Documents on East Timor from PeaceNet and Connected Computer Networks Volume 23: June 8 - July 31, 1993

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] For additional copies, please enclose US$10. per volume to cover costs; add an extra $3. for interna- tional air mail. Activist rate: $6. domestic, $8. international. These documents are usually produced approximately every six weeks, and mailed to subscribers. If you would like to subscribe, send $60 for the next six issues (US), or $78 for international air mail. Reduced rate for activists: $36 in the US, $48 international. Subsidized rate are available for groups in Third World countries working on East Timor. Checks should be made out to “ETAN.” Tax- deductible contributions can be made out to “WESPAC Foundation/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) and other activists and solidarity groups, but they are not responsible for edi torial comment or selection.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

XANANA IN PRISON...... 7 ABOUT THE TRIAL: TIMORESE UNAWARE...... 7 XG’S FAMILY DENIES APPEAL...... 7 UNFAIR POLITICAL TRIAL OF XANANA GUSMÃO ...... 7 ORDER OF FREEDOM FOR XANANA...... 14 LBH COMPLAINS TO THE INDONESIAN BAR ASSOCIATION ABOUT SUDJONO ...... 14 HORTA & TAPOL DISBELIEVE CLEMENCY APPEAL ...... 15 MORE OF SUDJONO’S SCHEMING...... 15 GUSMÃO’S DILI TRIAL A TRAVESTY- WORLD MUST WEEP FOR A MAN OF VISION AND COURAGE...... 15 XANANA’S HEALTH DECLINING? ...... 16 RAMOS-HORTA TELLS ALATAS: “SHOW XANANA GUSMÃO”...... 17 ULTIMATE PENALTY - EAST TIMOR LEADER GETS LIFE IMPRISONMENT...... 17 REBEL LEADER TO SERVE JAIL SENTENCE OUTSIDE EAST TIMOR...... 18 RAMOS-HORTA INTERVIEW ...... 18 STATEMENT OF INDONESIAN DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON XANANA’S TRIAL...... 20 REBEL ASKS FOR MERCY...... 22 “XANANA WILL NEVER FILE FOR CLEMENCY!” — RAMOS HORTA ...... 22 CLEMENCY PLOY FOR EAST TIMORESE YET ANOTHER TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE...... 22 MEDIA PUT WORDS IN XANANA’S MOUTH...... 23 JAILED XANANA WINS LIBERTY MEDAL...... 23 XANANA MOVED FROM DILI ...... 24 Page 2 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

WILL ICRC SEE XANANA OR EAST TIMOR? ...... 24 ICRC TO VISIT XANANA GUSMÃO?...... 24 RED CROSS TIMOR VISIT ...... 24 EVANS: JAKARTA WILL ALLOW ACCESS TO XANANA ‘WITHIN DAYS’ ...... 24 ICRC’S PROBLEMS IN EAST TIMOR NOT RESOLVED ...... 25 RED CROSS VISITS XANANA GUSMÃO...... 25 RED CROSS ‘DENIED ACCESS’ IN EAST TIMOR ...... 25 ICRC “DEPLORES” LACK OF ACCESS ...... 26 ICRC VISITS TO TIMORESE DETAINEES AGAIN SUSPENDED ...... 26

REACTIONS TO XANANA'S IMPRISONMENT...... 26 SAN FRANCISCO RESPONSE CLOSES INDONESIAN CONSULATE...... 26 EVANS PUSHES FOR XANANA CLEMENCY ...... 27 INDONESIA’S SHAME ...... 27 JAKARTA UNDER PRESSURE ON XANANA ...... 27 CANADIAN WOMAN JOINS INTERNATIONAL HUNGER STRIKE FOR EAST TIMOR...... 28 HUNGER STRIKE CONTINUES IN THE HAGUE ...... 28 TORONTO PRIEST CONTINUES HUNGER STRIKE FOR EAST TIMOR...... 29 PRESSURE ON EC REGARDING XANANA...... 29 HUNGER STRIKE IN IRELAND ...... 30 INDONESIA CHALLENGED TO ALLOW GUSMÃO A NEWS CONFERENCE...... 30

EVENTS INSIDE EAST TIMOR...... 30 ALATAS SPEECH AT UNIVERSITY OF EAST TIMOR ...... 30 JAKARTA HAS LONG WAY TO GO IN GAINING ACCEPTANCE OF ITS PRESENCE IN EAST TIMOR ...... 35 TIMOR OPPRESSION ‘INTENSIFIED’ ...... 37 REPORT FROM INSIDE ON MA’HUNO...... 37 EAST TIMOR STUDENTS - ASSISTANCE NEEDED ...... 37 BISHOP OF DILI UNDER SIEGE ...... 38 A PROBLEM OF THE SOUL...... 38 AN ISLAND OF EXILES ...... 39 ONCE MIGHTY EAST TIMOR SEPARATISTS DYING BREED ...... 40 PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE NOT ALLOWED ON CATHOLIC RADIO IN TIMOR...... 40 INTERVIEW WITH FR. DOMINGOS SOARES ...... 41 US SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNTIM...... 41 TWO MORE DILI MASSACRE SURVIVORS FOUND...... 41 TIMOR HISTORY BOOKS ATTACKED ...... 42 INFANT MORTALITY HIGHEST IN WORLD ...... 43 EAST TIMOR REBELS CONTINUE STRUGGLE AGAINST INDONESIA...... 43 TROOPS BREAK UP DEMO IN DILI ...... 43 BRADBURY TAPE SEIZED IN TIMOR...... 44 INDONESIAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN LOS PALOS...... 45

E.T. STUDENTS SEEK ASYLUM IN JAKARTA ...... 45 SEVEN EAST TIMORESE STUDENTS SEEK POLITICAL ASYLUM IN SWEDISH AND FINNISH EMBASSIES ...... 45 ASYLUM REQUEST TO FI NLAND AND SWEDEN ...... 45 ASYLUM-SEEKERS ON HUNGER STRIKE...... 46 BIODATA OF EAST TIMORESE REQUESTING POLITICAL ASYLUM ...... 47 SEVEN TIMORESE STUDENTS ASK FOR ASYLUM IN JAKARTA...... 48 FINNISH COMMITTEE OF 100 DEMANDS THE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THE TIMORESE...... 48 URGENT CAMPAIGN NEEDED FOR ASYLUM-SEEKERS...... 48 LONG STANDOFF EXPECTED ON STUDENTS’ ASYLUM REQUEST...... 49 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 3

FOUR LEAVE FINNISH EMBASSY...... 49 SWEDEN SHOULD ARRANGE SAFE CONDUCT...... 50 PORTUGUESE POSITION ON EMBASSY TIMORESE ...... 50 SEVEN LOSE ASYLUM BI D...... 51 ETRA’S LETTER TO EMBASSIES ...... 51 EAST TIMORESE IN JAKARTA SWEDISH EMBASSY UPDATE ...... 51 JAKARTA REFUSES EXIT TO EAST TIMOR ASYLUM-SEEKERS ...... 52 FINNISH COMMITTEE OF 100 QUESTIONS FINNISH DECISION ...... 52 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION ON ASYLUM-SEEKERS...... 52 TIMORESE STUDENTS WANT TO GO TO PORTUGAL...... 53 TIMORESE IN EXILE APPEAL FOR SAFE PASSAGE FOR STUDENTS...... 54 JAKARTA COMMANDER OFFERS GUARANTEES ON SAFETY OF EAST TIMORESE...... 54 SWEDEN, FINLAND “MORALLY RESPONSIBLE” FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS ...... 54 TIMORESE STUDENTS DEFIANT IN DEMAND FOR SAFE PASSAGE...... 55 TIME, PATIENCE RUNNING OUT FOR TIMORESE STUDENTS ...... 55 THREE EAST TIMORESE HOLDING OUT AT SWEDISH EMBASSY ...... 55 THREE EAST TIMORESE SPEND FIFTH DAY AT SWEDISH EMBASSY...... 56 NO INDONESIAN PASSPORTS ...... 56 PORTUGAL SAYS WILL ACCEPT EAST TIMOR STUDENTS ...... 56 JAPANESE DIET MEMBER EDA APPEALS TO SWEDEN ...... 57 FARIA: “WE’RE BEING HOUNDED!” ...... 57 PRESSURE ON SWEDEN AND FINLAND...... 57 LETTER TO SWEDISH KING FROM WORLD SERVICE AUTHORITY ...... 57 THREE TIMORESE AT SWEDISH EMBASSY IN JAKARTA CALL FOR HELP ...... 58 EAST TIMORESE STUDEN TS COMPLAIN OF SWEDISH EMBASSY HARASSMEN T...... 58 SWEDEN CALLS EAST TIMORESE ASYLUM PLEA PROPAGANDA...... 59 ET STUDENTS IN SWEDISH EMBASSY...... 59 TIMORESE DUE TO LEAVE EMBASSY 8 AM FRIDAY...... 59 ROUNDUP OF ASYLUM NEWS, JULY 2...... 59 ASYLUM SUMMARY ...... 60 EAST TIMORESE LEAVE SWEDISH EMBASSY IN JAKARTA ...... 60 TIMORESE LEAVE EMBASSY: ROUNDUP BY TAPOL, JULY 2...... 61 THREE ASYLUM SEEKERS APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT...... 61 THREE TIMORESE YOUTHS AND HJC PRINCEN’S FAMILY TERRORIZED...... 61 INDONESIA CHARGES ASYLUM BID ENGINEERED BY AI...... 61 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT ON ASYLUM-SEEKERS...... 62 JAKARTA CLAIMS ICRC PROGRAMME IS DEFUNCT...... 67 CNRM: ICRC REPATRIATION PROGRAM STILL IN OPERATION ...... 68 TENUOUS EXISTENCE AT PRINCEN’S HOME...... 68 SWEDEN APPRECIATES THE EFFORTS OF THE JAKARTA MILITARY COMMANDER ...... 69 PRINCEN APPEALED TO SUHARTO ...... 69 JAWA POS INTERVIEWS ASYLUM-SEEKERS ...... 70 ASYLUM-SEEKERS MOVED...... 71

EVENTS IN INDONESIA...... 71 REMILITARIZED ZONE - ARMY STRENGTHENS ITS POLITICS ...... 71 INDON MOVE TO PUSH TIMOR PROGRESS ...... 72 INDO NGO’S CALL FOR CHANGES IN HUMAN RIGHTS ...... 72 RAMOS-HORTA MALIGNED BY INDONESIAN NEWSPAPER ...... 72 TIMOR APPEAL FAILS...... 72 YELLOW STARS IN INDONESIA...... 72 Page 4 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

SSDI STATEMENT ON NEW STUDENT-ARMY CLASH ON JAKARTA CAMPUS ...... 73 RIGHTS GROUP CALLS INDONESIA’S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION “SERIOUSLY FLAWED”...... 73 SUHARTO DEFENDS ROLE IN EAST TIMOR...... 77 SWIFT RESPONSE TO INDONESIAN REPRESSION ...... 77 SUHARTO: A SOFTER LINE ON EAST TIMOR?...... 77 A.M. FATWA RELEASED ...... 78 NEW INDONESIAN AMBASSADORS TO US, FRANCE, SAUDI ARABIA, RUSSIA...... 78 INDONESIA’S HIDDEN WAR IN NORTH SUMATRA...... 78

THE TIMORESE EXTERNAL RESISTANCE ...... 80 UDT CONGRESS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER ...... 80 RESISTANCE GROUP SHIFTS EMPHASIS TO DIPLOMACY ...... 80 WHO’S WHO IN THE CNRM ...... 81 RESISTANCE MOVEMENT TO BE LED FROM ABROAD...... 81 “THE RESISTANCE IS WITHOUT A LEADER” – ABILIO ARAUJO ...... 81 17 WASTED YEARS – J.R. HORTA ...... 83 RAMOS-HORTA SPEECH AT LISBON TIMOR CONFERENCE...... 84

INDONESIA'S SUPPORTERS: PUSHING INTEGRATION...... 86 NUNO ROCHA LETTER TO SOARES AND GOVERNMENT ON TIMOR...... 86 TIMORESE REJECT PROPOSAL FROM ABILIO ARAUJO...... 87 INDONESIA PROPOSES TIMORESE TALKS...... 88 TALKS COULD BE IN TWO MONTHS...... 88 CNRM REJECTS TALKS ...... 89 ROUNDUP: JAKARTA ‘TALKS’ MOVE ...... 90 ALATAS: TIMORESE MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN TALKS...... 90 EAST TIMORESE TO ATTEND TALKS ...... 91 INDONESIAN NGOS STATEMENT ON TALKS ...... 91 TAPOL ON JAKARTA’S LATEST ‘CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURE’...... 91 TIMORESE ‘RECONCILIATION’ TO TAKE PLACE IN BRUSSELS...... 97 ‘NO’ TO TALKS WITH PUPPETS ...... 97 TAPOL COMMENT ON ‘TALKS’ EXCHANGES, ...... 98 “IT’S ABILIO’S WISH, NOT INDONESIA’S” SAYS LOPEZ DA CRUZ ...... 99 LISBON ON JAKARTA-SPONSORED TALKS...... 99

TIMORESE TO VISIT THE POPE...... 99 MISSION TO THE VATICAN ANNOUNCED ...... 99 PRO-RI TIMORESE TO VISIT POPE...... 100 POPE ADDRESSES TIMORESE PILGRIMS IN PORTUGUESE...... 100

ECONOMIC AID ISSUES...... 100 INDONESIA REJECTS HUMAN RIGHTS LINK TO AID ...... 100 FEW INVESTORS TAKE UP INVITE TO EAST TIMOR ...... 100 PRE-CGI MEETING PRESSURE ON WORLD BANK...... 100 WORLD DONORS SHOWER MORE AID ON RI...... 101 PARIS CANDLELIGHT WAKE AT CGI MEETING...... 102

LABOR RIGHTS IN INDONESIA; GSP THREATENED ...... 103 THE DOLLAR-A-DAY WORKERS WHO PRODUCE MICHAEL JORDAN’S $200 NIKE SHOES ...... 103 REEBOKS, RAPPERS AND LOSERS...... 103 US TELLS INDONESIA: IMPROVE LABOR RIGHTS OR LOSE TRADE BENEFITS...... 105 INDONESIA RESPONDS ON LABOR RIGHTS ...... 105 INDONESIAN WORKERS GROUP CONDEMNS ACTU...... 106 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 5

INDONESIA BARS LABOR CONGRESS...... 106

U.N. DECOLONIZATION SEMINAR IN PORT MORESBY...... 106 OUTSIDE PRESSURE ON UN DECOLONISATION COMMITTEE STAFF...... 106 CHALLENGE TO UN SPECIAL COMMITTEE OVER MELANESIAN RECOLONISATION ...... 107 PACIFIC DECOLONIZATION SEMINAR CRITICIZED ...... 107

U.N. CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN VIENNA ...... 108 WORLD CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS REPRESSION REPORT...... 108 ASIAN NGO’S ATTACK ALATAS ...... 108 ASIAN NGO’S PROTEST UN INTERFERENCE IN FORUM ...... 109 HUMAN RIGHTS: THIRD WORLD ACCUSES WEST OF DOUBLE STANDARDS ...... 109 THE ORGANIC GROWTH ...... 109 PORTUGAL AND INDONESIA CLASH AT WCHR ...... 110 ILLS OF THE WORLD JOSTLE FOR ATTENTION AT U.N. CONFERENCE...... 111 EVANS-ALATAS AXIS IN VIENNA...... 111 INDONESIAN ACTIVIST COALITION CALLS FOR ASYLUM FOR EAST TIMORESE ACTIVISTS...... 111 TIMORESE FEAR NEW WORLD ORDER WILL BURY THEIR CAUSE...... 111 EAST TIMOR: “NOT ANNEXED”...... 112 “NO HISTORICAL OR LEGAL CLAIM FOR INDONESIA TO OCCUPY EAST TIMOR” ...... 113

DECOLONIZATION HEARINGS IN NEW YORK ...... 113 U.N. PRESS RELEASE ON DECOL. HEARINGS...... 113 PETITIONERS TO U.N. DECOLONIZATION HEARING ON EAST TIMOR ...... 113 CNRM UN STATEMENT...... 114 FRETILIN UN DECOLONIZATION STATEMENT...... 116 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT...... 118

EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA...... 123 CRACK INDONESIAN TROOPS (KOPASSUS) IN AUSTRALIA...... 123 NORTHERN TERRITORY AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY RESOLUTION ON EAST TIMOR ...... 123 AUSTRALIAN NGO’S DISAPPOINTED BY EVANS’ ADDRESS TO HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE...... 124 TV COMMERCIAL ON EAST TIMOR ...... 124 PICKETS AT GARUDA, MELBOURNE...... 124 “STILL A ‘GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM’ MR. EVANS?” ...... 125 HIGH COURT CHALLENGE TO TIMOR GAP LEGISLATION ...... 125 HIGH COURT CHALLENGE TO BE LODGED AGAINST TIMOR GAP TREATY ...... 126 SELF-DETERMINATION BASIS OF COURT MOVE ...... 127 TIGHT SECURITY AS DARWIN INDONESIAN CONSULATE OPENED ...... 127 TIMOR VIGIL IN MELBOURNE...... 127 BASIC FLAW IN AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE TIES WITH INDONESIA ...... 127 DEMONSTRATION AT OPENING OF CONSULATE IN DARWIN ...... 128 INDONESIA IN NAVAL GAMES IN DARWIN...... 128 RELATIONS WITH ASIAN ARMIES ...... 128 INDONESIAN TROOPS TRAINING DEFENDED ...... 129 SOME ADVICE TO A PRESIDENT ON FREEING TIMOR ...... 129

EVENTS IN BRITAIN...... 130 WELCOME THE INDONESIAN AMBASSADOR TO LONDON ...... 130 BRITISH AEROSPACE GETS HAWK ORDER ...... 130 TAPOL CONDEMNS WARPLANE SALE TO AGGRESSOR REGIME...... 131

EVENTS IN EUROPE...... 131 IN THE EC PORTUGAL “ISOLATES” INDONESIA ...... 131 Page 6 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

SHIPS OCCUPIED IN FEAST FOR EAST TIMOR ...... 131 UNION OF WESTERN EUROPE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY’S RESOLUTION...... 132 APPEALS IN THE ITALIAN SENATE ...... 132 GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY AND TORTURE TIMORESE ...... 132 IRELAND MAY SEND GROUP TO EAST TIMOR...... 132 EUROPEAN DELEGATION MIGHT VISIT TIMOR ...... 133 IRISH PARLIAMENT’S RESOLUTION ...... 133 A VERY QUIET GREEN LIGHT ON A (SWISS) ARMS SALE TO INDONESIA...... 133

EVENTS IN CANADA...... 133 CANADIAN LIBERAL PARTY POSITION ON EAST TIMOR...... 133 ETAN/CANADA EAST TIMOR UPDATE...... 134 HUNGER STRIKE BEGINS IN VANCOUVER...... 135

EVENTS IN PORTUGAL...... 135 PORTUGAL PUTS PRESSURE ON EC AND UN ...... 135 SOARES WANTS SOLIDARITY FROM EUROPE ...... 135 XANANA GETS TOP LISBON AWARD ...... 135 HAMUTUK NAFATIN: “A TIMORESE STORY”...... 136 “OLHO VIVO” IN OPORTO ...... 136 PORTUGAL TO MAINTAIN VETO ON EC / ASEAN AGREEMENT...... 136 PRO-JAKARTA LOBBY IN PORTUGAL...... 136 83 PORTUGUESE FIRMS STILL TRADE WITH INDONESIA...... 136 GALVÃO DE MELO WANTS TO GO TO JAKARTA...... 137

EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES...... 137 ETAN NORTH AMERICAN CONFERENCE...... 137 CLINTON CONCERNED OVER TIMOR ...... 137 SUHARTO AND CLINTON TO CONFER...... 137 INDONESIA AND HUMAN RIGHTS ...... 137 AGIO PEREIRA TO VISIT NORTHWEST US...... 137 JORDAN’S F5 SALE BLOCKED ...... 138

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL ACTION...... 138 US HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT ...... 138 PENTAGON WANTS TO RESUME TRAINING THE INDONESIAN MILITARY ...... 138 SENATORS WRITE CLINTON ON TIMOR...... 139 SENATORS: DON’T LET INDONESIA PURCHASE MILITARY TRAINING...... 140 TELL CONGRESS TO END US ARMS SALES TO INDONESIA...... 140

