reports to the clergy in East Timor (including Bishop the Commission on Human Rights. elements of information during his visit. Belo) and witnesses of violations of the 8. The Special Rapporteur wishes to em- right to life in East Timor - including a num- E. Violations of the right to life in East phasize here that his mission in no way ber of eye-witnesses of the Dili killings. The Timor: background and context aimed at an analysis of the political status of Special Rapporteur also met with the Am- 16. East Timor was a colony of Portugal the territory of East Timor or at its level of bassador of the United States of America for more than 455 years. On 7 December economic development. The Special Rap- and the Ambassador of the Netherlands. On 1975, a full-scale invasion of East Timor by porteur stresses that his only purpose is 12 July he held a press conference in Ja- the Indonesian armed forces put an end to a always to examine the respect for the right karta. decolonization process which had started to life, irrespective of any other considera- 13. The Indonesian authorities cooper- with the April 1974 coup d’état in Portugal. tions including those mentioned above. Fur- ated fully with the Special Rapporteur dur- On 17 July 1976 East Timor was declared thermore, such elements can in no way be ing his visit. He was granted freedom of Indonesia’s twenty-seventh province. The invoked as grounds for any weakening of or movement in East Timor, and he was able to United Nations has never recognized Indo- derogation from the absolute character of the talk to all the individuals he wished to meet. nesia’s sovereignty over the territory. right to life. 14. The Special Rapporteur takes this Armed and peaceful underground opposi- C. Programme of the visit opportunity to express his gratitude for the tion to the integration with Indonesia has warm hospitality of the Indonesian authori- continued since the invasion, in spite of the 9. The Special Rapporteur spent 4 1/2 heavy Indonesian military presence in East days in Jakarta, 1 in Denpasar and 4 1/2 in ties as well as for the full access to places and persons granted to him and his delega- Timor and the tight control of the popula- East Timor (including a visit to Viqueque tion. and Ossu, southern East Timor). tion. D. East Timor and the thematic mecha- 17. There have been repeated allegations 10. During his visit, the Special Rappor- according to which between 1975 and 1980, teur met with the following officials of the nisms of the Commission on Human Rights an estimated 100,000 Timorese out of a Indonesian Government (in chronological population of 700,000 were killed by the order): Minister for Foreign Affairs a.i. and 15. In recent years, several of the the- Indonesian armed forces. Between 1980 and high level officials of the Foreign Ministry, matic mechanisms of the Commission on 1984, it has been further alleged that another East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 43

100,000 were killed or died of starvation or Santa Cruz killings. This is true for the fig- Rapporteur will comment on them in his disease. ures reported by non-governmental entities, conclusions. 18. The most serious and notorious case as well as for those given by the Indonesian 27. An internal military investigation, of extrajudicial killings since then took place authorities, which acknowledged only 66 headed by the Deputy Chief of Strategic on 12 November 1991 at the Santa Cruz cases of disappearances but whose lists of Intelligence, began in November 1991, be- Cemetery, in Dili. On that date, unarmed names contained anomalies. /3/ The Working fore the arrival of the National Commission civilians participated in a peaceful pro- Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disap- of Inquiry in Dili. During his visit, the Sp e- independence march to the grave of Se- pearances transmitted to the Government of cial Rapporteur requested, both orally and bastião Gomes, a young man killed on 28 Indonesia a total of 224 cases of disappear- by a letter dated 11 July 1994, that the re- October during an attack by Indonesian ances alleged to have occurred in connection port of this investigation be made available security forces on the Motael church, where with the Santa Cruz killings. to him. At the time of the completion of the he and a number of other Timorese political 23. The Indonesian Government and mili- present report, this request had not been activists had taken refuge. tary authorities expressed regret for the satisfied. 19. The procession, in which an esti- Santa Cruz killings, which they consider as a 28. A National Commission of Inquiry mated 3,000 to 4,000 people (mainly stu- tragic accident that arose out of a provoca- (NCI), established by Presidential Decree dents and other young people) participated, tive action by anti-integration elements. No. 53, commenced its work on 21 Novem- started after the early memorial mass for F. The Indonesian Government’s actions ber 1991. Its activities covered the prepara- Sebastião Gomes. Banners and slogans hos- regarding cases of extrajudicial, sum- tory gathering of information in Jakarta from tile to the integration of East Timor with mary or arbitrary executions in the light 21 to 27 November, followed by an investi- Indonesia were displayed during the march. of international standards: the example gation in East Timor from 28 November to Along the route (approximately 1 km from of the Santa Cruz killings 14 December 1991. The NCI met with a the cemetery), a major and a private in civil- variety of representatives of the local au- 24. During his mission to Jakarta and ian dress were reportedly injured by demon- thorities, members of the Church, members East Timor, the Special Rapporteur exam- strators. The killings started in front of the of the armed forces, private individuals and ined, in the light of international standards, entrance to the cemetery when soldiers eye-witnesses; visited hospitals and police the way in which the Indonesian authorities opened fire on the crowd, minutes after it detention centres; inspected Santa Cruz had acted regarding the killings of unarmed had arrived. The walls of the cemetery and Cemetery; exhumed one grave at Hera civilians by members of the security forces the large number of people made it difficult Cemetery and carried out unsuccessful in- on 12 November 1991 at the Santa Cruz to escape. The shooting continued for be- spections and excavations at locations at Cemetery, as well as regarding allegations of tween 5 and 15 minutes /2/ and was fol- Pasir Putih, Tasi Tolu and Tibar in response alleged subsequent killings. /4/ In so doing, lowed by further shooting, beating and stab- to information received from the local peo- the Special Rapporteur focused on the fol- bing inside the perimeter of the cemetery. ple alleging that those were places of mass lowing main aspects: Moreover, according to eye-witness testi- burial of victims. During his visit, the Sp e- monies gathered by the special Rapporteur, (a) The investigations carried out to es- cial Rapporteur requested, both orally and a number of wounded demonstrators trans- tablish the facts, to identify the per- in his letter of 11 July 1994, that the full ported in trucks to the military hospital petrators, to assess the responsibili- report of this investigation be made available were ill-treated or deliberately killed during ties for the killings, to determine the to him. At the time of the completion of the the journey or at the hospital’s morgue. number and identity of the victims present report, this request had not been and missing persons and to locate 20. It was reported that on that same satisfied. The Special Rapporteur therefore them; day, and on the following days, road-blocks had to rely on the preliminary report of the were set up and operations carried out in (b) The actions taken to bring to justice NCI, dated 26 December 1991, the conclu- Dili and in neighbouring villages to round up the perpetrators of the killings and sions of which are reproduced in the annex. survivors of the killings who had managed to disappearances; 29. The Chief of the East Timor Police escape, and allegedly to kill some of them. (c) The measures aimed at compensating explained to the Special Rapporteur the 21. During his visit, the Special Rappor- the victims or their families; steps taken by the local security forces to teur was told by the Indonesian authorities (d) The endeavours to prevent the recur- identify the bodies of the 19 acknowledged that 19 persons had been killed on 12 No- rence of such tragedies. victims: one of them, a foreigner, could be vember 1991, although the National Com- identified because he was carrying identifica- 25. A brief description of those actions tion documents. The remaining 18 corpses mission of Inquiry (see para. 28 and annex, follows. An analysis can be found in the para. 7) had affirmed that “there were suffi- were buried the day after the killings (13 section containing the Special Rapporteur’s November 1991), as the morgue of the hos- ciently strong grounds to conclude that the conclusions. death casualties totaled about 50.” Accord- pital could accommodate only three to four ing to the testimonies gathered in East G. The investigations bodies. This was done after appeals had Timor by the Special Rapporteur, the total 26. The investigative steps taken subse- been made unsuccessfully over the radio, on number of persons killed was estimated to quent to the killings included an internal television and in newspapers for the families to come and identify the bodies. The finger- be between 150 and 270, although some military investigation immediately after the estimated it to be around 400. It was alleged killings, appointing by presidential decree a prints of the victims had been taken but, due that the bodies of the victims had been bur- National Commission of Inquiry, and ac- to the fact that the police were very busy ied in unmarked mass graves or dumped in tions by the police aimed at identifying the interrogating the 308 suspects arrested at the sea. corpses of the victims and determining the the cemetery, photographs of the bodies had not been taken. Identification had been im- 22. There exist large discrepancies be- whereabouts of the missing persons. Those steps are described below. The Special possible because of the lack of dental re- tween the assessments of the number of cords and other technology. The Chief of cases of disappearances subsequent to the Police also told the Special Rapporteur that Page 44 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. medical certificates had been issued by the that there were three categories of of- trials in Dili and Jakarta. They were charged hospital concerning the 19 bodies. fences/misconduct committed by the in connection with either the Dili demon- 30. As regards the investigations carried Local Commander of the army and his stration or the demonstration in Jakarta to out concerning the fate and whereabouts of subordinates in the handling of the 12 protest the killings. The sentences were the missing persons, the Chief of Police November incident. It is deemed nec- extremely harsh (many were condemned to informed the Special Rapporteur that a pub- essary, therefore, to take the following 9, 10 and 15 years’ imprisonment), and one lic appeal had been made on 7 December actions: Timorese accused of having organized the 1991 to encourage the relatives of missing 1. Six officers who were found demonstration was sentenced to life impris- persons to report the cases. Many people guilty of misconduct will be punished: onment. had lodged complaints with the police re- three officers will be dismissed from I. Compensation of the relatives garding missing relatives (the last of those military service, two officers will not 37. The Special Rapporteur was told that reports was made in early 1992); records be given any post within the organiza- the practice in the event of a death caused had been established and communicated to tional structure of the Army although by soldiers is to give a bag of rice and a the Commander. The police had tried to [they remain] still on active duty, and piece of cloth to the family of the victim. locate the missing persons according to the one officer temporarily will not be According to the military commander of relevant police guidelines. Orders were is- given any post within the organiza- East Timor, it is rather 3 million rupiahs and sued to police sub-offices in East Timor and tional structure of the Army. 50 kg of rice. However, the Indonesian offi- to provincial police chiefs throughout Indo- “2. The field commander and mem- cials met by the Special Rapporteur declared nesia to collect data on newcomers to their bers of the military who acted without that no compensation had been granted to area. However, there was no special investi- command and beyond acceptable the families of the persons killed or disap- gative team dealing with disappearance norms will be brought before the Mili- peared. cases. tary Court in accordance with the laws and regulations. The number of per- J. Prevention 31. The Special Rapporteur was in- sons to be brought to the Military formed that the number of persons still Courts is: four officers, three sub- 38. The Minister of Defence and Security missing had been reduced from 66 to 56 as a officers and one private. declared that the rules concerning riot con- result of the investigations carried out by “3. Further investigations will be trol, as well as the equipment, had been the Government of Indonesia: one person pursued concerning five officers who improved. Furthermore, a bill on demonstra- had been found in his house, two others had failed to take appropriate actions dur- tions was being drafted. However, the come forward, one had fled the country, two ing the incident.” Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces were in Jakarta; four bodies were found informed the Special Rapporteur that no outside Dili, but it could not be ascertained 34. The court martial set up by the Indo- changes had been made in the teaching pro- if these were the remains of persons consid- nesian military as a response to the matters gramme of the soldiers, because the present ered missing (see para. 57 below). arising out of the 12 November killings took one was in accordance with the needs. The place at Denpasar, Bali, from 26 May to 6 32. During his visit, the Special Rappor- essence of the problem had been the insub- June 1992. Ten low-ranking members of the ordination of irresponsible officers in the teur requested, both orally and in his letter security forces were convicted under article of 11 July 1994, that the medical files of the field. The Chief of the National Police in- 103, paragraph 1, of the Military Criminal formed the Special Rapporteur that the use 18 unidentified bodies, copies of the above- Code for disobeying orders. Only one of mentioned appeals to the public, the files of of firearms by the police was very selective. them was found guilty of assault, in viola- Arms were not issued to policemen below the persons whose disappearance had been tion of article 351 of the Criminal Code, for reported by their family, and the police the rank of sergeant and were used only in cutting off the ears of a demonstrator. The field operations. Warning shots should be guidelines for the investigations of disap- others received disciplinary sentences. That pearances be made available to him. At the fired, and the last resort should be non-lethal is to say that none of the military personnel shots. time of the completion of the present re- was charged with murder or manslaughter. port, none of those requests had been satis- The Commander of the Armed Forces K. Violations of the right to life since 12 fied. explained to the Special Rapporteur that the November 1991 H. Prosecution of the perpetrators reason for this was that “there was no evi- 39. The Secretary-General of the De- 33. The Honorary Military Council, dence on who killed who. The sentences partment of Defence and Security told the which was established after the NCI submit- ranged from 8 to 18 months. Special Rapporteur that there had been no ted its preliminary report to the President, 35. The Special Rapporteur was told that further deaths since the Dili incident and no began its work in January 1992. By a letter the six senior officers mentioned above were combat against the armed resistance. The dated 27 February 1992 from the Permanent responsible for intelligence and security in Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces Representative of Indonesia to the United East Timor and it was therefore their re- declared that no one had been killed in dem- Nations Office at Geneva addressed to the sponsibility to take action to forestall the onstrations, but that it was possible that Chairman of the Commission on Human demonstration; they were punished because deaths had occurred during armed clashes in Rights (E/CN.4/1992/79), the salient parts they were commanding the troops that par- the countryside. of the announcement made by the Indone- ticipated in the incident, but had given no 40. While the number of cases of human sian Chief of Staff of the Army on the re- order to open fire on the demonstrators. The rights violations seems to have substantially sults of the investigation conducted by the Special Rapporteur was given no further decreased in East Timor since 1991, the Honorary Military Council were communi- information on the grounds for punishing testimonies and reports gathered by the cated as follows: those officers. Special Rapporteur clearly show that viola- “After thoroughly studying the re- 36. Four Timorese were convicted of tions of the right to freedom of expression, port of the Council, the Chief of Staff subversion and nine were tried on felony, association and peaceful assembly, arbitrary of the army came to the conclusion incitement to hatred or sedition charges in arrests, disappearances, torture and extraju- East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 45 dicial executions continue to occur. Informa- only be used to the minimum extent neces- November 1991. The answers were invaria- tion on the cases received will be processed sary in the dispersal of unlawful assemblies. bly negative. Furthermore, the film footage and transmitted to the Government of Indo- 44. The Code of Conduct for Law En- taken by foreign journalists within the ceme- nesia, in accordance with the Special Rap- forcement Officials, adopted by the General tery viewed by the Special Rapporteur porteur’s methods of work. A summary will Assembly in its resolution 34/169 of 17 shows soldiers moving around the cemetery, be included in the annual report to the December 1979. provides in article 3, that apparently without any fear or constraint, Commission. Information of relevance to “law enforcement officials may use force while others are beating people on the other mechanisms of the Commission on only when strictly necessary and to the ground. But even if the claims that the dem- Human Rights will be passed on to those extent required for the performance of their onstrators were threatening the lives of mechanisms. duty.” members of the security forces had been supported by the available evidence, it II. CONCLUSIONS 45. The Sp ecial Rapporteur received re- would not explain why the demonstrators ports indicating that the security forces 41. The Special Rapporteur based the who were trying to flee the scene of the were fully aware days in advance of the following conclusions on the information killings were shot in the back; why, after the preparations for the demonstration. For given to him during the meetings he held in shooting had stopped, soldiers went on example, it was reported that on 11 Novem- Jakarta and in East Timor, on documentary stabbing, kicking and beating the survivors ber members of the security forces had tried evidence brought to his attention before and (including the wounded) inside the ceme- to dissuade people to take part in the during his mission, and on the various reli- tery, on the way to the hospital, and alleg- able testimonies he gathered. It should be demonstration. It was also reported by edly also at the hospital itself: or why spo- noted once again that during his visit the some sources that trenches had been dug radic shooting was heard throughout the city Special Rapporteur requested, both orally with road-building machines during the days and in neighbouring villages during the rest and by a letter dated 11 July 1994, that preceding the demonstration, allegedly to be of the day, and possibly during several some important official documents referred used subsequently as mass graves. Further- days. The violence of the security forces to by the Indonesian authorities, mostly more, taking into account the number of towards the demonstrators was illustrated reports regarding the Santa Cruz killings, be security personnel and informers present in by the information concerning the 91 made available to him. At the time of the Dili, the Special Rapporteur is of the opin- wounded obtained by NCI at the “Wire completion of the present report, this re- ion that the authorities could not possibly Husada” Military Hospital and reflected in quest had not been satisfied. have been unaware of the preparations for its report: 42 persons suffered gunshot the 12 November demonstration. 42. The Special Rapporteur believes that, wounds, 14 stab wounds and 35 wounds in examining the situation of the right to life 46. The report of the NCI makes refer- caused by blunt instruments. in East Timor, other grave human rights ences to “an uncontrollable group of secu- 48. The Special Rapporteur, after careful violations attributed to the Indonesian rity personnel, who were not in proper consideration of the available evidence, in- armed forces in Indonesia itself (for instance formation nor in proper uniform and obvi- cluding the numerous eye-witness testimo- in Aceh and Irian Jaya), as described in his ously in a highly-charged emotional state nies he gathered, reached the following con- previous reports to the Commission, should (...) a group of unorganized security person- clusions: be borne in mind. In particular, the patterns nel, acting outside any control or command, (a) A proper crowd control operation of dealing violently with political dissent also fired shots and committed beatings, could have been set up beforehand to and the virtual impunity enjoyed by mem- causing more casualties. The Chief of Gen- deal with the demonstration, thus bers of the security forces responsible for eral Staff of the Army told the Special Rap- avoiding the killings; human rights violations should be recalled. porteur that those men were not irregular forces but troops out of uniform who had (b) The forces that perpetrated the kill- A. The Government’s responsibility in their weapons but who had no time to go ings on 12 November 1991 were regu- the killings back to their barracks for their uniforms. lar members of the armed forces; 43. The Basic Principles on the Use of 47. It becomes clear from all the testimo- (c) The procession that took place in Dili Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement nies gathered by the Special Rapporteur - on 12 November 1991 was a peaceful officials adopted by the Eighth United Na- apart from those of some Indonesian offi- demonstration of political dissent by tions Congress on the Prevention of Crime cials, who claimed that the demonstrators unarmed civilians; the claims of some and the Treatment of Offenders held at Ha- were armed with knives and grenades and officials that the security forces had vana, Cuba, from 27 August to 7 September had tried to seize firearms from the soldiers fired in self-defence and had respected 1990, provide that law enforcement offi- - that the demonstrators carried no firearms. the principles of the necessity and the cials, in carrying out their duties, shall as far The Special Rapporteur is unaware of any proportionality of the use of lethal as possible apply non-violent means and evidence, in the trial documents or else- force are unsubstantiated; shall only use force in exceptional cases where, to the contrary. According to wit- including self-defence or defence of others nesses met by the Special Rapporteur, the (d) There are, therefore, reasons to be- against the imminent threat of death or seri- sticks produced in court at the Dili trials lieve that the actions of the security ous injury. Such force must be proportional were in fact used to hold up the banners, not forces were not a spontaneous reac- to these objectives and the seriousness of as weapons. The only acts of violence re- tion to a riotous mob, but rather a the crime, and must minimize damage and ported, namely the stabbing of a major in planned military operation designed to injury. Force may only be used when less plain clothes and the beating of a private, deal with a public expression of po- extreme means are insufficient. Of particular took place almost one hour before, and more litical dissent in a way not in accor- relevance in the context of the Santa Cruz than one kilometre away from Santa Cruz dance with international human rights killings are principles 12 to 14, which pro- Cemetery. The Special Rapporteur asked all standards. hibit the use of force against participants in the officials he met with whether members lawful and peaceful assemblies. Force may of the security forces had been killed on 12 Page 46 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

B. Analysis of the investigations (d) The criminal investigation was inade- of the conclusions drawn therefrom quate, failing to clarify either the iden- (see below, para. 57 (d)). 49. The following paragraphs contain the tity of the perpetrators or the victims, Special Rapporteur’s analysis, in the light of (c) The Special Rapporteur welcomes the nor even the number of the latter. It the pertinent international standards, of the creation of the National Human Rights did not determine the fate and where- measures taken by the Government of Indo- Commission (NHRC), established by abouts of the missing persons. In fact, nesia. presidential decree in June 1993, as a it appears that the witnesses interro- very positive step towards improved 50. The Principles on the Effective Pre- gated by the police were questioned respect for human rights. However, it vention and investigation of Extra-legal, on their involvement in the organiza- has so far not dealt with human rights Arbitrary and Summary Executions, en- tion of the demonstrations rather than violations in East Timor, and in par- dorsed by the General Assembly in its reso- on possible unlawful acts carried out ticular the Santa Cruz killings. More- lution 44/162 of 15 December 1989 spell by members of the security forces, or over, most observers met by the Sp e- out, inter alia, the following principles re- the identity of the killed and disap- cial Rapporteur were of the opinion garding investigations on allegations of extra- peared. judicial, summary or arbitrary executions. that the NHRC had neither the man- 53. Principle 11 states that “in cases in date /5/ nor the means to deal effi- 51. Principle 9 states: “There shall be which the established procedures are inade- ciently with this case. /6/ thorough, prompt and impartial investiga- quate because of lack of expertise or impar- 55. Principle 12 states: “The body of the tion of all suspected cases of extra-legal, tiality, because of the importance of the deceased person shall not be disposed of arbitrary and summary execution... The matter or because of the apparent existence until an adequate autopsy is conducted by a purpose of the investigation shall be to de- of a pattern of abuse... Governments shall physician, who shall, if possible, be an ex- termine the cause, manner and time of death, pursue investigations through an independ- pert in forensic pathology... If the body has the person responsible, and any pattern or ent commission of inquiry or similar proce- been buried and it later appears that an in- practice which may have brought that death. dure. Members of such a commission shall vestigation is required, the body shall be It shall include an adequate autopsy, collec- be chosen for their recognized impartiality, promptly and competently exhumed for an tion and analysis of all physical and docu- competence and independence as individu- autopsy. If skeletal remains are discovered, mentary evidence and statements from wit- als. In particular, they shall be independent they should be carefully exhumed and stud- nesses...” Principle 10 states, inter alia, that of any institution, agency or person that ied according to systematic anthropological “those persons conducting the investigation may be the subject of the inquiry. The techniques.” Principle 13 states that “[t]he shall have at their disposal all the necessary Commission shall have the authority to autopsy shall, at a minimum, attempt to budgetary and technical resources for effec- obtain all information necessary to the in- establish the identity of the deceased and tive investigation.” quiry and shall conduct the inquiry as pro- the cause and manner of death... Detailed 52. From the information he gathered vided for under these Principles. during meetings with the representative of colour photographs of the deceased shall be 54. The Special Rapporteur feels that the included in the autopsy report...” the East Timor judiciary and law enforce- creation of the National Commission of 56. As regards the way in which the in- ment authorities, the Special Rapporteur Inquiry was an encouraging initiative. As vestigations dealt with the bodies of the concluded the following: regards the work of the NCI, he reached the victims, the Special Rapporteur concluded (a) The investigation carried out by the following conclusions: the following: According to the Chief of the police forces was not thorough, as will (a) The NCI was created by presidential be shown below; East Timor Police, the bodies of the ac- decree and its composition was knowledged 19 victims were buried at Hera (b) Given that the police is itself a part of widely criticized, for it did not include on 13 November, one day after the killings. the armed forces and the grave allega- any member totally independent of No adequate autopsy had been performed, tions concerning the adverse role of the Government. Most of the East no pictures of the corpses had been taken the police in the Santa Cruz killings Timorese met by the Special Rappor- and, to date, 18 of the bodies remain uniden- and subsequent incidents, the condi- teur declared that the NCI had not tified. It is not known what measures were tions for an independent and impartial been trusted by the population; taken as regards the bodies of victims alleg- investigation were not present; (b) None of the members of the NCI had edly buried in mass graves. The Special (c) The forensic examination was inade- the necessary technical expertise to Rapporteur therefore reached the same con- quate. Although a medical examination correct the shortcomings found in the clusion as the NCI, which reported that was carried out by the hospital on the investigations carried out by the po- “there was careless handling of those who 19 acknowledged corpses, n adequate lice. For instance, the Commission died, because although the visum et reper- autopsies were performed. The Chief should have conducted a thorough tums were performed the deceased were not of Police told the Special Rapporteur search for alleged mass burial sites, properly identified. Little opportunity was that the necessary technological means carried out full exhumations of known given to the families/friends of the victims to were not available in East Timor, and graves, performed proper autopsies identify the bodies.” that no forensic expert was sent from and examined ballistic evidence. As re- 57. As regards the information provided Jakarta. Likewise, no ballistic exami- gards the last point, the only finding by the Government according to which 10 nation was conducted to connect the NCI reported was that there were 70 of the 66 missing persons had been found, bullets fired with the weapons of the bullet marks in Santa Cruz Cemetery. the Special Rapporteur notes the following: members of the security forces pre- Another example of a lack of compe- sent at the cemetery, even though (a) The four bodies found in July 1992 tence is shown by the unprofessional such an analysis could have been con- outside Dili could not be identified nor manner in which the only exhumation ducted later in the capital; could their remains be linked to per- was carried out, and by the irrelevance sons reported missing after the Santa Cruz killings. However, the Govern- East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 47

ment considered that they could con- hospital and the meetings are therefore be- “2. Each State shall ensure that the stitute a clarification of the fate of lieved to have been monitored by the secu- competent authority shall have the four individuals included in its list of rity forces, i.e. not conducted confidentially. necessary powers and resources to 66 missing persons; In fact, NCI itself concluded that it had .”.. conduct the investigation effectively, (b) Only two persons out of the 10 faced obstacles because a number of pro- including powers to compel atten- whom the Government had reported spective witnesses had not been willing to dance of witnesses and production of as having been found were in fact in- give their account of the event because of relevant documents and to make im- cluded in the list of 66 names; doubt and concern that they would be di- mediate on-site visits. (c) According to all the witnesses met by rectly incriminated in the 12 November “3. Steps shall be taken to ensure the Special Rapporteur and contrary 1991 incident in Dili, or out of fear that they that all involved in the investigation, to the declarations made by the Chef would be regarded as belonging to the anti- including the complainant, counsel, of the East Timor Police, no appeal integration group.” witnesses and those conducting the was made on 12 or 13 November 1991 60. Principle 17 states: “A written report investigation, are protected against ill- for relatives of missing persons to shall be made within a reasonable period of treatment, intimidation or reprisal. come to the hospital to identify the time on the methods and findings of such “4. The findings of such an investi- bodies of the 19 victims: investigations. The report shall be made gation shall be made available upon re- quest to all persons concerned, unless (d) The Chief of Police told the Special public immediately and shall include the scope of the inquiry, procedures and meth- doing so would jeopardize an ongoing Rapporteur that a tractor had been criminal investigation. used by the NCI to excavate graves. ods used to evaluate evidence as well as conclusions and recommendations based on “5. Steps shall be taken to ensure The Special Rapporteur cannot help that any ill-treatment, intimidation or being surprised that such an indis- findings of facts and on applicable law. The report shall also describe in detail specific reprisal or any other form of interfer- criminate means of digging, contrary ence on the occasion of the lodging of to the basic methodology of any ex- events that were found to have occurred and the evidence upon which such findings were a complaint or during the investigation pert exhumation and likely to be det- procedure is appropriately punished. rimental to the outcome of any subse- based, and list the names of witnesses who testified, with the exception of those whose “6. An investigation, in accordance quent forensic analysis, was used. The with the procedures described above, conclusions drawn from this exhuma- identities have been withheld for their own protection. The Government shall, within a should be able to be conducted for as tion were irrelevant: the victim was long as the fate of the victim of en- buried in a coffin, completely dressed, reasonable period of time, either reply to the report of the investigation, or indicate the forced disappearance remains unclari- and there was only one corpse in the fied. grave. No autopsy was conducted on steps to be taken in response to it.” To the the body, and therefore no pertinent knowledge of the Special Rapporteur, the 62. As regard the implementation of information, such as the identity of only public report of the investigations these provisions, the Special Rapporteur the corpse or the cause of death, was carried out concerning the Santa Cruz kill- reached the following conclusions: given. However, the Military Com- ings is the preliminary report of the NCI. (a) As noted earlier by the Special Rap- mander of East Timor told the Special Neither the report of the internal military porteur, there is no independent State Rapporteur that the normal procedure investigations nor that of the Honorary authority capable of investigating to deal with a case of a civilian killed Military Council has been made public. cases of disappearances in East was to conduct a forensic analysis, 61. As regards the fate of the so far unde- Timor; termined number of persons missing as a and that a ballistics expert was usually (b) Apart from the above-mentioned consequence of the Santa Cruz killings, the brought from Jakarta. The Special measures taken by the police to try to Special Rapporteur wishes to recall here Rapporteur was also informed that locate the 66 persons reported miss- article 13 of the Declaration on the Protec- four graves were found in July 1992, ing, there is no information on efforts tion of All Persons from Enforced Disap- but that forensic tests could not con- made to investigate the alleged hun- pearance, adopted by the General Assembly clusively tie the remains to the Santa dreds of cases of disappearances that in its resolution 47/133 of 18 December Cruz killings, and that the identity of have not been formally brought up 1992. which provides that: the deceased could not be determined. with the authorities; “1. Each State shall ensure that any 58. Principle 15 states: “Complainants, person having knowledge or a legiti- (c) As noted above, and according to the witnesses, those conducting the investiga- mate interest who alleges that a person declarations of the Chief of Police tion and their families shall be protected has been subjected to enforced disap- himself, the necessary resources and from violence, threats of violence or any pearance has the right to complain to a technology have not been made avail- other form of intimidation. Those poten- competent and independent State au- able so as to allow a meaningful inves- tially implicated in extra-legal arbitrary or thority and to have that complaint tigation to be conducted; summary executions shall be removed from promptly, thoroughly and impartially (d) The families are afraid of reporting any position of control or power, whether investigated by that authority. When- the death or disappearance of their direct or indirect, over complainants, wit- ever there are reasonable grounds to relatives, because they think they will nesses and their families, as well as over believe that an enforced disappearance be brought to court for having links those conducting investigations.” has been committed, the State shall with the clandestine resistance or for 59. As regards the atmosphere in which promptly refer the matter to that au- having supported the demonstration. the investigations were carried out, the Sp e- thority for such an investigation, even Indeed, the Special Rapporteur was cial Rapporteur concluded the following: if there has been no formal complaint. indeed told that anyone who presents Most of the eye-witnesses interviewed by No measure shall be taken to curtail or a complaint is automatically consid- the NCI were held in prison or military impede the investigation. ered to be subversive. It was reported, Page 48 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

for example, that some of the victims measures taken by the Government of Indo- the person and the right not to be sub- had died of their wounds at home, but nesia. jected to torture and other cruel, in- that the families had declared that 66. The consensus statement made by human or degrading treatment or pun- they had died of malaria or diarrhea. the Chairman of the Commission on Human ishment. It also violates or constitutes Most were too afraid even to report Rights on 4 March 1992 called for “the a grave threat to the right to life.” to the Bishop. Indonesian Government to bring to trial and Moreover, article 4. paragraph 1, of the 63. The East Timor District Attorney punish all those [members of the armed Declaration states: “All acts of enforced explained to the Special Rapporteur that his forces] found responsible (E/1992/22- disappearance shall be offences under crimi- office was not competent in offences involv- E/CN.4/1992/84. para. 457).” nal law punishable by appropriate penalties ing military personnel. He further said that 67. Point 18 of the Principles on the Ef- which shall take into account their extreme if a family complains about the disappear- fective Prevention and Investigation of Ex- seriousness.” Article 16. paragraph 2. fur- ance of a relative, his office had no investiga- tra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions ther states: “(Persons alleged to have com- tive power; he would informally ask the states that “Governments shall ensure that mitted any of the acts referred to in article 4, police to pay special attention to that case. persons identified by the investigation as paragraph 1) shall be tried only by the com- But the complaint would have to be given having participated in extra-legal, summary petent ordinary court in each State, and not directly to the police, and there were no or arbitrary executions in any territory un- by any other special tribunal, in particular avenues for civilians to force them to carry der their jurisdiction are brought to justice... military courts.” Article 17, paragraph 1. out an investigation. He further stated that This principle shall apply irrespective of states: “Acts constituting enforced disap- his office had no files about the Santa Cruz who and where the perpetrators or the vic- pearance shall be considered a continuing incident and had not participated in the tims are, their nationalities or where the offence as long as the perpetrators continue NCI. Likewise, there was no investigation offence was committed.” Point 19 states to conceal the fate and the whereabouts of under way to identify the 18 bodies buried that Superiors, officers or other public offi- persons who have disappeared and these at Hera. The only actions taken by the Dis- cials may be held responsible for acts com- facts remain unclarified.” trict Attorney were related to the prosecu- mitted by officials under their authority if 70. As regards the prosecution of the tion of participants in the demonstration. they had a reasonable opportunity to pre- perpetrators of the Santa Cruz killing and 64. With respect to the cases of disap- vent such acts. In no circumstances, includ- connected grave human rights violations, the pearances: ing a state of war, siege or other public Special Rapporteur reached the following emergency, shall blanket immunity from conclusions: (a) The Special Rapporteur feels that there prosecution be granted to any person alleg- is no ongoing investigation regarding the (a) According to the information brought edly involved in extra-legal, summary or cases of the persons who remain missing; to the attention of the Special Rap- arbitrary executions.” porteur, torture, murder and kidnap- (b) The Special Rapporteur was surprised 68. The Basic Principles on the Use of ping are criminal offences under Indo- when the Chief of the East Timor Police Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement nesian law. They are also prohibited declared that no cases had been received Officials, provide that arbitrary or abusive by the Military Criminal Code and b] from the Working Group on Enforced or use of force and firearms by law enforce- a variety of ministerial regulations. Involuntary Disappearances: ment officials is to be punished as a criminal Other provisions of the Military (c) The Special Rapporteur is of the opinion offence under national law. Criminal Code are designed to curtail that the dispute over the actual numbers 69. As regards the fate of the so far unde- the abuse of authority by members of of the dead and missing clearly indicates termined number of persons missing as a the security forces and to ensure that the need for further investigations. This consequence of the Santa Cruz killings, the commanding officers take responsibil- controversy should, however, in no way Special Rapporteur wishes to recall article 1 ity for crimes committed by their obscure the need and the obligation to of the Declaration on the Protection of All subordinates. Thus, the minimum in- identify the dead and reveal the where- Persons from Enforced Disappearance, struments allowing for the prosecu- abouts of their remains, to identify and which reads as follows: tion of the perpetrators exist. How- bring the perpetrators to justice and to “1. Any act of enforced disappear- ever, members of the armed forces, in- compensate the families of the victims; ance is an offence to human dignity. It cluding the police, who have commit- is condemned as a denial of the pur- ted crimes or have abused their (d) The Special Rapporteur reached the authority can stand trial only before conclusion that since the NCI completed poses of the Charter of the United Na- tions and as a grave and flagrant viola- military courts, even in cases where its investigation, no institutionalized or the victims are civilians; organized effort has been made by the tion of the human rights and funda- Indonesian authorities to account for the mental freedoms proclaimed in the (b) In spite of the recommendations for- fate of the dead and disappeared. Fur- Universal Declaration of Human mulated by the Special Rapporteur on thermore, the authorities did not allow Rights and reaffirmed and developed the question of torture subsequent to independent human rights organizations, in international instruments in this his visit to Indonesia and East Timor either domestic or international, to carry field. in November 1991 out human rights monitoring. “2. Any act of enforced disappear- (E/CN.4/1992/17/Add.1, para. 80), ance places the person subjected victims of human rights violations or C. Analysis of the prosecution of the thereto outside the protection of the their relatives still do not have direct members of the security forces responsi- law and inflicts severe suffering on access to the judicial system in cases ble for the killings and disappearances them and their families. It constitutes of abuses perpetrated by members of 65. The following paragraphs contain the a violation of the rules of international the security forces. Consequently, Special Rapporteur’s analysis, in the light of law guaranteeing, inter alia, the right such complaints have to be filed with the pertinent international standards, of the to recognition as I person before the the police, which belongs to the armed law, the right to liberty and security of East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 49

forces. In practice, investigations are, ates his view that the dispute over the main obscure; for instance, the exact therefore, rarely concluded. This can actual number of the dead and missing grounds for punishing those officers is hardly be called an effective remedy. should not obscure the need and the not known, and in any event they The Special Rapporteur is not aware obligation to identify the dead and re- were never brought to justice; of any provision entitling a civilian to veal the whereabouts of their remains, (g) The Special Rapporteur is of the bring such a complaint before a judi- to bring the perpetrators to justice and opinion that the inadequacy of the cial or other authority if the police to compensate the families of the vic- charges and the inappropriately light have rejected the complaint or refused tims; sentences imposed by the court mar- to carry out an investigation. Even the (d) The report of NCI concluded that tial on the few members of the armed Prosecutor has no authority to order “action must be taken against all those forces accused of having been impli- the police to carry out an investiga- involved in the 12 November 1991 in- cated in the 12 November 1991 inci- tion. If the police find a complaint cident in Dili and suspected of having dent are in no way a fulfillment of the filed by a civilian to be well founded, violated the law, and they must be obligation to punish perpetrators, and the file is transmitted to the office of brought to trial in accordance with the thus to provide a deterrent for the re- the Military Attorney-General, since rule of law, Pancasila /7/ and the 1945 currence of a similar tragedy in the fu- the suspect would have to stand trial Constitution.” However, this state- ture. On the contrary, he feels that before a military court. This means ment does not specify or recommend they illustrate that little importance is that no civilian authority is involved who should be brought to justice; given to the respect of the right to life in any way in dealing with a com- by Indonesian law enforcement offi- plaint filed by a civilian of an alleged (e) The Special Rapporteur feels that the cials in East Timor. On the other encroachment on his fundamental court martial set up as a response to hand, the 13 civilians involved in rights. The Special Rapporteur feels the Santa Cruz killings was an encour- peaceful protest during and after 12 that a system which places the task of aging first step towards the account- November 1991 were sentenced to correcting and suppressing abuses of ability of members of the armed forces terms of up to life imprisonment. In authority by members of the army in for violations of human rights. How- paragraph 4 of its resolution 1993/97, that same institution will not easily ever, as mentioned above, the Court the Commission regretted “the dispar- inspire confidence. The Special Rap- examined only the cases of 10 low- ity in the severity of sentences im- porteur believes that there is no rea- ranking members of the security posed on those civilians not indicted son why persons belonging to the forces, who were accused of having for violent activities - who should military should be tried by military acted “without command and beyond have been released without delay on courts for offences committed against acceptable norms,” They were charged the one hand, and to the military in- civilians during the essentially civil under article 103. paragraph 1. of the volved in the violent incident, of the task of maintaining law and order. Military Criminal Code for disobeying other” The Special Rapporteur is also orders. Only one of them was charged (c) Despite the fundamental shortcom- of the opinion that there was an un- with assault, in violation of article 351 ings of its investigation, NCI reached reasonable disparity between the sen- of the Code, for cutting off the ears of conclusions that engaged the respon- tences passed upon the perpetrators a demonstrator. That is to say that sibility of the security forces to a and upon the victims; the latter were, none of the few military personnel ac- greater extent than was admitted by in fact, those really blamed for the cused was charged with homicide, se- the police during the Special Rappor- killings. He believes that this disparity rious assault, or for having committed teur’s visit: “according to information is much more illustrative of an impla- enforced disappearances. Likewise, received from the Military Opera- cable determination to suppress po- there did not seen to have been any at- tional Command, the death toll litical dissent than a genuine commit- tempts made by the prosecution, for reached 19 but according to the ac- ment to protect the right to life and example by using ballistic evidence, to count of other eye-witnesses and prevent extrajudicial executions. attribute to the accused the shots sources, the death toll exceeded 19 and which caused deaths or wounds. The D. Compensation of the families and their figures varied from 50, 60 to over sentences meted out by the military dependents of the victims 100. (...) Although the casualty toll tribunal ranged from 8 to 18 months, until now was set at 19 dead and 91 71. Principle 20 states: “The families and which, considering the seriousness of wounded, the Commission feels that dependents of victims of extra-legal, sum- the human rights violations that were there are sufficiently strong grounds mary or arbitrary executions shall be entitled committed on 12 November 1991 and to conclude that the death casualties to fair and adequate compensation within a possibly subsequently, seem to the totaled about 50 while the wounded reasonable period of time.” Special Rapporteur to be inappropri- exceeded 91.” NCI, however, gave no ately light penalties. Furthermore, the 72. Article 19 of the Declaration states: indication as to why the figure of fate of the missing persons continues “The victims of acts of enforced disappear- “about 50” had been retained. During to be unknown; ance and their families shall obtain redress his visit, the Special Rapporteur was and shall have the rig to adequate compensa- told by all the officials he met that (f) The Honorary Military Council ap- tion, including the means for as complete a only 19 persons had died as a result of pointed by the President dealt with rehabilitation as possible. In the event of the the 12 November 1991 event. The the cases of six senior officers and death of the victim as a result of an act of Chief of the East Timor Police de- found them guilty of misconduct. This enforced disappearance, their dependents clared that 6 persons had died at the procedure was not public and did not shall also be entitled to compensation. “ hospital on that same day, in the af- involve the participation of the fami- ternoon, and 13 at the site of the inci- lies or of independent observers. 73. With respect to the above: dent. The Special Rapporteur reiter- Many elements about it therefore re- Page 50 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

(a) According to the information brought to ful demonstration at the University of East not be forgotten, and there is still time to the attention of the Special Rapporteur, Timor (UNTIM) campus. The demonstra- correct the shortcomings, noted at all levels, existing procedures for the redress and tion followed an incident which had oc- in the way in which violations of the right to compensation of victims and relatives are curred the day before, when three Indone- life have been dealt with by the Indonesian ineffective and cumbersome. Members of sian students (some sources alleged that authorities in East Timor: it is not too late the public with a human rights grievance they may have been undercover military to conduct proper investigations, to identify face the daunting prospect of complain- intelligence agents) insulted two Roman and bring to justice the perpetrators, to ing to the armed forces, the very author- Catholic nuns. According to the information determine the fate and whereabouts of the ity they believe to be responsible; communicated to the Special Rapporteur by missing persons, to grant compensation to (b) According to the information gathered the Government of Indonesia, the situation the victims or their relatives, and to prevent by the Special Rapporteur, the judiciary became uncontrollable when the students the occurrence of further killings. are largely shackled by the executive started throwing stones at the police. 78. The Special Rapporteur urges the In- branch and the military, and the legal sys- Clashes broke out between the crowd and donesian authorities to carry out thorough, tem suffers widespread corruption. The the policemen. Many students were injured prompt and impartial investigations of all Special Rapporteur is concerned that when they tried to jump over a fence in the suspected cases of extrajudicial, summary or there is no real right to defence in Indone- commotion. The Government admitted that arbitrary executions and enforced or invol- sian courts. The few lawyers practising 15 persons were injured, of whom 11 were untary disappearances. Those investigations in East Timor are reportedly not trusted treated and discharged and 4 were hospital- should be in accordance with international by the population, because they are con- ized. However, the eye-witness account of standards set forth in the various instru- sidered to be linked to the Indonesian au- the rector of UNTIM rejected the Govern- ments mentioned in this report, and should thorities; ment’s version of the incident: involve the armed forces, the relatives of the (c) In the case of the Santa Cruz killings, no “It is true that the demonstration victims, the local clergy, non-governmental compensation has been granted, and no initially proceeded in an orderly and organizations, and, particularly, civilian special mechanism has been created for peaceful fashion, as it had been authorities The Special Rapporteur calls on that purpose. The Special Rapporteur granted a permit by the local police... the Government of Indonesia to establish a believes that the first step towards com- It is not true that the mass rally turned civilian police force as a matter of urgency. pensation should be the identification of brutal and highly emotional because of This police force should be placed under the the dead and disappeared, which, in turn, issues and incitement by irresponsible authority of the Prosecutor. The Special requires the recognition by the Govern- elements... It is our impression that Rapporteur wishes to recall that the recom- ment of its responsibility. the initiative for the physical clash mendation to establish a civilian police force started with the security forces vio- had already been made by the Special Rap- E. Prevention lently attacking the demonstrators, porteur on the question of torture after his 74. The Special Rapporteur believes that which they did first with batons, kicks visit to Indonesia and East Timor in 1991 lessons regarding the behaviour of the secu- and striking people with their shields, (E/CN.4/1992/17) rity forces should have been drawn by the tear-gas and attacks by two sniffer dogs. The East Timor Chief of Police 79. In the case of the Santa Cruz killings Indonesian authorities after the Santa Cruz and alleged subsequent grave human rights killings, so as to take decisive action with a in his press conference of 14 July 1994 even admitted that the wounded violations, the findings of the military in- view to rendering the recurrence of such a quiry should be made public and an addi- tragedy impossible in the future. Unfortu- people were bruised all over and that their bodies were lacerated.” tional investigation should be conducted by nately, the information gathered during a new commission of inquiry. In this re- meetings with Indonesian officials, both 76. As noted earlier, the access of victims spect, and in addition to what was said ear- civilian and military, lead the Special Rap- of human rights violations to the judiciary or lier, the Special Rapporteur feels that the porteur to conclude that the conditions that to non-governmental organizations has not following aspects should be taken into con- allowed the Santa Cruz killings to occur are improved; no appropriate mechanisms to sideration: request an investigation or to file a com- still present. In particular, the members of (a) The new commission of inquiry the security forces responsible for the plaint have been instituted. Institutionalized monitoring of the human rights situation in should be composed of individuals of abuses have not been held accountable and recognized independence, impartiality continue to enjoy virtual impunity. East Timor is not yet allowed. The fear of families of victims still prevents them from and expertise. It should include spe- 75. The Special Rapporteur welcomes cialists in anthropology, forensic sci- the drafting of a bill on demonstrations and making their case known publicly. This was illustrated by the difficulties the Special ence, ballistics, etc. If this expertise is hopes that it will include provisions on the not available in East Timor or in Indo- control of the use of force by law enforce- Rapporteur encountered in trying to per- suade victims or witnesses of human rights nesia, it should be provided interna- ment officials and that its provisions will tionally, through the United Nations provide a legal framework for the rights to violations to meet with him in order to tes- tify, and the precautions taken before, dur- or non-governmental organizations; freedom of peaceful assembly and associa- (b) The credibility of such an investiga- tion. However, the measures taken to im- ing and after such meetings. The Special Rapporteur clearly sensed terror among tion could be increased by the partici- prove crowd control operations have proved pation of experts internationally rec- insufficient, and force continues to be used many East Timorese he had the opportunity to meet. ognized for their objectivity and com- to deal with peaceful demonstration, as was petence. Such a presence would help shown just three days after the Special III. RECOMMENDATIONS to reduce amongst the East Timorese Rapporteur’s departure from East Timor. It population the fear and mistrust was reported that on 14 July 1994, security 77. The Special Rapporteur believes that the Santa Cruz killings should not be con- which were so detrimental to the in- forces violently broke up what was de- vestigation of NCI; scribed by eye-witnesses as a largely peace- sidered as a thing of the past. They must East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 51

(c) The commission should have at its or their families should be compulsory “(b) Allowing the views and con- disposal all the necessary budgetary and not left to the discretion of police cerns of victims to be pre- and technical resources for effective authorities. Furthermore, victims or sented and considered at ap- investigation and shall have the au- their families should be granted full propriate stages of the thority to obtain all information nec- participation in the proceedings, and proceedings where their essary to the inquiry; free choice of independent counsel personal interests are affected, (d) All the necessary measures should be should be guaranteed; without prejudice to the taken to protect complainants, wit- (d) Persons identified by the investiga- accused and consistent with the nesses and their families from vio- tion as being responsible for abuses, relevant national criminal lence, threats of violence, arrest or whoever they are, should be brought “(c)justice Providing system; proper assistance to prosecution, or any other form of in- to justice. The proceedings should be victims through the legal proc- timidation; public. Human rights violations ess; (e) The families of the victims shall be in- should be offences under criminal law “(d) Taking measures to minimize formed of and have access to any punishable by appropriate penalties, inconvenience to victims, pro- hearing, as well as any information fully taking into account their serious- tect their privacy, when neces- relevant to the investigation, and shall ness; sary, and ensure their safety, as be entitled to present evidence. (e) Acts constituting enforced disappear- well as that of their families ances should be considered as a con- and witnesses on their behalf, 80. The purpose of the investigation tinuing offence as long as the perpe- from intimidation and retalia- should be to determine the following points: trators continue to conceal the fate tion; (a) The circumstances of the killings; and whereabouts of persons who have “(e) Avoiding unnecessary delay in (b) The number of persons killed, their disappeared and these facts remain the disposition of cases and the identity and the location of their unclarified; execution of orders or decrees granting awards to victims.” graves; (f) Equitable compensation should be (c) The number of missing persons, their granted without delay to the victims 83. As mentioned earlier, the involvement identity, their fate and exact where- or their dependents and families. of the relatives of missing or killed persons abouts; into any sort of investigation is essential. 82. As regards the access to justice for The Special Rapporteur could notice himself (d) The chain of command and the iden- the victims or their relatives, the Special that in the atmosphere of fear and suspicion tity of all the perpetrators and their Rapporteur recommends that the Indonesian currently prevailing in East Timor. the con- superiors, and their individual respon- authorities apply, in addition to the various ditions conducive to such participation are sibility in the human rights violations. international principles referred to in this not present. The Special Rapporteur there- 81. The Special Rapporteur strongly be- report, the following points embodied in the fore believes that a drastic reduction of the lieves that no confidence-building measures Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for military presence in East Timor is a prereq- can be effective and no solution to the prob- Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, uisite for confidence-building measures al- lems facing East Timor can be found before adopted by the General Assembly in its lowing the families to feel safe enough to justice has been done. The first step for the resolution 40/34 of 29 November 1985: report about their missing or killed relatives. Government should be to recognize its re- “4. Victims /8/ should be treated This reduction should not only affect com- sponsibility and declare that killings, and with compassion and respect for their bat units, but all troops present in the terri- not an “incident,” took place in Santa Cruz. dignity. They are entitled to access to tory, including territorial battalions and Full light should be shed, publicly, on all the the mechanisms of justice and to military intelligence. In that regard, the Sp e- tragic events described in this report, in prompt redress, as provided for by cial Rapporteur welcomes the dissolution of accordance with the standards referred to national legislation, for the harm that the Special Military Command in East above. An end should be put to impunity they have suffered. Timor in 1993, as well as the reductions of enjoyed by members of the Indonesian “5. Judicial and administrative troops, especially combat battalions, al- armed forces responsible for abuses. To that mechanisms should be established and ready carried out. purpose, the Special Rapporteur recom- strengthened where necessary to en- 84. The Special Rapporteur believes that mends the following: able victims to obtain redress through the involvement of non-governmental or- formal or informal procedures that are (a) The jurisdiction over such cases ganizations in all questions relating to hu- expeditious, fair, inexpensive and ac- should be handed over to the ordinary man rights in East Timor - e.g. investigation, cessible. Victims should be informed civilian judiciary; monitoring, legal assistance, information and of their rights in seeking redress (b) The independence, fairness and training should be allowed and encouraged through such mechanisms. by the Indonesian authorities: transparency of the judiciary should “6. The responsiveness of judicial be improved and guaranteed. Interfer- and administrative processes to the (a) Independent NGOs should be created ence of the military at any stage of the needs of the victims should be facili- in East Timor and allowed to operate proceedings, including the investiga- tated by: freely throughout the territory. At tion, should be avoided. This should “(a) Informing victims of their role this stage, the Special Rapporteur not exclude its cooperation, when it is and the scope, timing and pro- feels that the involvement of the requested. Corruption should be effec- gress of the proceedings and Catholic clergy (which at the moment tively fought; the disposition of their cases, is the only institution whose involve- (c) Provision should be made to allow especially where serious crimes ment with human rights questions is victims or their families to initiate ju- are involved and where they tolerated by the Indonesian authori- dicial proceedings. In particular, inves- have requested such informa- ties) in such organizations would be tigations into complaints by victims tion; essential; Page 52 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