EVENTS IN JAPAN...... 140 SUHARTO WILL GO TO JAPAN ...... 140 TOKYO SUMMIT PREVIEW...... 140 MERCHANTS OF DEATH, NO MORE GUNS FOR SUHARTO! ...... 141 TIMORESE, SUHARTO IN TOKYO ...... 141 CLINTON BROACHES EAST TIMOR PROBLEM WITH SUHARTO...... 142 CLINTON ANNOUNCES APEC CONFERENCE...... 143

EVENTS IN ASIA...... 143 MALAYSIAN NGO’S CHALLENGE SUHARTO VISIT...... 143 EAST TIMOR HIGH ON AGENDA IN EC-ASEAN TALKS...... 144

RESOURCES AVAILABLE ...... 144 SLIDES ON EAST TIMOR AVAILABLE ...... 144 ART WITH TIMOR...... 144 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 7

MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES ...... 144 IMAGINING EAST TIMOR ...... 144 THE FAULTLINE IN JUSTICE LINKING TIMOR TO BOSNIA...... 147

today a court appeal for clemency filed by Even before proceedings began on 1 Feb- XANANA IN PRISON his Indonesian lawyer. Xanana was jailed for ruary, practices highly prejudicial to a fair life last month after a three-and-a-half- trial were already evident. After his capture month trial that was a focus of international on 20 November 1992, Xanana Gusmão was ABOUT THE TRIAL: concern. His lawyer Sudjono ask an East held in secret military custody for 17 days TIMORESE UNAWARE Timor court last week for clemency. But before the International Committee of the Jose Ramos Horta, a spokesman for Red Cross (ICRC) representatives were Publico; 21 May 1993, Lisbon Timorese refugee groups, said Sudjono had permitted to see him. Apart from being People living in Dili, whom the Portu- misrepresented his client’s wishes. Mr. unlawful, this prolonged period of incom- guese reporters had met in the streets of the Ramos Horta said Xanana’s family had municado detention gave rise to fears that he Timorese capital, were unaware that today clearly stated there would be no appeal for may have been psychologically or physi- was the day the sentence was to be passed clemency and Sudjono had never been in- cally ill- treated. Such fears were heightened on Xanana. The most surprising case was structed to make one. by the fact that, in violation of both domes- reported by the LUSA Agency envoy who tic and international standards, he was de- yesterday heard the former guerrilla leader’s UNFAIR POLITICAL TRIAL OF nied access to a lawyer while under interro- own father say that he did not know “that XANANA GUSMÃO gation. There were also doubts about the sentence was now.” Parents, sister Ar- whether he had been free to appoint legal mandina, and brother-in-law Gilman (the From Amnesty International, July 1993 counsel of his choice as required by Indone- sian law. two latter arrested straight after Xanana, but AI INDEX: ASA 21/05/93 now released) were only allowed to be with Full text INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT, 1 Xanana once - on Easter Sunday. They had EASTON STREET, LONDON WC1X 8DJ, lunch together - in the company of a series Xanana Gusmão, the East Timorese re- UNITED KINGDOM of military personnel, “some of them with sistance leader, was sentenced to life- imprisonment on 21 May 1993 after a bla- their wives.” “They never allowed us to be Lawyers from the Indonesian Legal Aid alone, not even for a moment,” complained tantly unfair political trial. The District Court of Dili found him guilty of rebellion Institute (LBH) were not permitted to visit Xanana’s father, Manuel Gusmão. And he him, despite having been given power of added a curious detail: only Xanana and his and illegal possession of firearms. Amnesty International deplored the outcome but said attorney by his relatives. A defence lawyer relatives appeared in the filmed footage of was finally appointed on 26 January 1993 the lunch, later transmitted on television, it came as no surprise since a guilty verdict is a foregone conclusion in political trials in just six days before the trial began. The trial “as though it had been a real Easter family itself was also marked by the violation of lunch.” Indonesia and East Timor. In view of the fact that Indonesia’s sov- basic international and domestic standards. Prosecution witnesses, many of whom were XG’S FAMILY DENIES ereignty over East Timor has not been rec- ognized by the United Nations, the compe- themselves political detainees, appear to APPEAL tence of Indonesian courts to try Xanana have been subjected to undue pressure from military authorities, making their testimony Publico 26 May 1993. Translated. Gusmão, and other East Timorese, is open to question. It is especially doubtful unreliable. Some who refused to comply (Lisbon) Xanana Gusmão’s relatives told whether an East Timorese can legitimately were reportedly subjected to intimidation the office of the Maubere Resistance Na- be charged with rebellion against the Gov- and sanctions. One witness, Saturnino da tional Council (CNRM) abroad that they ernment of Indonesia which occupies the Costa Belo, who unexpectedly shouted had not made any statement regarding the territory illegally. Nevertheless, Amnesty “Long Live East Timor!” was removed from possibility of appealing to President Su- International believes that, when such trials the court-room, placed in an isolation cell harto of Indonesia to reduce the life impris- do take place, every effort must be made to and declared unfit to testify. Fear of official onment sentence, passed on Friday by the ensure that they comply fully with interna- reprisals also ensured that few witnesses Dili court. The same sources referred to the tional standards of fairness. could be found to testify for the defence. In fact that Xanana had not only refused to Following strong international criticism some respects, the defence case also ap- accept the court’s jurisdiction and rejected of its appalling human rights record in East peared to have been inadequately prepared. Indonesian citizenship twice, but had also Timor, the Indonesian Government made an A further problem was that neither Xanana introduced himself as Falintil Commander, unusual effort to make Xanana Gusmão’s Gusmão nor many of the witnesses were who had fought against Indonesian occupa- trial appear both open and fair. Selected fluent in Indonesian, the language used in the tion of the territory. For these reasons, “to foreign journalists, diplomats and some court, while translation services provided ask for clemency does not make any sense,” international human rights organizations - were neither complete nor accurate. Perhaps they said. not including Amnesty International - were the most blatant contravention of fair trial standards came in one of the final sessions XANANA’S FAMILY REJECTS permitted to attend as observers. However, like all political trials in East Timor and when Xanana Gusmão was due to read his APPEAL Indonesia, this one failed to meet interna- final defence plea. After he had read two The Age 7 June 1993 By Reuter tional standards of fairness, or even to com- pages of a 29-page statement, the presiding ply with Indonesia’s own Code of Criminal judge ordered him to stop, claiming that his Jailed East Timor rebel leader Xanana remarks were “irrelevant.” Government Gusmão’s overseas spokesman rejected Procedure. Page 8 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

officials have since repeated the judge’s APPENDIX I nate the world formed the basis of what we claim that Xanana Gusmão’s remarks were now know as the United Nations Organiza- “irrelevant.” In fact, the statement addressed DEFENCE STATEMENT OF tion. highly sensitive political issues, such as the XANANA GUSMÃO I believe that the Charter of the United question of Indonesia’s sovereignty over Nations in its essence epitomizes the theo- East Timor. It appears likely that his state- May 1993 ries which have arisen from the experience ment was suppressed in order to prevent Comment: Although a hasty translation of of peoples from all corners of the earth and Xanana Gusmão from raising publicly such excerpts from Xanana’s statement was pub- the most different... [original illegible]. The critical issues. lished in East Timor Documents #22 and in principles enshrined in the Charter of the In addition to these procedural concerns, many newspapers, this is a more complete United Nations provide the necessary and Amnesty International believes that the version. the best reference point for the theories of general political atmosphere within which I wish firstly to take this opportunity to people’s liberation and the formation of the trial took place - one of undisguised express myself with complete freedom - nations. Today, with the advance of human- official hostility to the defendant, and re- without, that is, coercion of any kind. kind, there is no part of the world that does peated interference in the judicial proceed- To all those who have approached me on not subscribe to these universal principles ings by military and executive authorities - the question of my statements, including the and standards of international law [original made a fair trial virtually impossible. Indonesian ambassador to the UNO [United illegible]. The a priori reasoning of conserva- Since his arrest the organization has been, Nations Organization], Mr. Nugroho, I have tive theories which justified colonialism in and remains, seriously concerned for Xanana always affirmed that the circumstances un- terms of the advantages bestowed by civili- Gusmão’s health and safety. In his sup- der which my earlier statements in Jakarta zation crumbled as peoples became aware of pressed defence statement, Xanana Gusmão were made were such that they could not be their own identity. stated his intention to go on hunger strike, viewed as credible. This is the moment to If national laws arose from the need to and there are fears that he may be in poor make this clear. I hope that Indonesian intel- regulate the way of life between individuals health as a result of carrying out his inten- lectuals will understand my frame of mind in a given society, international law arose tion. There have also been disturbing reports as I enjoy this moment of freedom of ex- from the need to harmonize cooperation that he has been beaten in recent weeks. The pression, resulting from the rights I have, or between peoples and nations. I believe that Indonesian Government has issued assur- have acquired. the laws of Indonesia, not being exclusively ances that he is in good health and is not on It is my hope that the new generation in or explicitly based on traditional Indonesian hunger strike, but it has not been possible to Indonesia, or rather, the youth of Indonesia, law, apply to the standards of contractual verify this since neither his family nor the will appreciate the significance of law and of law. It is thus necessary to mention that, as International Committee of the Red Cross liberty, two fundamental components of a member of the UN, Indonesia pledged (ICRC) have been permitted to visit him human life today and of the society in which itself before the international community to since he was taken out of court on 21 May we live. respect and contribute to respect for inter- 1993. Amnesty International urges that the Finally I hope the international commu- national law and to respect and contribute to ICRC and relatives be given immediate - and nity will accept the validity of my declara- [...original illegible]. thereafter frequent and regular - access to tions, bearing in mind the time and situation I believe that this massive amount of po- him in detention. in which they were made. litical stage-managing will not go unheeded The trial of Xanana Gusmão has justly Once again, your honour, I thank you for by the international press. But in case it attracted widespread international attention, allowing me to speak in my own defence. does, let me bring to the attention of all the but it is hardly unique. With this verdict, Competence and Jurisdiction fact that I am a foreigner in my own land. In Xanana Gusmão joins thousands of political the POLWIL prison I’m surrounded exclu- I am Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, leader of prisoners sentenced in blatantly unfair trials sively by Indonesians. The BAIS officers the Maubere Resistance against the shame- in East Timor and Indonesia since the New and KOPASSUS men are my guards. I re- ful and cowardly invasion of 7 December Order government of President Suharto quested a visit from the Bishop and they 1975 and the criminal and illegal occupation came to power in the mid-1960s. Virtually entrusted me to an Indian priest who is a of East Timor for the last 17 years. On 22 unnoticed by the international community, supporter of integration. In the rooms of December last year, in Denpasar, I signed a similar political trials also continue today in this building, which they call a court, I see document in which I stated that in the eyes the province of Aceh, where government only Indonesians, or rather Indonesian sol- of international law I am still, like all forces have conducted a brutal counter- diers from KOPASSUS or BAIS. In Indone- Timorese, a Portuguese citizen and, in my insurgency campaign since 1989. And de- sian law trials of this kind are, or should be, own eyes, a citizen of East Timor. It is in spite government claims that the human held in public. But when I come into the these terms that I reject the competence of rights situation in East Timor has improved room the only public I see are the military any Indonesian court to try me, and even in the past year, serious violations continue authorities, some of who were the very less a court set up by criminal force of arms to occur while past violations remain unre- instigators of this trial. My compatriots, the in my country, East Timor. solved. Scores of East Timorese arrested for Timorese, are out in the street under strict I believe that according to the theory of their non-violent pro- independence activi- surveillance. This is the flagrant rule of an colonialism, this is a form of rule enforced ties in the past two years remain in custody, occupying force, in all its colonial insolence. by others through the occupation of their some of them not yet charged, others serv- land and the imposition of force. Colonial East Timor, The History of a Trial ing sentences up to life imprisonment. rule is the imposition of the will and the The case of East Timor is the responsi- Meanwhile, the fate of more than 200 peo- laws of the dominating force and conse- bility of the international community, a ple who “disappeared” after the Santa Cruz quently... [original illegible]. The anti- question of international law. It is a case Massacre in November 1991 remains unre- colonial struggles and the expansionism of which puts universal principles at stake, a solved. the former Soviet Union following the at- case in which the UN provisions on decolo- tempts by Hitler and the Japanese to domi- nisation have been manipulated, a case in East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 9 which Indonesia has flaunted its disrespect cords affirm that: ‘It is up to the people of sal principles and violating international law for the resolutions of the UN and which East Timor to determine their own future.’ by making specific reference to East Timor. therefore constitutes a flagrant violation by How exactly does the honourable prosecu- What value does Indonesia give to the Indonesia of the principles of the Non- tor imagine they will ‘determine their own resolutions of the Security Council and the Aligned Movement and of the universal future,’ or in our words, ‘determine their General Assembly of the UN? A purely norms of law, peace and justice. own destiny’? He will give the inevitable political one, or does it see them in the kind Every Indonesian is bound to their nation reply that he envisages this happening of authoritative legal context that allowed and with their government’s policy and any through a process carried out under condi- for Operation Desert Shield? What value view they may have of the situation of East tions that would make it credible. Credible, I does Indonesia give to the efforts of the UN Timor is a product of their government’s repeat, to whom? When it’s a question of a and international community in solving the view, unless they listen to their own con- process carried out by a people for ‘deter- conflict in the former Yugoslavia? What science and commit themselves to the uni- mining their own future’?... [Original illegi- value does Indonesia give to its own contri- versal standards of justice, liberty and law. ble]. bution to peacekeeping in Cambodia? For 17 years the history of East Timor, the The question of East Timor is not to be The ‘legal context’ invoked by the prose- other side of the coin, has been that of a seen within the context of Indonesian law cutor has... [original illegible]. What political great Indonesian farce. For almost four but in the context of international law, consideration and what legal concept under- months now I have been used as a chess which stands above Indonesian laws. In lie this presumptuous statement? This piece in this shameful farce - with what attempting to minimize such an idea this court’s only reply can be that it is based on intelligence or success is not for me to say. court arrogantly states, and I quote: ‘and to the fact that four of the parties are sup- This court claims to be trying me for crimes make matters worse, Fretilin dared to im- posed to have signed the declaration known committed against the Indonesian state and pose its will on the People, making a Decla- as the Declaration of Bali Beach. This being illegal possessions of arms. I know every- ration of Independence on 28 November.’ I the case, and their answer could not be any thing has been arranged for me to be acquit- should remind the court that the RDTL has other, I should like to know this: if Golkar ted ...[original illegible]. been recognized by around 20 countries and had won the elections with, say, 51 per cent Those who should be standing before the would have been recognized by more had it of the votes, would the agreement between international court are: not been for the economic interests which the PDI and the PDP automatically repre- Firstly, the Indonesian Government for linked the United States, Australia, Japan, sent the will of the majority of the People of 17 years of crimes committed in East Timor. etc. to Jakarta. Indonesia? Evidently not, and even less in Secondly, the United States administra- The prosecutor continues with another that you gentlemen all belong to Golkar and tions which gave the green light to the inva- quotation from the records: ‘this unilaterally tell me that the result of the elections was in sion on 7 December 1975 and have granted adopted position was not in conformity itself both a political and a legal [fact] which military aid to and political support for the with the wishes of the People. The authen- denies the possibility that the PDI and PDP genocide carried out by Indonesia in East tic will of the majority of the People was together could represent the majority of the Timor. carried out on 30 November 1975 in a proc- Indonesian People. [Original illegible]... Australia and West- ess... [original illegible]. The UDI which ...[Original illegible] this court declares: ern Europe for their policy of complicity took part in that process have since shown ‘Fretilin dared impose its will on the Peo- with Indonesia. up at the UN and at other international ple.’ But when the four other parties appar- Finally, the Portuguese Government for gatherings the farcical nature of such state- ently signed a declaration of integration, the their seriously irresponsible handling of the ments. court concludes: ‘this was the genuine ex- decolonization of East Timor. May I remind you that, in Denpasar, I pression of the wishes of the People of East The UN recognises as legitimate all was forced to make statements apologising Timor!’ Why then are legislative elections means of opposition to colonial regimes in to the TNI for the massacre of Santa Cruz, carried out in Indonesia? To express what? any part of the world where a people’s which was carried out by the TNI, not by If they have never been held for any particu- liberation struggle is being fought. My me. May I also remind you that in Jakarta I lar reason, then the ‘pemilu’ [general elec- struggle and the resistance of my people and stated, in conformity with the specific in- tion] in Indonesia is a farce. If they have of Falintil is to be seen in this context, structions of Abilio Osorio, the puppet never been held for any particular reason the standing above Indonesian law. governor of East Timor, that I was prepared ‘pemilu’ in Indonesia has no political mean- Although in his demurrer Mr. Sudjono to surrender. ing and lacks any juridical context in an elec- tried to adopt a more liberal stance in ques- Would it have been credible to establish a toral sense. If the ‘pemilu’ in Indonesia has tioning the ‘Declaration of Balibo,’ he did provisional government in the new province only [or always] been to prove that the not deal with the fundamental problem: the of Kuwait? Kuwait, which has deeper and Government [has] won the general elections illegal nature of the annexation, through more direct ethnic, historical and religious Indonesia, assuming thus force, of East Timor. ties with Iraq than any between the popula- ...[original illegible]. The key argument of this court is the so- tion of East Timor and some islands of the The Court must surely agree with me called ‘integration process of East Timor..’.. NTT that can be recalled from a stone age that it exaggerated when it said that Fretilin [Original illegible]...that the declaration of past? And if it was not credible to establish ‘dared to impose its will on the People’ and the four parties, excluding Fretilin, is an a provisional government in Kuwait, to that the above-mentioned Declaration of acceptable representation of the genuine whom was it credible? Would it have been Bali Beach was the genuine expression of aspirations of the People of the former Por- credible in terms of the universal principles the will of the People of East Timor! The tuguese colony? of self-determination, in terms of interna- statements of this court lack the political The honourable prosecutor’s records tional law? [Original illegible]... Incidentally, element which would have conferred on it show that on 30 November 1975 the UDT, I remember that Saddam Hussein reminded the legal validity which all of us demand: Apodeti, Kota and Trabalhista parties the international community that there was that it represents the will and majority of signed the declaration on the integration of already a precedent for disregarding univer- the People. This is a ‘sine qua non!’ East Timor with Indonesia. The same re- Page 10 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

The UN continues to this very moment Indonesian troops had occupied only a few Timor. I know that the Indonesian public is to refuse to recognise Indonesian sover- villages on the main roads, most of them still misinformed on these matters and I will eignty over East Timor, a sovereignty won already totally abandoned.... [original illegi- give a brief description of the large-scale by the use of force, of violence and of sys- ble]. military operations unleashed a year after tematic violation of the most fundamental 1. On that day the UN passed two reso- the so-called integration of East Timor with human rights. lutions, one from the General Assembly of Indonesia... [original illegible] with, it must The truths of the trial the UN, affirming the right of the People of of course be stressed, the ‘voluntary con- East Timor to self-determination and na- sent of the People!’ This Court refers to 17 December 1975 tional independence, and another from the From September 1977 Indonesian battal- as the day when a provisional government Security Council, condemning the invasion ions supported by Bronco OV aircraft and and local assembly were formed. In case the of 7 December 1975 and demanding that the intense sea and air bombardment, sur- Indonesians have forgotten I feel it my duty Indonesian invasion forces withdraw imme- rounded the region which contained the to remind them here, in this court, of the diately and in their entirety. districts of Suai, Boborano and Ainaro, tragic day of 7 December of that year when 2. I can publicly confirm the change of called the Frontere-Sul sector. Thousands of Indonesian paratroopers were launched on mind in both Arnaldo Araujo and Guilherme people were killed by gunfire and... [original Dili with the support of the marines. 7 De- Gonçalves. I know that Arnaldo Araujo, illegible] indiscriminately killed men, old cember 1975 went down in history as the looking back in the last years of his life, was people, women and children. They also day of the shameful and treacherous inva- ashamed about the process of annexation slaughtered many herds of hundreds of cat- sion by Indonesia, the day on which Indo- and how repentant he was at having been tle, buffalo stock and horses. They set fire nesian troops indiscriminately massacred the docile propaganda instrument of the to everything in their path; they destroyed the defenceless population of Dili, causing Indonesians. There are also cases like that of everything. the death of thousands of old people, Abel Belo from Baucau, member of the pre- It happened next in the Fronor sector women and children, and also the death of sidium of Apodeti, who was assassinated, which contained the districts of Ermera and an Australian journalist. If the Declaration poisoned, after being divested of the privi- Liquica. The population there got the same of Balibo was signed with the blood of four leges of integration, because he regretted treatment. Similar operations were carried Australian journalists, killed by Indonesian having played a part in the invasion and out in the Central North sector which com- troops during the October attack on the occupation of his country and the massacre prised the districts of Dili, Aileu and part of village of Balibo, this so-called provisional of his brothers. As for Guilherme Gon- Manatuto. Further thousands of victims fell government was set up on the corpses of çalves, I can also testify to his change of to the TNI before the troops were able to the Timorese, massacred between 7 and 17 mind because he was one of the... [original gain control over the population. Then fol- December of that year. By 17 December the illegible]. lowed the Central South sector comprising Indonesian troops had still not taken the After these three months of my own ex- the districts from Same to Soibada/Barique. Aileu/Remexio crossing. Throughout De- perience, I can vouch for the truth of Xime- In Jakarta, General [name illegible], the cember the invasion advanced on Aileu. By nes Belo’s words when, in 1986, I was with BAIS second-in-command, took pleasure in 31 December Maubisse had still not been him in Fantumana: ‘in there we’re all totally the thought of their heroism: ‘Saya ambil taken. absorbed,’ he said. I could confirm and con- Laclubar, saya ambil Soibada, saya ambil A government which was established tinue to confirm that this is the truth of Barique,’ etc., etc. Militarily this means: I amidst the sound of shelling, by sea and by Indonesian political life. came, I saw, I conquered. That day, gentle- land, of a defenceless population - amidst But let me return to the process of an- men, was almost two years after the ‘volun- the sound of advancing tanks and canon - nexation by force of East Timor. In its ver- tary’ integration of the People who were can such a government claim to have any dict the court affirmed that Fretilin was still... [original illegible]. legal standing? In my opinion it has the opposed to the referendum and that by this What and how was the de facto control same standing as the advance of the Iraqi means the People of East Timor would of that puppet government exerted over the troops into Kuwait, the advance of Russian choose integration. However, referring to population? A population that was dying of tanks into Kabul and the Vietnamese inva- that petition the court mentions that Ar- hunger and disease through the war imposed sion of Cambodia. A government which has naldo Araujo and Guilherme Gonçalves by Indonesia? A population that was under hardly any control over the people in Dili, asked General Suharto ‘to force parliament attack by Indonesian troops, bombarded prevented from advancing into the moun- to quickly accept and bring integration about from air, land and sea by the TNI? Could it tains of their country, did this represent the without a referendum!’ Who was it then possibly have been this people who suf- will of the majority of the People of East who didn’t want a referendum? Fretilin or fered in the bush, who saw their homes and Timor? Indonesia through the mouthpiece of its possessions destroyed by the Indonesians, This court attaches considerable impor- puppet government? In the name of what against whom they carried out a scorched tance to the petition of 31 May 1975. It people was such a petition signed? Today earth policy, was it really this people who appears that this appeal was signed by Ar- the Indonesian government can present to ‘of their own free will’ requested integration naldo Araujo and Guilherme Gonçalves. On the world an apparent physical, de facto with Indonesia, without a referendum? that day more than 80 per cent of the popu- control... [original illegible]. Many witnesses present here were pre- lation of East Timor were in the mountains In this court the witness Oscar Lima said vented from telling the truth. Naturally all of their country, resisting the attempt by that he was in the mountains between De- the... [original illegible] have to say that they Indonesian troops to take further towns in cember 1975 and 1978. If he had been able surrendered of their own free will... [original the interior. The Indonesian strategists an- to tell the truth he would have said that he illegible]. If he had been able Oscar Lima ticipated that they would take East Timor in would never have surrendered of his own would have confirmed that the guerrillas of 24 hours, descending to Dili by dawn and free will but would have told the court about the Central North sector to whom he be- lunching in Baucau to spend the night in the big strategic operations carried out by longed killed many soldiers of the invasion Tutala, but this was only a tempting dream the TNI from September 1977 to wipe out forces and seized a lot of weapons... [origi- of the expansionist generals. By that day the pockets of popular resistance in East nal illegible] East Timor, which included the East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 11 eastern part of the districts of Bau- riod. I wonder if colonialism can be classi- Malaysia? Why should the island of Borneo cau/Viqueque. There were more TNI at- fied as good or bad... [original illegible] be divided? If it’s for the first reason, then tacks, more thousands of victims enabling claims to be developing the territory which why give so much importance to those tra- the puppet government in Dili to say that it it occupies while at the same time it con- ditional, ethnic, linguistic and religious links had the population under its control. Fi- demns those who did not do what they have when they talk of East Timor and close their nally, in October 1978, the TNI began to done, in other words, Portugal. But just eyes to them when they talk of Irian Jaya in surround the PL [Ponte Leste] sector which because for 400 years Portugal failed to relation to Papua New Guinea? included the whole of the eastern part of develop East Timor, does it mean that we If it’s for the second reason, the historical Baucau/Viqueque, forcing around 130,000 Timorese must pay for the mistakes of one factor linked to colonialism, which explains Timorese to go up and join... [original illegi- era of colonialism while also paying for the the division of the big island into two ble] Matebian. Three weeks of intensive crimes of another? halves, then this shows contempt pure and shelling from sea and air, ceaseless attacks, Today all theories on colonialism or the simple for the question of the total dissimi- also from Sky Hawks and Bronco OV- 10s fundamental reasons for and emergence of larity of bonds, language and customs be- and... [original illegible] won them control of new nations must be seen in the light of tween the Javanese and the Irian Jayans. I the population. universal principles and international law, wonder why it is denied that this same his- In the indictment the prosecutor refers to enshrined in the Charter of the United Na- torical factor... [original illegible]. a place called Uada Boro. Uada Boro is one tions. It is in the light of these principles Sometimes Jakarta likes to maintain that of the areas in Matebian where, after captur- and of international law that Indonesia’s colonialism’s criteria for drawing up fron- ing the population, Indonesian troops shot position within the UN must be understood tiers only applies to Africa, not to Asia. more than 50 men. Dead or dying from hun- as regards the following instances: This is an absurd argument when we re- ger, disease, shelling, the population was a) as a member of the UN, and through a member that Indonesia itself inherited a forced to surrender... [original illegible ]. It correct interpretation of the right to self- territory for this very reason, as a result of was this same population which, after cap- determination and national independence, colonialism. What do we see now? The is- ture, continued to die of hunger and disease Indonesia, with ASEAN, Australia and New land of Borneo is partitioned, the North and, above all, of murder. Thousands and Zealand, is jointly responsible for the re- belonging to Malaysia, the South to Indone- thousands of the citizens of East Timor inclusion of New Caledonia on the list of sia, and an independent enclave, Brunei, were slaughtered by the forces of occupa- non-autonomous countries, 40 years after recently becoming independent. In Papua tion throughout virtually the entire territory. that same territory had been removed from New Guinea the western part is called Irian The only politics has been the law of terror, the list; Jaya and belongs to Indonesia, while the imposed to scare the Timorese into saying b) as a member of the UN and the Com- eastern part, Papua New Guinea, is an inde- that they’re happy about integration. The mittee on Decolonization, Indonesia has pendent state. If an Irian Jayan believes annexation of East Timor has been carried always supported... [original illegible]; himself to be of the same family as a Java- out at the cost of the resistance of the c) showing a thorough understanding of nese, this has nothing to do with me because Maubere people. Over tens of thousands of universal principles, Indonesia condemned I’m no relation of the Irian Jayan, let alone lives have been lost in the war imposed by Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia, [the inva- of a Javanese. If there is a theory - Indone- Indonesia. More than a third of the popula- sion] of Afghanistan by the former Soviet sian, of course - that in the NTT there are... tion of East Timor had to pay for its refusal, Union and of Kuwait by Iraq; [original illegible]. Colonialism is, in brief, its repudiation of the new colonial presence, d) as a member of the UN Indonesia is the theory of expansionism. even more repressive when one thinks with taking part in the peacemaking process in Realism and Idealism a shudder of the principles of the UNO or Cambodia as Jakarta’s contribution to the I met Irian Jayan officers who spoke to the Non-Aligned Movement, of which In- international community and out of respect me of the great Indonesian family and they donesia was a co-founder and of which it for the UN Resolutions. disgusted me. I met a Sumatran, a BAIS currently holds the presidency. The facts as described by Mr. Sudjono translator who spoke Portuguese and had In 17 years of military occupation with stem from his false reading as an Indonesian only praise and thanks for his Javanese the big INTEL machine whose... [original citizen who is bound to the policies of his brothers and I felt sick. I met Sulawesi offi- illegible] KOPASSUS, searches and... [origi- Government. He was, in fact, appointed by cials who harangued me about Indonesian nal illegible] continued, people were tortured the BAIS and therefore by the Indonesian ‘standards’ and I felt an inner emptiness. with the most savage methods, were “dis- Government. On 22 December last I was ‘Realpolitik’ began to have a new meaning appeared,” and whole massacres; all this is given a letter sent to me by the LBH. On 23 for me: political realism is political subservi- still a part of the policy of repression ex- December I replied to them, accepting a ence, it is the negation of personal con- erted over my People. Taking place before lawyer. But I was forced to withdraw my science and the death of a people’s con- the eyes of the international community, acceptance, and on 30 December I had to science. this is the farce of the integration process write a letter to the LBH, rejecting their I fully understand what scares, and in- which the government continues to justify, offer. My first letter, which had been inter- deed what used to scare Indonesia: the so- and this is the practice of terror carried out cepted, was returned to me. called ideological anachronism and ortho- by the Indonesian occupation forces in East Mr. Sudjono claims that East Timor has doxy of the ethnic groups which fuel the Timor. always accepted that it is a part of Indone- wars in Yugoslavia and in the republics of sian territory and he recalls the problem of The Untruths of Indonesian Propaganda the former Soviet Union. It is not theories Western Papua or... [original illegible]. What I have heard a lot about the backwardness that prove history, but history which vali- are the most important questions here? The of Portuguese colonialism, as if I had not dates true theories and shows up false question of the traditional, ethnic, linguistic experienced it myself. They claim to show ones... [original illegible] in Europe today and religious and other links or the historical me the development of East Timor as if this shows the anachronism or orthodoxy of question which creates the colonial link? If it were a matter of statistics that could be Indonesia’s theories, at least insofar as East is the former, why should Malaysia not compared with the Portuguese colonial pe- Timor is concerned. The hecatomb of the integrate with Indonesia or Indonesia with Page 12 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. former Soviet Union, the bloody dismem- 1. The war in East Timor is essentially a Court? What procedure, what values in law berment of the former Yugoslavia, co- foun- matter for the BAIS, not a political issue for allow the Court to close its eyes on the der of the Movement of Non-Aligned Coun- the government in Jakarta, as might have horrible crime of 12 November? What moral tries, are highly topical examples of what been supposed; values, what standards of justice does the happens when peoples are suppressed and 2. ...[Original illegible] or whether as a re- Indonesian government possess that it can they made subject to the will of dominating sult of their operations against Falintil or the make heroes of the criminals and pass judg- forces; what has happened in these coun- quantity of victims that were caused by the ment on their victims? ...[Original illegible]. tries provides highly topical evidence that dismantling of the clandestine resistance Mr. Pieter Kooijmans was the UN rap- patriotic and nationalistic awareness does movement, the BAIS themselves said it was porteur sent with the agreement of Jakarta not fade with time and cannot be smothered well aware of the organisational amplitude to East Timor to investigate ‘in loco’ viola- by repression. and political capacity of resistance of the tions of human rights in the territory, viola- I believe that humanity is naturally ideal- Maubere people that I represent; tions which had always been denied by ist. I don’t know how to define idealism but 3. The BAIS is a powerful Indonesian Indonesia at the UN. During his mission of I basically feel that idealism is a longing for political police machine, whose sinister investigation a massacre was perpetrated in freedom, for law and justice, and conse- tentacles are the KOPASSUS; cold blood. The bodies of the victims were quently that it means the intransigent de- 4. The Indonesian military no longer ac- dragged like sandbags into vehicles. In the fence of these standards. ...[Original illegi- cepts any policies other than those repre- military hospital where the victims were ble] because I believe that the formulation of sented by 7 December 1975. taken, more young people were killed than the fundamental rights of humankind and of In my case both the BAIS and the Indo- remained alive. To this very day the bodies peoples is a product of that same idealism nesian Government decided to take the least are disappeared, or rather they were thrown and the natural and logical reflection of the possible risks by manipulating the whole into mass graves. Where, only the authori- transcendental human condition. Humanity process of my trial. In order to be here in ties of the occupation know. Many of the aspires to a great ideal: the fulfillment of the court today and to speak as I am speak- murderers are here in this room, men from both individuals and peoples within a wide ing I too had to take the risks necessary to the KOPASSUS, men from INTEL, the men framework of freedom, law, justice and my struggle. I always said to everyone, of terror, the men on whom the whole po- peace. ‘They’re speaking to Xanana, not to his litical life of East Timor, apart from all In- Political realism is a theory imposed by anggota [supporters].’..[original illegible]. donesia, depend! the mighty, a conceit which subverted and My own situation, in which all my After the crime East Timor was again subverts these standards. Political realism is movements were strictly controlled, re- shut to the world and INTEL’s activities a concept which grants rights only to the minded me of the stringent measures which, intensified. The witness Martinho Serran- powerful and the strong so that they may following the cowardly massacre of Santa don... [original illegible]. Of what or who are act in their own interests, preventing the Cruz, were applied to the population of Dili the military authorities of the occupation small and the defenceless from being able to and especially to the heroic youth of East afraid? Are they afraid of a population defend themselves or from being able to Timor. In the POLWIL, where they try to which you, gentlemen, maintain are satisfied refuse or act in any other way. When people flatter me with exaggerated attentions, the with integration? Who is it that you want to speak of political realism they are implicitly words inscribed on the prison walls by the terrorize? speaking of an inequality of circumstance, prisoners who are my companions remind Prospects of a solution an inequality of situation between two par- me constantly of the suffering of many of As in the UN, Jakarta cannot avoid the ties involved in whatever process. And it is my compatriots, victims of all kinds of tor- fact that Portugal is an interested party to a this inequality which means that the small ture, and also serve as a constant reminder solution of the problem. Jakarta must never and weak shall appear to be the willing ap- of that unforgettable day of 12 November forget that the idea, the goal for which the prentices of political realism. 1991. Maubere people have struggled and resisted The peaceful demonstration of 12 No- Political Inflexibility and Arrogance of to this day is imperishable. Men die but the vember, what purpose did it serve? To re- the Indonesian Generals seed of the idea lives on, like all ideals con- mind Jakarta and remind the world of the The same day as my arrest, in an inter- secrated by the hardships borne, the sacri- necessity of dialogue, to remind the world view with General Try Sutrisno, I men- fices made... [original illegible]. This is the that there’s a lot that is wrong in East tioned the question of dialogue with repre- heart of the matter. If the Indonesian gov- Timor. Without pity or mercy they massa- sentatives of the people of East Timor. Of ernment does not know it the BAIS knows cred more than a hundred young people who the 20 generals who were there, congratulat- it very well. The witness Saturnino da Costa were protesting against the illegal annexation ing themselves on the imminence of their Belo is a crystal clear example of the hero- of East Timor by force of arms and protest- easy victory, one of them, in a fury, de- ism of this people. The farce of the hastily ing against the regime of terror, the policy of manded: ‘Rakyat mana [people where]?’ drafted medical document stating that Sat- intimidation and persecution that has been When I answered: ‘Let’s have a referen- urnino was ill should make you gentlemen pursued since September 1991 by the Indo- dum,’ the Indonesian generals were obliged ashamed because you know full well that nesian military who pride themselves on to swallow their arrogance. The next day, 21 the question resides here with you... [origi- having brutally suffocated a rebellion in this November, when I was already in Denpasar, nal illegible]. This whole business of my way. the wife of the local panglima [military trial is a matter for the BAIS, whose officers This court pronounced judgment on the commander], surprised by the extent of the fill this place, watching everything and eve- victims; in the POLWIL the prisoners were support I had, exclaimed, ‘Well, I don’t ryone. brutally maltreated. It suffices to look at the know, he seems to have a lot of support!’ A Jakarta has much to be ashamed of with witnesses present in the court today and high-ranking official replied, ‘Perhaps it’s regard to its criminal practices in East that they are prisoners. They are extremely support from outside.’ Timor, much to admit it lost in East Timor. thin. During my interrogation by the BAIS in The Indonesian generals should be made to Perhaps those responsible for the massa- Jakarta I became aware of the following: realise that they were defeated in East cre should answer for their crime before this East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 13