(b) Indonesian and international human 88. The Special Rapporteur recommends 8/ In the terms of the Declaration, “the term rights NGOs should be granted full that the Indonesian Government invite the ‘victim’ also includes, where appropriate, access to East Timor. Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary the immediate family or dependents of Disappearances to carry out a mission. He the direct victim ...” (para. 3). 85. The Special Rapporteur believes that expresses the hope that his recommenda- the National Human Rights Commission is tions will be implemented, in conjunction ANNEX not the most appropriate mechanism to deal with those formulated by the Special Rap- with human rights violations in East Timor. ADVANCE REPORT OF THE porteur on the question of torture after his Its mandate, the means of action at its dis- NATIONAL COMMISSION OF visit to Indonesia and East Timor in No- posal and its methods of work are insuffi- INQUIRY INTO 12 NOVEMBER 1991 vember 1991. In particular, he encourages cient. Furthermore, it is not trusted by the INCIDENT IN DILI-EAST TIMOR the Government to accede to major human population of East Timor. In any event, it The text is reprinted as received from Am- rights instruments, such as the International has not dealt with questions relating to East nesty International (Al Index ASA 21/03/92). Covenant on Civil and political Rights and Timor. Consequently, the Special Rappor- the Convention against Torture and Other teur recommends that a commission for Conclusions Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or human rights in East Timor he created to The Commission has strong reasons and Punishment. monitor the situation of human rights, re- grounds to arrive at the following conclu- ceive and independently investigate com- NOTES sions: plaints, make recommendations to the com- 1/ For activities undertaken in 1992 and 1. The 12 November 1991 incident in Dili petent authorities, and disseminate informa- 1993: on extrajudicial, summary or arbi- is the culmination of a series of earlier dem- tion about human rights. Its characteristics trary executions, E/CN.4/1993/46, paras. onstration/incidents perpetrated by the anti- should be in accordance with the Principles 348-353, E/CN.4/1994/7. paras. 343-356; integration group/Fretilin SDP. relating to the status of national institutions for torture, E/CN.4/1993/26. paras. 270- The Fretilin SDP, which are being in- (Commission on Human Rights resolution 274, E/CN.4/1994/31, paras. 325-343; on creasingly isolated, have shifted their mode 1992/54, annex, adopted without a vote on 3 arbitrary detention, E/CN.4/1994/27, an- of operations from rural guerrilla to urban March 1992). The Special Rapporteur rec- nex II, decision No. 36/1993; on enforced guerrilla, thereby abusively capitalizing on ommends that such a commission should be or involuntary disappearances. the development policy in East Timor based composed of individuals of recognized im- E/CN.4/1993/25, paras. 278-290. upon affection and prosperity and taking partiality and independence representing the E/CN.4/1994:26, paras. 260, 261 and advantage of the situation, condition as well civil society of East Timor, including 269. as the restive mood among the young people NGOs. to instigate them to oppose integration as 2/ The Chief of the East Timor Police esti- 86. As provided for in article 3 of the well as to attract world attention to their mated that the shooting lasted for 10 to existence. Declaration on the Protection of All Persons 15 minutes. from Enforced Disappearances the Special 2. The 12 November 1991 Incident in 3/ See: E/CN.4/1994/26, para. 265 and Asia Dili which caused a number of deaths and Rapporteur recommends that the Indonesian Watch, “Remembering History in East authorities “take effective legislative, admin- other casualties was clearly not an act or- Timor.” vol. 5, No. 8, April 1993, pp. dered by or reflecting the policy of the Gov- istrative, judicial or other measures to pre- 21-22. vent and terminate acts of enforced disap- ernment of the Armed Forces, be it in the pearance.” Following article 4. paragraph 2, 4/ The Special Rapporteur will refer to the Capital or in the Province of East Timor. of the Declaration. the Sp ecial Rapporteur events of the 12 November as “killings,” The 12 November 1991 Incident was essen- suggests that “[m]itigating circumstances a word that, in his opinion, is more ap- tially a tragedy which should be deeply may be established in national legislation for propriate than the term “incident,” used regretted. persons who, having participated in en- by many. including the Indonesian au- 3. The 12 November 1991 demonstration forced disappearances, are instrumental in thorities. Indeed, in view of the number in Dili showed elements of pre-meditated bringing the victims forward alive or in pro- of victims, the Special Rapporteur deems provocation by a group of anti- viding voluntarily information which could it appropriate to speak of a “massacre.” integration/Fretilin SDP and was not an contribute to clarifying cases of enforced 5/ The presidential decree spells out that the orderly and peaceful procession dedicated to disappearance” NHRC shall “monitor and investigate the commemorate the death of Sebastião Go- mes. 87. Measures should be taken to ensure implementation of human rights and pre- sent views, considerations and sugges- 4. The demonstrators, who largely con- that peaceful demonstrations of political sisted of young people have acted belliger- dissent are dealt with in conformity with tions to State institutions on the imple- mentation of human rights.” ently, emotionally and destructively, partly international standards In particular, the use as a result of agitations by the anti- 6/ The Special Rapporteur was informed of force by law enforcement officials should integration group/Fretilin SDP by whom that the NHCR has a very limited budget, be restricted accordingly. Furthermore, they have been influenced for quite some office facilities and staff and has no for- members of the security forces should be time. Furthermore, they consciously exhib- mal authority. better trained in proper crowd control meth- ited Fretilin and Falintil flags, pictures of ods, and the appropriate non-lethal 7/ The Pancasila is the state philosophy, Fretilin SDP leader Xanana and banners and equipment for such operations should be which consists of the following five prin- chanted anti-integration yells and insults at made available to them. Training should also ciples: (I) belief in one Supreme God; (ii) the members of the security apparatus. place more emphasis on human rights ques- just and civilized humanity; (iii) the unity 5. A number of foreigners took an active tions and should stress that a soldier receiv- of Indonesia; (iv) democracy led by the part in that demonstration. ing an order contrary to human rights has inner wisdom of unanimity arising out of 6. As the tense atmosphere reached a the right and duty not to obey it. the deliberation among representatives; boiling point, started by the stabbing of an (v) social justice for the whole of the In- Armed Forces officer and the wounding of a donesian people. East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 53 private, and aggravated by the provocative Anto Sujata Member TIMORESE WILL MEET belligerence and aggressive attitude assumed Sumitro Member by the crowd which was perceived by the ONLY AFTER JANUARY security personnel as posing a threat to their UN ENVOY TO GO Publico, 7 December 1994. Translated from arms and to their safety, a spontaneous TO EAST TIMOR Portuguese reaction took place among the security per- Lisbon – The meeting of Timorese, sonnel to defend themselves, without com- AFP, 28 November 1994. Abridged mand, resulting in the excessive shooting at agreed in Geneva last May during the meet- the demonstrators, causing deaths and Jakarta – UN Secretary-General Dr. ing between Ali Alatas and Durão Barroso, wounded. At the same time, another group Boutros Boutros-Ghali will send two spe- will not now take place before the new of unorganized security personnel, acting cial envoys to Indonesia and East Timor round of UN sponsored talks on 9 January outside any control or command, also fired ahead of the dialogue between Jakarta and between the Portuguese and Indonesian shots and committed beating, causing more Lisbon (on 9 January) over the former Por- diplomatic chiefs. On of the points con- casualties. tuguese colony, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas tained in the last meeting’s final statement In the handling of the riotous condition said Monday. referred to the dialogue between Timorese, during 12 November 1991 Incident, despite He identified the two officials as stating that this “ought to be encouraged” as the presence of riot-control units, the Com- Francesc Vendrell and Tamrat Samuel who it constituted an “important contribution to mission did not observe the optimal imple- have already visited Indonesia and East the continued efforts” to find a “fair, com- mentation of proper riot-control procedures. Timor several times. prehensive and internationally acceptable The actions of a number of security person- A report from Geneva said that Vendrell, solution” to the problem of Timor. nel exceeded acceptable norms and led to the a UN official with special responsibility for Although these broader talks have not casualties, be it in terms of deaths, gunshot the eastern Asia-Pacific region, was ex- taken place yet, Boutros Ghali’s envoy, wounds, stabbing wounds, or wounds by pected to leave Lisbon for Jakarta on 5 De- Francesc Vendrell considers the “confidence blunt instrument. Although the casualty toll cember (and to travel to East Timor soon building measures” (suggested by the UN until now was set at 19 dead and 91 afterwards). and agreed by the two Foreign Ministers) taken so far have had a positive effect. Ven- wounded, the Commission feels that there UN ENVOY drell, who today in Lisbon ends a series of are sufficiently strong grounds to conclude SPOKE TO XANANA that the death casualties totaled about 50 political and diplomatic consultations in while the wounded exceeded 91. Jornal de Noticias, 6 December 1994. preparation for the January meeting, told 8. There was careless handling of those Translated from Portuguese Publico that Ghali’s initiative had resulted in who died, because although the visum et Lisbon – The UN Director for the East improved access to the territory and the repertums were performed the deceased Asia and Pacific Region met Xanana Gus- participation, albeit indirect, of the were not properly identified. Little oppor- mão for half an hour last Tuesday, according Timorese in the talks underway between tunity was given to the families/friends of to the UN’s envoy himself, Francesc Ven- Indonesia and Portugal. “The Indonesian the victims to identify the bodies. drell, speaking yesterday in Lisbon. Minister Ali Alatas met separately with 9. The Commission is of the view that in Vendrell declined to reveal any details of Ramos Horta (CNRM) and Abilio Araujo order to uphold justice, action must be taken the talk he had with the Resistance leader in (promoter of reconciliation meetings). Min- against all who were involved in the 12 No- Cipinang prison He arrived yesterday in ister Durão Barroso has done the same with vember 1991 Incident in Dili and suspected Lisbon with another UN diplomat, Tamrat Francisco Lopes da Cruz (itinerant ambas- of having violated the law, and they must be Samuel, on the last stop of his mission, sador of Indonesia and spokesman for Indo- brought to trial in accordance with the Rule which also took him to Jakarta and Dili, in nesia in the Araujo initiative). I myself have of Law. Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution preparation for the next round of talks be- met Xanana Gusmão on two occasions.” upon which the Republic of Indonesia is tween the Foreign Ministers of Portugal and Vendrell, accompanied by Ethiopian dip- based. Indonesia, scheduled to take place in Janu- lomat Tamrat Samuel, had a meeting last ary, in Geneva. week with Alatas and Durão Barroso, met Epilogue with Xanana Gusmão, and talked with In undertaking its task, the NCI received During this trip, Vendrell has sought the views of the interested parties in the Timor Bishop Belo in Dili. He also had meetings full support from all sides, be it from the with Indonesian military leaders in Jakarta, Government, the Armed Forces, Church process. He will be reporting back to the UN Secretary General, who will then pre- Bali, Denpasar and East Timor. Officials and community leaders, It has to The outcome of these consultations with acknowledge, however, that the NCI faced pare proposals for the next meeting. It is hope that, this way, the January meeting all the parties concerned in the Timor issue obstacles because a number of prospective will now be reported back to Boutros Ghali, witnesses were not willing to give their ac- will not turn out to be “just another meet- ing,” said Vendrell. who will then prepare the agenda for the count of the event because of doubt and next meeting. concern that they would be directly incrimi- Vendrell met with Indonesian Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas, and with military lead- In contrast with Vendrell’s reservations nated in the 12 November 1991 Incident in about revealing anything of the substance of Dili, or out of fear they would be regarded ers in Jakarta, Bali, Denpasar and East Timor. He would give no clues as to what his contacts or the prospects for the 9 Janu- as belonging to the anti-integration group. ary meeting, Ali Alatas told an Indonesian Jakarta, 26 December 1991 had been discussed, as that “would not help” the negotiations. parliamentary committee that the forthcom- National Commission of Inquiry In Lisbon, Francesc Vendrell will be ing talks with his Portuguese counterpart M. Djaelani Head/Member meeting with Durão Barroso, and with the may well go further than those of previous Ben Mang Reng Say Member Timorese resistance in Portugal. meetings, and “deal not with mere confi- Clementino dos Reis Amaral Member dence measures but with more concrete Harisoegiman Member issues concerning a joint settlement.” This Hadi A. Wayarabi Alhadar Member was reported by the Indonesian agency Page 54 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

Antara, which added that the Indonesian violations, cessation of religious provoca- minister did not foresee any final agreement tions, and cessation of illegal population FOREIGN MINISTERS because “Portugal’s position is still a long transfers (the cause of recent inter-ethnic MEET IN GENEVA way from Jakarta’s.” conflicts). Please note that both current HRC mem- LOBBYING AT ber states, as well as non-member states are ALATAS: INDONESIA UPCOMING UN HUMAN entitled to speak and co-sponsor motions. SEEKS COMPREHENSIVE Voting is reserved for current HRC mem- RIGHTS COMMISSION bers. A list of current HRC member states is AGREEMENT provided below. From CNRM, 16 Jan 95 Publico, 7 December 1994. Translated from 2. Besides governments, please also try to Portuguese Dear Friends, mobilise NGOs with consultative status The Indonesian Foreign Minister stated As you well know the UN Commission at the HRC to speak on ET. The more of on Monday that he expected the forthcom- on Human Rights (CHR) is again holding its them that address the HRC meeting and ing talks with Portugal, held under the aus- annual meeting in Geneva, starting end Janu- refer to ET, the better. They should also pices of the UN, to deal with an overall ary. The meeting will go on until approxi- be asked to raise the points mentioned agreement on East Timor. According to the mately mid-March. East Timor will be dis- above. Indonesian information agency yesterday, cussed in late February most probably. European Union members please note: it Minister Alatas told a parliamentary com- Our objective this year is to force Indo- is urgent that a most strongly worded draft mittee that the talks would no longer be nesia into inviting two thematic rapporteurs resolution text is prepared. We understand dealing with mere questions of confidence, to visit East Timor, preferably soon, i.e. in this has not yet happened. This is the reso- but with more concrete problems connected the first half of 1995. They could visit lution which Indonesia would expect to be with the overall settlement of the conflict. jointly, which may be more viable, or sepa- passed if it refused the invitation of the However, Ali Alatas predicted no final rately. At least one should go in the first thematic rapporteurs. It should call for im- agreement between the two countries be- half of the year and, if needs be, the visit of plementation of the Bacre Ndiaye report cause “Portugal’s position is still a long way the second could be left for early in the sec- recommendations, and call for the invitation from Jakarta’s.” Meanwhile, Xanana Gus- ond half of 1995. of the two thematic rapporteurs. mão expressed his support for a broadened The thematic rapporteurs in question are: Please note that often in the past, EU dialogue among Timorese, which would a. the Special Rapporteur on Torture members have appeared to participate in the include the Bishop of Dili. b. the Working group on disappearances. preparation of such a draft resolution, only To get Indonesia to accept this, it needs to later apply pressure on Portugal to ac- to face the prospect of a very strongly cept a milder consensus statement. This VOA: ALATAS TIMOR worded condemnatory resolution being should not be tried this time as it would be COMMENTARY passed by the HRC in case it des not com- pointless. ply and refuses to issue these invitations for We should also get non-EU members to Voice of America, 1/4/95. By Yenni Djahidin thematic rapporteurs. If it does comply, be prepared to co-sponsor a resolution if the (not voiced), Jakarta then the reward would be a softer consensus need should arise. Intro: Indonesia’s foreign minister, Ali statement adopted by the HRC. Nordic Countries: please note that Fin- Alatas, has sharply criticized Portugal, say- In order to achieve this, the urgent sup- land is the only member of the HRC this ing Portuguese officials are not creating a port of all pro-East Timor NGOs, solidarity year. Please ensure it strongly mentions ET, proper atmosphere for new peace talks groups and other influential East Timor and votes favourably. about the disputed East Timor territory. supporters is needed in as many countries Good luck with this important task, and Yenni Djahidin reports from Jakarta. as possible. thank you for your valuable help. A luta Text: Indonesian foreign minister Ali It is necessary to: continua! Alatas and Portugal’s foreign minister, José 1. Get as many governments as possible to Commission on Human Rights members Manuel Durão Barroso, are scheduled to speak on East Timor at the HRC, in the 1995 meet next week in Geneva as part of talks strongest terms possible, rather than sponsored by UN secretary general Boutros Algeria, Angola, Australia, Austria, Bang- Boutros-Ghali. merely making some perfunctory refer- ladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Bulgaria, ence to it. Portugal and Indonesia have been at odds Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, over East Timor ever since Indonesia’s 1976 Such strong statements should promi- Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Sal- nently refer to the recently released report annexation of the former colony – a move vador, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, that followed Portugal’s withdrawal and an by the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Gabon, Germany, Great Britain, Guinea- summary or arbitrary executions, Mr. Bacre Indonesian invasion to stop a war between Bissau, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Timorese factions. Ndiaye. As you know, it strongly condemns Ivory Coat, Japan, Malawi, Mauritania, Indonesia for the Santa Cruz massacre. In his news conference Wednesday, Mr. Mauritius, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Neth- Alatas said Portugal has not been very help- Please ensure that the respective Foreign erlands, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Philip- Offices have the report. Statements on ET ful in creating what he called a confidence- pines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, building atmosphere on East Timor. should refer to the report and call for the Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Togo, implementation of its recommendations. The Indonesian official said his govern- United States of America, Venezuela, Zim- ment has done much to implement confi- Other points to raise would be release of babwe. political prisoners (notably Xanana Gus- dence-building measures in East Timor but mão, José Antonio Neves), cessation of continues to be criticized. arrest and mistreatment of students, reduc- Alatas: “whenever there is some- tion of troops which cause human rights thing, they (Portugal) are the first who East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 55

jump and give to the press all kinds of toward a negotiated settlement of the East SMALL NOTES inflammatory and highly exaggerated Timor dispute. But the Secretary-General versions of what is happening. They has revealed no details. ON EAST TIMOR continue to pursue a very aggressive At a briefing here in advance of the meet- An anonymous East Timorese comments on and highly inflammatory attitude to- ing, UN spokeswoman Therese Gastaut the upcoming talks, January 7, 1995. ward this issue of East Timor. [this is] would say only that Mr. Boutros Ghali is not very helpful in creating the kind of using his good offices in the search for what In the coming week, in Geneva, both In- confidence, in creating the kind of at- she called a just, comprehensive and interna- donesia and Portuguese Foreign Affairs mosphere conducive to the solution of tionally-acceptable solution of the dispute. Ministers, Ali Alatas and José Durão Bar- the problem. But she, too, declined to provide any idea of roso are scheduled to continue the United “We are required to do lots of what will be discussed at the meeting. Nations (UN) sponsored talk, Confidence things. You must accept a special rap- The Portuguese government has long Measure Building (CMB), on East Timor. It porteur – we did it. You must allow maintained that Indonesia’s annexation of will be the fifth of a series of talks between the press to come here – we did it. East Timor deprived its residents of their the two countries under the auspices of the You must do this, you must do that. right to self-determination. But the Jakarta UN Secretary General on the disputed terri- This is supposed to be a mutual thing, government has repeatedly rejected demands tory occupied by Indonesia since 1975. not only on Indonesia. We are not in from East Timorese political leaders for a Talks on East Timor began in early 1990s any way being asked unilaterally to do referendum in the territory. And foreign and both ministers have agreed, despite with things.” minister Ali Alatas reiterated that position limitations, to proceed on to take prelimi- Foreign Minister Alatas said it is likely at a news conference in advance of the Ge- nary steps to strengthen the building of UN secretary general Boutros-Ghali will neva talks. confidence towards a resolution of their want to discuss substantive matters in order Mr. Alatas said Jakarta will never aban- disputed issue. Evidences of this have been to reach a comprehensive, just, and interna- don its claim to East Timor, calling it Indo- the consensus to avoid diplomatic harass- tionally-acceptable solution. nesia’s 27th province. He was also sharply ments between the two countries; to avoid Mr. Alatas also referred to the latest vio- critical of the Portuguese government for using irrelevant diplomatic forums to launch lence in East Timor blamed on simmering what he termed an aggressive attitude that is criticisms on each other and; to find possible ethnic tensions between Timorese and im- not conducive to a settlement of the dispute. ways through a just, comprehensive and migrants. Mr. Boutros Ghali has acknowledged internationally acceptable solution on East He said the government could confirm that the Portuguese and Indonesian posi- Timor. one death and five injuries from the distur- tions on East Timor remain far apart. But he However, this dynamic breakthrough bances in Baucau – 180 kilometers east of maintains that the atmosphere between the which suppose to indicate both the goodwill Dili – which followed the stabbing of a two states has improved as a result of the and the changing of attitude and of atmos- Timorese by a non-Timorese. dialogue over the past few years. phere of the decision making between Indo- News agency reports quoting witnesses During previous rounds of talks, the UN nesia and Portugal has indeed remained sus- and church sources in East Timor have put official has focused on so-called confidence- picious. Whether a positive outcome will be the death toll from the new years day vio- building measures. likely or not is questionable. As stated re- lence at between two and five. After a meeting last may, Indonesia cently by the UN Secretary General’s Military officials in East Timor have de- agreed to permit more frequent visits to East spokesperson, Therese Ghastou, that inter- nied reports quoting local sources and hu- Timor by UN officials and human rights pretation on ways to resolve the issue of man rights activists that security forces shot groups. And in July, a senior UN aide trav- East Timor between the two countries re- and killed some of the rioters. elled to Jakarta and the East Timorese capi- main far apart. tal, Dili. To my view, examining the recent devel- VOA: UNSG TIGHT The result was a report highly critical of opments on the problem, there are three broad issues that seem to curb a likely set- ON TIMOR MEETING Indonesia’s handling of political unrest in East Timor. tlement on East Timor, although efforts have been advanced by all interested parts. Voice of America, 1/6/95. By Douglas Rob- The document says Indonesian security erts, Geneva forces clearly violated international law Unclear definition of Confidence Build- during a bloody clash with pro- ing Measure Intro: UN Secretary-General Boutros independence demonstrators in Dili in 1991. Political differences between Indonesia Boutros Ghali meets in Geneva Monday It also criticizes Jakarta’s investigations into with the foreign ministers of Portugal and and Portugal pose the major treat to a solu- that clash and subsequent unrest. tion on the issue of East Timor. Its origin Indonesia for talks on the continuing dispute It urges Indonesia to respect human over East Timor–the former Portuguese stemmed when the territory were left unad- rights in the territory including the right to ministered by Portugal following the civil colony annexed by the Indonesian govern- peaceful assembly. And it says civilian po- ment in 1976. VOA’s Douglas Roberts in war broke out in mid 1970s. East Timor lice, with adequate training in crowd-control since then remained as a non-governed terri- Geneva reports there has been no firm word methods, should replace Indonesian army on what if any proposals the secretary gen- tory, recognised by the UN. forces now in charge of security in East eral will recommend in his effort to resolve Recriminations started to emerge as In- Timor. donesia began its involvement in the area in the dispute. News reports from the region say guer- Text: this will be Mr. Boutros Ghali’s the late 1975. It invaded the territory mili- rilla resistance in the territory has dwindled tarily and subsequently annexed it in July fifth meeting with the Indonesian and Portu- in recent years. But there continue to be guese foreign ministers in the past two-and- 1976. The intervention which is considered periodic clashes between pro-independence internationally as illegal and unlawful, de- a-half years. demonstrators and security forces, as well He has said he will use the one-day ses- spite of the juridical recognition given by as violence involving East Timorese and Australia and New Zealand, has stayed sion of talks to explore possible avenues Indonesian migrants. Page 56 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. unresolved for almost 20 years, leaving the propaganda. Both Ali Alatas and his coun- 18th centuries]. Unfortunately, the collapse lives of almost 200.000 victims unac- terpart José Durão Barroso despite allegedly of the former Soviet Union and the disinte- counted, even the UN has proved incapable claimed to have made progressive moves in gration of Eastern Europe have added more to bring and end to the issue. their previous talks, they have indeed re- confirmation to such false conventional Indonesia insists that the declaration futed all these political statements, after- convictions. which took place by a number of refugees wards. “False promises and noncompliance In the post Cold War, issues of democ- (who fled East Timor after the civil war to their own widely publicized commit- racy, human rights and freedom are simply broke out in 1975) in Balibo signed by the ments” perhaps best summarize their rejected because of the economic achieve- current Indonesia’s roving ambassador from fraudulent political capabilities. There is ments of some Third World’s dictator re- UDT, Francisco Lopes da Cruz, and other then no clear definition of what is “a just, gimes. Australia for example, was a country political party leaders in 1975, as the true comprehensive and internationally accept- which have been a champion of democracy demand of the East Timorese to integrate able solution for the question of East and was believed to be a leading advocate of itself into its huge neighbouring country. Timor.” Portugal and Indonesia, each has its human rights in the southern hemisphere The Portuguese government has been ac- own interpretation of such a notion. The has, in the fear of being singled out from cused of abandoning East Timor, leaving one who are left to bear all consequences are established economic blocs around the political disorder to take place which would the people of East Timor themselves. world, reversed conventional belief on its have been a threat to Indonesia, if the latter The refusal of East Timorese resistance international role. Trade and economic inter- had not intervened into East Timor. Such a representatives est have turned this giant’s true colour to an baseless justification which grounds on a extremely ridiculous stance instead and, Indonesia has been refusing the presence well-designed but dirty diplomatic propa- opted to pursue economic interest (e.g. in of the East Timorese representatives as part ganda has remained undiluted for almost 20 Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia), at the of its negotiation process with Portugal. years. same time, ignoring the plight of the op- Despite the recent meeting between Ali Portugal likewise provides its judgment pressed people - whose blood have much to Alatas and José Ramos Horta (CNRM rep- on Indonesian attitude. The former claimed do with the building of such economic resentative), and President Soeharto’s prom- that it could have undergone a decolonisa- achievements -. Indeed, while ignoring the ise to meet the resistance group have shed tion process, if Indonesia had not invaded issue of human rights, successive Australian green light towards further resolution of the East Timor. Lisbon continues to hold this governments have provided long standing problem, their implementation remain political stance to date and demands a total iron rulers of Asia (e.g. Indonesia & Viet- doubtful. The experience of the past 19 withdrawal of Indonesia Armed Forces from nam) with vast economic assistance, years have witnessed dirty political tricks East Timor. Portugal’s position gained sig- strengthening their existence, neglecting the employed by Indonesia in the international nificant support from pro-independent East fact that thousands of people have been diplomatic arena. Lies and filthy techniques Timorese community both inside the terri- victimized for such economic accomplish- of its mischievous record in East Timor - tory and in exile, and in most of Western ments. e.g. it insists that the East Timorese have countries. However, it has done little to With regard to East Timor, not to men- opted for integration - as means of quelling combat increasingly Indonesia’s lobby and tion the contribution of the 40.000 Timorese the resistance, despite of its shortcomings, influence in both political and economic victims to Australian paratroops during the persisted unshamedfully. Indonesia has circles among the Third World nations in World War II, Canberra has always been a always been trying to play down the glori- particular and the World in general. country willing to extend the suffering of the ous resistance of the East Timorese. The Continuous political recrimination be- Timorese. Instead of helping its huge recent occurrences such as the Dili demon- tween Indonesia and Portugal have not only neighbouring country, Indonesia, to solve strations and the occupation of the US Em- endured their differences, but have led the the issue of East Timor, Australia went far bassy compounds by East Timorese youths issue of East Timor to become an ideological to give juridical recognition to the illegal in Jakarta have been reported as crimes per- conviction on both sides. The issue of East occupation, neglecting facts that; the UN petrated by GPK (trouble makers). In short, Timor, therefore, has been transformed from still recognizes Portugal as the jure adminis- the current Indonesia’s political maneuvers, mere political differences to a matter of trator power of the territory and; that the despite seem promising, are no more than a principle to both Indonesia and Portugal. East Timorese have never given any ap- series of its political duplicities that have The latter is determined, based on its own proval to Indonesia’s presence in their been persisted for almost 20 years. constitution and on international law, to homeland. undergo a decolonisation process, whereas The hypocrite attitude of Western gov- For most of East Timorese, Australian the former insists that an integration proc- ernments. political decision to recognise Indonesia’s ess, which is internationally deemed feloni- The end of the Cold War which has presence in their territory (which came ur- ous, had taken place in 1976. brought an epilogue to the world commu- gently in the mid 1980s), was one form of To date such a huge discrepancy, not to nism has been a propaganda for Western Canberra’s admirations on both South East mention other social and cultural differences, capitalist countries to impose their false Asian countries’ booming economy and the remain distinctive in every aspect of their democratic proposals, at best. The preach spook of losing the vast sea of Timor oil, false diplomatic maneuvers. Seeing the issue for freedom, the notion of peace, the advo- which could supply average Australian citi- in this context, one can suspect the philoso- cacy of democracy and human rights during zen with billion of dollars in the coming phy behind both Indonesia and Portugal’s the Cold War, to countries like the United future. Therefore, to Australia, the rush to reformative political ploys which are, aimed States, UK, France, Germany, Australia and make political decisions in favour of the at both unsettling the issue in a short term New Zealand were not only aimed at isolat- leading regime of this region (e.g. by embrac- period and escaping increasingly interna- ing communist expansion. They were an- ing Indonesia) means getting thousands of tional condemnation on their bureaucratic other form of these countries’ spurious dollars every minute. The Timorese, again, attitude. The UN Secretary General’s spon- political adventures which are rooted in the are those who left to bear all negative conse- sored talks therefore have been no more than very idea of capitalist doctrine of expansion, quences. a political stage to perform false political conquer and exploitation [of the 17th and East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 57