Timor. Here and now, as Commander of sell my soul for the gold on the top of the Why did Jakarta at the last minute pre- Falintil, the most glorious Armed Forces of Monas, and still less would I ever sell my vent the visit of the parliamentary mission? National Liberation of East Timor, I ac- people. I cannot betray the hope of my Who is afraid of a referendum? Why be knowledge military defeat on the ground. I people that one day they will be free and afraid of a referendum? I’m not afraid of a am not ashamed to say it; on the contrary, I independent. Never could I recognise the referendum and if this very day the am proud of the fact that a small guerrilla criminal annexation of East Timor, just so as Maubere people opted for integration I army was able to resist a big nation like to be able to live a few more years of life. would make a genuine appeal to my com- Indonesia, a regional power which treacher- My struggle is of greater value than my own panions in the bush to lay down their arms ously invaded and sought to subjugate us life. The People of East Timor have sacri- and I would offer my head for a public de- through terror and crime, through the rule of ficed their lives and continue to suffer. capitation. Those who fear a referendum violence, persecution, prison, torture and I never cease to be aware of the need for fear the truth! Elections in East Timor were assassination. dialogue, with the participation of the only the continuity of the farce of occupa- The moment has come for Jakarta to rec- Timorese. To any who cared to listen I have tion, intimidation, trials, where the finger of ognise its political defeat on the ground. I always said that the Maubere people don’t INTEL or KOPASSUS marks the presence don’t know if it is to impress me that they have any appreciation for the word pem- of the Golkar. station armed tentaras [soldiers] on the bangunan [development]. The problem is Why all the military apparatus outside route between POLWIL and the court. I am that it’s not free. Freedom is what my peo- this shameful court; why are armed soldiers certain that this is not the case because... ple value and it is the aim of their struggle. posted along the route with their arms at the [original illegible] the real will, genuine aspi- D. Ximenes Belo expressed this with great ready? [Original illegible] ...reason does not ration of the people. clarity when he wrote to the UN Secretary come from force. Reason is on my side, the It is a historical necessity to break with General: ‘We are dying as a People and as a side of my People. the present state of affairs. If this is not Nation.’ I appeal to the Indonesian people to un- done today the future will be witness to The Indonesian ambassador to the UN derstand that in conformity with universal irreversible change. What is irreversible is came to ask me to collaborate. He asked me principles and international law East Timor not what is imposed on us at present, to be consistent in my declarations. I ob- should be considered a non-autonomous whether in the short or the long term. What served that the Indonesians had completely territory in accordance with the provisions is irreversible is the way in which history forgotten the fact that I had been fighting for governing the process of decolonization. To rectifies the mistakes of the ambitious, the 17 years and to be consistent I would have understand that East Timor is not the spec- crimes of dictators, the atrocities of colonial to be consistent towards my people, never tre that haunts the minds of the Indonesian regimes. to their assassins, the invaders of my home- generals, the spectre of East Timor as a The mass slaughter in the empire of the land. The minister Ali Alatas, in a speech he source of threat, an unstabilizing factor for former Soviet Union demonstrated that made last January, said that: ‘If we don’t Indonesia. The tale that East Timor is com- policies that triumph through force of arms accept... [original illegible], if Jakarta doesn’t munist is too old. The problem is not that do not withstand time. The great wheel of accept a referendum it is not because we are we want to dismember Indonesia; the prob- history has confirmed, confirms now and afraid to lose it but because many people lem is that East Timor was never Indonesian will confirm the truth of this observation. have already suffered enough!’ Then the in the first place. The wheel of history crushed European ambassador to the UN said to me: ‘The From a juridical point of view the annexa- colonialism and did not allow for new forms problem is that dialogue as it is conceived tion by force of East Timor... [original illegi- of dominion over the [European] peoples. by us (and therefore by Jakarta) has its own ble] illegal. Politically so-called integration The wheel of history crushed oppressive parameters. We do not accept a referen- lacks a... [original illegible] which can prove regimes and expansionist states. Owing to dum!’ In 1983, during the period of the that the popular verdict is... [original illegi- this fact humankind can now pronounce the ceasefire, the then Majors [... original illegi- ble] in complete freedom. Economically it is slogan... [original illegible] notion of liberty, ble] told us straight, ‘We don’t accept the false to think that East Timor does not have justice, rights and peace. idea of a referendum because we know that guarantees for its own development. The On the first day, and the following days, the whole people is with Fretilin!’ agreement on the East Timor Gap only they asked me if I saw myself as an Indone- Two or three times the BAIS asked me showed that Indonesia and Australia were sian, and I always replied that if I said yes, questions such as: ‘You were waiting for the pursuing a policy of plunder, motivated by the bapaks wouldn’t believe me. At first Portuguese parliamentary delegation... expansionism on one side and complicity on they laughed, but then they gritted their [original illegible]. In international law, in the the other. teeth. The Indonesian generals are not con- Resolutions of the UN, East Timor is still East Timor, which is pledged to be a cerned with the spirit or the conscience of a under Portuguese administration. With the state without weapons, i.e. without an people. They are satisfied immediately new Indonesian ambassador to the UN, Mr. army, will never be so much as even a po- when we do as they want. I don’t know if Nugroho, I discussed the question of East tential threat to a big and mighty nation like this can be attributed to naiveté or to the Timor in this context... [original illegible]. Indonesia, equipped with a military... [origi- culture of their military training. I have been getting all sorts of flattering nal illegible]. East Timor cannot be sepa- I know that the BAIS made the arrange- treatment, aimed at making me into a ‘docile rated from the large nation of Indonesia ments necessary to spare me the death pen- Indonesian’ and as such I had to appear, just because it was never a part of Indonesia. alty and that if I were to praise integration I as the witnesses brought to this court had to International law does not make exceptions would be acquitted. I remember that in Ja- appear that way. I am aware that behind my for size nor to other conditions which this... karta, to make a change from the daily moni- back the men of the BAIS and KOPASSUS [original illegible] territory possesses. My toring of all my movements in the prison are grinding their teeth in anger. They should People rejects the annexation and is op- cell, they took me in handcuffs to the city be grinding them in shame for their part in posed to this situation of brutality, control centre and showed me the gold of Monas, the murder of the Maubere people... [origi- and oppression. the national monument of Indonesia. I felt nal illegible]. I appeal to the new generation of Indone- like crying to my gaolers that never would I sians to understand that the People of East Page 14 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Timor attach much more value to freedom, ORDER OF FREEDOM FOR Alwin of Chile. Under Portuguese and inter- justice and peace that to the so-called devel- national law, however, Jose Alexandre opment that has been carried out here with XANANA Gusmão, born in the Manatuto region 46 the help of Australia and the United States Publico, 1 June 1993. By Adelino Gomes years ago, is still a Portuguese citizen. and with European countries who maintain Translated from Portuguese This is, in fact, Xanana’s own under- close economic ties with Jakarta. standing of his legal situation. In spite of the I appeal to the international community (Lisbon) President of the Republic, fact that on first February, at the outset of to consider that the time has arrived for Mario Soares, decided to award Xanana the trial proceedings, the official translator showing that we really are witnessing a new Gusmão with the Grand-Cross of the Order attributed him with the statement (which world order. This presupposes actions that of Freedom, the most political and one of was in fact inaudible to those present) that will break with situations inherited from the the highest medals of honour awarded in he was an Indonesian citizen. At the 17 past. I appeal to the European Community Portugal. The decision, which the Presiden- May hearing, Xanana emphatically rejected to be consistent with their own resolutions tial Belem Palace had intended to keep se- Indonesian citizenship. regarding East Timor. I appeal to all the cret until the ceremony, was taken on the At the start of his final defence plea, friends of East Timor, European, American, President’s own personal initiative. Using which the judges went on to forbid him from Japanese and Australian parliamentarians, to his privilege as Grand Master of Honorary reading, the prisoner revealed that on 22 persist in pressing their own governments to Orders, the President dispensed with the November 1992 (three days after his cap- abandon the double standards applied to view of Council of said Order. ture in Dili) he signed a document in Den- similar cases of blatant violation of UN According to sources close to the Presi- pasar (capital of Bali, where he had later resolutions, as in the case of East Timor. I dent, Mario Soares was impressed by the been transferred to), affirming that: “In the appeal to President Bill Clinton to recon- “great determination and courage” of the eyes of international law, and just as all sider the problem of East Timor and to former guerrilla leader who, in the isolation Timorese, I continue to be a Portuguese press Jakarta to enter into dialogue with the of his cell, planned a strategy which outma- citizen and, in my very own conscience, I Portuguese and the Timorese in the quest neuvered the trial. am a citizen of East Timor.” for an internationally acceptable solution. I The award will be announced at the start appeal to the Portuguese Government never of this morning’s ceremony, but the medal LBH COMPLAINS TO THE will be handed over later at the Portuguese to abandon its responsibilities towards East INDONESIAN BAR Timor. I appeal to the Secretary-General of Embassy in Sydney, where Xanana’s son the UN to ensure that the solution he seeks Eugenio Paulo Baptista lives and works. He ASSOCIATION ABOUT for East Timor is based on universal princi- was notified yesterday of the President’s SUDJONO ples and international law. Finally, I appeal decision. to the Government of Indonesia to change The idea of decorating Xanana with one [Original document, translated from the its attitude and to accept that the time has of the highest distinctions had been raised at Indonesian] come to understand the essence of the strug- a meeting of the Socialist Party’s leadership On 4 June 1993, the Indonesian Legal gle in East Timor. at the end of May, and it represents the Aid Foundation (YLBHI) sent the following As from today I am starting a hunger most that Portugal can do at this time for letter to Harjono Tjitrosoebono, chair of strike as a practical way of appealing to the the prisoner. In political terms, it means that IKADIN, the Indonesian Bar Association: the Portuguese President has “raised the EC and the governments of the United Respectfully, States and Australia. No agreement can be bidding” on Jakarta, sending a “very clear reached between a prisoner and his gaoler... signal” to Suharto that “that gentleman is As Directors of the Indonesian Legal Aid [original illegible]. To the Secretary General not to be touched,” as a source close to the Foundation, we herewith convey the follow- of the UN I wish to say that I am ready, at Presidential palace commented. ing report and complaint in relation to the any time and in any place, to take part in The same source added that Xanana has trial of the accused, Xanana Gusmão at the the negotiating process. However, I shall become a kind of Indonesia’s Nelson Man- Dili district court, at which a member of never accept to become a part of the Indo- dela, and the worst that could happen for IKADIN, Mr. Sudjono was “appointed” as nesian side because I am not willing to par- Jakarta would be Xanana’s death. The the defence counsel of the aforesaid accused: ticipate in the farce of integration and in the source was referring to unconfirmed reports (1) We received on 4 June a photocopy criminal repression of my People. that the prisoner started a hunger strike of the defence statement of the accused, As a political prisoner in the hands of oc- when the life imprisonment sentence was Xanana Gusmão, which he read out [sic. cupiers of my country it is no consequence passed. only partly] before the Dili district court, to me whatever if I am sentenced to death A Rare Distinction East Timor. On pages 4 and 5 of the English translation of the said defence statement, today by this court. They have killed more The Order of Freedom was created in than a third of the defenceless population of there is the following paragraph: 1976 during the 1st Constitutional Govern- “The facts described by Mr. Sudjono East Timor; they are killing my people and I ment of Mario Soares. It was to distinguish am worth no more than the heroic struggle originate from the misconceptions which he “services rendered in defence of the values has as an Indonesian citizen who is bound to of my People. Small and weak, they have of civilization, in favour of mankind, and for always been subjected to foreign rule. the policies of the government. By the way, the cause of Freedom.” It has been awarded he was appointed by BAIS [Strategic Intel- Dili, 27 March 1993 [Signed] X. Gusmão, particularly to fighters against fascism and ligence Agency] and therefore by the Indo- Member of the CNRM, Commander of to military personnel who helped bring nesian government. On December 22, I read FALINTIL down the previous regime. Among the rare a letter that was addressed to me by the exceptions of foreigners receiving the award LBH (the Legal Aid Institute). On 23 De- are: the King of Spain, President Mitterrand cember I replied to that organisation, accept- of France, President Vaclav Havel of the ing a lawyer. But I was compelled to re- then Czechoslovakian Republic, and Patricio nounce it. On 30 of the same month, I had East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 15 to write a letter to the LBH refusing their row, Sunday, at midnight, in front of the discussed the idea with Xanana himself. His offer. My initial letter which had been inter- UN Information Centre, in Lisbon. The two legal advisers during the Xanana trial, cepted was returned to me.” initiative follows the gesture made by Pro- Lobby Loeqman and Prof. Sahetapy, will The above quote from the defence state- fessor Jonathan Humphreys, member of a assist him in the work. ment makes it abundantly clear that the British solidarity with East Timor organisa- The book will also appear in English. accused Xanana Gusmão wanted to be de- tion, who was still on hunger strike yester- Sudjono is confident it will sell very well in fended by lawyers from the LBH. It is very day, outside the Indonesian Embassy in both languages. clear that he did not want to be defended by London. Publico has learned that similar This 400-page book will include press Mr. Sudjono. actions are to follow in other capital cities. clippings, an account of how Sudjono was The above quote also clearly shows that At the same time the CDPM divulged the chosen to become his defence lawyer, ac- Mr. Xanana Gusmão was denied a basic text of a petition, addressed to UN Secre- counts of several of his meetings with right, namely the right freely to choose his tary General Boutros Ghali, which tran- Xanana and the misunderstandings that own defence counsel. scribes part of the defence plea that the arose. (2) If what Mr. Xanana Gusmão said in court stopped Xanana Gusmão from reading Sudjono also alleges that Xanana has ex- his defence statement is true, it is absolutely out. In the selected excerpt, the former guer- pressed a preference for serving his sentence clear that, by accepting appointment by the rilla leader appeals for a settlement to the in Cipinang Prison, Jakarta or at least government and not by the defendant him- East Timor case to “the new Indonesian somewhere in Java. “I myself will press for self, Mr. Sudjono has violated universal generation,” to the international community, him to be moved to Cipinang,” said Sudjono. principles regarding legal aid, professional to the EC, to European, US, Japanese and According to Kompas, Sudjono said that independence and the lawyers’ code of eth- Australian parliamentarians, to President in order to deny claims that there is any ics. Clinton, the Portuguese Government, the engineering behind the clemency plea, In view of the above, as Directors of the UN Secretary General, and to the Indone- Xanana has written a letter of his own free YLBHI, we urge you most strongly to at- sian Government, and concludes that “No will in which he says: “With this clemency tend to this matter and to initiate investiga- agreement can be made between prisoner plea, I admit that I made all those mistakes tions into the affair. and jailer.” which led to the court verdict.” We thank you for giving due attention to The petition organisers (the Freedom for Sudjono also told Jawa Pos (5 June) that this matter. Xanana, Freedom for Timor Commission in he has been invited to Hong Kong by the (signed) Abdul Hakim G. Nusantara, SH, Portugal, the Free Xanana Commission in Timorese lawyer, Dr. Manuel Tilman, to LL.M Australia, and Tapol in the UK) intend to speak there about Xanana. [Can people in Luhut M.P. Pangaribuan, SH, LL.M gather 50,000 signatures just in Portugal, Hong Kong comment, please?] and to deliver the document on 21 June, the Regarding Xanana’s physical appearance, From TAPOL: For evidence from Sudjono day marking one month since the life sen- Sudjono says that there is no expression of on how he was appointed, see the 2 June tence was passed on Xanana Gusmão. regret on his face. “His hair and beard have issue of The Jakarta Post which has a 3- been cut short and he looks tidier that he did column interview with Sudjono about his MORE OF SUDJONO’S when he appear in court on 21 May [the activities as Xanana Gusmão’s defence SCHEMING day of the verdict].” counsel. Part of the article [original, Eng- [Note: Governor Abilio Soares strongly lish] reads as follows: Jawa Pos 5, 7 and 9 June and Kompas 10 objects to Sudjono’s plan to publish a book about Xanana. “Why give prominence to “He (Sudjono) said that when the police June 1993, Summarised. Original language: Indonesian someone who has committed crimes? This approached him late last year to defend will only make him more famous abroad Xanana, he considered the offer ‘a golden Comment: These are some of the news re- than he already is.” - Jawa Pos, 9 June] opportunity for investment’ despite the time, ports that appeared in most Indonesian money and energy which would be expended. newspapers after Sudjono filed his clemency ‘After the case is over, people will know who plea allegedly on Xanana’s behalf to the Dili GUSMÃO’S DILI TRIAL A Sudjono is,’ he recollected and said it was court. They all quote Sudjono at length as TRAVESTY- WORLD MUST [Police Colonel] Ahwil Lutan, a detective saying that Xanana is now ‘very repentant.’ WEEP FOR A MAN OF VISION from the National Police overseeing Xanana Sudjono is clearly intent on squeezing out as AND COURAGE. who came to him to ask whether he would much as he can for his career and making a consider defending the rebel leader. He took great deal of money out of his services to the We transcribe a moving article by Austra- the job after assurances that the police regime as Xanana’s so-called defence law- lian former diplomat and human rights de- would not interfere in the way he handled his yer. fender Jim Dunn, author of Timor, a People client’s case, he said”. Betrayed. The article appeared recently in Perhaps one of the several lawyers’ groups the Illawara Mercury. HORTA & TAPOL DISBELIEVE abroad could consider making its own as- sessment of Sudjono’s many professional – CNRM/NT, June 9 CLEMENCY APPEAL abuses during his performance as Xanana Last week the long trial of Xanana Gus- lawyer. Publico, 5 June 1993. Lisbon mão, who had led the East Timorese for BOOK ON XANANA IN TWO more that 13 years, came to an end in the By Adelino Gomes. Translated from Portu- provincial capital Dili. guese. Abridged LANGUAGES The man who had led the Timorese inde- Meanwhile, in Lisbon, the CDPM Sudjono, the lawyer acting for Xanana pendence struggle for more than 13 years, (Maubere People’s Rights Commission) Gusmão has announced he will publish a against overwhelming odds and with no announced that “two Portuguese citizens” book on many aspects of Xanana that have outside assistance, was sentenced to life were starting a 24-hour hunger strike tomor- not been revealed, and claims that he has imprisonment by a panel of Indonesian Page 16 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. judges. It was a particularly severe sentence, now clear that the trial of Gusmão was consequence at all if they pass the death for the death penalty had been ruled out at never intended to be an exercise in justice. It sentence...” “They are killing my people the beginning of the trial. Its severity has was primarily designed to placate Western who, because they are small and weak, have shocked foreign observers but its full import concerns. I have a copy of his statement to always been subject to foreign rule.” has yet to impact on [Australian] Foreign the court, which was suppressed but some- The real focus of his appeal is the people Affairs Minster Gareth Evans, who, with how was quickly smuggled to the outside of Indonesia especially “the new generation” some indifference, said that the outcome world. According to Gusmão he was offered whom he urges to “attach much more value was more or less in keeping with Indonesian a deal, following meetings with senior Indo- to freedom, to justice and to peace than to law, though there were some procedural nesian personalities, including the Indone- development.” shortcomings. sian Vice-President, Try Sutrisno, then the But he also urges “the Government of In reality the trial was a farce, for in the Armed Forces Chief, and the Indonesian Indonesia to change its attitude” and under- dock was the resistance leader in a nation Ambassador to the UN. If he renounced his stand the real nature of the struggle in East most of the world still regards as having support for independence and urged all Timor. been illegally and unjustly seized. The best Timorese to abandon resistance and accept He also appealed to the international our Federal Government could do was a the realities of being part of Indonesia, he community, and specifically to East miserable response, and offer to suggest to would get a light sentence, perhaps no sen- Timor’s friends in the European Commu- the Indonesians that President Suharto tence at all. Witnesses were intimidated and nity, in the Clinton Administration, and in might consider reducing the sentence. The the only one who really spoke his mind was Japan and Australia to help save his nation, decision of the Dili court has far wider im- briskly removed from the courtroom and which, he claims, had lost a third of its plications, however. It is not just about sent to a psychiatrist, in the best KGB tra- population since the invasion. whether a rebel leader should be imprisoned dition. Gusmão’s statement is both moving and or pardoned. It raises the whole question of What, then, was in his statement which courageous. From it one cannot help to con- whether Indonesia’s annexation of the for- the Indonesian judges prevented him from clude that he is a noble representative of the mer Portuguese colony is acceptable, given reading out? In a way it is an address, or victims, of a people savaged and enslaved in the new standards espoused by the United appeal, to an uncaring world, rather than a an uncaring world. Nations system in the nineties. While the protest of his innocence. It is an admonition The real defendants in the courtroom Suharto regime has managed to coerce its of nations like Australia who have scorned should be Indonesia, and not the leader of a ASEAN neighbours and countries like Aus- the interests of the people of East Timor. people who dared to struggle for what the tralia into accepting what is nothing less Foremost it is a denunciation of the Indone- UN has pronounced as “inalienable rights.” than a crime against humanity - with its saga sian military occupation ..."the display of And arraigned with Indonesia should be of killings, rape and torture - the seizure of foreign oppression, foreign domination those governments who knew about this the territory is still not recognised by the which flaunts the arrogant contempt of the terrible crime against humanity, but did United Nations, which has a special respon- colonisers.”.. nothing to stop it. sibility for non-self governing territories- or It declares that Indonesia should be ar- As Gusmão left the courtroom he colonies. raigned before an international court “for shouted “Long live East Timor!” If we apply the standards relating to crimes committed in the past 17 years, along With these words ringing in my ears I end Iraq’s seizure of Kuwait the Indonesian with the US Administration which gave the this article with a deep hurt welling inside court has no right to be in Dili at all, let green light to the invasion...and has since me at this country’s cowardice in the fact of alone to be sentencing Gusmão to a lifetime given military aid and political support for an injustice to a small neighbour. in one of its prisons. Moreover, in terms of Indonesia’s genocide in East Timor.” Aus- Long live Xanana Gusmão! what has transpired illegally over the past tralia and Western Europe should also be in If the more just world order is ever to be, years, especially human rights abuses, it is court “for their policy of complicity to- we need people like you, who have endured Indonesian generals, and not Gusmão wards Indonesia,” along with Portugal for its suffering and injustice, but still have cour- (whose own wife was assaulted and raped irresponsibility in Timor’s decolonisation. age, compassion and vision. by an Indonesian soldier) who should be on It contains some pithy remarks for prag- trial. And to turn to the dark side, from this matists - some of our politicians and diplo- XANANA’S HEALTH country’s point of view, it was the deliber- mats should take note. In relation to Timor, DECLINING? ate policies of past Australian Governments says Gusmão - “the concept of realpolitik that helped prevent the rape of East Timor has acquired a new dimension for me.”..” TAPOL report, 9 June 1993 from being challenged by the international Political realism is political subservience, the community years ago. In the circumstances denial of the conscience of a people.” According to a report from Dili received our Foreign Minister’s diffident response is Gusmão speaks at some length about his in Lisbon today, Xanana Gusmão, the jailed quite unacceptable. experience in prison and the devious at- East Timorese resistance leader who an- Gusmão has been an inspiring leader to tempts to manipulate his trial and his testi- nounced that he would go on hunger strike the Timorese population at large, and not mony. at the end of his trial last month, is now only to the troops he commanded, who Apparently the entire process was man- very weak. He is taking only water and cigarettes. managed to elude Indonesian forces for some aged by Indonesian intelligence agencies, 17 years. In this farcical trial, the Timorese whom he describes as the real murderers of The source which received this informa- leader has not gone down without a fight. the Maubere (Timorese) people.” tion stresses that every effort is being made His final courageous statement to the court In one extraordinary departure, he was to obtain confirmation this report but reiter- will disturb many Indonesian consciences. taken on a tour of Jakarta’s monuments by ates that it has proved virtually impossible His words will also inspire many Timorese his captors! Always he was being urged to to obtain any information at all about to maintain their rage at the enormous hu- “cooperate.” Xanana since he was dragged away from the man cost of their annexation. Despite earlier Finally, Gusmão did not appeal for court, blindfolded, after being sentenced to Indonesian assurances to the contrary it is clemency [emphasis added]. “It is of no life imprisonment on 21 May. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 17