The neglect of human rights and hence proposal that could, apart from clarifying In advance of the meeting, both Portu- human values at the expense of the wave of our previous point, encourage both Portugal gal’s foreign minister José Manuel Durão economic growth is becoming more conven- and Indonesia to unfold their true political Barroso and his Indonesian counterpart Ali tional around the world. The East Timorese will, discharge political pursuit and commit Alatas said they are looking to the UN Sec- are aware that there are little hope for a themselves to extend peace, freedom and retary-General for ways to break the im- insignificant issue like theirs to be settled. respect of human rights of the East passe. Nevertheless, the culture of terror that has Timorese. In addition, the East Timorese are After the last round of talks eight months been going on for almost 20 years, because the ones who must have “a say” about their ago, Mr. Boutros Ghali was asked to iden- of its nature, has contributed much to the own future. tify possible avenues toward what was building the culture of resistance and the To the international community, first and termed a just, comprehensive and interna- dream for freedom in the mind of this na- foremost to countries like Australia, New tionally acceptable solution to the dispute. tion. The desire to never abandon their Zealand and UK, hiding behind the mask of But at a briefing here, UN spokeswoman struggle likewise continue. democracy to pursue economic interests - Therese Gastaut refused to say whether the What is the future? most of which were built with the blood of Secretary-General brought any new propos- innocent human beings - are not the fashion als to Monday’s talks. The year 1994 has brought some positive of the New World Order. Instead of giving She said Mr. Boutros Ghali is hoping to steps to Apartheid and the Middle East assurances to dictator regimes like Soeharto make progress toward a renewed dialogue conflict, however it also left many problems and hence extending the suffering of many between rival East Timorese factions. Sup- unresolved. Likewise, continue ignoring the East Timorese, it is now the time to give a porters and opponents of Indonesian con- call to end the tragic episode of war that has new shape to our history. Because, helping trol of the territory held one inconclusive been lasted for 19 years in East Timor, will Indonesia government to resolve the issue of round of talks last year in London. reinforce only the physical and cultural East Timor through an unbiased political There have been repeated clashes in East genocide of the East Timorese. The year atmosphere could nourish the tree which Timor between pro-independence demon- 1995 lies ahead with massive task to be will bear fruits of freedom to the sons of strators and Indonesian security forces. fulfilled. A commitment to resolve the issue those once offered their lives to save many News agencies reported fresh unrest in the of East Timor must be followed not only Australian soldiers. capital, Dili, just hours before the start of with true political will of both Indonesia and In this growing interdependent world Monday’s talks here. Portugal but also with true collaboration of there is no way to ignore the cry of both the Portugal’s foreign minister Barroso said the whole international community and East Timorese whose plight remain unre- the continuing disturbances only underscore those who once claimed themselves to be solved and of other ordinary men who sim- the need for rapid progress toward a settle- the champion of democracy. For example: ply refuse to accept the pervasive suffering ment of the dispute. And he repeated that Give clear definition to Confidence of other human beings. The 1995 will wit- self-determination for the East Timorese is Measure Building. ness another page of our history and this the key to a solution. But Indonesia’s for- The international law should be applied will be left to our future generations to eign minister Alatas made it clear his gov- to such a case. Clarification about the posi- judge. ernment is not even prepared to discuss the tion of both Portugal and Indonesia is also Thanks for reading issue. essential. Both countries, at a cursory Samodoc The UN has never recognized Indonesia’s glance, are either interested or not-interested annexation of East Timor. But Mr. Boutros part alike on the issue of East Timor. With VOA - TIMOR TALKS’ Ghali has scrupulously avoided public regard to the former, the grave irresponsibil- LIMITED OBJECTIVES comment on the question of self- ity of Portugal and the illegal occupation of determination in the territory. East Timor by Indonesia, or the “de facto” Voice of America, 1/9/95 control by Indonesia, and the “de jure” rec- Intro: UN Secretary-General Boutros UNSG COMMUNIQUÉ ON ognition given to Portugal on East Timor by EAST TIMOR TALKS the UN, bound the two countries to resolve Boutros Ghali is meeting in Geneva with the foreign ministers of Indonesia and Portugal the issue. With regard to the latter, both UN Press Release, January 9. Indonesia (neo-colonialist) and Portugal on the ongoing dispute over East Timor – (old-colonialist) are foreigners in East the former Portuguese colony seized by Indonesian forces nearly two decades ago. PARTIES AGREE TO CONTINUE Timor. Whereas the ones who suffer a lot EFFORTS TOWARDS are the East Timorese. VOA’s Douglas Roberts in Geneva reports INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED Clear objectives and well defined meaning the Secretary-General appears to have set of “Internationally acceptable solution” is only limited objectives for Monday’s talks, SETTLEMENT ON QUESTION OF necessary. Otherwise, the UNSG’s spon- the fifth in a series of meetings over the past EAST TIMOR AT TALKS CONVENED sored talks will remain only as a stage to two and a half years. BY SECRETARY-GENERAL Text: as the talks began at UN headquar- display false diplomacies which will never Next Round of Talks to Be Held on 19 bring an end the issue. ters here, it was clear that the Jakarta and Lisbon governments remain far apart on the May in New York Include the East Timorese resistance key question of East Timor’s constitutional (Received from the spokeswoman for the leaders both inside and in exile and status. Secretary-General in Europe.) religious figures in every talk regard- Portugal says the 600-thousand East ing the fate of their nation and the fu- Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali Timorese should be given the right to self- held a fifth round of meetings in Geneva ture of their case, under the auspices determination through a referendum. Indo- of the UN. today with the Foreign Minister of Portugal, nesia flatly rejects the demand, insisting that José Manuel Durão Barroso, and the For- The UN, while sustaining its continuing the territory is, and will remain, its 27th eign Minister of Indonesia, Ali Alatas. The efforts on the issue, should recommend a province. discussions focused on the Secretary- Page 58 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

General’s initiative to facilitate the conven- actions that could have a detrimental impact, ognised by the United Nations and bitterly ing of an all-inclusive intra-East Timorese prior to an in the course of the dialogue. opposed by Portugal, the former Colonial dialogue on a set of issues to be addressed in 5. The Secretary-General expressed the ruler. And opposition to Indonesian rule in future talks and on confidence-building need for the two Governments to cooperate the territory continues. From Geneva, Adam measures. In this regard, the Secretary- with him in his initiative and to encourage all Brooks reports that today’s agreement General wishes to record the following East Timorese to respond constructively to could lay the ground for progress in the points of agreement arrived at during the the initiative and appeal. search for a solution to the East Timor ques- meeting. 6. The two Ministers agreed to consider tion. 1. The meeting took note of: at the next round of talks substantive issues AB: The drive for a solution to the East · the dispatch by the Secretary-General identified by the Secretary-General regarding Timor question has gone up a gear. Today’s of a mission to Jakarta, Dili and Lis- possible avenues towards achieving a just, agreement between Indonesia and Portugal bon at the end of 1994 to conduct comprehensive and internally acceptable contains two important elements. First it consultations prior to the present solution to the question of East Timor. says that Dr. Boutros Ghali can facilitate, round of talks; 7. The Ministers recalled the statement what it calls, an all-inclusive intra-Timorese · the presence of a representative sent issued on 6 May 1994 at the conclusion of dialogue. That means, if its fully imple- by the Secretary-General at a meeting the fourth round of talks in which they con- mented, that East Timorese, who are op- of East Timorese from inside and out- curred, inter alia, on the need to improve the posed to Indonesian rule, have an official side East Timor held in Chepstow, human rights situation in East Timor, and foothold in the talks on East Timor’s future. United Kingdom, at the end of Sep- the relevant Chairman’s statements adopted But that foothold’s shaky. The dialogue will tember 1994 to initiate the first in a by consensus by the Human Rights Com- be informal and it will not address the po- series of consultations with East mission on that question, in particular, with litical status of East Timor. Rather, it would Timorese groups and personalities of regard to the access to East Timor, to the focus on practical ways of improving the different political opinions, which was early release of the East Timorese impris- situation in the territory. Its significant that subsequently followed by similar con- oned and to the full accounting of the per- its the United Nations that will organise the sultations elsewhere with other East sons dead or missing as a result of the vio- dialogue, but its not clear if Indonesia will Timorese; lent incident in Dili of 12 November 1991. allow East Timorese pro-independence lead- In that connection, the meeting took note of ers to participate. The second important · the meetings held in October 1994 be- tween the Foreign Ministers of Portu- the Indonesian Government’s intention, in part of the agreement says that the next gal and Indonesia with leading East the terms conveyed at the meeting, to take ministerial meeting between Indonesia and Timorese supporters and opponents further steps for the implementation of the Portugal, scheduled for May, will address of integration in conformity with undertakings contained therein. what it calls ‘substantive issues.’ That could paragraph 9 of the 6 May commu- 8. They also recalled the statement of 6 mean some discussion of East Timor’s po- niqué; and May 1994 on the need for continued re- litical status. In all, the meeting seems to straint by both parties in the interest of show some concessions by Indonesia, per- · the visit to East Timor in July 1994 maintaining a favourable atmosphere for haps because of the continuing unrest inside by the Special Rapporteur on extraju- further progress towards a comprehensive East Timor and international pressure. The dicial, summary or arbitrary execu- solution of the question of East Timor. agreement could lend greater credibility to tions of the Commission on Human Following today’s discussions, the par- the political process surrounding East Timor Rights at the invitation of the Indone- ties agreed to continue their efforts, with the and it could lead to progress. But much will sian Government. assistance of the Secretary-General, to find a depend on how Indonesia chooses to im- 2. The two Ministers noted positively just, comprehensive and internationally plement it. the Secretary-General’s intention, following acceptable settlement to the question of his consultations with a broad cross-section East Timor. The sixth round of talks be- INDONESIA AND PORTUGAL of East Timorese representing various tween the Foreign Ministers under the aus- ‘MAKE PROGRESS’ IN TALKS trends of opinion, to facilitate and offer the pices of the Secretary-General will be held necessary arrangements for the convening of on 19 May 1995 in New York. Prior to the GENEVA, Jan 9 (IPS) - Monday’s fifth an all-inclusive intra-East Timorese dialogue. ministerial meeting, preparatory talks will round of United Nations brokered negotia- 3. The objective of the dialogue will be to be held through the Representative of the tions between Indonesia and Portugal on the provide a forum for continuing the free and Secretary-General. continuing problems in occupied East informal exchange of views to explore ideas Timor, “made good progress” according to a of a practical nature that might have a posi- BBC ON GENEVA MEETING top U.N. envoy. tive impact on the situation in East Timor U.N. Special Envoy Frances Vendrell and assist in the establishment of an atmos- Adam Brook reports from Geneva for BBC, told IPS as the meeting closed that “Indone- phere conducive to the achievement of a 9 January 1995 sia and Portugal made good progress” at the solution to the question of East Timor. The CUE: Indonesian and Portugal have session but refused to elaborate on areas of dialogue will not address the political status agreed to allow talks to begin as soon as agreement. of East Timor and will in no way constitute possible between East Timorese opposed to However Vendrell said both sides had a parallel negotiating track or be a substitute and those in favour of Indonesian rule in agreed to hold a sixth meeting in the spring for the ministerial talks under the auspices East Timor. The agreement came at a meet- or possibly earlier. of the Secretary-General. ing in Geneva between the Foreign Minis- Speaking before the meeting, chaired by 4. In order to create and maintain a propi- ters of Indonesia and Portugal, chaired by U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros- tious climate for a fruitful intra-East the UN Secretary General, Boutros Ghali. Ghali, Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas Timorese dialogue, the Secretary-General Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and said Indonesia would concentrate on “confi- appeals to East Timorese of all shades of subsequently annexed it, a move never rec- dence-building measures.” opinion to exercise restraint and refrain from East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 59

A source close to Alatas said Indonesia constructive way with Indonesia and the Portugal is also pursuing an order through has already implemented many conditions U.N. to find a just, comprehensive and in- the International Court of Justice to restrain demanded by Portugal. “We have allowed ternationally acceptable solution for the Indonesia and Australia from taking oil from visits by members of the European Parlia- question of East Timor.” Timorese waters. The court is expected to ment to East Timor,” he told IPS. But Alatas accuses Lisbon of obstruc- give its judgment this year. “Furthermore there are exchanges of vis- tion. “(Portugal) continues to pursue a very its to East Timor from East Timorese living aggressive and highly inflammatory attitude INDONESIA, PORTUGAL in Portugal and those from the former Por- towards this issue,” he told reporters in AGREE TO NEW ALL- tuguese colony and there many more in the Jakarta before leaving for Geneva. “I have pipeline,” he said. not seen much Portuguese implementation INCLUSIVE TALKS U.N. officials said visits by Portuguese of their confidence-building measures,” he By Bob Mantiri members of parliament, non-governmental said. organisations and representatives of Am- A U.N. report released last month pro- BRUSSELS, Jan 10 (IPS) - Indonesia and nesty International were also discussed vided a damning indictment of the 1991 Portugal have agreed to new all-inclusive during the meeting. massacre in Dili, where troops may have talks on the East Timor problem to be held Before the meeting Portuguese foreign killed up to 200 marchers at a funeral. in New York under the auspices of the minister José Manuel Durão Barroso said U.N. special rapporteur Bacre Waly United Nations Secretary-General Boutros the right of self-determination for East Ndiaye described the massacre as “a Boutros Ghali, a U.N. official in Geneva Timor was the key issue. “This is the fifth planned military operation against unarmed said Tuesday. time we have met. I think it is about time we civilians” and noted warily “that the same He said that Boutros-Ghali held a meet- found some agreement.” he said. He and conditions that allowed the killings in Dili to ing Monday with Indonesia’s foreign minis- Alatas met individually with Boutros-Ghali happen still persist in East Timor.” ter Ali Alatas and his Portuguese counter- before the joint session. Indonesia says it has won over many part José Durão Barroso. Mainly Muslim Indonesia invaded East Timorese hostile to integration with As a result Boutros-Ghali agreed to make mainly catholic Christian East Timor in Indonesia by staging a programme of public the necessary arrangements for the conven- 1975 after the Portuguese colonial authori- works using seven of its eight army battal- ing of a “dialogue among a broad cross- ties moved out. Lisbon now demands a ref- ions in the territory. section of East Timorese representing vari- erendum that will allow East Timorese to However Durão Barroso said that no ous trends of opinion. An exact date has not pick between independence or continued progress could be made on concrete matters been fixed yet for talks, but it will be very association with Indonesia. “so long as Indonesia insists on considering soon.” But the Portuguese initiative – which is East Timor as its 27th province” and refuses But sources close to Alatas stressed that backed by the Timorese resistance move- to recognise East Timor’s distinct national Jakarta will not cooperate if the dialogue ment – “is being received with more enthu- character. addresses the political status of East Timor siasm in Lisbon than in Jakarta,” according He added that he would insist that the or attempts to substitute ongoing ministerial to Lisbon political analyst and Timor spe- Timorese themselves be included in future talks on the problem. cialist, Joaquim Trigo de Negreiros. negotiations as “the principal people inter- It was the fifth meeting between Alatas Jakarta annexed the territory as Indone- ested in a solution.” and Barroso under the framework of confi- sia’s 27th province one year after the inva- Timorese resistance leader José Xanana dence-building measures. They are intended sion. Draconian campaigns against the Gusmão – writing from his prison cell at to pave the way for normalization of diplo- Timorese, followed by enforced migration Jakarta’s Cipinang jail, where he is serving matic relations between Lisbon and Jakarta. programmes have claimed the lives of some 20 years for ‘armed rebellion’ – has backed Portugal severed diplomatic relations 210,000 East Timorese since then, say Am- calls for a referendum but urged both sides with Jakarta following Indonesia’s invasion nesty International. to compromise and soften their stances. of its former colony in 1975. The annexation The talks were held in the shadow of re- He said a referendum was “the only way of the island as the 27th Indonesian prov- newed ethnic and civil clashes in the East for Indonesia to save face in a conflict in ince has not been recognised by the United Timorese capital of Dili on Monday where which it has shown itself a violator of uni- Nations. Portugal has demanded a referen- demonstrators broke into the University of versal principles and international law,’ he dum in East Timor to decide sovereignty. East Timor in protest against Indonesia. said in a message released last week to Por- The European Union in the meantime has Police fired into the air to disperse the tugal’s national news agency LUSA. welcomed progress in talks on confidence crowd, and 24 demonstrators were reported “Changes in our own attitudes,” he said, building measures. A spokesman of the arrested by Australian media. “in the attitudes of Jakarta, its politicians, French European Union presidency said: At least five people died in rioting in the its diplomats and generals will be needed in “The results of the meeting in Geneva could towns of Ermera and Baucau last week. 1995.” Some Timorese exiles support dia- be the first step to a better understanding Indonesian officials say one person was logue on autonomy while others still de- between Indonesia and Portugal – which killed. The fighting followed tension be- mand full independence. may lead to the solution of the East Timor tween the Timorese majority and immi- The U.N. does not recognise Indonesia’s problem.” grants arriving from Sulawesi to run new rule in East Timor, and regards Portugal as Portugal is still blocking a new trade small businesses. administering authority under a 1975 resolu- agreement with the Association of South In December hundreds of East Timorese tion “until the process of decolonisation is East Asian Nations (ASEAN), due to Indo- went on the rampage in Dili after a Timorese completed,” a process which includes a nesia’s human rights record in its former Christian teenager was stabbed to death in a referendum on Timorese independence. colony. The Association of South East fight with a Muslim trader from the Indone- Durão Barroso emphasised that Lisbon Asian Nations groups Thailand, Singapore, sian mainland. stood by its rights as the U.N. authority – Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and The Phil- Speaking in Geneva Monday, Durão Bar- “the only one legitimate in terms of interna- ippines. roso said Portugal was “ready to work in a tional law.” Page 60 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

A Brussels-based Portuguese diplomat Mr. Durão Barroso’s Indonesian coun- one cannot criticise Cuba and then forget all said that relations could only be normalised terpart, Ali Alatas, denied on Monday that about Indonesia,” Barroso said. if the human rights situation in East Timor any such transmigration existed. The Portuguese minister admitted that a improved. The Portuguese government has final political solution was still far off. He demanded the release of East Timorese re- JAKARTA WARY OF FULL however thinks that worldwide interest in sistance leader Xanana Gusmão, who is INDEPENDENCE TALKS the problem of East Timor was growing serving 20 years for armed rebellion. rather than declining, giving Lisbon a Indonesia indicated during the Geneva By Bob Mantiri stronger hand in the negotiations. meeting that it will press for an early release “I think that time is on our side now, of East Timorese rebels and would give a BRUSSELS, Jan 11 (IPS) - Indonesia is while before it was not,” Barroso told re- full account of the those people believed to prepared to grant East Timor more auton- porters. be dead or missing as a result of a violent omy but is not prepared to allow the dis- “Some years ago the Indonesians were incident in Dili on Nov. 12, 1991. It did not puted territory the right to determine its clearly thinking that the international com- mention whether this will include Xanana own future, said a senior Indonesian diplo- munity would forget about this problem and Gusmão. mat here Wednesday. that Portugal would eventually get tired of Boutros-Ghali appealed to both parties “The Indonesian government is seriously trying to solve it,” Barroso added. to “exercise restraint and refrain from ac- looking for ways to give the East Timorese a “But now, as we are seeing, that is not tions that could have a detrimental impact, limited self-rule, but to give them full inde- happening. The resistance is there – civilian prior to and in the course of the all-inclusive pendence is out of the question,” the diplo- resistance, of course, not military resistance. East Timor dialogue.” mat said. The youth in East Timor is keeping this He stressed the need for Portugal and In- Questioned about the self-rule, the dip- question very much alive. That is surprising, donesia to “cooperate with him in his initia- lomat referred to two Timorese provinces we did not expect so much interest,” Bar- tive and to encourage all East Timorese to Aceh and Yogya – which have a special roso said. respond constructively to the initiative and autonomous status, giving them a strong appeal.” voice in their own regional policy. His comments came a day after the NOTES ON MEETING IN During their last meeting in May in Ge- GENEVA neva Barroso and Alatas stressed the impor- United Nations brokered talks in Geneva tance for “continued restraint in maintaining between Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas and his Portuguese counterpart José From Gerry van Klinken, Griffith Univer- a favourable atmosphere for further progress sity, Jan 12. towards a comprehensive solution of the Manuel Durão Barroso. question of East Timor.” This resulted in an initiative from United The text of the SG’s report was released Both ministers agreed to hold a sixth Nations Secretary-General Boutros yesterday. round of ministerial talks under the auspices Boutros-Ghali to organise a meeting of “all The UN process has been glacially slow, of the United Nations Secretary-General on political currents” in East Timor. but I think there is evidence of a more pro- May 1995 in New York. The United Nations-sponsored meeting active role by the SG during the past 12 will be held shortly in New York. Indone- months. The focus of this last Geneva meet- sian foreign minister Alatas stressed during ing was on setting up a forum for East LISBON SAYS OF the Geneva talks on confidence building Timorese to talk amongst themselves. The EAST TIMOR THAT measures (CBM) that the new catch-all key sentence is ‘an all-inclusive intra-East ‘TIME IS ON OUR SIDE’ negotiations must “not address the political Timorese dialogue on a set of issues to be status of East Timor.” addressed in future talks and on confidence- International Herald Tribune (AFP wire), The territory was annexed by Indonesia building measures’ (intro para). January 11. abridged in 1976 after troops invaded the island a First impression is that this represents Geneva – Foreign Minister José Manuel year earlier. His Portuguese counterpart UN blessing for a continuation of the Lon- Durão Barroso of Portugal strongly criti- Barroso said that one option favoured by don ‘reconciliation’ process, which was cised Indonesia’s rule in East Timor on Portugal might be some kind of transitional largely under Indonesian control and there- Tuesday in comments made a day after a autonomy for its former oversees territory fore rejected by the East Timorese Resis- fifth round of United Nations-mediated while its political status was decided. tance. SG representative Samuel attended talks here with his Indonesian counterpart. The United Nations did not recognise the the last London meeting in September 1994. He added, however, that “time is on our integration of the island as Indonesia’s 27th As in London, paragraph 3 stipulates that side” in resolving the East Timor problem. province and is still regarding Portugal as the coming forum ‘will not address the po- He asserted that the Indonesian authori- having administrative responsibility for its litical status of East Timor.’ Nor will the ties had tried to curb pro-independence former colony. meeting be ‘a parallel negotiating track or.... feeling by moving people out of the region Barroso strongly criticised some mem- a substitute for the ministerial talks under but added that Jakarta might stop the prac- bers of the European Union for adopting the auspices of the SG.’ tice because it had caused new ethnic ten- double standards on the question of human However there are some important new sions. rights abuses in East Timor. Indonesia has points that may make this forum good for repeatedly been accused of serious viola- East Timor. Most important is that the [NOTE: This is a confusing paragraph; the tions of human rights by United Nations meeting is now ‘facilitated’ by the UNSG. assertion about moving people out of East investigators and Amnesty International. Moreover he promises to take it seriously Timor is correct, but it is the movement of Barroso singled out Britain as one of the (the forum should ‘assist in the establish- Indonesians into the territory that is caus- main supplier of arms to Indonesia. “I think ment of an atmosphere conducive to the ing the ethnic tensions and must be stopped. there are sometimes double standards on achievement of a solution to the question of It seems likely that this was confusion on the human rights. One cannot criticise Libya, East Timor,’ para. 3). Taken together with part of the reporter, rather than Durão Bar- the opening paragraph, this could mean the roso, but it is hard to tell.] East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 61 meeting will set items on an agenda for the will remain wide. This gap explains the SG’s Foreign Minister Alatas made similar next tripartite UNSG-Indonesia-Portugal appeal ‘to East Timorese of all shades of comments after the Geneva meeting. Diplo- meeting, scheduled for 19 May 1995 in New opinion to exercise restraint and refrain from mats and other analysts said then it was York. We can see this as another step on the actions that could have a detrimental impact unrealistic to think any gathering of in- way of increasing East Timorese participa- prior to and in the course of the dialogue’ formed East Timorese would not discuss tion in a UN-sponsored resolution of the (para 4; in para 5 the SG asks respective political issues and possible independence. East Timorese conflict. Earlier Indonesian Governments to encourage their East Mr. Alatas said the United Nations will propaganda that East Timor’s problems are Timorese to ‘respond constructively to.... not organize the meeting among East essentially internal to the East Timorese the appeal’). The East Timorese have the Timorese, but will facilitate it. He said de- loses much of its force, provided the East greatest interest in a resolution, yet only tails of the meeting have not yet been set- Timorese can coordinate their response. they are subject to an appeal for restraint, tled. Another positive point is the generous not their former or present colonial rulers. Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese nature of the adjectives with which the re- This impatience with East Timorese aspira- colony in 1975 and annexed it in 1976. The port describes the forum: - ‘all-inclusive’ tions is not only an Indonesian obstruction- United Nations has never recognized Indo- (intro para, & para 2). This ought to mean ist booby trap in the document but a UNSG nesian sovereignty over the territory. the participation of people like Bishop Belo one. Portugal maintains the people of the ter- and Xanana Gusmão. - ‘free and informal’ However, even the human rights issue ritory should vote in a referendum about (para 3). This ought to mean the agenda can can have significant political repercussions if their status. Indonesia insists East Timor is extend to the core constitutional issue of followed through consistently. Two succes- and will remain its 27th province. East Timor’s political status. sive Special Rapporteurs to the UNSG have Indonesian officials in the past have ridi- Two internal contradictions endanger the now recommended the demilitarization of culed Ramos Horta’s campaign for East document’s effectiveness. Both are reminis- East Timor. This would mean the removal Timorese independence. cent of the problems with the London proc- of Jakarta’s main instrument for resisting ess. One is the list of participants. Respon- development of a free political process in JIM DUNN’S THOUGHTS ON sibility for extending invitations appears to East Timor, the precondition to a real solu- GENEVA MEETING be delegated to the respective governments tion. by paragraph 5 (‘SG expressed the need for On balance I think the East Timorese James Dunn, Foreign Affairs Columnist - the two Governments to.... encourage all stand to gain from this UNSG initiative. If 61-44-743484, Australia, Jan. 14 East Timorese to respond constructively to they ignore the two serious internal contra- the initiative and appeal’). This obviously dictions in the body of the text and focus on Having recently had talks in New York leaves open the possibility that the meeting the opening paragraph it means East with Portuguese diplomats and UN officials will be less than ‘all-inclusive.’ Timor’s most credible leaders, including I am inclined to agree that something posi- More serious is the contradiction in para- Xanana, are being invited to tell the UNSG tive may emerge from the latest UN- graph 3 about the agenda, which is said to be what he should be talking about with the sponsored meeting. It may well be that the ‘free’ but then immediately adds ‘will not Indonesian and Portuguese Foreign Minis- agenda will be expanded on the spot, so to address the political status of East Timor.’ ters next May. speak, despite the recent statement by The meeting is to ‘explore ideas of a practi- Alatas that Indonesia will not let the confer- cal nature that might have a positive impact ence go of if the status of East Timor is ALATAS: HORTA CAN TALK brought into debate. Other Indonesian on the situation in East Timor....’ (para 3). (BUT NOT POLITICAL This no doubt reflects the Indonesian desire forces, perhaps including Tutut and Habibie, to restrict talks to safe topics like education ISSUES) are at work it would seem, though I am very and health. unsure about what they are aiming at. Much Voice of America, 1/13/95. However not simply Indonesian reluc- will depend on the setting for this meeting. tance is at issue here. The SG promises the By David Butler, Bangkok If it were to be in Hongkong or Sydney the Indonesians could hardly scuttle it without May meeting will talk about ‘substantive Intro: Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali issues identified by the SG regarding possi- disastrous diplomatic consequences. And it Alatas said today (Friday) the leading East will, after all, be a UN sponsored forum. ble avenues towards achieving a just, com- Timorese independence campaigner in exile prehensive and internally [sic: misprint for However, we must not underrate the de- can join a UN-sponsored dialogue on East termination in ABRI and some Kemlu quar- ‘internationally’?] acceptable solution to the Timor. David Butler reports from our question of East Timor.’ One would think ters not to give ground on any move that southeast Asia bureau in Bangkok. would encourage a reconsideration of inte- East Timor’s political status must be one of Text: Foreign Minister Alatas and his these ‘substantive issues.’ But indications grasi. For ABRI, including figures like Try Portuguese counterpart agreed Monday in Sutrisno, freeing up the political situation in are to the contrary. Para 7 defines the issue Geneva to the UN-sponsored talks among as (‘inter alia’) human rights: in particular the province would risk provoking a rush to East Timorese. expose the human rights horrors of the past, access by human rights monitors, the release After meeting with President Suharto of (unspecified) East Timorese prisoners, with potentially serious internal conse- Friday, Mr. Alatas told reporters José Ra- quences. To put it simply, to keep up the and a full accounting of Dili massacre vic- mos Horta could join the talks so long as he tims. It does not mention constitutional lies about Timor, about the way it hap- does not raise political issues. Mr. Horta is pened, means having to keep the lid fairly issues. the leading East Timorese independence The nebulous status of East Timor in UN tightly on the situation. Nor could the meet- fighter not in jail. ing avoid the issue of the massive inflow of eyes as a case of incomplete decolonization, Mr. Alatas said the talks, to be held not as a case of an invasion of a sovereign non-Timorese which itself would lead inevi- somewhere outside Indonesia, will discuss tably to a discussion of the status of the state, nor as a case of Third World colonial- only the issue of reconciliation. ism, will mean the gap between East territory. Timorese hopes and UN ability to deliver Page 62 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

There has been some interest in the role First of all, we on behalf of KOHRNET Universal values such as human rights of Abilio Araujo, the former Fretilin leader. working for full realization of the human and democracy are becoming increasingly As one who knows him well and is familiar rights not only in Korea but also in the rest important in an era of globalization. Our with his past, I have serious doubts about of the world, cannot but condemn brutality concern for human rights in other nations is his credibility. His conversion from an un- against East Timorese by Indonesia for the an expression of the conscience of human- compromising and rather paranoid Marxist last 20 years. At the same time we wish to kind and a practice of the universality of to a man of all sides troubles me. I cannot pay our heart-felt respect to the people of human rights, not an intervention in the help feeling that his game is largely about East Timor who have been struggling for affairs of another country. Therefore, as power and personal ambition, as well as a their right to self-determination and inde- members of the global village, we wish to move to undermine Horta. In my opinion pendence without much support from express our strong aspiration for full resto- Jill Jolliffe has given him a boost he hardly abroad. ration of human rights and East Timor’s deserves, in part, I fear, reflecting her per- We came to know through the numerous right to self-determination and we strongly sonal dislike for Horta. international news reports that 29 young urge the Indonesian government to do the This does not mean that Araujo should people of East Timor organized a sit-in following: be ignored. But he should be watched care- protest for the release of their national 1. The Indonesian government should take fully. It would of course be great if Xanana leader Xanana Gusmão and East Timor’s all the necessary measures to stop all Gusmão and Bishop Belo could attend this right to self-determination within the US kinds of human rights violations in East meeting. The real test will be in its prepara- Embassy in Jakarta during APEC summit Timor. tion. ‘94. We also paid much attention to the fact 2. The Indonesian government should allow that dozens of people were arrested during UN human rights delegates and interna- the peaceful demonstration in Dili, capital of tional human rights organisations to visit EVENTS IN ASIA East Timor, in those days. any place without restriction in East Those events reminded us of the Santa Timor in order to investigate objectively Cruz massacre where more than 200 inno- into human rights violations. KOREAN DEMONSTRATION cent people were killed by the Indonesian 3. The Indonesian government should pun- FOR EAST TIMOR troops indiscriminate shooting while they ish those offenders related to the Santa were peacefully marching on November 12, Cruz Massacre and other killings in East On Friday, 2 December, there was a 1991. Such a tragic massacre, which is simi- Timor according to the report of an inter- demonstration outside the Indonesian Em- lar to a bloody one which occurred in nationally recognised fact-finding mis- bassy in Seoul, Korea, organised by the Kwangjoo in May 1980, was a great shock sion. Korean Human Rights Network. About 25 to the conscience of humankind and aroused people attended. The demonstration was great indignation among the Korean people. 4. The Indonesian government should im- attacked by a squad of about 50 Korean riot However none of the offenders have been mediately release Mr. Xanana Gusmão, police and broken up. Only minor injuries punished till now. On the contrary, people the leader of the national liberation were inflicted. A letter was delivered by the protesting against such an injustice have movement for the independence of East organisers to the embassy, the text of which been put into prison. Timor, unconditionally. follows. We understand that those systematic 5. The Indonesian government should let a I have also just seen some photographs human rights violations have been continu- referendum, which will decide on the fu- of a demo in support of the Timorese out- ously occurring due to the historical fact ture of East Timor, take place as soon as side the US Embassy in Colombo, Sri that Indonesian armed forces illegally in- possible in accordance with the UN reso- Lanka. I’m not sure of the date but it obvi- vaded East Timor in 1975. As is interna- lutions and East Timor’s right to self- ously coincided with APEC. The solidarity tionally well-known, the United Nations determination. network grows... representing the international community Signed Jonathan, BCET made a request for the immediate with- Mr. Koo Young-koo Text of letter delivered to Indonesian drawal of the Indonesian army from East Chairperson of KOHRNET Embassy, Seoul, 2 December 1994 Timor, condemning the illegal occupation of Member organisations of Korea Human the Indonesian army and supporting East Rights Network (KOHRNET): Dear President Suharto, Timor’s right to self-determination. Never- · Lawyers for a Democratic Society We, members of the Korean Human theless you have refused to comply with the (Minbyun) Rights Network (KOHRNET) have gath- demands of the international community and · Human Rights Committee - National ered here in front of the Indonesian Em- have continued to justify your rule over Alliance for Democracy and Unifica- bassy, in Seoul, in honour of the occasion of East Timor. tion in Korea (NADUK) Human Rights week ‘94 in order to protest On November 15, 1994 the APEC sum- · Democratic Legal Studies Association against the suppression of the people in mit took place in Indonesia where a lot of · Family Association for Democracy East Timor by Indonesia. We are also here people have been oppressed under the dicta- · The Buddhists’ Committee for Human in honour of the visit of Mr. Roque Rodri- torship for the last three decades. What Rights gues to Korea, who has dedicated his whole people throughout the world were interested · Bereaved Family Association for De- life to the restoration of the human rights in during the APEC summit was the issue of mocracy and Unification in Korea and independence of East Timor. As the East Timor, rather than the agenda of the (Yoogahyup) word ‘Killing Field in the Indian Ocean’ APEC summit itself. It implies that there · Sarangbang Centre - Solidarity for Par- symbolizes, the serious human rights viola- will be no peace and prosperity in the Asia- ticipation and Human Rights · The Catholic Human Rights Committee tions in East Timor are no longer an issue of Pacific region as well as in Indonesia with- · Human Rights Committee of the Na- East Timor itself or Indonesia; yet it is a out a solution of the East Timor issue on the tional Council of Churches in Korea great challenge and shame to the peoples in principle of East Timor’s right to self- (NCCK) the Asia Pacific region. determination. East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 63

MALAYSIA’S ATTACK ON Only when Mahathir improves Malay- more nations have been impoverished by sia’s record does he have the “moral author- authoritarianism that enriched by it.” WEST LACKS BITE ity to say anything meaningful on human “To cite cultural differences or Asian By Johanna Son and Mustafa Ali rights,” SUARAM said in a statement at the values in order to deflect from ourselves conference. criticism against human rights violations is KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 10 (IPS) - Ma- “Although we may not have many politi- an affront to our moral sense,” he said. laysia this week served as a forum to chal- cal prisoners, there are some 10,000 people Unfortunately, the JUST conference ap- lenge the dominant, Western concept of detained without trial under the Dangerous pears to have now split Malaysia’s commu- human rights, but nagging questions about Drugs Act. That’s a lot considering our nity of human rights activists, some of its own record took some of the sting out of small population,” noted SUARAM’s Siva- whom had questioned Mahathir’s keynoting what was to have been a stern rebuke of the rasa Rasiah. the discussion and complained over the non- West. “The principle of being innocent until inclusion of human rights violations in the Questions about Malaysia’s policies in proven guilty is not there. If that’s an Asian South, like Burma or East Timor. the area of human rights were raised not just value, then I wouldn’t be proud to be At the conference’s close, an irked JUST by local critics, but were often at the back of Asian,” he said, adding that freedom from director Chandra Muzaffar hit SUARAM the minds of some activists at the two-day arbitrary detention, freedom of expression for organising its own forum that “poached” conference organised by a Penang-based and association were universal rights. on the speakers and participants JUST had non-government group Just World Trust In a November 1994 report, the New paid for to come to Malaysia. He said, “If (JUST). York-based Human Rights Asia noted that ethics is important in life and society, it is Indeed, after the meeting closed mid- Kuala Lumpur used the “draconian” Internal also important for NGOs.” week, another group was soon holding an- Security Act (ISA) to detain members of the Said one Malaysian activist: “I don’t un- other conference that would “assess” what Muslim organisation called Al-Arqam, ac- derstand this. If we are split like this, only had been discussed. cused of teaching deviationist Islam. the government wins.” Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir This was the most publicized series of Mohamad’s tirade against the West’s at- arrests since the 1987-88 crackdown, when CNRM MESSAGE TO WORLD tempts to impose its worldview on the rest the government jailed political dissenters YOUTH, MANILA of the world though was well-received by an and revoked the licenses of several newspa- activist audience, which welcomed his lead- pers. The following message has been sent to ing the Third World’s struggle against West- Malaysia is reviewing the ISA. In Octo- participants in the tenth World Youth Day ern domination. ber, Law Minister Syed Hamid Albar said celebration, held in Manila 10-15 January. “What qualifies the Western liberal de- the National Security Council is discussing mocrats to become both judge and executor whether to amend or abolish the ISA alto- Domingos Sarmento Alves was recently of the behavior of nations and citizens of gether. appointed Special Representative of the Na- other countries?” Mahathir asked at the Human Rights Watch/Asia cited Malay- tional East Timor Student Resistance- JUST conference, citing Bosnia as a clear sia’s continued crackdown on illegals that RENETIL, a CNRM member body. Domin- example of “Western hypocrisy.” began in July 1993, as shown by its round- gos Sarmento led the 29 East Timorese But some wondered if the message would ups of Filipino workers. Some illegals, like youth who staged a sit-in at the US Embassy have rung more loudly if its harbinger had a Burmese nationals, are detained indefinitely in Jakarta last November. He is now based clearly better record on human rights, apart as they are not recognised as citizens by in Lisbon. from its would-be tiger status, to back it up. their own governments. After all “you can’t be a spokesman for SUARAM’s Lee Siew Hwa said reducing CNRM- EAST TIMOR, NATIONAL the South while repressing your own people human rights to an East-West conflict is COUNCIL OF MAUBERE at home,” said Kempton Makamure, a Zim- “simplistic.” She warned that invoking RESISTANCE babwean law professor and activist. He said Asian values may be a way for governments Mahathir’s message would be welcomed by Message to Tenth World Youth Day Par- like Singapore and Malaysia to discourage ticipants the South, but adds that “progress (for a citizens from asserting more civil and politi- 15 January 1995 country) can’t be bought at the cost of re- cal rights. The National Council of Maubere Resis- pression.” Theorists say rising affluence in authori- tance extends greetings to organisers and Some activists said despite the West’s tarian governments is creating a large middle participants in the World Youth Day in faults, Asian governments must not invoke class that would not be content just with Manila, Philippines. We are witness to ex- culture or the search for a balanced concept economic clout, but aided by the globaliza- ceptional circumstances that justify a day to of rights as an excuse to deny human rights tion of information, would soon demand celebrate youth. at home. political clout as well. However, as you gather at this important Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Malaysia, analysts add, hosted the con- celebration, the people of the nearby terri- which organised the follow-up meeting late ference at a time when despite its robust tory of East Timor continue to suffer under this week to the JUST conference, was economic growth the country is subjected to the 19-year long genocidal occupation of among the most vocal of the activist groups. criticism for its political record. Critics say their country by the armed forces of the Much of the focus of its attacks, however, the Malaysian government may be trying to neighbouring Indonesia. Using any available was Malaysia itself. divert attention away from its internal situa- violence to intimidate, terrorise and obliter- It described Malaysia as a “highly con- tion. ate the population, the Indonesian occupier trolled” society where people are detained But Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim has over the years unsuccessfully attempted without trial, the press is controlled by seemed to put a balance to Kuala Lumpur’s to break the spirit and the resistance of the having to get publishing licenses and publi- view of human rights, saying: “Develop- East Timorese people against the illegal cations are either owned by government or ment cannot be used as an apology for au- occupation of their country. its allies. thoritarianism. The fact of the matter is Page 64 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

Disturbing reports are published almost damental human rights. Resolve yourselves BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY daily by the world media about the recurring to work hard to accomplish these ideals for DELEGATION TO VISIT EAST TIMOR of human rights violations committed yourselves, and show the strength of your PROVINCE against the people of East Timor by the solidarity with your suffering regional A British parliamentary delegation has brutal Jakarta regime. Yet the longing for neighbours. visited East Timor from 18 to 20 September freedom and justice has proven stronger, and José Ramos Horta, 1994 as part of their visit to Indonesia from almost two decades later the Jakarta generals Special Representative, 8 to 25 September 1994. The five-member have to acknowledge the failure of their East CNRM ( National Council of Maubere Re- parliamentary delegation was headed by Mr. Timorese adventure, as the costs of main- sistance) Patrick Nicholls and consisted of Messrs. taining their occupation rapidly escalate. We Domingos Sarmento Alves Robert Bank, Cecil Walker, Roy Beggs, witness today a strengthening rather than a Special Representative, Charles Goodson and James Kilfedder. weakening of the nationalist spirit of the RENETIL (East Timor Students National While in Jakarta, they met with President East Timorese people. Resistance) Suharto, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, a Resistance to Indonesian presence in- 13 January 1995 number of other cabinet ministers, members creasingly grows and strengthens in East of the National Commission on Human Timor. It is the youth which is proving to Rights. In East Timor, they met the repre- be the most active force opposing the unjust sentatives of the ICRC as well as Bishop policies of the Indonesian colonial oppres- EVENTS IN Bello [sic], the head of the Roman Catholic sor. These valiant people include young UK AND IRELAND community in East Timor. adults, students, school children, and those The visit to East Timor, which lasted for who should be at school if the circumstances three days, was made not only to find out would allow it. For their courageous and INDONESIA USES THE more about the situation in the province but principled stance, the youth of East Timor, NICHOLLS DELEGATION also aimed at obtaining first-hand informa- those who are meant to be the future of the tion about the steps taken by the Indonesian nation, face discrimination, torture, impris- INDONESIAN’S REPORT TO UN ON competent authority to prevent the Novem- onment and death at the hands of their bru- ber 1991 tragic incident from happening tal occupiers. Even those who avoid those BRITISH DELEGATION TO ET again, and having a close look at the devel- direct horrors, still face loss of family, cul- UN Document E/CN.4/1995/107 opment progress of the former Portuguese ture, security, a proper education and basic 5 December 1994 colony which was integrated into Indonesia human rights. COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, 18 years ago. But it is not only the people of East Fifty-first session In an interview given to the mass media Timor who suffer from the brutality of the following the visit to East Timor, Mr. Suharto regime. The people of Indonesia Item 11 of the provisional agenda Nicholls asserted that the human rights of itself face similar oppression from their QUESTIONS OF VIOLATIONS OF the people in the province have been pro- corrupt and authoritarian rulers. Again, it is HUMAN RIGHTS AND tected in accordance with the country’s the youth of Indonesia who being most FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN ANY relevant laws and regulations. British minis- active in the growing pro-democracy move- PART OF THE WORLD, WITH ters and members of parliament were im- ment, bears the brunt of military violence PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO pressed by what Indonesia had done in de- and repression. COLONIAL AND OTHER DEPENDENT veloping East Timor, and for that reason We call on all participants to the World COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES Indonesia deserved special credit. He also Youth Day to remember the suffering youth Letter dated 17 October 1994 from the Per- commended the armed forces’ role for their of East Timor during this important event. manent Representative of the Republic of civic mission programme, for instance, in Remember those who have given their lives, Indonesia to the United Nations Office at providing computer courses and basic tech- often after horrendous mistreatment and Geneva addressed to the Assistant Secre- nological training for the East Timorese torture, to defend universal principles of tary-General for Human Rights youths. justice and human rights, such as the ones Mr. Nicholls believed that following the you are able to enjoy. Keep these coura- Pursuant to the Chairman’s statement on Portuguese withdrawal, it was natural if the geous fighters in your minds and prayers. the situation of human rights in East Timor East Timorese people wanted to join their Use your influence to press for international at the fiftieth session of the Commission on brothers in other parts of Indonesia since action against the military dictatorship in Human Rights, in particular concerning geographically East Timor was part of the Jakarta which oppresses the people of East greater access to the province, I have the Indonesian archipelago. To accelerate the Timor as well as its own citizens, including honour to furnish you with information development in the country’s 27th prov- its youth. concerning the recent visit of the British ince, he maintained that the country should We urge all participants in the World parliamentary delegation to East Timor give a high priority in the development pro- Youth Day Celebration to intercede so that province, Indonesia from 18 to 20 Septem- gramme in East Timor so that it can keep unprincipled governments cease their busi- ber 1994 as part of their three-week visit to pace with other provinces. ness-motivated support for the corrupt Indonesia from 8 to 25 September 1994. During the interview, he further said that Suharto dictatorship. It is this support It is the ardent wish of the Government criticism launched by foreign countries which enables the oppression of the Indone- of the Republic of Indonesia that such in- against Indonesia on East Timor was virtu- sian people and the genocide of the people formation be made available to the fifty-first ally caused by exaggerated reports by inter- of East Timor to continue. session of the Commission on Human national media about the province. A coun- As the youth of the world, beacons of Rights in 1995 in extenso. try should not air its views on another be- the future aspired to by humanity, we urge Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat fore knowing the real situation in that other you to hold high the banner of high ideals, Ambassador country, he said. He finally voiced his dis- support for fair opportunity, and for fun- East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 65 agreement with reports portraying negative recent criticisms of human rights abuses and become an autonomous region within Indo- human rights records on East Timor. a growing military offensive against East nesia. Timorese nationalists. He said that there had been a change in ANN CLWYD TELLS TORIES: STOP The delegation of six members of the An- the atmosphere since the killing of over 400 APOLOGISING FOR INDONESIAN glo-Indonesian parliamentary group, includ- unarmed protestors by the Indonesian mili- ATROCITIES ing Cecil Walker M.P. and Roy Beggs M.P. tary in the East Timor capital Dili two years News Release issued by the Campaigns and of the Ulster Unionist Party and Jim Kil- ago. Communications Directorate of The Labour fedder, Independent Unionist visited Indo- “I got the impression that there had been Party, 7 December 1994 nesia and East Timor last September along a remarkable change in the whole atmos- with three Conservative party members. phere since that disaster at Dili. The people Shadow Foreign Minister Ann Clwyd The leader of the delegation, Patrick I talked to out there wanted to have special has called on the British Government to give Nicholls M.P., said after the trip that the status within Indonesia. the majority of more support to the oppressed people of human rights of the people of East Timor people realise the area needs a massive in- East Timor. Speaking at a lobby of Parlia- had been protected and that the Indonesian vestment which will come from mainland ment, organised by the British Coalition for armed forces were to be commended for Indonesia. When I was there I did not hear East Timor, she called for a diplomatic of- their civic mission programmes. Nicholls of any complaints about any breach of civil fensive, and stated that a future Labour resigned in November as Tory party Vice- rights,” Kilfedder said. Government will review arms sales to en- Chairman following criticisms of his public According to the East Timor Ireland Soli- sure that they are not used for purposes of attack against the EU and what he termed darity Campaign in Dublin, troops, ar- internal repression or international aggres- “German warmongers and French collabora- moured cars and tanks have been deployed sion. tors.” in the region in the past few days while Ann Clwyd said: He said that it was natural that the peo- more restrictions have been placed on for- ‘The Conservative Party has apologized ple of East Timor should wish to become eign journalists and visitors by the Indone- for the Indonesian regime for long enough. part of Indonesia and that criticism launched sian authorities. While Patrick Nicholls defends President by foreign countries against Indonesia was Suharto in the press, Robert Banks and [N.B. The Ulster Unionists are the sister caused by exaggerated international media party of the British Conservative party.] Foreign Office Minister Alastair Goodlad reports. He claimed that the Catholic fall over themselves to heap praise upon the Bishop of East Timor, Bishop Belo, had MOTION IN IRISH SENATE Indonesian Government on the floor of the welcomed the delegation and said that here House. During the Queen’s speech debate 3 had been an improvement in the human Dec. 1, 1994 weeks ago, when the oppression of civilians rights situation. The bishop later denied that in East Timor was raised, some Tories began he had claimed any such improvement. On The following motion was today placed to laugh. the contrary, he recently said that East on the Order of Business in the Irish Senate. Well the people of East Timor aren’t Timor was “like hell going through another “That Seanad Eireann (Irish Senate) in laughing. The families of the 200,000 East colonisation.” pursuance of the motion of 16th November, Timorese that have died since the illegal Nicholls comments formed the basis of a 1994 in the Portuguese Parliament, occupation began haven’t been moved to report submitted by the Indonesian govern- 1. Firmly repudiates the occupation of East chuckle or giggle. There are no smiles on the ment to the UN Commission on Human Timor by Indonesia and the crimes sys- faces of the orphans, or those whose broth- Rights late last year aimed at countering tematically perpetrated by the respective ers or sisters or children have perished. widespread condemnation of the country’s police and military authorities to the pa- This rally must send a message to the human rights record in East Timor. It also triots of that martyred and heroic terri- Conservative Government today: stop coincided with a military build up by Indo- tory; apologising and start acting to support the nesia in the disputed region and the exclu- 2. regrets the persisting climate of terror and oppressed people of East Timor. Use every sion of foreign journalists, six of whom have repression endured by the Timorese citi- available diplomatic opportunity to show been killed while reporting on the conflict in zens for so many years-unresigned and complete opposition to the Indonesian hu- recent years. unsubmissive; man rights record. UUP member Roy Beggs said on his re- 3. again draws the attention of the interna- Labour’s policy is clear: we will continue turn from East Timor that he had seen no tional community to the inalienable right to press both the Government and the evidence that the Indonesian government of the people of East Timor to self- European Union to exert much greater influ- was brutalizing the people of East Timor, an determination; which the Constitution of ence on the Government of Indonesia, di- observation that drew criticism from Am- the Portuguese Republic safeguards and rectly and through the United Nations to nesty International which claims that the the Portuguese support; respect the rights of the people of East Indonesian government has killed over Timor.’ 4. in particular, firmly condemns the serious 200,000 East Timorese since forcibly annex- violations of human rights that have been UNIONISTS COMMEND JAKARTA’S ing the country following the departure of perpetrated in East Timor and HUMAN RIGHTS ROLE IN TIMOR the Portuguese colonists in 1975. 5. urges the release of all Timorese political The Industrial Development Board in The (Irish) Sunday Business Post, 15 Jan prisoners, specially of Commander Northern Ireland recently announced that an Xanana Gusmão. 1995, Reporter; Frank Connolly Indonesian company, Texmaco-Polyfindo Senator David Norris The report of a British Parliamentary was to create 900 jobs in Beggs east Antrim Senator Joe O’Toole delegation to East Timor, which included constituency. Senator Mary Henry three Unionist members, and which claimed Jim Kilfedder, Independent Unionist an- that Indonesia deserved special credit for other member of the delegation told the developing the region has been sent to the Sunday Business Post that the people he UN Human Rights Commission despite met in East Timor expressed their desire to Page 66 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