All channels should be used to press gov- Ramos-Horta said: “If Xanana Gusmão is In Lisbon Portuguese Prime Minister ernments and the UN to insist with Jakarta ‘playing basket-ball’ as Mr. Alatas has put Anibal Cavaco Silva called the sentence that there be immediate access to Xanana for it, then I ask him to allow the ICRC, the “brutal.” Australian foreign Minister Gareth diplomats, a UN representative or other representatives of the European Commu- Evans called for a lighter sentence and asked independent observers to ascertain his state nity, the United States, Australia and a spe- Jakarta to consider giving more autonomy to of health. The problem of unrestricted ac- cial representative of the UN Secretary East Timor. “It would obviously be of great cess for the International Red Cross to General to see Xanana and hear what he has help in achieving reconciliation if Xanana’s Xanana and all other East Timorese prison- to say.” sentence were to be substantially reduced ers is also extremely urgent. Given the macabre circumstances and by presidential clemency,” Evans suggested. Stalinistic overtones of Xanana Gusmão’s Meanwhile two international human RAMOS-HORTA TELLS treatment, Indonesia watchers deduce that rights organisations issued statements ques- ALATAS: “SHOW XANANA there is deep trouble within. With con- tioning the legality of the verdict. Within stantly occurring human rights atrocities and hours of the sentence being delivered Am- GUSMÃO” an $80 billion external debt, the observers nesty International called the trial and its note that the government has engaged the verdict “a travesty of justice.” Press Release of the Media and Communica- services of Hill and Knowlton to raise their “In view of the fact that Indonesia’s sov- tions Director of the National Council for international profile and polish up their ereignty over East Timor has not been rec- Maubere Resistance, Sydney image. This prestigious public relations ognised by the UN, the competence of In- 11 June 1993 company will cost the Suharto government donesian courts to try Xanana Gusmão and Reliable and secure underground sources $24 million, the equivalent of about one fifth other Timorese is open to question,” said out of the East Timorese capital Dili have of what they receive in aid money from the Amnesty statement. The US human- reported that Xanana Gusmão, jailed East Australia. rights group Asia Watch, commented that Timorese resistance leader and head of the court proceedings violated Xanana’s CNRM, is being held in a Dili hospital. ULTIMATE PENALTY - EAST rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. The source disclosed that he is being TIMOR LEADER GETS LIFE Xanana was one of 21 witnesses heard force-fed in order that he does not carry out during the trial. But, after being called to the his wish to go on hunger strike. He was IMPRISONMENT witness stand on 17 May, he was allowed to read only three pages of a 28-page de- taken to the hospital after he was seen being Far Eastern Economic Review, 3 June 1993, fence which he had hand-written in Portu- led blindfolded from the court after his sen- By Suhaini Aznam tencing to life imprisonment on May 21 in guese. An Indonesian translation was sub- Dili. The hunger-strike was detailed in the (Jakarta) Indonesia’s authorities have mitted to the judges. Concurring with the defence plea statement Xanana wrote. He again opted for stern approach to East prosecution’s objections that his arguments was never allowed to read it to the court in Timor’s problems. On 21 May a High were irrelevant to the case, Judge Godang full. Court judge in the East Timor capital Dili stopped Xanana a few minutes after he had When asked to comment on Alatas’ first pronounced a life sentence on Jose Alexan- begun to read. When the case resumed, the official statement given on June 10, when he dre Gusmão, alias Xanana. Xanana was the prosecution was allowed to read its entire said that Xanana “was in good health” and leader of the Fretilin guerilla group which counter plea. that he was “playing basket ball,” another has been fighting for East Timor’s inde- While the international uproar over East source, a former prisoner, said that there are pendence since Indonesia annexed the for- Timor has subsided since the Dili incident of no basket ball courts or exercise facilities in mer Portuguese colony in 1976. November 1991 when Indonesian troops the prisons, only filthy dark cells. Xanana was found guilty on charges fired on demonstrators and killed at least 50 Jose Ramos-Horta, Special Representa- which included leading a separatist rebellion, people, the Xanana case has served to keep tive for CNRM and appointed by Xanana disrupting national stability, illegal posses- international attention focused to an uncom- as his spokesperson said, from the Vienna sion of firearms and causing death to villag- fortable extent on Indonesia’s human-rights Conference on Human Rights today: ers in East Timor. record. In April, UN special envoy Amos “I am disturbed by the persistent news “The reason the punishment is so heavy Wako visited East Timor for the second of Xanana’s health. The ICRC still have not is that the defendant’s actions disturbed time since 1991, speaking to a range of In- seen him or any East Timorese prisoner and stability in East Timor,” Judge Hieronymus donesian officials and East Timorese, includ- that, coupled with the fact that the ICRC Godang told the court. In theory, Xanana ing a private interview with Xanana himself. have had to suspend their visits in East could have received the death penalty on the Indonesia has been trying hard to repair Timor is an even greater cause for concern. firearms charged, but the prosecution in- the damage done to its international image The international community must call for stead sought the maximum sentence for his by the East Timor massacre. It hired a pub- action! Show Xanana !” separatist actions. lic relations firm to project its version of the Close observers of East Timor have Local reaction to the sentence was muted, history of East Timor and allowed diplo- noted an increasingly deep cleavage between in part reflecting tight security throughout mats, international observers and foreign Suharto’s government and the power and the three-month trial. National press cover- journalists, including some from Portugal, to authority of the military. The question age was also kept to a minimum, with most attend the trial. But some of its efforts have arises especially when ICRC access has not Jakarta dailies carrying only a single story been poorly coordinated. For inexplicable been forthcoming. Suharto has overridden on the verdict itself and a second report on reason a UN representative, three diplomats Regional Military Commander Theo Syafei Xanana’s decision to appeal for clemency and two journalists were stopped in Den- by defending the ICRC’s presence in East from President Suharto. But if Indonesia had pasar on their way to Dili on 11 May and Timor after Syafei had told ICRC boss hoped for wider international understanding escorted back to a Jakarta-bound plane. The Sommaruga that he wanted the Red Cross to of its handling of the case it was quickly diplomats left again on the following day leave East Timor. disappointed. after personal interventions by their respec- tive ambassadors. Page 18 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

(The article comes with a picture of Timorese mountains, lives in the comfort of A: According to the reports I have, he was Xanana with the caption - Xanana’s fate hotels, or who is a globe-trotter for the caught when, escorted by guerrillas, he was sparks a new furor. cause of a people with whom they now trying to pass into another operational zone have little in common. He received his latest on foot. He was coming from the Maubisse, blow from an Australian woman, his com- XANANA TO BE JAILED Ainaro and Same region, and was to be re- OUTSIDE EAST TIMOR panion for the past 20 years. The 43-year- old Horta, with an M.A. in International ceived in Manu-Taci. The unit taking him is AFP, 16 June 1993 Abridged Relations and Law from Antioch Univer- said to have arrived almost 24 hours earlier sity, Ohio, responds to the accusations than anticipated and, instead of staying Comment: It seems that the restoration of made against him concerning excessive ex- ICRC visits may apply only to a special visit overnight outside, he went into the village, penditure. He is convinced that Clinton will where one of the population, Fernando to Xanana Gusmão. This is hardly going to change US policy on Timor within the next Araujo (a known Indonesian collaborator, resolve the ICRC’s problems. The news that 2 years, and calls on Soares and Cavaco to a special visit may be being arranged does send, now, ambassadors all over the world. not to be confused with the resistance mem- show how relentless the pressure on Jakarta ber detained in Jakarta), realised something Publico: Resistance sources say that Xanana has been on Xanana’s isolation and the was going on and told the Indonesian mili- absence of the ICRC visits; something had to Gusmão went on hunger strike weeks tary in Ainaro. The assault was carried out give. But the ICRC has as yet said nothing ago and that his clinical state is serious. about this proposed arrangement. Does this mean that Xanana could die as by a company of special forces. There was a result of a hunger strike which nobody an exchange of gunfire, and Ma’Huno was The military chief responsible over secu- is even sure he has started? rity in East Timor said Xanana Gusmão will driven to Dili in a convoy of six vehicles, not serve his jail sentence in East Timor, Jose Ramos-Horta: That’s right. two of which were armoured. Antara news agency said Wednesday. Q.: Given that, without publicity, this kind of Q.: According to Jakarta, there are now ‘Whether in Jakarta or any other place (I do protest is void of any political effective- only a few battalions of non-combatant not know). What is certain is that it wont be ness, do you not think that Xanana was troops, whose mission is to assist with in East Timor,’ Major-General Theo Syafei mistaken in his choice of action? development. Can you confirm this? said in Denpasar. A: If Xanana dies in the hands of his jailers, A: It is false. There are at least 14,000 men, The reason was so that it would not give rise to unwanted circumstances because without the International Red Cross, the 2,000 of which are part of the special heli- there were still ‘two-headed’ people in East UN and diplomats based in Jakarta having transport forces. There is an air base in Dili Timor, a term used by the Indonesian au- been allowed access to him, then Indonesia and another very big one situated at the old thorities to denote East Timorese who work will be held responsible, and it would be international airport at Baucau, where no- for the government and the private sector very difficult for the US Congress and EC body has ever been allowed to go, and which but are secretly pro-independence. not to apply sanctions on Indonesia. also covers the neighbouring islands. Only Syafei said he will soon accompany dele- someone unaware of the Indonesian armed gates of the International Committee of the Q.: But would it not be worse for Timor? Red Cross to visit Xanana Gusmão in Dili A: Whether dead or alive, Xanana has al- forces’ role could believe that troops are but he gave no date. He said the outgoing ready become one of Timor’s national he- there for rural development reasons... chief ICRC delegate to Indonesia and his roes. His death would give rise to a very Q.: Who is Konis Santana (the new guerrilla replacement will be in East Timor for only considerable crisis in Timor, in Indonesia, in leader)? one day and during their stay there they will A: He was a student leader in the ‘70s, Fre- meet with Gusmão. Syafei denied that the latter’s relations with the West, and I Gusmão had been or was on hunger strike. would compare the resulting situation to tilin. He is said to be an intellectual. Judging when Benigno Aquino was killed (which led from the little information we have on him, RAMOS-HORTA INTERVIEW to the fall of the Marcos regime in the Phil- it seems he is a politician (though certainly ippines). not of the same standing as Xanana Gus- Publico, 16 June 1993. Lisbon. By Adelino mão), and one of the few surviving intellec- Gomes. Translated from Portuguese Q.: Since the capture of Xanana and Ma’Huno, does it still make sense to tuals of the guerrilla. According to a letter to Publico from a speak of the guerrilla? Timor suits Clinton recently released prisoner, who had been held in Colmera prison, Bishop Ximenes A: Clearly the guerrilla no longer has the Q.: Xanana’s imprisonment and sentence Belo’s telephones are bugged and his mail is military force it had in former years. But was a milestone. What do you want for being opened. The prisoner also tells how over the past decade we have been saying him: a reduced sentence, or exile? UN and Red Cross visits are carefully su- that the armed struggle was but one compo- A: His immediate release. Just as Nelson pervised by the Indonesian authorities. nent of the Resistance. There are still hun- Mandela refused to be negotiated for Rus- Now that Xanana Gusmão, Ma’Huno dreds of guerrillas up in the mountains, even sian dissidents, or banished to another coun- and Ma’Hodu, the three historic guerrilla though they are not as well armed or sup- leaders, have been captured, it seems to be try, I believe I am interpreting Xanana the turn of the politicians. Jose Ramos- plied as three years ago. Just a few weeks Gusmão’s thoughts when I say that he will Horta, who left Dili a week before the Indo- ago we learned that an Indonesian operation neither ask for a reduction of sentence nor nesian invasion, became the visible face, in had captured arms and uniforms from the accept exile abroad. Mandela finally left the world of diplomacy, of the Timorese guerrillas. prison in triumph after nearly 30 years, and resistance, and a favourite target of those Q.: How exactly did Indonesia capture today we see South Africa transforming. who criticize anyone who, far from the Ma’Huno? East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 19

Q.: What do you see as a priority on the to self-determination. The Foreign Ministry country, recommend firmness with regards international level? will say that the situation is difficult. I am Indonesia. A: We are betting heavily on the US. There well aware that it is. But we must use all Q.: Bishop Ximenes Belo, who is there on has to be a substantial change in the US possible resources, and cleverly exploit the site, supports an autonomy solution, simi- position. This has already occurred with circumstances which are, in fact, favourable. lar to that of the Azores and Madeira... regards human rights. For the first time in 17 A defeat on this now would be a Portuguese A: I can quite understand how someone, years the US was co-author of the draft Waterloo. who is not a political personality, like Xi- resolution on East Timor at the Human Q. What should Portugal do? menes Belo, supports positions of this na- Rights Commission in Geneva - quite a A: Send personal emissaries of the Presi- ture. What I find unacceptable is when strong and substantial text. Now we are dent, and plenipotentiary ambassadors... someone, who from time to time appears to hoping for a change in the main - political - be concerned about Timor, takes up defeat- Q.: ...that was done in the early ‘80s, and area, since the settlement of the problem can some of those envoys did not even arrive ist positions that may be interpreted as only be reached through a process of self- at their destination... reflecting the real intentions of the Govern- determination. I believe that within the next A: In 1982 there was a big offensive, well- ment. The latter, not wishing to be seen as 18 to 24 months, we can bring about that planned and carried out, with some failures having given up, would send along certain change. and ridiculous situations, but that is only to executioners to say what it thinks. Q.: Wouldn’t a weak or contested Presi- be expected, given the vastness of the plan, Q.: Do you think that this is the case? dency, as seems to be the case, end up not which included Caribbean countries that can A: I hope it is not. Angelo Correia is known fulfilling this promise too? barely be seen on the map, or to which there as a politician with ideas of his own, a A: Bill Clinton the candidate made a lot of is no access by air, and some totally disor- sniper. Perhaps it is no more than that. promises in this area, including about China ganized African countries, such as the Libe- Q.: If this is a defeatist position, is not the which, from the economic and strategic ria of Sargent-come-Dr. Samuel Doe, who Bishop of Dili’s position also defeatist? point of view, is a far more important part- promised one thing and whose ambassadress A: Not at all. I believe that Msgr. Ximenes ner than Indonesia. Since he went back on in New York did quite another. Today, Por- his word with regards China, the Timor favours a wide-ranging autonomy for Timor, tugal is part of the EC; there is a common as a transitory measure in order to reach the issue is the only one which, at the moment, European policy, with repercussions in the will get him good press. It is beneficial and referendum process. What Angelo Correia various spheres and organisations at which supports is a definitive position. advantageous for his image to take decisive the EC has a place. steps on the matter. Q.: No, he talks about suspension. Q. In a recent article in the Expresso, the A: I cannot agree. Portugal’s negotiating Q.: Is it believable that Indonesia suggests a MP Angelo Correia suggested that the vote on the Timor issue at the UN Gen- demand for a referendum be suspended basis is “talks without pre-conditions, under eral Assembly (GA) next Autumn? (though not abandoned) while “platforms the auspices of the UN.” This would mean A: When the inclusion of the matter on this be sought for the negotiation of improve- freezing the debate (and not the issue) on year’s provisional agenda is discussed by ments in human rights and promotion of the two fundamental positions which divide the General Committee, composed of 26 some national interests in the region.” the two parties - self- determination sup- Do you agree with this? countries, Indonesia can express reserva- ported by Portugal and annexation sup- tions, either directly or through a friendly A: I categorically reject this position. To ported by Indonesia. country. If Indonesia succeeds, then we can freeze the referendum issue would mean to Q.: Angelo Correia noted that, thanks to its still try for a vote at the plenary. Indone- compromise on the basic and strategic ques- policy of transmigration, Indonesia will sia’s strategy is aimed here, and not at the tion. The fact that authorised and important be able to accept, in the coming years, the vote by the GA on a resolution that says voices, like that of Angelo Correia, have idea of a referendum, since at that time it will have a comfortable majority in East Timor was decolonized, because an started to offer this kind of concession to Timor. Do you think he is right? indefinite postponement, by the General Indonesia weakens the Portuguese position. Committee or by the plenary, of getting the Q.: Is Angelo Correia saying what the Gov- A: If the problem were to drag on for the issue onto the agenda of any one of the ernment is thinking? next 10, 20 or 30 years, the demographic seven working commissions would mean, A: The facts do not support that argument. configuration could have changed. But I for all purposes, a final defeat for the East For example: what criticism did Portugal don’t believe I am being excessively opti- Timor issue. I already raised the alarm about make of Indonesia in the international arena mistic when I think that the present Indone- this scenario last year, and continue to do between 1976 and 1986? In spite of this sian regime has only a few years ahead of it. The internal and international pressures for so. A large-scale diplomatic offensive needs complacency was there, during that period, to be started right now. an improvement in the human rights situa- democratization are great and on the in- crease. The regime is getting weaker and Q.: What form should this take? tion or did the military offensives in East weaker. A: The skeleton of a project in which, for Timor slacken off? No. Specialists in Indo- The reconciliation idea is a dangerous one example, The Hague International Tribunal nesian affairs, who understand the problem is asked for a consultative opinion, or by better that all the Angelo Correias of this Q.: There are enormous divisions among the Timorese: there is disagreement reaffirming the right of the Timorese people Page 20 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

within the UDT; Fretilin has at least two Timorese, who would then be speaking STATEMENT OF big wings.. with one voice. INDONESIAN DEPARTMENT A: It cannot be said that there is disagree- A: If the intention of the idea’s originator OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON ment within the UDT... was to convert Abilio Osorio Soares to the XANANA’S TRIAL Q.: ...just here in Portugal there are, at independence cause, then I have only praise least, two UDTs... for his generosity and good faith. But I do Reposted from soc.culture.indonesia, 18 A: No. There is just the Regional Committee not think he will be very lucky. I will not go June 93 led by Dr. Zacarias Costa and a team of back to a Timor governed by troglodytes Comment – the criticism of Xanana’s trial young people, who can rightly claim that Q.: Some say that, if Timor became inde- came from many sources all over the world, they were the only ones, out of the whole pendent one day, many of you would not not just from the Portuguese government “straw man” erected by Indonesia. This Timorese political class, to have been even go back there. statement does nothing to deal with the fact A: I will go back. Not to be Foreign Minis- elected democratically. that the Indonesian authorities prevented Q.: But there are personalities who continue ter, nor Prime Minister, and definitely not Xanana from having the defense counsel of to claim the leadership of the UDT in to be President, but to roam about the island his choice and stopped him from presenting Portugal. again and to write books. his defense statement at the end of the trial, A: The matter of the said Political Commis- But after 20 years to struggle, I will not go not to mention the numerous other illegali- ties and irregularities of the trial. It ignores sion, which was never elected and whose back to an East Timor governed by troglo- the fact that the only ICRC visit to Xanana members cannot even say they have ever dytes, autocrats, incompetent people, or was in December, before the five-month trial been on the Central Committee, has been dictators. For me, independence is not just a began, and that most foreign observers sorted out. Obviously, Fretilin still has flag. It is to have a democratic constitution, (including diplomats) were kept out of the problems, but I know a serious effort is an independent judicial system, an active courtroom when Xanana tried to read his being made for them to be overcome them in and dynamic press, a truly free society. If statement. And of course the entire issue of the near future. These problems are not just we do not achieve that, I will not return and the lack of legal Indonesian jurisdiction over East Timor and the East Timorese people found among the Timorese. They are charac- will consider myself a complete failure. makes the whole process illegitimate. teristic of all exile groups. It is almost inevi- Q.: There are many who support the table: the further away we become in time Timorese cause but who seem convinced There are many other distortions, too nu- that, the day after independence, the merous to rebut here. Perhaps someone and space, the more little controversies familiar with Indonesian law and the trial arise. It’s not making me lose any sleep. Timorese will start killing each other again. process can write one and post it here. Q.: The most recent division arose on ac- – Charlie Scheiner, ETAN/US count of the idea of reconciliation among A: I hope that Xanana Gusmão will live Timorese. Why was this? until then and beyond because, with his Statement on “the trial of Xanana Gus- A: Given that the political conditions which imposing personality, charisma, moral and mão” would allow Timorese to sit at the negotia- political authority, he will make good sense 1 In another attempt to discredit Indone- sia and to mislead international public opin- tions table do not yet exist, because Indone- prevail and inspire the society in general to ion, the government of Portugal on 21 May sia rejects our presence, we can be involved be kind and generous, and to forgive our worst enemies. It is on the first day of inde- 1993 has issued a communiqué on the sen- indirectly, through frequent consultation and tence pronounced against Xanana Gusmão. dialogue with the Portuguese Government pendence that, whoever the leader of Timor As has became standard fare in unending and representatives of the UN Secretary is, should then proclaim national reconcilia- stream of Portuguese communication of this General. Ali Alatas himself agreed, in Rome, tion. kind, this most recent communiqué is again that he would receive those Timorese he Q.: On that day, will you be supporting the replete with baseless accusations, malicious misinterpretations, distortion of facts and wished. In this way, the doors to a more creation of a new party? ever more strident innuendo. The Depart- formal dialogue are open. If Alatas has little A: On day one of independence, and Xanana ment of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia deems room for maneuver in Indonesian militarized knows this, I shall say good-bye to every- it appropriate and necessary, therefore, to society, then what am I going to discuss one and dedicate myself to writing. put the record straight, and to issue the with Mr. Abilio Osorio Soares (the pro- following statement. Indonesia Governor of Timor), who doesn’t 2 On 21 May 1993, Mr. Jose Alexander know how to write and represents abso- Xanana “Gusmão” was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Dili district court, East lutely nothing? It is a very dangerous idea. Timor. He was found guilty under articles As one person linked to the UN told me, if 106. 108, and 110 of the criminal code. He in the end the Timorese thought the problem was charged inter alia with leading an armed of Timor could be solved through a recon- rebellion against Indonesian government, ciliation dialogue, the Secretary General disrupting national stability and illegal pos- would then happily wash his hands of it. session of firearms. The trial of Mr. Gus- mão was conducted in accordance with the Q.: That is one way of looking at the initia- laws and regulations of Indonesia. Through- tive. Another is that the dialogue would out the trial proceedings, he was assisted by reinforce the representativeness of the legal counsel and the services of sworn in- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 21 terpreters. Mr. Gusmão has been accorded the Indonesian government and certain me- Physical Exercise i. 17.30 Shower. j. 18.00 due process of law and was tried in manner dia reports accusing Mr. Amos Wako, the Dinner. k. 19.00 - 22.00 Free activities consistent with the right of anyone under personal envoy of the UN Secretary General III. This release is aimed at clarifying news those laws and regulations. Mr. Gusmão has of having influenced Mr. Xanana Gusmão in about the condition of Mr. Xanana Gus- the right to appeal to higher court or to re- the presentation of his defense plea. These mão during the trial process. quest for clemency. media reports have subsequently been It is therefore absurd and totally unwar- proven to be without foundation and as INDONESIAN PRESIDENT’S OFFICE ranted for Portugal to accuse that the trial of evident in the official statement made, the ON ‘CLEMENCY PLEA’ Mr. Gusmão is a “political trial” and that it Indonesian government has never given cre- “was fraught with the gravest irregularities dence to those reports. The clarifications Jawa Pos, 12 June 1993 Abridged and outrages,” and that witnesses had been made by the Secretary- General in his Comment: It is unusual for the President’s subjected to coercion and abuse. statement on 21 May 1993 is greatly appre- office to draw such attention to the pressure 3 Throughout his detention and the trial ciated by the Indonesian government. The it is under on any issue. For the State Secre- proceedings, Mr. Gusmão was treated con- government of Indonesia has full confidence tary, Moerdiono, to have done so in the case sistent with international standards. He was in the mission carried out by Mr. Amos of Xanana’s alleged ‘clemency plea’ sug- also visited by ICRC and Mr. Amos Wako, Wako, the personal envoy of the United gests that this may be part of a strategy to the personal envoy of the United Nations Nations Secretary General. use the Xanana case to assuage interna- Secretary General. The trial – in civil court 7 It is obvious that the Portuguese gov- tional opinion by generously reducing his of law – was open to the public and ob- ernment has once again seized the opportu- sentence. For the record, it is the lawyer, served by diplomats, foreign journalists, nity, this time utilizing the occasion of the Sudjono, acting ‘on his behalf,’ not Xanana, including nine Portuguese journalists, repre- trial of Mr. Gusmão, to intensify its camp- who filed the plea. sentatives of Asia Watch and the Interna- ing to discredit Indonesia and to undermine tional Commission of Jurists as well as by a the serious efforts by the United Nations MANY INQUIRIES TO THE STATE representatives of the UN Secretary Gen- Secretary General to find a comprehensive SECRETARIAT ABOUT XANANA eral. The trial proceeding were also attended and internationally acceptable solution to Many heads of state have been asking by the defendant’s close relatives, including the question of East Timor through to the about the sentence passed against Xanana. his parents, his sisters and others. tripartite dialogue. The continuing barrage of The inquiries have been received by the 4 It should be noted that those who were baseless accusations and the intensified will State Secretariat and the Foreign Affairs detained along with Mr. Gusmão have also and seriousness of Portugal in finding a solu- Department, Secretary of State Moerdiono been accorded due process of law. They tion to the question of East Timor through told the press yesterday. They also ask for were all treated humanly and the ICRC also the dialogue under the auspices of the his sentence to be reduced. visited them. United Nations Secretary-General. Moerdiono said several heads of state 5 The Indonesian government categori- 8 The trial of Mr. Gusmão would hope- have sent letters, special envoys or have cally rejects the claim of Portugal that Indo- fully focus world attention to the tragic phoned the Foreign Ministry. nesia lacks “any political, moral or legal consequences of a policy of violence and “We are listening to these voices, but I authority” to conduct the trials against Mr. conflict as carried out by Mr. Gusmão’s don’t want to mention the names of the Gusmão and those who are committing acts followers and sympathizers. It is hoped that countries. They should remember that Indo- in violation of the Indonesian laws and regu- peace and development can now replace the nesia is a sovereign state which has its own lations. It should be recalled that after the security disruptions that prevailed in East government and procedures,” he said. irresponsible abandonment of East Timor Timor in the past and that the sincere and According to Foreign Ministry sources, by erstwhile Portuguese colonial authorities serious efforts of the world community can the states which have asked for Xanana’s in August 1975, the people of East Timor now be focused on what is best in the long- sentence to be reduced include Belgium, have rightfully exercised their right to self- term interest of the people of the province. Australia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Cape determination and decolonisation. This they Verde, France and the international human did by choosing independence through inte- INDONESIAN SAN FRANCISCO rights organisation in London [presumably, gration with Indonesia in accordance with CONSULATE STATEMENT Amnesty]. United Nation resolution (UNGA) 1514 Press Release distributed by the Indonesian Asked whether the Xanana case might in- (xv) and principles vi, viii and ix of UNGA Consulate in San Francisco during the third fluence the meeting of the Consultative Resolution 1541 (xv) and as confirmed by vigil at their entrance, June 17, 1993. Group on Indonesia in Paris, Moerdiono the relevant provisions of UNGA Resolu- said “I am not worried that Xanana will be Full text. Capitalization and spelling as in tion 2625 (xxv), thereby terminating their raised at the CGI meeting. If they under- original. Much of it is the same as the previ- former colonial status. Thus, the true facts stand the meaning of a sovereign state, coun- ous posting, with this addition: of the situation is that by utterly failing in tries that give aid will not link it with mat- its responsibility, Portugal has indeed for- II. With regard to the condition of Mr. ters which are quite unrelated.” feited any right of legitimacy to be still con- Xanana Gusmão who has been reported Although the clemency request for sidered the administering power of East as acting hunger strike, the Dili District Xanana has not yet reached the State Secre- Timor. For these reasons, Indonesian laws Police reports that Mr. Xanana Gusmão tariat, Moerdiono said that President Su- and regulations are applicable to anyone for activities are: harto pays close attention to all clemency committing acts in contravention of those a. 06.00 Wake up, Shower. b. 06.30 requests. “This applies also to the clemency laws and regulations. The trial of Mr. Gus- Health check by Dili District Police Physi- request from the Fretilin boss.” mão is therefore fully within the jurisdiction cian. c. 07.00 Breakfast. d. 08.00 - 09.00 He said that once the clemency plea is re- of Indonesia. Exercise (Basket Ball) e. 09.00 -12.00 Free ceived, it will be handled speedily. But this 6 Another attempt of disinformation by activities. f. 12.00-13.00 Lunch. g. 13.00 - should not be taken as meaning that this is the Portuguese government can be seen in 16.00 Free activities. h. 16.00 - 17.00 because of foreign pressure. It is purely a their effort to establish a linkage between matter of ensuring legal certitude for some- Page 22 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. one facing enforcement of the law in Indone- Jose Ramos-Horta, has responded to false on the human rights front has suffered sian territory. reports from within Indonesia about a plea greatly with powerful and damning state- “This goes not only for Xanana but also for clemency allegedly filed on behalf of ments made by Indonesia’s Legal Aid Foun- for completely unknown people if they file jailed Resistance Commander Xanana Gus- dation head, Adnan Buyung Nasution and clemency pleas through the proper proce- mão. other Indonesian NGO’s, tired of their dures,” said Moerdiono. “This is simply untrue, it is more Indo- country’s despicable and appalling treat- He said that, considering that Xanana has nesian propaganda. Xanana stated in his ment of it’s own people’s basic human stated that he is an Indonesian citizen (sic), defence statement that he does not recognise rights. his clemency plea will be handled like that the jurisdiction of the court to try him, his Suharto is desperate to preserve the im- of a native Indonesian. alleged lawyer Sudjono has never repre- age of being in control and is extremely care- Although clemency is a presidential pre- sented Xanana’s position. Xanana would ful to cover up his loss of power to the rogative, the president needs advice from all never file for clemency.” military from the rest of the world, yet he is sides, including the Supreme Court, the In response to false claims from the In- unable to carry out the totally unacceptable Attorney-General and the Minister of Jus- donesian Secretary of State Moerdiono that escape he is attempting to find to the tice. Xanana had stated that he was an Indone- Xanana debacle. “In Xanana’s case, other opinions will sian citizen, Ramos Horta added, Jose Ramos-Horta has again called for the also be sought, including that of the com- “These are more lies, Xanana was never international community to demand that mander-in-chief of the Armed Forces heard to say that he was an Indonesian citi- Resistance Commander Xanana Gusmão be (ABRI) because Xanana was engaged in zen. It was his interpreter that was heard to given the opportunity to make his own rebellion against ABRI. In addition, say it, not Xanana.” statement to representatives of the EC, the Xanana’s acts have been classified as insur- In response to other claims by Secretary US and a Special Representative of the UN rection.” of State Moerdiono in the Jawa Pos 12.6.93, Secretary General. END Ramos Horta said: REBEL ASKS FOR MERCY “It is simply untrue that Portugal and CLEMENCY PLOY FOR EAST Cape Verde, would ask Suharto to consider TIMORESE YET ANOTHER Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June. By AFP a reduced sentence as claimed by Moer- TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE Jakarta, Sunday: The East Timorese rebel diono, because it implies a recognition of sovereignty and legal jurisdiction. Moer- leader, Xanana Gusmão, has submitted a TAPOL issued the following press release diono’s remarks will not stand up to scru- plea for clemency through the Indonesian today, 21 June 1993: Attorney-General’s office. tiny. His implications that France, Belgium, The plea, lodged yesterday, will be the Netherlands and a major human rights The Indonesian Supreme Court has handed to the Supreme Court and then to organisation whose name he does not care to turned down appeals against the guilty ver- President Suharto. clarify, have asked for Xanana’s sentence to dicts and upheld the harsh sentences passed “This means he admitted his guilt” the be reduced are also worthy of significant on four East Timorese who were tried for Co-ordinating Political and Security Affairs challenge.” involvement in peaceful demonstrations in Minister, Mr. Susilo Sudarman, said after Close observers of the Government of Dili on 12 November 1991 and in Jakarta on meeting President Suharto. “His clemency Indonesia have noted that the Military are 19 November 1991. At the same time, appeal will be processed through standard now using East Timor to embarrass Suharto. President Suharto’s office has announced procedures.” This is a major blow for Suharto who is that it will promptly handle a ‘clemency The East Timor rebel movement has in under considerable international pressure to plea’ made on behalf of the East Timorese the past denied that Xanana had pleaded for resolve the conflict in East Timor. Suharto is resistance leader, Xanana Gusmão, hinting clemency. Such an appeal would effectively clearly very concerned about Indonesia’s that his life sentence may soon be reduced. recognise the right of Indonesia to try him. image at the CGI (Consultative Group on Gregorio da Cunha Saldhana, 29, got life A state court in Dili, the main city in Indonesia) scheduled in Paris. for taking part in the 12 November 1991 East Timor, on May 21 condemned Xanana, Suharto, say observers, is fast being seen demonstration in Dili when Indonesian 46, to life imprisonment for rebellion, sepa- as nothing more than a military puppet. He troops shot dead several hundred demon- ratism and illegal possession of firearms. and Alatas have no power. The rift between strators. Joao Freitas da Camara, 26, got ten Indonesia invaded East Timor soon after Suharto and the Military became glaringly years, Fernando de Araujo, 27, got nine the Portuguese left in 1975. It annexed the obvious two weeks ago when ICRC Chief years and Virgilio da Silva Guterres 27, got territory in 1976 but the United Nations Sommaruga was assured by Suharto that the two and a half years for participating in the still considers it under Portuguese admini- ICRC would stay in East Timor after Mili- Jakarta demonstration a week later to pro- stration. tary Commander Theo Syafei had told them test against the killings. Xanana has not been seen in public since to get out. Regardless, the ICRC had to They could now seek presidential clem- his May sentencing. The rebel movement suspend all their visits as their conditions ency, admitting guilt, but the three have told has said he was on a hunger strike and being were not being met by the military. As re- their lawyers they will never do this as they force-fed by the authorities. cently as two days ago Mr. Pierre Pont of are guilty of nothing. The lawyer, Luhut the ICRC told BBC’s Adam Brookes that Pangaribuan of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) said they insist “it was those who “XANANA WILL NEVER FILE despite the assurance he has had from “the highest authority of state” the ICRC have put them in jail who were guilty and should FOR CLEMENCY!” not been able so far to see all the prisoners make an apology.” All four, like Xanana — RAMOS HORTA on an equal basis. himself, rejected the right of the Indonesian Suharto’s unprecedented desperation to judiciary to try them in the first place. CNRM Press Release, 21 June 1993 grant clemency to Xanana is a clear indica- Pangaribuan has bitterly criticised the ju- Sp ecial representative of the National tion that he is reacting to pressure. Since the diciary for its gross mishandling of the ap- Council of Maubere Resistance (CNRM) Vienna Conference began, Indonesia’s image peals. Their lawyers have been kept in the East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 23 dark. They knew nothing about the Supreme MEDIA PUT WORDS IN Court and therefore had not begun an appeal Court’s verdict regarding the Jakarta three, to the Supreme Court. adopted in January, until they visited them XANANA’S MOUTH According to Sudjono, Xanana’s plea for in prison this month. As for Gregorio’s Green Left #104, June 23, 1993, By Jana clemency was handed directly to the head of appeal, Pangaribuan said he had never been D.K. the Dili court, Hieronymus Godang, on June told of the High Court’s verdict and had 4. But on June 9, the minister of the national only read about the Supreme Court’s deci- JAKARTA - Two East Javanese news- secretariat, Moerdino, stated that he had not sion to uphold his life sentence in the press. papers, Surya and Surabaya Pos, both ran yet received the plea. No explanation for the These developments contrast sharply articles on June 6 headed “Xanana admits delay has been provided by either Sudjono with the regime’s response to the lawyer the benefits of East Timorese integration.” or the Dili court. Sudjono who has admitted publicly that he On the previous day the Jakarta daily Kom- was asked to defend Xanana by a senior pas carried an article titled “Xanana: I beg JAILED XANANA WINS forgiveness.” police officer. He claims to have ‘repre- LIBERTY MEDAL sented’ Xanana Gusmão by filing a clem- Fretilin leader Xanana Gusmão was sen- tenced to life imprisonment by a Dili court ency plea on 4 June in Dili. Within a week, Sydney Morning Herald, July 12. by Tony on May 21. Amnesty International reported the State Secretariat announced that Presi- Wright dent Suharto would deal with Sudjono’s on May 27 that it believed Xanana to be in plea promptly, adding that requests had poor health and on a hunger strike. Since he (Canberra) Eugenio Paulo “Nito” Gus- been received from several heads of state was taken from court on May 21, Xanana mão was a little boy when he last saw his including the EC for Xanana’s sentence to has not received any visitors except for his father. it was 1975 - the year Xanana Gus- be reduced. If true, this contradicts the posi- court-appointed lawyer, Sudjono. mão disappeared into the mountains of East tion of all EC members none of which has According to the Indonesian Criminal Timor to become a renowned freedom accepted Indonesia’s annexation of East Code, submitting a plea for clemency is by fighter. Timor, meaning that they cannot accept definition a legal admission of guilt. While Yesterday, Nito accepted one of Portu- Indonesian jurisdiction to put East Timorese there is some provision for appeal, the gal’s most distinguished humanitarian on trial. process can take more than a year, and the awards - the Great Cross of the Order of The regime may hope that by cutting the government clearly wants to see the case Liberty - on his father’s behalf. Xanana sentence, it can diffuse the world- “resolved” as quickly as possible. Nito, 22, said he hoped one day soon to wide campaign rejecting the Xanana trial as a The June 5 Kompas article quotes Sud- present the award to his father in person. travesty and calling for his immediate re- jono as saying that Xanana didn’t see any Xanana is in an Indonesian prison, jailed for lease. Sudjono is clearly part of the ploy. He point in presenting an appeal to the High life in May for plotting against the State and even alleges that Xanana, almost all of Court or the Supreme Court. Sudjono of illegal possession of firearms. whose defiant defence statement in the Dili quoted Xanana as saying, “A plea of clem- The Portuguese Ambassador to Austra- court was not read out, now admits that he ency is more effective,” adding “he [Xanana] lia, Mr. Rui Goulart D’Avila, said the Order was guilty. No independent observers have has officially revoked any right to appeal of Liberty was created to distinguish ser- met Xanana since he was sentenced and and thus the process is complete.” vices rendered in defence of the values of nothing is known about his physical or men- Without suggesting why there might be civilization, for the dignity of man and for tal state. It is not clear whether the Interna- some question as to the validity of Sud- the cause of freedom. The Portuguese Presi- tional Red Cross met Xanana last week jono’s remarks, the article goes on to say dent had indicated he award should be during a programme of prison visits which that Xanana had already written a private handed to Xanana’s son in Australia. Portu- was aborted because of lack of cooperation letter which stated that his plea for clem- gal, which once controlled East Timor, has by the military authorities in Dili. But even ency was made of his own volition. The taken up East Timorese freedom as a major if the ICRC met him, their mandate does not article neglects to mention whether copies of diplomatic effort and does not recognise permit them to publish their findings the letter were provided to or even seen by Indonesia’s annexation of the territory. Nito TAPOL calls on the European Commu- journalists. Gusmão, his mother Emilia and his sister nity Summit in Copenhagen to demand im- The articles which appeared on June 6, Zenilda have lived in Australia since they mediate access to Xanana to monitor his from the government news agency Antara, fled East Timor in 1989. Nito has moved to condition and ascertain his wishes. It should tried to convince the public that the conflict Sydney from Melbourne and is looking for demand his immediate release. The EC in East Timor is over. Surya quotes Xanana work. He cannot remember his father should also condemn the Indonesian judici- as saying that he was sorry for his actions clearly, although he had received letters ary for mishandling the appeals of other as the leader of Fretilin over the last 17 during their long enforced separation. “Since East Timorese who were given harsh sen- years. Surabaya Pos adds that Xanana in- he joined FRETILIN, he’s had other duties, tences merely for taking part in peaceful tends to plead with his compatriots still in so we never had a close relationship,” he demonstrations. The EC should demand the bush to give themselves up. said. “But I never regret it - I always sup- their immediate release, in line with the reso- The Indonesian government is obviously port his fight for our People.” Nito said he lution adopted in March this year by the anxious to tie up any loose ends over hoped the Indonesian government might exercise clemency and set his father free, and UN Human Rights Commission. Xanana’s trial and those of other activists in connection with the November 12, 1991, the Australian government might be per- Dili massacre. On June 2 the Supreme Court suaded to take his father as a refugee. rejected Gregorio da Cunha Saldanha’s ap- peal against a life sentence for allegedly organising the funeral procession in Dili. This was despite the fact that Gregorio’s lawyers had not yet received written notifi- cation of a previous appeal to the High Page 24 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