BRITISH PEACE AC TIVIST TO During his visit to Dublin Chris Cole was shoes and Calvin Klein clothes open and interviewed for: East Coast Radio, CKR FM, employ Iraqi workers at a daily wage of one SPEAK AT DUBLIN LMFM, The Big Issues, and The Irish pound, while the Iraqi army suppresses COMMEMORATION VIGIL Catholic. Ireland Radio News also carried a trade unions and murders labour activists. report of the British Embassy Vigil The British Government follows Amer- Voice of Timor (Ireland), press release. 6 ica’s lead by providing Saddam with aid and Dec. LETTER TO THE EDITOR IRISH trade deals. It encourages British Aerospace British peace activist Chris Cole, will TIMES 8 DEC 1994 to sell him Hawk fighter jets and partici- give the keynote address at a commemora- Sir, It is understandable and commend- pates in financial rescue packages to sustain tion vigil at the British embassy, Dublin, on able that newsreel images of Auschwitz the regime. Meanwhile, British companies Wednesday 7th December at 7.p.m. to mark should have made Kader Asmal want to like Trafalgar House go into construction the 19th anniversary of the Indonesian inva- fight for others (Irish Times Dec. 3). how- joint ventures with Saddam’s son, while BP sion of East Timor. ever despite the reliable reports and news- and Britoil explore for oil off Kuwait, and Chris Cole has served a term of impris- reel images of similar atrocities in Indonesia British Gas buys options on gas fields. And onment for entering a British aerospace and East Timor, Nelson Mandela and the every so often, when Saddam hosts a sum- weapons factory and causing damage to ANC government, of which Mr. Asmal is a mit conference with his friends, like the hawk aircraft. Britain is the biggest supplier member, have forged closer links with the president of the United States and the prime of weapons to Indonesia. blood-soaked dictator Suharto. I hope that minister of Japan, a few Kuwaiti students 200,000 East Timorese, one third of the Mr. Asmal well deserved triumphal visit to demonstrate against the occupation and are population, have died since Indonesia in- Ireland will be slightly marred by pertinent arrested and tortured. vaded the former Portuguese colony. Ten questions concerning this inconsistency, A change of location, and the scenario be- United Nations sanctioning resolutions have Yours, comes true. It happened in East Timor. In been passed calling on Indonesia to with- Raymond Deane, Dublin December 1975, the Indonesian president, draw from East Timor. All have been ig- general Suharto, was planning his invasion. nored. SOME ATROCITIES The president of the United States, Gerald “I am deeply concerned that despite the ATTRACT A BLIND EYE Ford and his Secretary of State, Henry Kiss- testimony of East Timorese people that inger, flew to Jakarta to meet Suharto and they have seen the hawk aircraft used in The Independent, 7 December 1994. By give full American support to the invasion - East Timor, the British government is yet Charles Glass a fact admitted to me years later by Philip again about to sell more hawks to Indone- Habib, a State Department official who Today is a double anniversary: of the sia,” Cole said on arrival in Dublin. attended the meeting. Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that More information Dublin 6233148 After leaving office, Kissinger met Su- brought America into the Second World War harto again. In 1991, as a board member of in 1941, and of the Indonesian invasion of PROTEST AT EAST TIMOR Freeport McMoRan, he helped the com- East Timor in 1975. To mark the first, GENOCIDE pany to renew for 30 years its permit to America will hold commemorative services Irish Times, 8 December produce copper in the Indonesian province in Hawaii. For the second, there will be a of West Irian. By then the Indonesian army, A man who spent six months in prison demonstration this evening outside Parlia- with American and British weapons, had for disarming weapons in a British Aero- ment. The aim is to lobby the Government killed 200,000 of East Timor’s 700,000 space factory which were due to be sold to to stop the sale of British weapons that people. East Timor had become in all but Indonesia held a protest outside the British allow Indonesia to prolong its illegal occupa- international law and common justice, Indo- Embassy in Dublin yesterday to mark the tion of the former Portuguese colony. nesia’s 27th province. 19th anniversary of the Indonesian invasion To understand what has happened in During the recent Asian-Pacific Economic of East Timor. East Timor, imagine for a moment that Au- Co-operation Forum in Jakarta, dictators The English peace activist Mr. Chris gust 1990 the United States endorsed the and elected politicians discussed trade while Cole, said that during his trail for causing 1/2 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Kuwait is now outside in the streets about a thousand dem- Million pounds in criminal damages he ar- Iraq’s 19th province, filled with Iraqi set- onstrators inconveniently demanded human gued that he was in fact preventing a crime tlers, businesses and secret policemen. Each rights for Indonesians and independence for and the real criminals were the arms dealers. year the United Nations makes a ritual con- East Timor. thirteen hundred miles away, in The trail resulted in a hung jury but Mr. demnation of the occupation, Western arms the East Timorese capital of Dili, more Cole was sentenced to 8 months in prison at producers sell Saddam Hussein the weapons demonstrators fought with the police and his second trail. Since the Indonesian inva- he needs to sustain his army in Kuwait and army.. At least three were killed. The next sion of East Timor one third of the popula- to suppress internal dissidents. day General Suharto announced - as the tion, 200,000 people have died. Imagine, too, that on the evening before leaders of the United States, China, Japan The United Nations has passed 10 reso- the invasion, Saddam met not the unfortu- and the rest stood near him - the success of lutions calling on Indonesia to withdraw nate US ambassador April Glaspie, but the conference. By 2020, all 18 countries from East Timor. Britain is said to be the President George Bush and Secretary of would be part of a vast common market. largest supplier of weapons to Indonesia. “I State Jim Baker. They had flown into Bagh- While Indonesian troops patrol East want to ask the Irish people to press the dad to promise Saddam diplomatic cover Timor, Trafalgar House is building a 35-mile British government to stop supplying arms and sufficient military equipment to absorb toll road in partnership with President Su- to Indonesia,” Mr. Cole said. “I have been Kuwait into Iraq. When Baker leaves office, harto’s daughter, Tutut. Like her brothers, working against the arms industry for many he joins a company with vast interests in Tommy and Bambang, Tutut is a billionaire. years and when I learned of the situation in Iraq, negotiates deals with Saddam and en- The International Labour Organisation and East Timor I realised we causing genocide.” courages other companies to do the same. the Catholic Church have accused her of American factories making Reebok and Nike employing slave labour from East Timor, East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 67 and she already collects revenues on the HUGH O’SHAUGHNESSY ON forces were stupid enough to massacre sev- private toll road from the airport into Ja- eral hundred of the Timorese at the Santa karta. RTE WORLD REPORT Cruz cemetery in Dili. and they did in front In East Timor, Indonesian soldiers en- RTE radio and Astra Satellite to Europe, 10 of a television camera of a Max Stahl a tered a Catholic church, took Communion Dec. 1994. young British filmmaker whose bravery will and then spat out the host and wiped it go down in that country’s history. Stahl’s underfoot. Other soldiers have harassed Shane Mc Elhatton: It’s almost 20 years horrific film electrified the world and alerted nuns. Torture is the primary method of since Indonesia invaded East Timor and ordinary people to the negligence of their interrogation and intimidation. Indonesia is annexed the territory in face of international diplomats who looked the other way as the settling Muslims in the Catholic country, condemnation. The United Nations has Timorese had undergone their martyrdom. building mosques and encouraging conver- never recognised Indonesia’s rule over the But as I discovered this year just before the sions to Islam. Meanwhile, BP and Britoil region, nor has Portugal the former colonial Indonesians threw me out in July during the are exploring for oil in the Timor Gap under power in East Timor. last of my three visits to occupied Timor a 1989 agreement between Australia and The invasion was bloody and independ- the flame of resistance is burning as hot as it Indonesia - which the UN had declared ille- ence movements have never been crushed. was. It’s burning differently from when I gal - to exploit East Timor’s resources. Last week the territory was griped by al- went there first. In 1991 the many Timorese The Roman Catholic Bishop of Dili, Car- most two weeks of sporadic rioting and who wanted to continue the resistance los Belo has described his country as “a hell, demonstrations. Since 1982 UN leaders have against the occupiers felt there was only one where Christians are constantly being ar- sponsored discussions between Indonesia choice, either you joined the guerrillas in the rested, beaten and intimidated by police.” and Portugal in an effort to find a lasting and mountainous interior of the country or you The British Government has announced that internationally acceptable solution to the went into exile to be able to speak and act the Overseas Development Agency will problem. freely. today in the scruffy streets of Dili grant Indonesia more than 70 million pounds Hugh O’Shaughnessy of the London Timorese are quiet openly defying the oc- in aid for a power station and the Tutut- newspaper the Observer has visited the cupying forces. At every opportunity the Trafalgar road. Britain is negotiating the sale occupied territory several times in recent Indonesian police and army gives them they to Indonesia of Scorpion tanks and Hawks, years. These are his impressions. protest. They protest at the occupation in addition to the 16 Hawks that British Hugh O’Shaughnessy: itself, they protest at the flood of Indone- Aerospace agreed to sell last December. The 19th anniversary of the occupation sian settlers who are taking their country Then, Britain’s Chief of Air Staff, Sir Mi- of their country by Indonesian troops, away from them under their very eyes, they chael Graydon visited Jakarta a week before which occurred the other day, has been a protest at the Islamisation of their Christian Indonesia approved the purchase. bitter but not a hopeless commemoration for land – they protest at the ridicule of the In the United States, the Congress last the 600,000 or so people of East Timor. Sacrament and the Rosary. year placed restraints on relations between Nineteen years ago the army of neighbouring The Irish governments stance on East Indonesia and American companies, the Indonesia swept into the tiny former Portu- Timor has been noted by the Timorese. As military and the White House. For the mo- guese colony which had just proclaimed its an Irish citizen I was particular heartened to ment, Suharto is being denied funds that he independence after a short civil war. The get a letter from the Irish Foreign Minister enjoyed until 1993 under the US Interna- Timorese are bitter not just because a Dick Spring after I was expelled from Dili tional Military Education and Training neighbour vastly more powerful than them- this year. And by the same token the Aus- (IMET) programme. Both Houses passed selves had gone back on its word that it tralian government which is joining the In- the Feingold Amendment, which fell short would never attack them, there bitter also donesian in stealing the oil reserves which of demanding East Timor’s independence or about what the world did or rather didn’t belong to the Timorese is more and more a referendum, but did require the US admini- do. embarrassed by the protests against its stration to base “ the sale and transfer of US Stern resolutions of condemnation were shabby action. If anyone ever thought East arms to Indonesia on an improvement in passed in the United Nations Security Timor was a lost cause they were wrong. Its human rights conditions in East Timor.” Council but unlike the more recent case of getting less lost and stronger as every day And the Foreign Aid Bill for next year the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait no one took passes. prohibits the sale of small arms and crowd any action to punish the offender. This is Hugh O’Shaughnessy back in control equipment that the Indonesians have The Indonesian dictator General Suharto London from East Timor. used on the East Timorese, most famously had been given tacit or perhaps even explicit during the November 1991 massacre at the permission for his crime from US President BRITISH ANTI-HAWKS Santa Cruz Cemetery in Dili. Gerald Ford and his travelling companion COALITION MEETING It is not much, but it has left a small gap Henry Kissinger. They left the Indonesian that Britain is filling. Douglas Hurd, the capital the day before the aggression. When From Jonathan, BCET, Dec. 13. Foreign Secretary, wrote that “military con- the five permanent members of the Security The Anti-Hawks Coalition (of which tacts are reasonably extensive and gradually Council at the time the US, Britain, France, increasing, with some training [of Indonesian BCET is a member) held a meeting at the the USSR and Taiwan\China looked the Friends Meeting House, London, tonight. I police] in the UK.” other way. They presumably hoped that the These are the policemen who, like the counted 103 people which, for a wet Tues- Timorese would either give up or be killed. day, is not bad. Iraqi police in occupied Kuwait maintain 200,000 of them or a third of the popula- order and preserve an illegal occupation that The meeting, which was chaired by Will tion were indeed killed, the survivors re- MacMahon of CAAT was addressed by today enters its 20th year. Like the attack sisted nobly with few weapons their calls on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1975 was a John Taylor (who’s book, Indonesia’s for- ignored by the outside world for fifteen gotten War, has just been re-printed by Zed day of infamy - but the perpetrators of this years. In 1991 shortly after my first visit to crime have no sense of shame. books), Carmel Budiardjo of TAPOL, John the country the Indonesian occupation Pilger and Maureen Tolfree, who’s brother Page 68 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

Brian Peters was one of the journalists mur- The journalistic death toll highlighted by THE TRIAL OF THE dered by Indonesian troops at Balibo in Jonathan Eyal will shock all who took news October 1975. for granted (‘Some journalists are dying for a “WARTON FOUR” I won’t put down what they said, as I’m good story,’ 3 January). I was one such - Report from Michael Bane, sure you can all probably guess. What until October 1975, when Brian Peters and [email protected], 16 Jan. 1995 strikes me is the growing size of meetings his four colleagues died at Balibo, East here in the UK on East Timor. Elizabeth Timor. Accidental death in civil war. Or so Trial will be held on Mon 23 Jan, Pre- Exposto spoke at a public meeting just over we were told. Brian was my brother. ston, UK. a week ago and about 70 people attended. We know, now, that Indonesian troops On Wed. 23 Feb. 1994, myself and oth- Maybe we are slowly getting somewhere were involved. We know now that if any of ers entered a British Aerospace (BAe) fac- with the British public. the five had emerged alive, Indonesia’s full- tory at Warton (in the UK) where Hawks scale invasion would have been cancelled. are finally assembled. We were there to CATHOLIC CHURCH We know now that the British and Austra- protest about the latest sale (1993) of SELLS BAE SHARES lian governments knew about Balibo but Hawks to Indonesia. However, we were stayed silent. Had they protested, full-scale prevented from progressing through with The Observer, 18 December 1994. By: invasion - and its ghastly aftermath - would banners through the site, were arrested and Hugh O’Shaughnessy not have occurred. We know, too, that a charged with going equipped with the intent sixth journalist was murdered in East Timor In a move against Britain’s growing arms of causing criminal damage. soon after the invasion. He was Roger East. We will be defending ourselves at Preston trade the Roman Catholic diocese of West- One reason why he was in East Timor was minster has sold a holding of 11,000 shares Crown Court. The trial starts on Monday to investigate the Balibo killings. 23rd Jan and is booked in for 4 days. An in British Aerospace which it managed on Dr. Eyal suggests that the media are being behalf of more than 60 Catholic trusts. The aspect of our defence centres around a sec- taught their responsibilities through journal- tion of British law that implies that one can stake was worth some 46,000 pounds. ists’ deaths. Their families pay part of the This takes sales by church-related chari- commit one crime in order to stop a bigger price. When accompanied by government crime. In our case, we will be claiming that ties of arms company stocks to 350,000 lies, the price is especially heavy. pounds in the past month. Westminster’s our action was a way we believed we could Yours sincerely, stop the greater crime of BAe Hawks being action follows a church investigation and MAUREEN TOLFREE reports in The Observer of a massive sale of used in the genocide of the East Timorese. BAe aircraft to the Indonesian armed forces We hope that John Pilger will be a wit- illegally occupying East Timor and of Indo- M.E.P CALLS FOR ness and that we will be allowed to show nesian persecution of its largely Catholic UN OFFICE IN EAST TIMOR the documentary “Death of A Nation - The population. East Timor Conspiracy.” Cardinal Basil Hume, the Archbishop of Irish Network Radio News, 8 JAN. 1995 There will be a party in Preston on the Sunday (22nd) evening, a press call at Westminster, is organising a seminar on the Newsreader; Bernie Jameson arms trade in February. 10:30am outside the courts on the Monday An Irish Member of the European Par- The Westminster action is part of what (23rd), a press conference with Pilger Weds liament has called on the United Nations to campaigners see as a quickening trend to- (25th) lunchtime, a public meeting that eve- install human rights monitors in East Timor wards ‘ethical investment’ and away from ning (with Estavão from E.T. and other immediately to protect the country’s popu- shareholdings in the weapons industry. Ray speakers) and some drinks after the trial lation from persistent massacres from Indo- Hemmings of the Clean Investment Cam- finishes (prob. Thursday). nesian government troops. paign, which is run by the Campaign Everybody welcome to attend all/some of Indonesia invaded East Timor in the Against the Arms Trade, says various An- the above... Accommodation available. 1970’s after it was granted independence by glican dioceses are preparing motions for For more info contact Michael on 0457 Portugal next year’s General Synod which would 871609. Niall Andrews says this has resulted in seek to outlaw investment in the weapons enormous human rights abuses and the mas- business. TIMORESE STUDENT FOR sacre of about a third of the population. Mr. The Salvation Army is reliably under- Andrews wants a permanent office to be set N.U.S. HONORARY stood recently to have sold shares in two up as soon as possible and he says that if PRESIDENT companies involved in the arms trade - the EU calls for this and is successful other 50,000 in Lucas at 200p and 20,000 in pressures on Indonesia will soon follow. From TAPOL, Jan. 16 Thorn at 975p. George Becker, the Army’s Niall Andrews; The Americans have an All readers of reg.easttimor who are stu- financial officer, said that its investment enormous influence there and I’m certain dents or who know students are asked to policy followed guidelines on arms and the that if President Clinton took an independ- support the nomination of Fernando de environment, but could not confirm or deny ent line on what is happening there that Araujo for Honorary President of the Na- individual deals. things would change. I believe that President tional Union of Students. Clinton has a good line on Foreign policy Nominations should be sent to Steve JOURNALISTS and he is not very keen on what is happen- Hale, N.U.S. Treasurer, who made the IN THE LINE OF FIRE ing there. I also feel that the Australians nomination. Address: have a responsibility in that area and they Steve Hale, N.U.S., Nelson Mandela Letter in the Independent (UK) by Maureen appear to have condoned the genocide with House, 461 Holloway Road, London N7 Tolfree, 7 January 1995 their support for the Indonesians. 6LJ. Fax: 071 263 5713 Sir, The nomination paper reads as follows: East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 69

FERNANDO DE ARAUJO FOR 29 Timorese who had occupied the em- HONORARY PRESIDENT OF N.U.S. EVENTS IN EUROPE bassy. By getting 100 signatures from 25 col- In reasonably fluent Portuguese (he is one of the few members of the group who leges, any person can be nominated for HORTA GIVES PORTUGAL Honorary President of N.U.S.. There is then speak the language), Domingos Alves went a vote on this at the N.U.S. Conference in TWO MONTHS over the group’s main objectives: the release of Xanana Gusmão and other Timorese and late March where a simple majority is Publico, 29 November 1994. By Joaquim T. needed. Indonesian political prisoners, direct par- de Negreiros. Translated from Portuguese. ticipation of Timorese (Xanana, Bishop Fernando de Araujo is currently impris- Abridged oned in Jakarta Indonesia. He was arrested Belo) in the talks on the future of the terri- on 24 November 1991 while Chair of Note from CDPM: This is the item issued at tory, international investigation into the RENETIL, the clandestine organisation of the newspaper “Publico” on the 29 Novem- Santa Cruz massacre. East Timor students and sentenced in ber 1994, about which it was said that He said little about the “difficult” prepa- March 1992 to nine years imprisonment: Ramos Horta had stated he had been the rations and execution of the plan to invade His crime? “mastermind” of the Dili and Jakarta the embassy, although he did reveal that “To stir up unrest or anxieties among the Demos. Can anyone find such a statement at counter-information was spread by students population and between Indonesia and other this item of news? in the underground resistance movement, Renetil, thereby preparing Jakarta for some- countries.” Lisbon – The situation of Timorese refu- thing to happen 14 or 15 November (the Fernando was a crucial link between East gees gives rise to accusation and threats. occupation actually happened on the 12th). Timor and organisations in the outside Seventeen thousand Escudos (approxi- He complained about how they were treated world such as Amnesty International. He mately 65 Pounds Sterling) per month, shar- once inside the US embassy compound, was also a supporter of self-determination ing filthy rooms, one bathroom for 30 peo- where the Timorese were only given some- for East Timor. He is an Amnesty Interna- ple. Ramos Horta believes these are “unac- thing to eat at the end of the second day of tional Prisoner of Conscience. ceptable” conditions in which the Timorese occupation. After that, said Domingos, they Making Fernando de Araujo an Honorary are forced to live. Yesterday, Horta used the lived on two meals a day of rice and water. President will convey recognition for his opportunity of a press conference held for Expressing determination to carry on the brave struggle against the brutal occupation the most famous and most recent arrivals struggle from overseas, Domingos Alves of East Timor by Indonesia and attract Na- from East Timor, to criticise the Portuguese said that, for the group of 29, coming to tional Press attention to that struggle. It will state and make a threat. Portugal was just a change of barricade - bring hope to Fernando who is still impris- Timorese who occupied the US Embassy “from the underground front to the diplo- oned in Jakarta and it will send a message to in Jakarta and who all arrived in Lisbon last matic front.” In the latter arena, as was made Indonesia that the outside world will not Friday, Ramos Horta threatened that if the quite clear by Domingos’ several expres- forget their occupation. One day East Timor conditions of Timorese refugees in Portugal sions of loyalty, it was Ramos Horta who is will be free again. did not improve within the next two in charge. For more information read Press Cutting months, the special representative of the from TAPOL Bulletin No 110, April 1992 CNRM (Maubere Resistance National 244 arrests in Dili or contact TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Council) promised to take upon himself the It was Horta who reported on the situa- Rights Campaign at 111 Northwood Road, “direct and personal responsibility” of “em- tion in East Timor, revealing that, according Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 8HW, Phone: barrassing” the Portuguese state internation- to the latest information he had received 081 771-2904 Fax: 081 653-0322. ally. from inside the territory, the number of Fernando de Araujo Ramos Horta said it was “unacceptable” detentions in Dili alone between 12 and 15 that the Timorese refugees received 17,000 November had risen to 244. for Honorary President of N.U.S. Escudos from Social Security, and were He took the opportunity to “clarify” the Additional note from TAPOL: obliged to share filthy rooms, and “one recently reported release of Ma’Huno, the Fernando’s nomination would be most bathroom between thirty people.” He be- guerrilla who took over the command of the appropriate this year, the 20th year of In- lieved this situation was the result of “in- armed resistance in East Timor after the donesia’s illegal annexation and occupation competence” on the part of those responsi- capture of Xanana Gusmão, and who was of East Timor which was invaded by a mas- ble for a “corrupt system” of Social Secu- himself arrested shortly afterwards. sive force of Indonesian troops on 7 De- rity. But his accusations did not stop there. Ma’Huno was replaced by Konis Santana, cember 1975. If you wish to get a copy of He went on to include the Presidency, gov- the man who is still in charge of operations the TAPOL cutting or other information, ernment, parliament, opposition parties: in the mountains of East Timor. According please make a response to this posting. “They are all at fault.” to Ramos Horta, Ma’Huno “has never been Only the civilian society escaped criti- released” and is still in detention where he cism - “the most tolerant and generous we has always been, at the headquarters of the have met,” in which organisations such as Kopassos (Special Forces Command) in the 12th November Association (in whose Dili. He is only allowed to leave there for a offices yesterday’s press conference was few hours on Sundays, and is always kept being held) prove that it is possible to do under surveillance. more for the Timorese refugees. The criticism and threats were leveled towards the end of the meeting with report- ers. Before that, the CNRM representative listened attentively to the statements made by Domingos Alves, the spokesman for the Page 70 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

TIMOR DIFFICULT TO PASS United Nations under the leadership of Indians in North America, gave an account Boutros Boutros Ghali, of the Leonard Peltier case. Then Tribal Act IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE? 3. Considers that new steps are needed in spoke on behalf of a West Papuan and Comment from Bruno Kahn, Agir Pour order to realise the self-determination of Dayak representatives, who unfortunately Timor East Timor, the implementation of hu- hadn’t got a visa in time to attend (they had sent texts of their interventions). Finally, A motion for a resolution on East Timor man rights and the peaceful solution to the status of East Timor. Antonio Dias, on behalf of Agir pour Timor, has been presented to the Council of Europe gave an account of the situation in East on January 28, 1994. So far this resolution Timor; he concluded by observing that all has not been adopted. This would be the HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IN these problems worldwide have the same second resolution of the Council since the PARIS flavor, and called for a new kind of interna- one it passed in 1991. tional: an international of peoples. Here follows the list of documents of the From Bruno Kahn, Dec. 11 The demonstration started again, this Council of Europe relevant to East Timor Yesterday, Dec. 10th, several organiza- time towards the human rights square on the since 1991: tions celebrated the human rights day and Trocadero. New slogans included: “Indone- Parliamentary assembly Resolution the beginning of the decade of indigenous sie, ca suffit! Suharto, assassin!” It arrived 966(1991) relative to East Timor peoples by demonstrating and press- on the Square about 5.30pm. It dispersed after about 1/2h of leaflets distribution. Soares Costa, Parliamentary assembly. Mo- conferencing. About 60 people participated the dem- tion for a directive relative to East Timor. The action was initiated by Solidarité, a onstration. Press coverage was modest but Doc. 6533 1991 solidarity movement with Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Originally it was included IPS and Radio France Internation- Parliamentary assembly. Directive no concentrated on the fate of indigenous peo- ale. 470(1991) relative to East Timor ples around Amazonia, but several organiza- Ministers Committee. Statement on East tions like Agir pour Timor, France-Libertés LETTER TO BILL CLINTON Timor. Doc. 6552ADDI 1992 and Tribal Act expressed interest to extend (FROM PORTUGUESE it to peoples of the Indonesian archipelago. Parliamentary assembly. Written statement The demonstration started about 3.30 pm ACTIVISTS) no 225 in favour of the immediate release in front of the Ecuador embassy, where Publico, 15 December 1994. Translated of Mr. Xanana Gusmão and of defence of petitions were handed out to the Embassy’s from Portuguese. Abridged human rights in East Timor (2nd edition). staff. Banners were displayed, denouncing Doc. 6725, Dec. 225 1993 the devastating effect of oil on the Amazo- Lisbon – Although the original plan to nian environment; people chanted slogans demonstrate outside various diplomatic Franck, Parliamentary assembly. Parliamen- representations in Oporto has been changed tary questions for an oral response: no like “Petrole c’est la mort, Amazonie c’est la vie!” and “rendez leurs terres aux Indi- (not least because there is no longer an Aus- 16, human rights in East Timor and re- tralian consulate there), there is still deter- lease of Mr. Gusmão. Doc. 6829, 1993 ens!.” Agir pour Timor was there, with its own banner “Solidarité internationale: Agir mination among the city’s youth to keep Franck, Parliamentary assembly. Parliamen- pour Timor,” as well as posters asking for public attention focused on human rights tary questions for an oral response: the Indonesia out of East Timor and the release violations in East Timor. Tomorrow, mem- current situation in three former Portu- of Xanana Gusmão. bers of the young socialists, social- democrats and centrists will be marching guese territories – Angola, Mozambique Press conference and East Timor. Doc. 6936, p. 8, 1993 through the streets of Oporto in a jointly The press conference was staged in front organised action, “with no party banners,” Franck et al., Parliamentary assembly, Mo- of the World Bank building. Demonstrators in solidarity with the Timorese people, and tion for a resolution on East Timor, Doc. arrived about 4 pm and chanted some more intend to deliver a letter to Bill Clinton (the 7011. 1994 slogans, including anti-WB ones (the 50 contents of which have not been made pub- Here is the text of the latter motion, years is enough campaign participated the lic) at the US Consulate. presented by MM. Franck, Vogel, event). The press conference, with a mega- “We are counting on the support of all Aguiar, Finsberg, Haller, Schieder, Es- phone, was in both French and Spanish, young people,” said Social Democrat Youth persen, Err, Fluckiger, Robert, Cuco, with a translation offered by a kind Argen- (JSD) leader Sergio Viera during a press Iwinski, Bohm, Eisma: tinian. It started with an account of a repre- conference yesterday. The initiative, which sentative of the Juma people of Ecuador, The Assembly, is “non-partisan, and in which young stu- who explained the problems faced by his dents and workers from all over the district 1. Referring to earlier resolutions taken by people with the development of oil drilling will protest against the tragedy that over- the Council of Europe; and, in a very militant way, stated that they shadows the daily life of the Timorese,” has 2. Considering wouldn’t wait for international institutions the backing of the Academic Federation of – the continuing serious violations of to help them in the coming decade, but they Oporto and various secondary education human rights in East Timor; would take their destiny in their own hands. associations. – the necessity to end the Indonesian an- Followed a representative for Guatemala, nexation of East Timor; who explained the unsatisfactory state of – the importance of reaching a peaceful the transition to democracy in this country. solution to the East Timor question with He stated that the Mayas must have more participation not only of the Indonesian and say and influence in a country where they Portuguese governments but also of genuine are a majority. representatives of East Timor, among them A French representative of Nitassinan, an Bishop Belo, in the negotiations in the organization concerned with the struggles of East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 71

closely linked with the respect for basic EVENTS IN CANADA human rights in both Indonesia and East EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA Timor. Furthermore, the Bloc will support all United Nations initiatives in a peace CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY process. PILGER CALLS FOR LETTERS ON EAST TIMOR I would like to add that some of our MPs ESCALATION OF EAST met with Mr. José Ramos Horta, Foreign TIMOR CAMPAIGN Following are letters from Canadian MPs in Minister of East Timor (in exile) last Octo- response to recent letters on the events of ber 24th, and that Nic Leblanc, Opposition By Pip Hinman, Green Left, Dec. 4. November 1994 in East Timor and Indone- Critic for Asia, raised the issue of human SYDNEY - “Australians can be made to sia. For the information of international rights in Indonesia, in a question to the gov- readers, the Canadian government has been understand the problem with trading with ernment last November 15th. Indonesia’s genocidal generals,” renowned the Liberal Party since a year ago; the op- In closing, let me assure you that the position is the (Quebec separatist) Bloc author and film maker John Pilger told a Bloc Quebecois shares with you the hope 450-strong meeting here on December 2. Quebecois, the third party (not written to this that one day justice and peace will be served time) is the Reform Party, while the New “Trade is not the holy grail, as the Austra- in this former Portuguese colony, and that lian government would have us believe.” Democrats (social democratic) and Conser- human rights will be fully respected in In- vatives have very small numbers of MPs. Organised by Green Left Weekly, the donesia. Towards this end, we have taken public meeting at Trades Hall was packed to particular note of your comments, and the FROM ANDRE OUELLET, Foreign well over capacity (some 60 people had to Bloc will continue to pursue this important be turned away), evidence of the strength of minister (Dec 13) issue in discussions with the government, feeling in Australia that East Timor has a Thank you for your letter of November whether in the House of Commons or in right to independence. 16, 1994, regarding the human rights situa- Committees. Gina Soares, from the November 12 tion in East Timor. Thank you for writing to the Leader of Committee, Dita Sari, general secretary of Human rights are an important aspect of the Opposition. the Indonesian Workers Struggle Centre and our bilateral relationship with Indonesia. For Michel Leduc, Political Advisor Max Lane, a founding editor of Inside Indo- this reason, the Government of Canada is nesia, co-convenor of Aksi and national concerned about both the recent distur- FROM SVEND ROBINSON, NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NOV. 23) executive member of the Democratic Social- bances in Eats Timor and the limitations ist Party, also spoke passionately about the Thank you for your recent correspon- placed on press freedom. struggle for justice in East Timor. dence regarding the situation in East Timor. The issue of human rights was discussed Lillian Crofts from Australian Over the years, I have spoken out numerous at length when Prime Minister Chretien met Humanitarian Aid for Bougainville also put times on this issue. Recently I questioned with President Suharto in November 1994. the case for her country’s sovereignty. the Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific on the The Prime Minister also used this opportu- “This is the first war where Australia has situation. Please find enclosed a copy of nity to announce a $2 million project to be complete control,” she said, urging that exchange. Also, you will find enclosed a carried out by Care Canada in East Timor. Australians to pressure Canberra - “the copy of a motion I introduced in the house We will continue to assist the people of control room” - to stop Papua New on this issue. Please be assured of my ongo- Indonesia through funding of Indonesian Guinea’s military invasion of the island. ing support on this very important matter. non-governmental organizations, and to Pilger, whose outspokenness on the Aus- monitor developments closely, with a view (Robinson’s motion of Feb. 3/94 calls on the tralian government’s role in Cambodia and to contributing in a concrete fashion to im- government to recognize the independence of East Timor hasn’t won him many friends in provements of the human rights situation East Timor and condemn the 1975 invasion. high places, recounted his time researching there. For your further information, I am On Nov. 1, he asked Raymond Chan in the his film on East Timor, Death of a Nation. attaching a backgrounder on Canada’s rela- House of Commons the latest of several Holding up a list, compiled by a Timorese tions with Indonesia, which focuses on the questions regarding human rights in Asia, priest, of 271 people, from infants to the human rights situation. particularly in China, Tibet and East Timor. aged, who died at the hands of Indonesian Once again, thank you for writing. Chan responded that trade and engagement soldiers in just one village in 1983, he said, (The enclosed 2-page backgrounder slightly with China was good and would help the “I would like to put this document of geno- updates one issued by Foreign Affairs last cause of human rights, but did not mention cide under the noses of Prime Minister March.) East Timor.) Keating and Foreign Minister Evans.” The killing, as the 1991 massacre of 270 FROM LUCIEN BOUCHARD, Leader of people in Dili proved, hasn’t stopped. the Opposition (Dec. 2) “Those who collaborate with the Indonesian (note: Bouchard’s illness makes a per- regime, who give comfort and support to it, sonal response impossible) who appease it, are dealing with geno- On behalf of the Honourable Lucien Bou- cidists,” Pilger said. chard, Leader of the Official Opposition, we “The Australian intelligence community wish to acknowledge receipt of your corre- has long been in bed with the Indonesian spondence concerning the suffering of the defence and security apparatus,” Pilger people of Indonesia and East Timor, who noted. “Evans knows how many people have often been the innocent victims of were killed in Dili.” human rights violations. The Australian government’s close col- The Bloc Quebecois firmly believes that laboration with the Indonesian regime goes Canada’s aid to Indonesia must be more back some way. Pilger recalled how in Au- Page 72 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. gust 1976 the then prime minister, Malcolm Lane said that while the Indonesian gov- first screening in Britain. In New Zealand, Fraser, was warned by the White House to ernment had not yet changed its policy to- 600 calls flooded in on the opening night. In toe the line and support Indonesia’s inva- wards East Timor, the Indonesian political Australia the ABC declined the offer to sion of East Timor. In October 1976, Aus- elite is feeling the pressure. screen Death of a Nation. It was later re- tralia was the first country to give de facto “Will Suharto change his policy? Yes, be- vealed by sources inside the ABC that po- recognition to the Indonesian military take- cause the East Timorese have resolved that litical factors influenced that decision. When over. This year, Pilger noted, “Keating went they will make East Timor ungovernable.” Channel 9 eventually screened it, 3000 call- to the US to tell Congress off for being too Lane called on all democratically minded ers rang in to the hot line. harsh on the Indonesian regime. For that people to organise together to demand that There are many journalists who have Keating was called a ‘comrade-in-arms"‘ by the Keating government suspend all war supported this or that cause. What makes the Suharto government. cooperation with the Indonesian regime and Pilger such an anathema to the powers that In January 1995, the International Court that the ACTU ban work in the Timor Gap be is his willingness to side openly with the of Justice in the Hague will pass judgment - much as it helped the Indonesian inde- struggle for change on a worldwide scale. He on the legality of the Timor Gap Treaty. pendence movement in 1945. grounds his concern for “ordinary people” According to legal experts, Pilger said, a “The more noise we make, the more we in an understanding of the forces of capital 1970 United Nations resolution (which rally, the more we refuse to vote for parties that oppose them. Australia helped to draft), would deem the which support dictators at the expense of Challenging power treaty “a contract with a thief.” human rights, the closer to independence Rather then regarding the 1960s as an era “We have a lot to do. We need to let as East Timor will be.” of good music and bad haircuts, as main- many people know about the facts as pos- stream society would have us do, Pilger sees sible. But we also need to do more than INTERVIEW: JOHN PILGER the legacy of the ‘60s as political. “The that,” Pilger said. “We need to build the 1960s in the West, and through much of the movement for independence in East Timor Green Left, Dec. 11 developing world, called the establishment and oppose the ‘special status’ position for Australian journalist and film maker John to account. They represented a dramatic East Timor put forward by Evans.” Pilger was recently in Sydney on the way raising of political consciousness which we For Dita Sari, while international cam- back to England from a trip to New Zealand. are still the beneficiaries of today. paigns have an important impact, they are Zanny Begg from Green Left Weekly spoke “The revolutionary fervor of the 1960s not enough. The Indonesian working class with him about the changing face of world raised consciousness, without which many has an important role to play in the struggle politics. of us would not be in a position to analyze for East Timor’s independence, she said. the balance of power. The Cuban revolution, “It’s the same regime which in 1965 killed 2 John Pilger isn’t very popular with the the Nicaraguan revolution, the Vietnamese million people and the same regime which establishment. His commitment to social revolution were all part of, or came out of, pays workers less than the minimum wage.” justice makes enemies of many governments that. These are crucial models for challenging Sari made the point that there are more and multinational companies that would power.” than 120 Australian companies in Indonesia, prefer to have their actions escape his gaze. According to Pilger, power today lies in including in the Timor Gap. Both Indone- He has offended the Australian Labor Party the United States. He believes that we live sian and Australian workers had a crucial by blowing the cover on its role in East “in a uni-polar world. The United States is role to play in the struggle for East Timor’s Timor. He was banned from South Africa the strongest regime on earth and is unchal- independence. But, she cautioned, that will for his opposition to apartheid. He told the lenged in that position.” Pilger argues that require a struggle by the Indonesian trade world about what the UN was really up to the dominance of the United States is fil- union movement against the yellow union, in Cambodia. He has earned the wrath of tered through the United Nations and its the SPSI, and by Australian unionists media magnates worldwide for his coura- associated financial institutions. against the ACTU. geous exposure of uncomfortable truths. “One of the real dangers to democracy in Vice president of the Timorese Democ- Pilger’s aim is to “turn conventional the world is the international financial insti- ratic Union (UDT) Gina Soares criticised journalism on its head.” He takes as his tutions. It is through these institutions that the Australian government’s hypocritical departure point the “aspirations of ordinary we see imperialism operate in its new form. stand over human rights. We have to ques- people, not of the powers that burden their I think we are seeing a kind of world gov- tion Keating’s motives for insisting that he lives.” Pilger’s commitment to ordinary ernment develop which is managed by the doesn’t feel obliged to raise the human rights people makes him side consistently with the World Bank and the IMF and which has its issue every time he meets Suharto, she said. forces of social change. It has taken him to headquarters in Washington. “Fretilin and the UDT have vowed that the heart of conflicts all over the world. “We are seeing a return to the autocratic they will continue to fight until the last During our discussion, a briefcase was conduct of world financial authorities that Indonesian soldier leaves East Timor. left next to our table in the restaurant. A was got rid of in the 19th century. In many “We are committed to national unity, and nervous waiter asked if the case belonged to ways it is more subtle then the old days of we demand that the Australian government us before promptly removing it. Pilger’s imperial power. suspend economic cooperation with Indone- calm was momentarily ruffled as he asked, “It doesn’t need gunboats, because once sia until it leaves East Timor.” “Is it ticking?.” He immediately laughed the you have a country indebted, you can do “The resolve and courage of the East moment away with a disclaimer, “It comes what you like. For example, during the Gulf Timorese independence fighters, a group of from being in war zones all the time. You get War, Egypt’s support was bought with a which recently occupied the US Embassy in attuned to nerves.” bribe: $14 billion of its debt payments were Jakarta to get their message out, is one sign The last war zone Pilger travelled into cancelled in return for its cooperation. So that we can afford to be optimistic,” said was East Timor. His film Death of a Nation the financial arms of the UN have enormous Max Lane. “The emerging alliance between helped revitalize the campaign for solidarity power and in the end all look to the power the East Timorese nationalists and the Indo- with that country. The East Timor support of Washington. Even Japan, the greatest nesian working class is another sign.” hot line was choked with callers after the East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 73 economic power on earth does not have military coup, with tacit approval from the ism should not be a form of organised gov- power in the UN.” US, deposed him. “He was then taken out ernment is an absurdity. Pilger is clear on the effect the UN has on by the US, and a lobotomy was done on “Propaganda saying that socialism has world politics: “I don’t think we should be him.” The US subsequently invaded and “he been defeated by something that is causing naive about the role of the UN. It cannot was then reinstated. So now,” Pilger con- the greatest disparities of wealth in recorded bring peace in its current form. The UN is a cludes, “‘democracy’ has been installed and history is equally absurd. The poverty in vehicle that is used by Western powers. if this so-called ‘democracy’ is challenged, the developing world is so severe it almost There are parts of the UN which have pro- the US marines will arrive to save it.” The defies the record books.” duced positive results - the Food and Agri- irony is devastating. But Pilger doesn’t look at inequalities and cultural Organisation, the Human Rights Pilger believes that rhetoric of “democ- the need for change only in the developing Organisation - but overall the UN is not a racy” will mean that “dictators are going out world. The implications of GATT, trade friend of the developing world. The contrast of fashion.” Instead puppet governments, agreements like NAFTA and the financial is very vivid if you take the Gulf War and which give lip service to freedom and de- arms of the UN also reach into the wealthy look at how the UN was used to mobilise a mocracy while opening up their country to countries. In the heartlands of imperialist massive force to attack Iraq, and then you foreign investment, will be on the wish list power, poverty and unemployment affect take Rwanda, where the UN was not mobi- of imperial powers. growing numbers of people. “When you lized to save lives. The priorities of the UN Drawing on issues raised in his film Re- walk through the streets of London and are those of Western powers. turn to Year Zero, Pilger continues, “You meet the homeless,” Pilger explains, “you “In the 1970s the UN came as close as only have to look at the zeal with which are meeting the Third World.” possible, under its present structure, to ‘democracy’ was installed in Cambodia to “In the First World,” Pilger continued, being a world body. This was when power understand this phenomenon. The fact that “the whole notion that people have the right went to the General Assembly and for a the UN peace process in Cambodia handed to work decent hours for a decent wage in brief period the majority of nations held back most of the country to the Khmer decent and safe conditions, and that they sway and influenced bodies such as Rouge, the fact that the country was left have the right to withdraw their labour in an UNESCO. But during the 1980s power covered in landmines, didn’t matter. What organised and collective way if a dispute came back to the Security Council - a totally mattered was holding the elections and get- arises, has been summarily withdrawn be- anachronistic body born of the Cold War.” ting out. This whole process was used to cause of these trade deals. The domination of the world by global blunt revolutionary movements and has “These trade deals no longer mean the financial elites Pilger sees as the agenda be- nothing to do with real democracy.” piecemeal destruction of rights fought for by hind the signing of GATT. “We are told The myth that democracy equals capital- trade unionists in the late part of the 19th Orwellian truths about GATT. The real ism underpinned much of the West’s gloat- century and the early part of this century; truth about GATT is that it is a rather in- ing over the collapse of Stalinism in the they mean the wholesale destruction of genious form of wealth creation for one Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. After the them. We see this process in Australia with seventh of the world. In 60 years time, one Berlin Wall came down, newspapers the enterprise bargaining. seventh of the world will control three quar- world over declared “Communism is dead.” “Parties like the Australian Labor Party ters of the world’s resources. GATT is Pilger rejects these assumptions. He argues are no longer a social democratic party. nothing but a way of ensuring their influence that the experience of Stalinism has left They should be called a conservative party. and power. socialists “with a terrible legacy” but the They have united labourism with Thatcher- “The agreement reaches into the develop- assertion that capitalism has won the Cold ism. They are the ones who are cutting back ing world, but only to give seductive crumbs War is “utterly false.” on public services like health and education to various elites. Fundamentally GATT is Pilger believes that Stalinism “so per- and introducing enterprise bargaining.” about finding the cheapest labour possible, verted socialism in the Soviet Union that it Optimism getting natural resources at the cheapest handed the forces of capitalism in the West The information that Pilger deals with is prices possible and developing them for the a weapon of propaganda that is still being fairly depressing. He describes a world maximum profit for the smallest number of used against those who seek even a modest where giant multinational companies move people in the world. It’s straightforward form of change today. During the Cold War “all over the world searching for the cheap- logic really; one feels obliged to congratulate socialists had to bear the brunt of this est labour.” A world where wages and living those who thought it up.” propaganda. conditions are being driven down, in both “The forces of capitalism were able to Reinventing democracy the First and Third World. But Pilger is not say that socialism had been tried and found According to Pilger, Orwellian double- a pessimist. He remains optimistic because wanting for the Soviet people. This was speak lies behind the pronouncements that of his faith in the ability of “ordinary peo- utterly false, of course. Even since the Cold bodies like the UN make on their role in ple.” War, socialists have had to bear an added preserving and nurturing democracy. Pilger “You must never underestimate the burden of people saying that socialism has argues that “democracy has been rein- power of popular forces,” he asserts, “even been defeated in the Soviet Union by the vented.” The propaganda of the UN, gov- in countries were the odds seem almost forces of capital, when of course it didn’t ernments and the establishment media has impossible. The Zapatistas in Mexico are exist. drawn an automatic equals sign between just the tip of the iceberg. Right throughout “It is a very powerful myth that the “capital” and “democracy” in an attempt to Latin America, Asia and Africa you see the forces of capital have shown themselves to “hide the devastation that market forces great phenomenon of human change begin- be superior to socialism. It is not true. It is a have wreaked upon the world.” ning again. I think in the early part of next matter of common sense that socialism is A prime illustration of this trend, Pilger century there will be real and sustained chal- the only force that can give any semblance argues, is the invasion of Haiti. “A man was lenges to the power structures that exist of equity and justice in the lives of most democratically elected by a people on a today, particularly in the developing world. people in the developing world. That social- platform of real change for the country.” A There is no doubt about that. Page 74 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

“Already there have been indicators of DECEMBER 7 IN DARWIN freedom of speech, and we also got support this, if not yet real gains. South Africa is a from local shopkeepers for our actions. prime example. Apartheid is not over yet, AND AUSTRALIA TV stories went national but were but there has been an initial victory. There From Rob Wesley-Smith, AFFET (Austra- avoided by Australian TV International, has been an initial victory in Eritrea. There lians for a Free East Timor which is beamed to SE Asia. We believe that has been an initial victory in Namibia. This the Government has pressured the Austra- is just on the African continent. In Darwin in recent years we have built lian Broadcasting Corporation to minimize “Throughout the continent of Latin up a good rapport with local police, who mentions of East Timor. America there have been the stirrings of ring up in advance of major dates to ask Our spokespeople made the point very radical change. what we contemplate doing and what assis- clearly that our small invasion of someone’s “Even in the Philippines - just because tance they can provide, so I usually tell lawn was minuscule compared to the inva- the popular mass movements that got rid of them. sion of East Timor and the continuing viola- Marcos were betrayed by Aquino doesn’t This way we get assistance, good behav- tions of homes and bodies on a daily basis. mean that they won’t rise again, and rather iour, and sometimes information. This time I (PS I see Rev John Chamberlain was ar- wiser then they were last time. In Indonesia declined to advise our intentions except that rested in LA after learning bad habits here, the mass movements that were shattered in we would not be vandalistic, and that we tsk tsk). 1965 are stirring again. intended a lunch time rally. We agreed The East Timorese arrested may be able “People have got used to accepting the amongst ourselves not to use the telephone to mount a defence based on the dictum of monolithic nature of capital. But we can on arrangements to avoid intelligence inter- ‘Honest Claim of Right’ i.e. Indons took tend to forget that throughout the last 300 cepts. We met in a park, then went by con- their land, ETse can take theirs. Also, but or 400 years the most powerful force in the voy to the Indonesian reception house rather oppositely, if the East Timorese are world was not capital but popular power. which may also be a residence, rather than now all good Indonesian citizens, why is it That is not to say that the people have al- to the Consular offices where police and so wrong to go on the front lawn of an In- ways won. They haven’t, they have often barricades and some colleagues waited in donesian house? lost. But the people have demonstrated their vain. As we left, a mobile phone alerted TV We also sent letters to Suharto and to the power, and I am confident that they will rise stations who arrived in record time to film Portuguese Foreign Minister demanding that again.” the occupation, 10 minutes before Police the next round of talks starting 9/1/95 in Pilger believes that “popular mass arrived. One nimble colleague got on to the Geneva make specific and measurable pro- movements are the only way to change the roof with a banner, whilst a slower one was gress. I feel that we should demand that UN world.” He argues strongly that “you do grabbed by the ankle as he climbed. White Peace keepers be in place by March 1995, everything most effectively if you do it crosses, banners, and signs were in the gar- with Indonesian troops out by June 1995, collectively.” den, the East Timor Resistance flag was or we must ensure world wide that it costs With reference to Australian politics, he raised, brief speeches filmed, and devil Indonesia more to stay in East Timor than told me, “You are changing things by being masks were worn by many especially vul- to get out. If the present impasse remains member of an organisation and by being part nerable East Timorese. The gates which until the 20th anniversary of the invasion on of Green Left Weekly. I think this is signifi- were open on our arrival somehow got 7/12/95, then I feel we will lose momentum cant. A few years ago the government of chained shut. This was really a TV event, to some extent. I feel we must pressure the this country could say virtually anything but would also intensely annoy Ali Alatas UN Sec Gen. and Portugal NOW, with the about Indonesia and East Timor and get we believe. Police in less friendly than usual Indons. away with it. Now they can’t, and that is mood allowed a couple of minutes for peo- Elsewhere in Australia there were also because there has been a turnaround in ple to get out, then arrested those remaining. very good actions. In Perth WA 40 people propaganda and an increase in popular out- Those without Australian passports left maintained a vigil at a city church, with rage.” quickly to avoid legal charges. Others were leaflets, and national radio press. In Ade- Pilger cautions people who are dismissive escorted to the police wagons, while our laide SA 150 people marched from Parlia- of radical change happening in Australia: “If colleague ‘Shell’ on the roof was violently ment House to the Indonesian Consulate. In people despair about change not being pulled down backwards and handcuffed, Melbourne 300 people held a rally, and popular in Australia, they should look to while Wes + mask was left sitting on a chair Sydney also had something. The 12th Nov. New Zealand. There you have a country near the door until spotted and had to be tends to take emotional pride of place these that has undergone massive economic as- carried to the wagons, providing good TV days. May I suggest that Monday 9th Janu- sault. Yet the New Zealand Alliance has footage. About then the Indonesian Consu- ary or Sat/Sun 7th/8th be targeted for the been able to gain enormous popularity. The lar spy van drove past rapidly, with a cam- NEXT MAIN ACTIONS to pressure the Alliance is addressing the bind of two con- eraman bravely filming through the sun next and most critical talks between Indone- servative parties. This is the same bind we door. In all 8 were arrested, 4 women of sia and Portugal under UN Sec Gen. aus- have in Australia.” whom 2 were East Timorese. pices, demanding on-ground outcomes as Pilger’s concluding remarks during the in- Our brave Ilana did a live to air interview above. Then 30th January will be the start terview sum up the basis of his optimism: on the mobile phone from the Police paddy of the International Court at The Hague “I have never lost confidence in the fact that wagon, which got good radio airing. At the hearings on the validity of the Timor Gap people have enormous potential power if it police station, only the women were agreement. Meanwhile much cash is needed is used collectively. A great deal of the searched, and they were processed after the by Resistance Timorese in Indonesia and power imposed on people is that of paper men (well, they were VERY noisy), and all East Timor. Obrigado barak. tigers. We have seen many historical exam- were charged with trespass after delays of ples of people winning, and I think we will 4+5 hours, enough to keep us from the see them again.” planned rally. Although the City Council denied us a permit for a rally in a park, it went ahead, and we won the PR battle re East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 75

DARWIN AND DILI The award was one of three presented worldwide by Japanese human rights foun- EVENTS IN THE UNIVERSITIES TO dation Yope-Ode. Mr. Pereira won the UNITED STATES COOPERATE award for his work with the Paramatta base support agency, The East Timor Relief From George Quinn Faculty of Arts, NTU, Association. He was worked for the East Dec. 7 1994 (PORTUGUESE) Timor cause since arriving in Australia 13 GOVERNMENT PAYS The Northern Territory University and years ago. For the past three years this has East Timor University have signed a Memo- involved sending medicines and money to (WASHINGTON) LOBBY randum of Cooperation. The signing cere- the Timorese. Independente, 2 December 1994. Translated mony was held in Dili on Tuesday, Novem- from Portuguese Abridged ber 29th. The document was signed by the INDONESIA AND REGIONAL Lisbon – The Portuguese Foreign Minis- Rector of East Timor University Father CONFLICT AND H.P. Bratasudarma S.J. and the vice- try has hired a US company - Edelman Pub- chancellor of the Northern Territory Uni- RESOLUTION lic Relations Worldwide - to undertake lob- versity Professor Malcolm Nairn. The sign- bying on behalf of East Timor in the US. International Conference in Darwin 26-28 ing ceremony was attended by the three The contract (a decision taken at the highest July, 1995 ‘saka guru’ (pillars) of East Timor, Gover- level) has been in force since 1 September, nor Abilio Soares, local military commander The conference will cover a wide range of and involves sums in the region of 50 thou- (Dan Rem) Col. Kiki Syahnakri, and the areas and potential speakers are invited to sand dollars. In September, the Indonesians Bishop of the Diocese of Dili Monsignor submit topics in their field of expertise and began to spend 460 thousand dollars per Carlos F.X. Belo. which they feel could contribute to the year on their lobbying activities. Also in attendance were Mr. Allaster growth of understanding between the peo- The Edelman contract is initially for 6 Cox, First Secretary at the Australian Em- ples within Indonesia and its neighbours. months, after which time the Portuguese bassy in Jakarta and Mr. Wisnu Mahendra The conference will follow with a few authorities will assess the results. The representing the Indonesian Consulate in days of cultural activities provided by Dar- amount, which the Foreign Ministry refuses Darwin. East Timor University was also win’s East Timorese community and trips to make public, does not appear under any represented by First Deputy Rector Mr. to one or more of the Northern Territory’s budget heading, but will be paid from a Min- Armindo Maia and Head of the Planning national parks. The dates at this stage of istry “blue bag,” out of which the money Office Mr. Helder da Costa as well as the planning are as follows: the Portuguese Government spends on the Chair of the University’s Lorosae Founda- Wednesday 26 - 28 July- Conference Timorese resistance also comes. tion Mr. Mariano da Cruz. Accompanying Saturday 29 July- Cultural Day Contacted by the Independente, the the NTU’s Vice-Chancellor were Registrar Sunday 30 July- Trips to National Parks Edelman firm in Washington refused to Mr. David Price, senior lecturer Dr. George comment on the operation, and would only The suggested procedure is to allow half Quinn and senior research fellow Mr. João confirm that the existence of a contract. an hour per speaker allowing plenty of time Mariano de Sousa Saldanha. Edelman’s men were in Portugal, and for discussions and action planning. Speak- The MOC is the first to be signed by were briefed on the Timor dossier at the ers from the broadest political and academic East Timor University with an overseas Foreign Ministry. spectrum are encouraged to submit their university. Initially cooperation will pro- urging the government to hire a lobbying ideas so that a greater understanding of the ceed on a small scale. A librarian will be sent firm in Washington in order to counteract problems facing south Asia can be grasped to Dili to investigate how the NTU can help the effects of the Indonesian lobby. Political and ideas for conflict resolution proposed. UNTIM with the development of its library lobbying (in the US) is managed by the Por- The scope is the countries and situations resources. UNTIM staff will come to the tuguese Embassy in Washington. However, influenced by the Indonesian military and its NTU for English language training and post- “the hiring of Edelman does not substitute militarism and the militarism of the region. graduate studies in Development Manage- the work of the Embassy,” Independente The organisers include Australians for a ment. The Northern Territory University was assured. Before the recent APEC sum- Free East Timor (AFFET), Northern Terri- has already benefited from its association mit in Jakarta, US journalists took part in tory Students Union, Student Supporters of with UNTIM through the participation of briefings on Timor prepared by Edelman. It East Timor, La Faek Cultural Association, Mario Saldanha and Armindo Maia in its was, therefore, easier to put questions to CNRM, Coalition Against Kangaroo Exer- East Timor Project, and it is hoped that this politicians at the summit about the cises, and Women’s Embassy; with talks to mutuality of cooperation can be consoli- Timorese issue. The dimension which Timor involve Indonesian groups, The Democrats dated and further developed. acquired before, during and after the Jakarta political party, The Greens, SL, UDT, Am- summit was the result of the “Information nesty International, CAA, ETRA, and oth- Kit” which the Americans took with them. FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM ers. Parramatta Advertiser, 26th Dec. 1994 The Organising Interim Committee com- TH prises: Chairperson Rob Wesley-Smith DECEMBER 7 : “A DATE The greatest award freedom fighter Agio Phone/Fax 61 89 832 113; Secretary Hugh WHICH WILL LIVE IN Pereira can visualize would be the granting Ekeberg Phone/Fax 61 89 85 4557; Treas- INFAMY”... IN EAST TIMOR of independence to his native East Timor by urer Jude Conway Phone 61 89 41 0046; Indonesia. with East Timor Community representative The following op-ed is being distributed by In lieu of such an event, however, Mr. José Gusmão Phone/Fax 61 89 275 478 the Progressive Media Project for publica- Pereira gratefully accepted a human rights Correspondence to: AFFET PO Box 2155, tion on Dec. 7, 1994. By Matthew Jardine award he believed was “further recognition Darwin NT 0801 Australia On December 7, 1941, Imperial Japan at- of the East Timor cause” recently. tacked the U.S. Naval fleet at Pearl Harbor. Page 76 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995.