BADGE OF TROUBLE Publico also reported that twenty-six RED CROSS TIMOR VISIT “The Economist” June 19-25, 1993, p. 29. demonstrators were arrested. After interro- gation, almost certainly accompanied by Source: The Canberra Times, 17 June 1993, The article was accompanied by a close-up torture, all but two were released. The two By AAP, NZPA, Reuter picture of Xanana Gusmão with the caption still in detention are brothers, Pedro Fatima “Portugal’s hero.” Jailed East Timorese leader Xanana Ferreira, 24, and Estavao Ferreira, 23. Gusmão will be visited by the International The Indonesians may be regretting their Other arrests were made in Lospalos be- Red Cross within a couple of days, the capture of Xanana Gusmão, the former East fore the arrival of the ambassador. One of Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gareth Evans, Timor resistance leader. He is proving more those arrested, Marcelino de Ceu, was trans- said yesterday. troublesome as a prisoner than he ever was ferred to Dili for interrogation. It is likely, Indonesia has been reluctant to allow Mr. while leading his little band of guerrillas. On the paper said, that the clandestine network Gusmão’s family, governments and human June 10th Portugal awarded Mr. Gusmão had prepared itself for a series of actions to rights lobby groups to visit the former the Grand Cross of Liberty. The award, for coincide with the ambassador’s visit. leader who was jailed in May. Senator Ev- “services in the defence of the values of ans, in Vienna for World Conference on civilization,” is intended not only as a ges- Human Rights, said on the ABC’s AM ture of support for Mr. Gusmão, but as a WILL ICRC SEE XANANA program that he had held discussions with reproach to Indonesia. OR EAST TIMOR? Indonesian Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas, in Mr. Gusmão was leader of Fretilin, a Geneva. group only a few hundred strong. It has never made much impact on the Indonesian ICRC TO VISIT XANANA EVANS: JAKARTA WILL army, which invaded East Timor in 1975 GUSMÃO? when the Portuguese left. Nevertheless, it ALLOW ACCESS TO XANANA carries a banner for East Timorese who still AAP report, 16 June 1993. Abridged ‘WITHIN DAYS’ hope for an independent East Timor. Mr. Gusmão was captured in November, (Canberra) East Timorese leader Xanana The Age, 17 June 1993 and in May he was sentenced to life impris- Gusmão will be visited by the International Red Cross within a couple of days, Foreign (Vienna, Wednesday - Reuter) Indonesia onment for, among other offenses, trying to will soon let representatives of the Interna- set up a separate state. Portugal, which is Affairs Minister Gareth Evans said today. Evans, currently in Vienna for the World tional Committee of the Red Cross visit the still regarded by the United Nations as the jailed Timorese guerrilla leader Xanana administrator of East Timor, said the trial Conference on Human Rights, told ABC’s AM programme he had held discussions Gusmão, the Australian Foreign Minister, was a travesty. Mr. Gareth Evans, said today. Such strong words probably betray some with Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas in Geneva. ‘Without going into all the details The Red Cross halted visits to Timorese guilt about the neglect of East Timor when it in Indonesian jails in the disputed territory was a Portuguese colony. Portugal’s impos- of those conversations, I think I can say it was a very genuine, very frank and very of East Timor in May, saying the Indone- sible demand now is for a referendum in sian Government had not met unspecified East Timor to decide its future. Indonesia helpful response,’ Evans said. One of the problems that concerned Aus- conditions it had set. Visits had resumed had believed, with some evidence, that the only shortly before. They were first sus- outside world had become bored with tralia was the lack of access by the Interna- tional Red Cross to Mr. Gusmão and other pended in January. Timor. A sensible course would have been Exiled rebels say Xanana has been on a to send Mr. Gusmão quietly into exile, per- detainees. ‘I understand that the problem has been resolved and those visits will take hunger strike and was taken to hospital on haps in Europe. Now the Indonesians have 26 May, five days after being given a life given Portugal a new reason to nag them. place in the next day or so,’ Senator Evans said. sentence on sedition and firearms charges. For more information on this award, see the ‘I think it would be fair to say that it was Mr. Evans, who is at the World Confer- Portugal section of this issue of East Timor already a matter of concern within Indonesia ence on Human Rights in Austria, told Aus- Documents. itself that this access had been denied. It tralian radio he had raised the issue there was a glitch in the system with the military with the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. XANANA MOVED FROM DILI authorities,’ Senator Evans said. ‘I believe Ali Alatas. “I understand that problem has that efforts were already under way by the been resolved and those visits will take Publico, 24 and 25 July 1993. Summary time we came into the act.’ place in the next day or so,” Mr. Evans said. Church sources in Dili told Publico that Mr. Alatas told him the denial of access Note that a report in Jakarta Post on 11 had been “a glitch in the system with the Xanana Gusmão, who has been held incom- June 1993 on a statement by Ali Alatas, be- municado since he was condemned to life in military authorities” and was already being fore leaving for Vienna, about the condition dealt with by Jakarta. May, was moved out of Dili to an unknown of Xanana Gusmão, reported him as saying destination, shortly before the Vatican am- Mr. Alatas denied last week that Xanana that the government and the International was on a hunger strike and said he was in a bassador, Mgr. Pietro Sambi, arrived in Dili Red Cross have resolved the question of on 21 July for a visit lasting several days, good health. access to Xanana after its temporary sus- Despite recent moves to ease controls on probably in order to make it impossible for pension. the ambassador to try to visit him. dissidents in Indonesia, the Government has During the ambassador’s visit, forty TAPOL notes that there has been no inde- ruled out lifting a travel ban on members of a young East Timorese staged a demonstra- pendent confirmation yet of this. We have leading dissident group, the Petition of 50. tion outside the Cathedral just as the ambas- sought a clarification from the ICRC head- sador, who officiated at a Mass, was leaving quarters in Geneva and still await their the building. reply. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 25