On December 7, 1975, Indonesia invaded economic assistance, in addition to $30 mil- Peaceful vigils and pickets will take place the newly independent country of East lion worth of weapons sold in 1993. U.S. in the following cities: Timor–with U.S. weaponry and approval. corporate arms sales–which require State · Chicago: Indonesian Consulate, 2 Illinois This is a day of double infamy. Department approval–are expected to reach Ctr, 233 N. Mich. Ave. 11am to 2pm. Since the invasion, Indonesia has resorted $57 million this year. Contact: Darren Burleigh 708-968-7926; to violent repression in an effort to wipe out The reasons for U.S. reluctance to stand Elliot Stokes 608-222-9137. all resistance to the occupation. Using every up to Indonesia are clear: Jakarta’s is the · Houston: “First Energy Outlook Confer- instrument of oppression–including censor- world’s fourth most-populous country and ence,” Wydham Warwick Hotel; 8 am- ship, starvation, torture, and direct military a burgeoning hub of multinational corporate lunch break. The conference is co- assault–they have tried to destroy Timorese activity. Nevertheless, President Clinton sponsored by the Consulate of Indonesia society. More than 200,000 East Timorese– should fulfill his campaign promise to put and others. Contact: Brendan Guilfoyle, about one-third of the 1975 population– human rights and international law at the (512)339-8265. have lost their lives in one of the worst center of U.S. foreign policy. It will not be · Los Angeles: Indonesian Consulate, 3457 cases of genocide in this century. easy–some of Indonesia’s closest allies in Wilshire Blvd.; 4 pm - 6 pm. Contact: It is now past time that President Clinton Washington were elevated by the recent Matthew Jardine, (310)450-5375. help end the suffering of East Timor and Congressional elections. This makes strong terminate U.S. support for Indonesia’s on- and principled leadership on the part of · New York: Indonesian Consulate, 5 E. going occupation. Ten United Nations reso- President Clinton all the more vital. 68th St., Manhattan; 4:30- 6:30 pm. lutions have condemned the invasion and An immediate suspension of all U.S. eco- Contact: John M. Miller, (718)788-6071. called for an immediate withdrawal, but the nomic and military aid and arms sales to · San Francisco: Indonesian Consulate, United States has never seriously contested Indonesia would send a strong signal to 1111 Columbus Ave.; 10 am-1 pm. Co- Indonesia’s annexation of the former Portu- Jakarta that the U.S. will no longer be its sponsored with East Timor Religious guese colony. Successive U.S. administra- partner in crime. Jakarta, anxious to main- Outreach. Contact: Rev. John Chamber- tions have instead provided hundreds of tain good relations with the United States, lin, (415)474-6219 or (415)731-4760; millions of dollars in military and economic would be under intense pressure to with- Pam Sexton, (415)824-1816. assistance to Indonesia. draw from East Timor in the face of such · Washington, DC: Indonesian Embassy, East Timor stole headlines in November clear U.S. resolve. 2020 Massachusetts Ave. NW; 5 pm. during President Clinton’s visit to Jakarta, Barring radical change in Indonesia or Contact: Sally Levison, (301)589-9071. Indonesia, for the meeting of the Asia- East Timor, only decisive action by Wash- ETAN/US was founded following the Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. The ington and its Western allies can pressure November 12, 1991 massacre of over 271 day before Clinton’s arrival, 29 East Indonesia to grant East Timor its freedom. people in Dili, East Timor s capital. Timorese scaled the spiked fence of the U.S. For Americans, December 7th is “a date ETAN/US supports genuine self- Embassy in Jakarta, then held a sit-in calling which will live in infamy,” always there to determination and human rights for the peo- for independence and the withdrawal of remind us of the tragedy of war. The people ple of East Timor in accordance with the Indonesian troops from their country. of East Timor don’t need to be reminded; UN Charter and pertinent General Assem- The next day, a small independence rally they’re still living it today. bly and Security Council resolutions. To- followed the Sunday morning Catholic mass Matthew Jardine is a pseudonym for a ward that end ETAN envisions a limited in Dili, the capital of East Timor. After the Los Angeles-based writer currently period of autonomy leading to an interna- demonstration, more than 1,000 youths completing a book on East Timor to be pub- tionally supervised referendum on inde- clashed with riot police in full view of doz- lished next year by Odonian Press. His pendence. ens of foreign journalists. Intermittent vio- name is withheld to protect his contacts in lent protests continued for the next two East Timor from possible reprisals. Afterword: All took place successfully except weeks; four or five are reported dead and Chicago, which was snowed out. hundreds were arrested. DECEMBER 7 PROTESTS TO INDONESIA PICKING U.S. Clinton’s visit was the first to Jakarta by MARK 19TH ANNIVERSAR Y a U.S. president since 1975, when President SITE FOR PLANE PLANT Gerald Ford and Secretary of State Henry OF INDONESIAN OCCUPATION OF Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Dec. 29, 1994 Kissinger met General Suharto during the EAST TIMOR two days prior to the invasion of East Press Advisory from ETAN/US, Dec. 3. The Indonesian government is deciding Timor. There is little doubt that the United between sites in Alabama, Oregon, Georgia States gave Suharto the green light to attack; The East Timor Action Network/US will and Arizona to build an airplane factory, an about 90 percent of the weapons used dur- protest the continued occupation of East official said yesterday. ing the invasion were supplied by the Timor at Indonesian diplomatic offices The $100 million factory would build the United States. throughout the United States on Wednes- N-250, an Indonesian-designed passenger During the presidential campaign, Bill day, December 7. Pickets and vigils will be plane, at the rate of one aircraft every two Clinton called U.S. policy toward East held at the Indonesian Embassy in Washing- days, said B.J. Habibie, minister of research Timor “unconscionable,” and his Admini- ton, DC and at its consulates in New York and technology. A decision will be made in stration has begun to challenge Jakarta’s City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Fran- February. occupation. In 1993, the State Department cisco. A similar factory would be set up later in blocked a proposed sale of four U.S.-made ETAN will also picket an energy confer- Europe, said Habibie, who also is president F-5E fighter jets to Indonesia. This year, the ence in Houston co-sponsored by the Indo- of the state-run aircraft company IPTN, State Department banned small-arms sales nesian government. The Houston protest which designed the 75-seat turboprop. A to Indonesia. will highlight the expropriation of East prototype of the plane was unveiled in No- But the Clinton Administration has also Timor’s oil resources. vember, and its first test flight is expected provided Indonesia with $180 million in next year. East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 77

The American plant would be developed group, Fretilin, and the Indonesian Army. haps Pollack was taking his cue from the with a U.S. partner that would have a 60 Diplomats say as many as 200,000 have United States which, as he reported, does percent stake in the venture. The Indonesian perished. The world paid little heed until not contest the forced integration of East government would own the rest. Half of the British (sic) journalists reported a Novem- Timor into Indonesia.) Pollack perpetuated plant’s production would be marketed in ber 1991 massacre by the Army. the myth that Indonesia invaded the terri- North America. The East Timorese have proposed grad- tory in 1975 to intervene in a civil war, Last year, The Boeing Co. Signed an ual steps toward self-determination. Jakarta, when in fact the civil war had ended months agreement with IPTN to assist in expanding however, along with a rule of intimidation before. its airplane manufacturing. Boeing also set and cultural insensitivity, has poured mil- Pollack nowhere mentioned that within up a technical advisory team to work with lions into the area’s development to win five years after the invasion up to 200,000 Indonesian firms on that country’s aero- local acquiescence, and made a deal with Timorese (close to one-third of the pre- space industry. Australia to develop its oil potential. invasion population) had died of starvation, A Boeing spokesman said yesterday that East Timor burst onto the world’s screen been killed by bombings, or been massacred the company has declined an invitation to be again in November, when students embar- outright. Finally, Pollack omitted all infor- the majority partner in the U.S. airplane rassed Jakarta with a sit-in at the US Em- mation about the substantial military, finan- plant, but has not ruled out future involve- bassy during the APEC summit. Now local cial, and diplomatic support provided by ment. fears are high that, when the world looks the West - and the U.S. in particular - for IPTN, the Indonesian aircraft company away, a retaliatory crackdown will occur. Indonesia’s brutal subjugation of the East has long been a Boeing supplier. Boeing The US needs to keep the pressure on Timorese. buys trailing-edge flaps for the 737 from Jakarta. Consistent communication rather The Times has failed over the years to IPTN’s factory in Bandung, Indonesia, and than retaliatory acts are likely to get more cover either the full facts or our country’s Boeing’s Defense and Space Group is up- results. Remarks by President Clinton and dishonorable role. During the worst of the grading the Indonesian Air Force’s 737 Sur- other top officials during the APEC visit atrocities, the paper remained virtually si- veiller aircraft. were heartening, given concerns that he lent (see Noam Chomsky and Edward S. The project has been criticized in Indone- would let commercial prospects win out Herman, The Washington Connection and sia as a waste of public money. Recently, over human rights. He let President Suharto Third World Fascism [Boston: South End six environmental groups went to court know that his ambitions for his country Press, 1979], sect. 3.4.4). It is with good seeking cancellation of a presidential decree would most benefit from clear progress on reason then that the Timorese fear the diverting U$185 million to the aircraft pro- human rights. A joint statement by US “world will now forget them.” ject from a planned reforestation program. A Reps. Frank Wolf(R) of Virginia and Tony Jakarta court dismissed the case, saying it Hall(D) of Ohio provided a key signal that A WITNESS TO U.S. had no authority to judge presidential de- bipartisan pressure on rights would con- SUPPORTED HORROR crees. tinue. (ALLAN NAIRN) CSM: KEEP PRESSING FORGETTING TIMOR By Colman McCarthy, columnist Washing- JAKARTA By Alexander George, Lies of Our Times, ton Post, 1/10/95 Editorial, The Christian Science Monitor, Sept.-Dec. 1994 Having had his skull fractured by the butt January 11, 1995 [Comment: This is the back-cover article in of a U.S.-made rifle – as wielded by a soldier the final issue of Lies of Our Times, which is in the U.S.-supported Indonesian army – The United Nations Secretary-General Allan Nairn has an opinion of America’s attempted this week to break through the fitting given its closing sentence. We mourn the passing of this important publication foreign policy not commonly shared by our East Timor stalemate. diplomats. He views it as ranging from bru- Yet as Boutros Boutros-Ghali met in Ge- which has done an excellent job at revealing the biases and the truths hidden in the re- tal to anti-democratic. neva Jan. 9 with foreign ministers of the Even had he not been bloodied and former colonial power, Portugal, and the porting of the New York Times. – Charlie Scheiner] threatened with death in East Timor in 1991 current colonizer, Indonesia, the people of during a massacre of unarmed civilians by the Southeast Asian enclave were reeling In some ways, Andrew Pollack’s No- the troops of President Suharto – a favored from further clashes with the Indonesian vember 28 report on East Timor represents dictator of the State Department going back Army and others who have migrated there - an improvement in New York Times cover- to when he took power in 1967 – Nairn’s at Jakarta’s urging, many say. age of that dirty story (“Timorese Worry views on our foreign policy would likely be The talks yielded a glimmer of hope - World Will Now Forget Them,” P. A8). The the same. As a reporter he has gathered facts support for a UN convening of all East article - datelined “DILI, East Timor,” and in El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and other Timorese groups, but only as long as the not “DILI, Indonesia” as all previous Times countries where amoral regimes have mur- discussion does not touch on political reports have been - gave due weight to some dered and suppressed their own people and status. of the suffering of the East Timorese at the been rewarded by weapons or the succor of Portugal favors self-determination for hands of the Indonesians and treated official economic aid from Washington. East Timor, while Indonesia - which invaded statements with skepticism. In the past decade arms sales to Indone- in 1975 after Portugal pulled out - calls East But errors and a failure to provide an ap- sia totaled $641 million, according to the Timor its 27th Province. The UN views propriate historical context continue to Project on Demilitarization and Democracy. Portugal as in charge until residents can plague the coverage. Thus, East Timor was Nairn is an independent journalist – 39, decide their future, a vote Jakarta refuses. still referred to as “the former Portuguese New Jersey-born and New York-based – This area of lush mountains and white colony,” even though mention was made of who has reported for the Progressive, the sand beaches has seen a ferocious 20-year the fact that “the United Nations still recog- Nation, the New Yorker and other outlets struggle between a pro-independence rebel nizes Portugal as having jurisdiction.” (Per- Page 78 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. that appreciate digging beneath the surface Why, Nairn was asked in Washington, is production together - some work brilliantly, rather than idly scratching it. this story relatively unknown in the United the odd one or two fall short of the mark, Nairn was honored recently in Washing- States? “When you talk to editors,” he re- but that, my sweet, is the nature of experi- ton with the Joe A. Callaway Award for plied, “one excuse they’ll often use is ‘our ment ... it is a very worthy production and civic courage. That isn’t among the nation’s readers don’t know about East Timor, they should manage to move even the hard best-known or flashier awards, nor is the aren’t interested.’ And why don’t readers hearted among us.” (Nov. 14 1994) organization giving it – the Shafeek Nader know? Because editors don’t put it in the Ken Healey, in the “Sun-Herald” (Nov. Trust for the Community Interest – as her- paper. . . . If you look at the standards for 20 1994), writes: “We are unlikely to forget alded as it should be. The late Nader what makes something news, you could “Quito” easily ...” founded the Northwest Connecticut Com- hardly have a bigger story than this. Propor- munity College. tionately, this may be the largest genocide BRIAN HOAD IN THE BULLETIN, This absence of celebrity is fitting be- since the Nazis, and the U.S. government NOVEMBER 29 1994 (Edited): cause the kind of risk-taking practiced by has been directly involved.” It was a night to remember when Sydney Allan Nairn is devoid of the showy, and Nairn was first nudged in his direction Metropolitan Opera launched its production lacking what is required to land him on TV when as a high school student in 1974 he of Martin and Peter Wesley-Smith’s dis- journalism shows where talents for glibness met and was inspired by Ralph Nader, for turbing new music-theatre piece “Quito” - a matter more than records for solid reporting. whom he later worked. Nairn has reported night of madness rather than gladness ... Nairn specializes in human rights stories. different details of the same story since he “Quito” is about basic human rights ... about As valuable as the annual reports of such went to Guatemala in 1980 after studying at being driven mad ... about political as well as organizations as Human Rights Watch or Princeton. The United States, he believes, personal madness, about how societies as Amnesty International may be, they remain has aided one military state after another well as individuals can suffer from it, from abstract compilations of horrors, not around the world, actions “for which there’s schizophrenia - the disintegration of person- muddy-boot accounts from Third World no justification.” ality; a failing sense of reality; wild distor- villages and streets where people chance There is not one, either, for the U.S. tions of thoughts, emotions and behaviour; their lives to practice the simplest of free- news media to avoid deeper coverage. Which voices in the head, delusions, paranoia, ma- doms. Nairn goes further: exposing links is why Allan Nairn is of inestimable value nia, depression, suicide ... between local violence – clubbing Timorese and why, also, he won’t be running out of “Quito” was the nickname of Francisco students, death squads in El Salvador, dis- story ideas any time soon. Baptista Pires, an 11-year-old refugee from appearances in Guatemala – to the sanction- East Timor who managed to make it to ing of that violence by successive arms- Darwin after (Suharto’s) goons laid siege to supplying U.S. administrations. RESOURCES the former Portuguese colony in 1975, Despite nearly losing his life during the slaughtering some 200,000 people - about a 1991 massacre in East Timor – half of a quarter of the population - including mem- small island north of Australia annexed by “QUITO” - OPERA IN bers of Quito’s own family who failed to Indonesia in 1976 – Nairn returned last No- SYDNEY escape. Successive Australian governments vember for follow-up stories. He paid his adopted the usual low posture and saw, own way. He wanted to observe the politi- Sydney Metropolitan Opera is currently heard and spoke no evil ... cal scene when President Clinton came to performing a work of “audio-visual music “Quito” is an extraordinary criss-crossing Indonesia for three days for an economic theatre” called “Quito” - about the life and of themes and ideas which amplify each summit. The candidate who scolded Presi- death of Francisco Pires, a Timorese other to throw up all manner of questionable dent George Bush for coddling dictators schizophrenic who was found hanging from meanings ... Martin Wesley-Smith and his ... would coddle the ruthless Suharto – over- a curtain rail in his room at Royal Darwin librettist Peter ... have long shared a fascina- seer of the killing of 200,000 Timorese, a Hospital in 1990. tion for the world of Lewis Carroll/Charles third of the population – with a $40 billion Book & music: Martin Wesley-Smith; Dodgson, one in which nothing is quite what trade deal. It includes rich contracts for book & lyrics: Peter Wesley-Smith. it seems ... “Quito” comes from a dark cor- General Electric and Exxon. In this work we use the invasion of ner of that world, yet it is not without black The Clinton-Suharto chumminess Quito’s head by voices, and of his body by humor - particularly when it is satirizing brought swarms of the international news drugs, as a metaphor for the invasion of his crazy politicians. media to Indonesia. Except for a few para- homeland by Indonesian troops. The per- Musically, electronic tapes and a ghostly graphs about 29 Timorese students occupy- formers are The Song Company, a six- piano that plays itself, supplemented by the ing a U.S. Embassy parking lot, the details person a cappella classical vocal ensemble. roaring jets overhead, take care of the more of ongoing terror in East Timor again went Delores Des Mai, in “Beat” Magazine, dramatic moments while the six members of unreported. The press herd came and went writes: .”.. where it could have lapsed into The Song Company, sometimes in ensem- while Nairn, on hand before and after, table thumping, “Quito” does manage to ble, sometimes solo, sing songs which - as stayed three weeks. dance the shaky line between preaching usual with Wesley-Smith - are drawn from Security forces barred him from entering politics and smothering you in pathos ... many sources: from Orlando Lasso, a master East Timor. He was arrested and held for 20 The blur between Quito’s experience and of the masses, motets and madrigals of the hours in Jakarta on Nov. 12. He tried again that of the East Timorese people provided 16th century when Portugal was setting up and was pulled off a plane bound for East fodder for some rather sensational scenes ... shop in Timor; Timorese folk songs; Timor. His third effort was successful. He (There) is a mix of music that is both bizarre Quito’s own songs; songs in sardonic caba- slipped in and gathered the kind of informa- and amazing. You get everything from 17th ret style; even vulgar vaudevillean songs - tion – torture houses, killings, censorship, century motet to country and western bal- like the sendup of our mellifluous foreign fear – that few outside news organizations lad, chillingly discordant a cappella to some minister, “Thank Evans.” are pursuing. of Quito’s own songs ... Some very brave Medical staff hand out pills to settle the decisions have been made in putting this audience on arrival; a video screen presents a East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. Page 79 documentary on the death of Quito, and “Quito” is scored for six voices (two so- CRA, hand in hand with the federal govern- interviews with his friends and family. On pranos, an alto, a tenor, a baritone and a ment, is conducting in Bougainville, or of the another screen a monkey face creepily trans- bass baritone) plus tape. We are currently piracy of Timor oil by Australian oil com- forms into more familiar human features. working on a cut-down simplified version panies. And on a small stage there is a poignant, for touring, and will be looking for perform- Mario, from the East Timorese commu- bare, featureless wooden puppet, which is ance opportunities for the Song Company in nity, also spoke, urging people to attend a Quito, continually manipulated and finally 1995 and for the possibility of other pro- vigil on December 7, at 5.30pm in the Queen destroyed. ductions using different singers. Street Mall, to mark the 19th anniversary of It’s a low-budget production and a bit The piece pulls no punches when dealing the Indonesian invasion. rough around the edges. The Song Company with the situation in East Timor, and thus are splendid vocalists, but still raw as ac- helps to bring the situation there to people’s tors. Yet the roughness and the rawness, like attention. EAST TIMOR AND THE MEDIA the ceaseless jets, all blend into this haunting For more information, contact Martin tragedy. Wesley-Smith, at [email protected] A Critical View of Western Journalism There is a quote which particularly sticks and Scholarship on East Timor By Geof- in the mind: “Few of us can tolerate inva- AETA CALENDAR frey Gunn (with Jefferson Lee) Journal sion of any sort. Everyone needs a private, of Contemporary Asia Publishers, 1994. secure place - mental and physical.” The Australia-East Timor Association 271 pp., $25 (pb) Available by postal or- has made a 1995 calendar that is available der from PO Box 703, Leichhardt 2040 “QUITO” REVIEW IN “THE for purchase. It is A2 size on thick paper Reviewed by Arun Pradhan in Green Left AUSTRALIAN (200g). Taking up much of the space is Review “Quito” is an extraordinary music-theatre Elaine Brière’s beautiful “mother and baby” work based on the true story of the young photograph taken in East Timor in 1974. The crime against the people of East schizophrenic Timorese musician Francisco Beneath it are all the days of 1995, with Timor by the Indonesian regime is becoming (“Quito”) Pires, who was found hanging significant dates in the recent history of East known to the world thanks largely to the from his pajama cord in the Royal Darwin Timor circled and explained. We have cho- continuing resistance of the East Timorese. Hospital in 1990. sen the events and dates so that we can A largely untold crime is the complicity of Using a mix of unaccompanied song - commemorate events throughout the year, Western governments in the Indonesian spanning the whole spectrum of music from not just in November and December. It is an invasion, and the bias of the establishment classical to rock, pop and computer - multi- activist’s calendar, but it was professionally media in justifying it. screen projections and a couple of huge designed and looks good ... In the wake of the APEC meeting and the Japanese Bunraku-type puppets, but no At A$5 per calendar (including p & p) Australian government’s “economic push visible conductor, it comes over with all the you can afford to buy several! Send a into Asia” overshadowing any semblance of punch of an updated political satire. cheque to: human rights, this bias and complicity are as The more the piece employs humor, the AETA, PO Box 751, Darlinghurst, NSW strong as ever. Thus A Critical View comes more deadly it becomes. The hit of the eve- 2010 Australia at an important time and is a damning rejec- ning was a cabaret song and dance routine, tel.: [61-2] 558 7226, 30 2028, 331 5986; tion of those who support the ALP’s full of false jollity, with the Song Com- fax: [61-2] 716 8266 “softly softly” approach to Suharto. pany’s bearded baritone doing a self- If you wish to buy in bulk, and sell cop- The book is a comprehensive and at congratulatory “Senator Evans’s interna- ies locally, please get in touch with Stephen times quite detailed record of East Timorese tional cowboy” number. It brought a sudden Langford (secretary, NSW branch) for an history and the constant sell-outs and be- burst of spontaneous applause from the attractive deal. trayals that have surrounded the invasion. audience. Amongst the best sections is the chapter “Quito” attempts to link up the “inva- EAST TIMOR EXHIBITION which describes the Australian and US role in the invasion. It refers to CIA papers sion” of a schizophrenic mind with the inva- VISITS IPSWICH sion of a country, in this case East Timor. which confirm that Indonesia was involved Its message seems to be that Australia is By Nick Everett, Green Left, Dec. 4, 1994 in clandestine warfare in East Timor from quicker to interfere in distant problems than 1974. With this sort of information readily when problems occur nearer home. BRISBANE - Community Aid Abroad’s at hand, the US and Australian governments The vocal sextet that makes up the Song “East Timor 1942-1992” photo exhibition made conscious decisions to remain silent, Company has rarely had an opportunity to opened in Ipswich on December 3. The and basically gave the Indonesian regime the show so clearly just what virtuosos they exhibition, on the Queensland leg of its tour, go-ahead. are. They are not only capable of singing a contains more than 100 photos of culture The book documents the role played by whole performance a cappella and keeping and resistance in East Timor. Whitlam, Fraser and Hawke in their support in pretty good tune, but are astonishingly Ipswich Lord Mayor David Underwood for the Suharto regime. Whitlam in particular fine actors as well. used the occasion to attack federal govern- is shown up, not only for his initial And because there was no orchestral or ments of different shades for standing idly complicity, but for his continuing electronic accompaniment to mask the by during two decades of killing in East justifications. He even “proudly offered words - which is almost the norm in con- Timor; Gough Whitlam had remained silent evidence to the UN Decolonisation Com- temporary opera - every bit of the excel- on the issue, he noted. mittee in support of his case as to why East lently compiled text, some of it Quito’s Underwood drew some parallels with the Timor should be removed from the UN own, comes across ... independence struggle on Bougainville. Aus- agenda.”East Timorese self-determination was on tralians, he said, know much more about the –- the ALP’s platform as it ran for, and won, role of the CIA in supporting brutal regimes, the 1983 federal elections. By early June of than know of the war that mining giant that year, it was clear that ALP platform Page 80 East Timor Documents, Volume 34. December 1, 1994 - January 16, 1995. and practice were two quite distinct things, as Prime Minister Hawke indicated “defence aid” to Indonesia would continue. Hawke’s comment from Jakarta that “we should put East Timor behind us” formalized this be- trayal. The authors are just as detailed in their exposure of the media’s role. Of course, after the Dili massacre and even more re- cently with the protests around APEC, the media could not ignore East Timor. Yet despite occasional exceptions, the media played down the massacre and emphasised the need for long-term trade relations to temper any “hasty reaction.” In their analysis of the media, the authors use a “Chomsky model” which was popu- larized in the documentary Manufacturing Consent. To me Chomsky’s work is suc- cessful in three ways: its analysis, the vast amount of information it presents and its accessibility and clarity. Certainly this book is dense with infor- mation; I find myself continually referring back to it and have not been disappointed by lack of detail. Analysis of the vested interests of Western governments is well backed up by this sea of information. If the book has failings, it is in its presen- tation. Even from the title, one can see the tendency towards a convoluted academic style. Its structure and chronology could have been better planned and, combined with the style, might prevent some from getting through it. I would not recommend it to someone who is new to the subject. The other main disappointment was its one-sided view of the media. Even in Chom- sky’s Manufacturing Consent, he took the time to present the alternative press as an option. The authors make a single reference to Vanguard and a few to Tribune, but that is all. This is unfortunate since the role and mo- tives of the establishment media become even clearer when seen in the context of such alternatives, and certainly the role of Green Left Weekly has been widely recog- nised by the East Timorese community and solidarity activists alike. However, these criticisms should not take anything away from a very useful book. In documenting a long list of betray- als, the authors have shed light on informa- tion which is usually distorted or ignored. Geoffrey C. Gunn (with Jefferson Lee), A Critical View of Western Journalism and Scholarship on East Timor, Journal of Con- temporary Asia Press, Manila, 1994, 272pp, biblio, index. [available from publisher, P.O. Box 592, Manila, Philippines 1099. Price US$10. Send cheque with payment in US dollars. Post free for surface mail. Airmail add US8.00 per book]