ICRC’S PROBLEMS IN EAST to detainees in East Timor only to find ac- and referring to the interest shown by Mario cess restricted by the Indonesian security Carrascalão (former Governor of the terri- TIMOR NOT RESOLVED forces in the territory. It is understood that tory), the CNRM issued a communiqué: BBC and UPI, 18 June 1993 some prisoners were visited this week but “Reconciliation? Yes, but among ourselves. the head of the delegation, Pierre Pont, de- Because it is within us, more than in anyone Comment: The conflict between the ICRC clined to comment on which ones or on their else, that we find the exact measure of suf- and the military forces of occupation in East condition: fering and pain. Reconciliation? Yes, but Timor are clearly far from resolved, despite He said: “Despite the assurances I have among all Timorese, free and without excep- efforts by Foreign Minister Ali Alatas to get received from the highest authority of the tions.” an ICRC mission to visit Xanana Gusmão state, we have not been able to see on an Without any reference to Abilio Araujo and other prisoners. Ali Alatas is under equal basis all the prisoners of East Timor by name, the text, signed by Luis Cardoso, tremendous pressure from abroad to secure so I do not feel able to comment on that.” describes the internal reconciliation process, conditions in East Timor to enable the hu- Further, according to the BBC, it is not undergone by the two Timorese parties, manitarian agency to resume visits. The clear if the delegation gained access to UDT and Fretilin. It expresses rejection of pressure has been primarily about the Xanana Gusmão. It is not clear why the the idea of reconciliation “with one who has condition of Xanana Gusmão and the ICRC are being obstructed again though fallen into a well of blood” in which he has controversy over whether he is on hunger sources in East Timor say elements of the “wallowed for nearly two decades.” strike and what his physical and mental state military favour a hardline and resent pres- Today and tomorrow, a group of now is. sure on humanitarian issues from abroad. Timorese activists is going to meet to dis- Until now, the statements made both by Meanwhile, according to a report from cuss the restructuring process, which the Alatas and Syafei seemed to be saying that UPI in Jakarta also on 18 June, the Bali- Timorese parties and bodies have been un- the ICRC would now be able to meet Xanana based military commander, Major-General dergoing. The meeting will be an informal - hence responding to international pressure Theo Syafei said three ICRC officials led by exchange of ideas between some leaders of - but the ICRC made it quite clear when they Pierre Pont, former (?) chief of the ICRC in the UDT in Portugal’s regional committee, suspended visits on 30 May that they do not Indonesia, arrived on a two-day visit to Dili the Timorese Forum, Fretilin, and CNRM. only want to visit Xanana. If they have, as on Wednesday. Syafei said he accompanied Meanwhile, according to an interview Syafei says, already met him, it may be diffi- the ICRC officials visiting the detainees and published in yesterday’s edition of the Rus- cult to find out what they discovered as the prisoners, including the independence leader, sian paper “Nezavissimaia Gazeta,” Jose ICRC’s mandate requires it to report only to Xanana Gusmão. Ramos-Horta would welcome the contribu- the host government. The continuing conflict tion of Russia towards Timor’s achievement with the military in East Timor may, how- RED CROSS VISITS XAN ANA of independence. Ramos-Horta considered ever, affect their judgment on whether they GUSMÃO that the position of the world powers, on can stick to the requirements of their man- the Timor question, had been one of collabo- date. Publico, 19 June 1993, translated from Por- ration with Indonesia, so as to maintain It is also remarkable how every single tuguese good relations. statement made by Syafei makes the point (Lisbon) According to yesterday’s report that he would accompany/had accompanied in the “Correio da Manha Radio,” last RED CROSS ‘DENIED the ICRC delegation on their visit to Xanana. Thursday the Red Cross visited Xanana ACCESS’ IN EAST TIMOR The ICRC’s mandate requires confidentiality Gusmão. The former leader of the Maubere of all visits. It is difficult to believe they Resistance National Council (CNRM), con- The Australian. 21 June 1993 would have allowed him to be present at demned to life imprisonment by the Indone- (AFP, Jakarta) The International Com- their meeting with Xanana. sian judiciary, was visited in prison in Dili, mittee of the Red Cross was still facing Syafei seems determined that, having made by a Red Cross delegation, led by Pierre difficulties in gaining access to prisoners in this concession to Jakarta over a visit to Pont, who is in charge of the humanitarian East Timor, an ICRC delegate said yester- Xanana, the visit would be controlled per- organization’s representation in Jakarta. day. sonally by him. Yesterday, in Lisbon, the idea of the rec- “Despite assurances that I have received onciliation meeting between Timorese who from the highest authorities of the State, I According to the BBC World Service cor- are for and against integration with Indone- have not been able to see on an equal basis respondent in Jakarta, Adam Brooks on 18 sia, was once again contested by the all prisoners in East Timor” the chief ICRC June 1993, the International Committee of CNRM, by way of communiqué signed by delegate to Indonesia, Mr. Pierre Pont, said the Red Cross says it is still facing difficul- Luis Cardoso, the CNRM’s representative after a visit to East Timor. ties in gaining access to East Timorese de- in Portugal. The meeting was proposed by Mr. Pont said the ICRC was facing “con- tainees held by the Indonesian security Abilio Araujo, Fretilin leader in Portugal. tinuing difficulties” in carrying out its man- forces. The meeting, - the need for which was re- date in East Timor. An ICRC delegation returned to Jakarta affirmed this week by Abilio Araujo at the East Timor was unilaterally annexed by Friday, having been able to visit some but end of an audience with Cavaco Silva, - had Jakarta in 1975 and declared its 27th prov- not all the detainees on their list. The delega- been rejected outright by Jose Ramos-Horta, ince a year later, but the United Nations still tion declined to comment on whether they the CNRM representative abroad, as well as regards Lisbon as the administrative power had been able to visit Xanana Gusmão. Ac- by the UDT and even by some sectors of in the former Portuguese colony. cording to the BBC, the local military au- Fretilin itself. Now, in response to Abilio A five-member ICRC delegation, led by thorities appear to be obstructing the ICRC Araujo’s recent statements suggesting that Mr. Pont and including a doctor from Ge- despite assurances of access from the Indo- the meeting would be held in September, neva, visited East Timor for two days. It nesian leadership. confirming the participation of Lopes da was the first ICRC visit to call on prisoners For the second time in a month, the Cruz (Suharto’s adviser on Timor affairs), in East Timor since it suspended such trips ICRC began an agreed programme of visits Page 26 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. on May 30, saying conditions were not information we do not release. It is part of in early May in Jakarta, the International being met by officials. the conditions negotiated with the authori- Committee of the Red Cross has tried to Stressing the importance of “access” to ties.” resume its visits to all persons detained in all prisoners, Mr. Pont said he was trying to The ICRC requires countries to comply connection with the situation in East Timor. clarify the situation and did not rule out with three conditions: access should be The visits were suspended in January 1993. another visit to East Timor. permitted to all prisoners, detainees must be The ICRC’s first attempt to resume the The president of the ICRC, Mr. Cornelio interviewed freely, without witnesses, and visits on 25 May had to be interrupted two Sommaruga, said in Jakarta last month that a repeat visits to monitor prison conditions days later owing to restrictions placed on its series of talks with Indonesia officials, in- should be allowed. customary visiting procedure. A further cluding President Suharto and the Foreign On Wednesday, Reuter reported from attempt on 17 June was cut short the next Minister, Mr. Ali Alatas, had left him opti- Strasbourg that Indonesian Foreign Minister day because of failure to obtain access to all mistic there would be continuous “access to Ali Alatas said he was not aware of a state- the detainees despite prior assurances to the detained persons in a regular way.” ment from the ICRC which said Indonesia contrary by the relevant authorities. Mr. Sommaruga said the ICRC had not was restricting access to prisoners in East The ICRC deplores these continuing dif- been satisfied with the frequency of visits. Timor. ficulties and appeals to the Indonesian au- Mr. Pont would not confirm whether he The ICRC on June 17 had “resumed its thorities to take all necessary steps to re- had met captured East Timorese pro inde- regular visits to detainees starting with solve them and enable the visits to be carried pendence leader Xanana Gusmão, who was Xanana Gusmão,” he told a press conference out smoothly. sentenced by an Indonesian court to life after meeting European Parliament President imprisonment last month. Egon Klepsch. AFP in Jakarta on Wednesday also REACTIONS TO ICRC “DEPLORES” LACK OF quoted the ICRC statement at length and XANANA'S ACCESS said that an ICRC delegation consisting of five officials, including a doctor from Ge- IMPRISONMENT From various agencies, 22 and 23 June neva, visited East Timor on June 17 but the 1993. Summarised visit was cut short the next day because of “failure to obtain access to all detainees.” SAN FRANCISCO RESPONSE Comment: the saga of the ICRC not getting Also on Wednesday, UPI from Jakarta CLOSES INDONESIAN access in East Timor and of Jakarta’s help- reported that Coordinating Minister for CONSULATE lessness in determining what happens in Political and Security Affairs, (ret. Lt. gen.) East Timor drags on. The ICRC has again Susilo Sudarman, who is also interim foreign By Clara Landeiro, ETAN/SF, shown how angry it is. It is surprising that minister, asked about the ICRC statement, [email protected]. this blocking of the work of this foremost said “so far was have not received the re- international humanitarian agency has failed The East Timor Action Network/San port.” Saying he had not received any com- Francisco organized a vigil on May 27 and to stir interest among governments or the plaints, he said he would look into the mat- media. 28 in front of the Indonesian consulate in ter because “Indonesia is very concerned San Francisco to protest the outrageous and Reuters reported from Geneva on Tues- about the work of the ICRC.” illegal life sentence verdict of Xanana Gus- day that the International Committee of the AFP in Jakarta on Wednesday added that mão, and to protest Indonesia’s genocidal Red Cross (ICRC) Tuesday issued a Susilo Sudarman has given instructions “to occupation of East Timor. strongly- worded statement in Geneva smooth everything concerning the work of On the first day, seven demonstrators which said that Indonesia was restricting the ICRC.” He said that although he had not with a few picket signs and flyers were access to prisoners in East Timor and ex- received any reports on the problems faced enough to close down the consulate! From pressed concern for them. “The ICRC de- by the ICRC, “something could have hap- 9:00 am to 1:30 pm leaflets were distributed plores those continuing difficulties and ap- pened” and he needed time to check. to people passing by and to those who peals to the Indonesian authorities to take Susilo Sudarman said he was unaware wanted to get their visas and passports; all necessary steps to resolve them and en- that a visit to East Timor last week, includ- excerpts of Xanana’s defense statement able the visits to be carried out smoothly,” ing a medical doctor from Geneva, was cut were read over a bull-horn visibly disturbing the statement said. short because of “failure to gain access to the consulate’s officials (one of them The ICRC suspended visits for the third detainees.” He said he had personally in- shouted on the intercom “Lies, lies, lies!” time in six months last week after having structed local authorities “to support the and pressed repeatedly the front gate buzzer resumed them for just one day. It would not ICRC in the field” and had also read (sic) a in an unsuccessful attempt to silence the say whether its delegates had seen the jailed similar instruction to the Indonesian armed demonstrators). resistance leader Xanana Gusmão, but ex- forces. On the next day, another five people pressed concern for prisoners and said that stood in front of the building distributing Indonesian President Suharto had made ICRC VISITS TO TIMORESE flyers and talking to people. Although this guarantees personally to the ICRC Presi- time the consulate stayed open, a reporter dent, Cornelio Sommaruga in Jakarta last DETAINEES AGAIN from KPFA (Pacifica Radio), came to the May. SUSPENDED scene and interviewed one of the activists - “The visits were interrupted very, very the story and interview were aired on the quickly last week due to a problem of ac- The following is ICRC Communiqué to the evening news the next day. cess,” ICRC spokesman Joerg Stoeklin told Press, No 93/18, issued in Geneva on 22 Last Wednesday, June 9th, five demon- Reuters. “We realised right away that we June 1993: strators were once again in front of the con- were not being shown all the prisoners.” Geneva (ICRC) - In response to guaran- sulate with their picket signs... and once Asked whether they had seen Xanana tees received by its President from the high- again the consulate closed down! This time, Gusmão, he replied: “That is the type of est authorities of the Republic of Indonesia East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 27 they sent out two people to talk to us. There should be some Presidential clem- Portuguese rule, which Indonesia feared They seemed confused; they kept asking ency exercised and there should be a strat- would install a Cuba on its doorstep. This “Why today? What is this date?” Our reply egy devised for East Timor which will genu- analogy appealed to its Western allies who was calm but firm: “We still haven’t heard inely respect the human rights of the raised no outcry over the death of some that Xanana is free, we still haven’t heard Timorese people and give them an economic 200,000 people during the subsequent seven that East Timor is free.” They turned future as well,” he said. years in which a scorched earth policy was around and vanished inside. Evans had a 90 minute meeting on Friday applied to a population of barely three- Even very few people can make a differ- with Xanana’s wife, Mrs. Emilia Gusmão, quarters of a million people. The scale of ence! who lives in Melbourne with their two chil- this disaster is reminiscent of the ruthless- dren. Mrs. Gusmão said after the meeting ness with which the Sukarno government EVANS PUSHES FOR XAN ANA she was very disappointed by Evans’ re- put down the communist insurrection in CLEMENCY sponse to her plea for Australian action to Indonesia during the mid-1960s [sic]; but ensure her husband’s well-being. this is an occupier’s repression, not one The Age, 8 June 1993 “He didn’t give us much hope regarding directed against internal subversion. the situation in East Timor,” she said. “We The Portuguese government has made Mark Baker, Foreign Editor are very disappointed but not surprised much of the running in bringing it to interna- Australia has appealed to the Indonesian because this has been the Australian gov- tional attention recently. It has had to com- government to show clemency to the jailed ernment’s position for the past nine years.” pete for attention with governments that are East Timorese resistance leader Xanana Mrs. Gusmão said Australia’s pleas for keen to develop relations with an Indonesia Gusmão and to allow the Red Cross to visit clemency were not enough and the Govern- which has made great strides in economic him. ment must do more to bring an end to the development, as manufactured exports out- A spokeswoman for the Foreign Minster, suffering, the torture” of the East Timorese strip those of more traditional products Senator Evans said yesterday that the Aus- people. such as hardwoods, oil and spices. Under tralian Embassy in Jakarta had met several Senator Evans’s spokeswoman said he General Suharto, re-elected this year to a times with Indonesian officials to raise con- would take up the case of Xanana at his next sixth term of office, Indonesia has become cerns about Xanana’s condition. meeting with Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, much more prominent in regional politics, She said the embassy was pressing for Ali Alatas. taking the initiative in opening up relations President Suharto to exercise his powers of with China, playing a leading role in the clemency in the case of Xanana, who was INDONESIA’S SHAME non-aligned movement and helping to broker sentenced to life imprisonment in Dili last the UN’s peace process in Cambodia. month. Irish Times, 8 June 1993. Editorial * * * The international representative of the All the classic hallmarks of a colonial oc- This involvement has made it all the more East Timorese resistance, Mr. Jose Ramos cupation ring through the trial and convic- sensitive to international pressure to adhere Horta said yesterday that “grave fears” were tion by Indonesian authorities of Xanana to its obligations under UN resolutions, held for the safety of Xanana and other Gusmão, the leader of the East Timor guer- although it has demonstrated an independent Timorese political prisoners in East Timor. illa organisation Fretilin in Dili. He was cast of mind in refusing development aid Mr. Ramos Horta said sources of the sentenced to life imprisonment because he from the Netherlands which was tied to Geneva headquarters of the international “created unrest among the people and dis- adherence to human rights conditions. Red Cross had confirmed that their repre- turbed stability in East Timor,” according to Xanana Gusmão’s trial should serve as a sentatives had not been allowed access to the trial judge, contrary to its “integration” catalyst for further pressure. any prisoners in Dili since January. with Indonesia in December 1975. President Mario’ Soares’s visit to Dublin “Xanana Gusmão has not been seen since There were obvious imbalances in the last week reminded the government of Por- he was led away from the court blindfolded trial, such as the fact that Mr. Gusmão’s tugal’s involvement in this issue as the for- after the sentencing, and all requests from speech from the dock was cut short after mer colonial power. The Government has both his family and the ICRC to see him eight minutes by the trial judge, who himself already shown a willingness to voice its have not been granted,” he said. had taken seven hours to deliver his 210- disquiet and concern at the UN and in the Timorese community leaders fear Xanana page verdict, and the fact that great difficul- European Community, a position which is may have begun a hunger strike, which he ties were placed in the way of international fully in keeping with Ireland’s traditional threatened to do in a defence statement reporters attempting to cover it. Xanana championing of the cause of decolonisation. which the court refused to let him deliver. Gusmão was arrested in November 1991 Indonesia will only deserve international Senator Evans said at the weekend he [sic] after Indonesian troops fired on a respect if it co-operates fully with the UN’s was unhappy that the Red Cross had been peaceful demonstration against their occupa- attempts to bring about a negotiated settle- denied access to Xanana. I know a number tion of the territory. The demonstrators ment in East Timor and ends its policy of of people are concerned about that within were hoping to influence a UN special rap- repressive occupation. the government,” he said on Channel 10’s porteur on torture who was about to visit ‘Meet the Press’ program. “We’re certainly Timor [sic] after procedural objections had JAKARTA UNDER PRESSURE very concerned about it and we’ll be doing foiled another visit by Portuguese parlia- our best to ensure that access is granted and mentarians to investigate conditions in the ON XANANA that his health is looked after.” colony. According to international law and Green Left #103, June 9, 1993 Senator Evans said that Australia was UN resolutions, Portugal is still legally re- continuing “to press the point as strongly as sponsible for administering East Timor. By Jana D.K. in Jakarta and Mitchell we can with the Indonesians” that they Hamilton in Sydney * * * needed to undertake an exercise in reconcilia- The Indonesian government is attempting tion with the people of East Timor. Indonesia invaded and occupied Timor after Fretilin led a successful revolt against to escape political pressures following the Page 28 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. trial of Xanana by creating the false impres- agree to a plea for clemency. As in the 2T1 Phone/fax 1-416-531-5850, Email etan- sion that the East Timorese resistance leader Xanana case, the authorities are very anx- [email protected] has changed his views. ious that Gregorio be seen to make a plea for Excerpts from Xanana’s defence speech clemency, which will confirm the court’s EAST TIMOR HUNGER STRIKE have been published around the world. His sentence and be used discredit the defence.” ENTERS DAY FIVE trial has been the subject of editorial com- Press release from the East Timor Alert ment in most of the world’s capitals. CANADIAN WOMAN JOINS Network/Canada, 13 June 1993 The regime appears most worried about INTERNATIONAL HUNGER TORONTO – A Canadian woman enters the impact on the Indonesian public. It has the fifth day of her hunger strike in support isolated Xanana and used his government- STRIKE FOR EAST TIMOR of jailed East Timorese resistance leader appointed lawyer, Sudjono, to make it seem News Release from East Timor Alert Net- Xanana Gusmão tomorrow (Monday). To- that Xanana is admitting guilt. work/Canada, 9 June 1993 ronto writer Maggie Helwig is fasting out- Nobody except Sudjono has seen Xanana side the Toronto constituency office of since his trial. The Red Cross has stopped TORONTO – Writer and peace activist External Affairs Minister Barbara McDou- trying to visit prisoners in East Timor be- Maggie Helwig will begin a hunger strike in gall from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Ms cause the Indonesian government is not support of the people of East Timor tomor- McDougall’s office is located at 21 Vaughan conforming to ICRC criteria for such visits, row morning outside External Affairs Minis- Rd., near Bathurst & St Clair. which include confidentiality of meetings ter Barbara McDougall’s constituency of- Ms Helwig began her juice-only fast last and regular access. fice. The hunger strike will begin with a rally Thursday in solidarity with Xanana Gus- Xanana’s isolation is of great concern be- at 9 a.m. on Thursday 10 June outside mão, who has been on hunger strike since he cause of his declaration in his defence McDougall’s office at 21 Vaughan Rd (near was sentenced to life imprisonment by an speech that he would begin a hunger strike. Bathurst & St Clair). Indonesian court on May 21, in a trial con- Sudjono has handed in an appeal for Ms Helwig is holding this hunger strike demned by Amnesty International as a clemency to the Dili court. In Indonesian in support of East Timorese resistance “travesty of justice.” Mr. Gusmão led East law, an appeal for clemency involves an leader Jose Alexandre Xanana Gusmão, who Timor’s resistance movement for a decade admission of guilt. Sudjono was quoted as was sentenced to life imprisonment by an until he was arrested by Indonesian soldiers telling reporters that the appeal meant that Indonesian kangaroo court on May 21 in a late last year. Since Indonesia invaded East Xanana now recognised the authority of the trial described by Amnesty International as Timor in 1975, one third of the population Indonesian court, which he had rejected in “a travesty of justice.” Xanana has led the has been killed. his defence speech. Xanana’s signature was Timorese resistance to Indonesian occupa- Ms Helwig is one of an international not on the appeal. tion for several years, and has been called group holding rotating hunger strikes to A similar tactic is being used against “East Timor’s Nelson Mandela.” support Xanana Gusmão and the people of Gregorio da Cunha Saldanha, who was sen- East Timor has been fighting for its inde- East Timor. Activists in England, Portugal tenced last year for allegedly organising the pendence since 1975, when it was invaded and Holland are also participating. funeral procession in Dili on November 12, by Indonesia. Since then, one third of the “Xanana Gusmão is East Timor’s Nelson 1991, which was attacked by troops, killing population has been killed. The United Na- Mandela,” said Abé Barreto Soares, a more than 200 people. tions has passed ten resolutions calling on Timorese refugee now living in Toronto. Saldanha’s appeal against a life sentence Indonesia to withdraw its troops. “The real criminals are not the Timorese was rejected by the Indonesian Supreme After Xanana was sentenced to life im- who struggle against a foreign aggressor, but Court on June 2. The Indonesian news prisonment, he began a hunger strike to the Indonesian regime and the governments agency Antara quoted Hieronymus Godang, draw attention to the continuing genocide in that support it. Sadly, Canada is among the presiding judge of the Dili court, as say- East Timor. Supporters of East Timor have these governments.” ing that the appeal was rejected because begun supporting hunger strikes in England External Affairs Minister McDougall has Gregorio’s defence failed to present a and Portugal, and now in Canada. Support- accepted the sentence against Xanana Gus- memori kasasi (reasons for appeal). ers in other countries are expected to join mão, and has not responded to requests that Luhut M.P. Pangaribuan, acting internal the rotating strikes shortly. Canada work for his release and act to en- director of the Legal Aid Foundation, who “I am fasting to protest against the Cana- sure his safety while he is in prison. headed the team of lawyers which defended dian government’s shameful complicity in Gregorio, told Green Left that they were the genocide being waged against the East still waiting for information from the High Timorese people,” said Ms Helwig, 31. HUNGER STRIKE Court on an appeal lodged in August 1992. “Barbara McDougall and her predecessors CONTINUES IN THE HAG UE “How can we lodge a memori kasasi with at External Affairs have all winked as the the Supreme Court, when we have still not killings went on. Now, McDougall even TAPOL Report, 11 June 1993 received written confirmation that the pre- says the trial of Xanana Gusmão was fair. Three Indonesians, M.R. Siregar, Ratih vious appeal has been rejected?” The Canadian government’s hypocrisy must and Siswa Santoso, will start a hunger strike He suggested that the authorities might be stopped.” at midnight on Sunday night/Monday morn- be trying “to get the appeals out of the way Ms Helwig will be outside Ms McDou- ing, 14 June on the main square in The as quickly as possible, leaving Gregorio with gall’s office from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily Hague, near the Parliament building, in soli- no other course but to appeal to the presi- for the duration of the juice-only hunger darity with Xanana Gusmão’s plan to go on dent for clemency.” strike. hunger strike as an appeal to the world Pangaribuan said that the lawyers have For more information: Michelle Kanter community to take action on East Timor. not been able to communicate with Gregorio 599-0152 Maggie Helwig (416) 535-8057 Others may join in the action which will for over two months. “Letters we send (messages) last for several days. never reach him. Although I do not know for East Timor Alert Network/Toronto PO This is the fourth in a series of hunger sure, I do not believe that Gregorio would Box 562, Station P, Toronto, Canada, M5S strikes. The first was in London, followed East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 29 by Lisbon. Maggie Helwig is now on hunger and the US administration to punish the PRESSURE ON EC strike in Toronto. Indonesian Government by abolishing all Other wishing to take part in this global forms of military and economic relations, REGARDING XANANA action are strongly encouraged to do so, to development aid and weapons exports. TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Cam- keep up the pressure, especially as the an- 14 June 1993, 00 hours paign, today sent the following letter to the nual meeting of the Consultative Group on Ratih MIRYANTI Dasa RUDIYANTO Foreign Ministers of Denmark and Belgium Indonesia, due at the end of June, ap- Siswa SANTOSO M.R. SIREGAR regarding alarming information relating to proaches. There is also urgent need for pres- Xanana Gusmão. Solidarity groups around sure to gain immediate access to Xanana and TORONTO PRIEST the world, especially those in EC countries for the ICRC to be allowed to resume prison CONTINUES HUNGER and North America, are asked to exert simi- visits in East Timor. STRIKE FOR EAST TIMOR lar pressure on their own governments for MESSAGE FROM INDONES IAN immediate action. HUNGER-STRIKERS East Timor Alert Network/Canada, 14 June 15 June 1993 The following Press Release was issued at TORONTO – Rev. Brian Burch takes To: Mr. Niels Helweg-Petersen, Danish midnight June 13 by four Indonesians as over the five-day-old rotating hunger strike Foreign Minister, they started a hunger strike outside the for East Timor tomorrow outside the To- Mr. Willy Klaes, Belgian Foreign Minis- Dutch Parliament building in The Hague: ronto constituency office of External Affairs ter Minister Barbara McDougall. Ms McDou- Dear Foreign Ministers, WE CAN’T LET XANANA AND OTHER gall’s office is located at 21 Vaughan Rd., I am writing to you as the present and EAST TIMORESE CARRY OUT THIS near Bathurst & St. Clair. Maggie Helwig, a forthcoming presidents of the Council of FIGHT ALONE! Toronto-based writer and peace activist, has Ministers of the European Community to We, the undersigned, consider the occu- been fasting outside the office since last draw your attention to the latest informa- pation of East Timor by the Indonesian Thursday morning. tion about Mr. Xanana Gusmão, the East Government as illegal. The international Rev, Burch, the chaplain of the Univer- Timorese resistance leader who was sen- community has already condemned the in- sity of Toronto Student Christian Move- tenced to life on 21 May and who an- vasion of East Timor by Indonesian troops ment, will be outside Ms McDougall’s of- nounced his intention of going on hunger and the United Nations has adopted resolu- fice daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting strike as an appeal to the world for support tions regarding East Timor. The presence of tomorrow (Tuesday). for East Timor. Indonesia in East Timor is indeed a criminal The hunger strike, along with other rotat- A reliable source in Dili who ten days ago deed since Indonesia dominates East Timor ing hunger strikes in England, Portugal and passed on information that Xanana Gusmão through the law of terror, violence, persecu- Holland, are in support of East Timor’s had started a hunger strike, stated yesterday tion, prison, torture and murder. We there- jailed resistance leader Xanana Gusmão, to a contact in Australia: fore share the wishes and appeals of Xanana who was sentenced to life imprisonment on “Xanana Gusmão is in very bad shape. Gusmão, the imprisoned resistance leader, May 21 by an Indonesian court. He is still in East Timor but ‘out of breath.’ as stated in his mostly unread plea, that the Hunger strikers say the trial of Xanana [This is a coded message, the meaning of question of East Timor is the responsibility Gusmão was a kangaroo court held in viola- which is not clear.] I know that he is not of the international community. It is a ques- tion of international law, while Amnesty well.” tion of international law. Besides (appealing International calls the proceedings “a trav- Other sources in Dili say that Xanana to) the Indonesian Government which has esty of justice.” Xanana Gusmão, who sup- Gusmão is in hospital and is being force-fed, committed crimes in the past seventeen porters say is East Timor’s equivalent to which is a gross violation of his human years, Xanana also demands that other South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, has been on rights. western governments like the US, western hunger strike since he was prevented from However, last Thursday, 10 June, For- Europe and Australia, be brought before the reading his defence plea to the court. eign Minister Ali Alatas denied that Xanana international court. Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975, Gusmão is on hunger strike and claimed that In that light, we, the undersigned, demand and has ignored ten United Nations resolu- he plays basket-ball every day. strongly of the Indonesian Government to tions calling on it to withdraw its troops. To judge whether what Mr. Alatas says respect international law by releasing Since then, one third of the East Timorese is true and considering that it conflicts with Xanana Gusmão and all other East Timorese people have been killed. The government of the alarming information we have received, political prisoners immediately; and by Canada is one of Indonesia’s most impor- we believe that the Indonesian authorities withdrawing her military and administration tant overseas supporters. should be asked to allow independent ob- from East Timor so that the people of East servers to have access to him immediately. Timor can get their country back. Xanana Gusmão should be allowed to ap- We, the undersigned, appeal solemnly to pear in public; after all, during the early the United Nations, the European Parlia- stages of his detention, he was made to ap- ment and other international organisations to pear several times on Indonesian television. condemn the Indonesian Government con- As a matter of urgency also, Mr. Alatas cerning the trial and sentencing of all East should be urged to take immediate action to Timorese prisoners, in particular the trial remove the obstructions in East Timor and sentence of Xanana Gusmão, and to be which forced the International Red Cross to consistent with all the resolutions they have abandon all prison visits in East Timor. The adopted regarding the Indonesian occupation suspension of ICRC visits has enabled the of East Timor. forces of occupation to throw a veil of se- We, the undersigned, appeal solemnly to crecy over the conditions of all East all European governments, Australia, Japan Timorese prisoners and in particular over Page 30 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. the circumstances under which Xanana and Sudjono, the lawyer appointed by the Those who by chance are getting old - Gusmão is now being held. Indonesian authorities, had continually de- don’t get too old - and also for those who We fear for Xanana Gusmão’s life and nied the real situation facing Mr. Gusmão. were students, so this is not a lecture as urge the EC to take action with all due Mr. Sudjono was also under investigation mentioned before, it’s a sort of speech and speed. by the Indonesian bar association over his discussion in a relaxed manner. Do you Yours sincerely, conduct in representing Mr. Gusmão, Mr. agree? Agree? Carmel Budiardjo Ramos-Horta said. Sometimes ago, when I came here as For- “We understand what is the legal system eign Minister to deliver DIK (List of Ful- HUNGER STRIKE IN IRELAND in Indonesia, we understand the nature of filled Activities, a kind of provincial budget the regime in Indonesia but certainly some- program) to the Local Government, I had According to an announcement by the one is lying, either Mr. Sudjono or the mili- the opportunity to meet some of you, East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign, a tary,” Mr. Ramos-Horta said. friends, if I’m not mistaken one of the Stu- hunger strike in solidarity with the East “I tend to believe that both are lying in dent Association of Agricultural Faculty. Timorese resistance leader, Xanana Gusmão, view of Sudjono’s record and of course in Then we agreed to have a little talk, where will commence at 9 am on Thursday, 24 view of the notorious record of the Indone- one of the points was the willingness to June, outside the British Embassy in Dub- sian military.” organise a meeting like tonight attended not lin. It is not yet known how many people Mr. Ramos-Horta said East Timorese ac- only by students of East Timor University, will take part in the action. knowledge Australia’s difficulties in its but as we see tonight students of Polytech- For further information, contact +353-1 relationship with Indonesia but said Austra- nic and Institute Pastoral Indonesia also 623-3148 lia, in partnership with other countries, attended to listen to the integration history must act to encourage Indonesia to disengage into the Indonesian Republic. Also to listen INDONESIA CHALLENGED itself from East Timor. to the facts and issues developing in foreign TO ALLOW GUSMÃO A NEWS Mr. Gusmão and other resistance leaders countries because they know that I have had continually stated they were prepared been involving in almost all process, either CONFERENCE to enter into dialogue with Indonesia with- domestically or internationally, therefore I by Melissa Langerman of AAP. out preconditions under the auspices of the know a little bit more about its facts, and its United Nations. process. (Canberra, June 25) The main interna- He said East Timorese hopes to have dis- I consider this request normal, because tional spokesman for the East Timorese cussions with the UN Secretary-General the last 17 years have been dominated by resistance movements, today challenged Boutros Boutros-Ghali before September 17 fluctuation and bitterness for East Timor’s Indonesia to allow jailed resistance leader talks on Timor between Indonesia and Por- history, so many people have forgotten Xanana Gusmão to hold a news conference. tugal under the auspices of the secretary what had happened actually. Also many Mr. Ramos-Horta, a spokesman for the general. people, especially abroad, use this opportu- resistance umbrella group the National “We hope that between now and then nity after 17 years to misrepresent what Council Maubere Resistance (CNRM), there might be some changes,” Mr. Ramos happened, distorting the reality by provid- emphatically denied today that Mr. Gusmão Horta said. ing their own version and exaggerating many would never have made a plea for clemency It is hoped that the Secretary-General things useful for them, but not true. to the Indonesia government. might be able to put the view of East Therefore I come up with the conclusion Last weekend Indonesia’s coordinating Timorese at the negotiations if Indonesia that it’s logical for us to have such a dia- political and security affairs minister Susilo continued to refuse to recognise their right logue tonight in which I’ll try (of course, not Sudarman said Mr. Gusmão - jailed for life to negotiate directly. in-depth because that would take hours) to last month - had made a plea for clemency describe what’s the history and how is the through his lawyer, Sudjono, an event which opinion developing abroad towards this he said showed Mr. Gusmão had admitted EVENTS INSIDE EAST matter. But I would like to stress in advance his guilt. TIMOR that I’m a person who does not like reveal- “We challenge the Indonesian authorities ing the past experiences, where these past and Mr. Sudjono to produce Mr. Xanana experiences were fluctuated by sufferings Gusmão in a press conference with repre- ALATAS SPEECH AT but also dominated by the spirit of struggle. sentatives from the European community, It’s time for us to think forward, close our the United Nations and the United States so UNIVERSITY OF EAST TIMOR book on what had happened, start to open a that he would state whether he asked (for) new chapter of life clearly and all together in clemency or not,” Mr. Ramos-Horta said t a Speech given by Indonesian Foreign Minis- ter Ali Alatas, Dili, 21 May 1993 a new atmosphere, in a new spirit towards media conference here. prosperity and progress. Mr. Ramos-Horta, who was East Unofficial translation from Bahasa Indone- But the fact reveals that still there are Timor’s foreign affairs minister until the sia. Full text. many factions that continuously and repeat- 1975 Indonesian invasion, said Mr. Gusmão Ladies and Gentleman, brothers and stu- edly distorted the past reality by distorting alleged statement calling for clemency had dents, facts. If they are not corrected, giving the not contained his signature. I have visited East Timor several times as truth, then those who have forgotten or who The behaviour of the Indonesian authori- Foreign Minister; this afternoon I came here did not experience that issue would think ties and the lawyer who was appointed to as an official of the central “GOLKAR” (the that’s right. represent Mr. Gusmão had to be considered ruling party) to campaign, but tonight I just You have certainly learned history. It when considering issues like the supposed want to suggest something. Forget about was the German Information Minister, plea, he said. these attributes. I would like to come here to Goebbels, who argued that if a lie is re- Mr. Gusmão had repeatedly refused to dialogue with you as Ali Alatas. peated over time, sooner or later, people acknowledge Indonesia’s authority over him will consider it the truth. That’s his reason. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 31

Therefore, he as an Information Minister Indonesia was on the organizing commit- that time.” The fact that we have no territo- was repeatedly updating that technique, and tee in writing that resolution. So, our experi- rial ambition, everywhere we attacked Por- these techniques were always used by other ences and also our status are clear in the tugal by saying that you must implement regimes after the Nazi regime. world. So we heartily welcome, and in fact the decolonisation. We never approach ET In light of this, with deep regret I have to at first stages Portugal also acknowledged it, one meter under Sukarno (the first Indone- say that this has been used, and repeatedly as Portugal itself who came to us to say that sian President) who was rigorously fighting used by Portugal and other small groups we have changed our government, we want against neo-colonialism, we never trespassed who considered themselves as East Timor to implement a new policy, we want to even a span to enter ET. representatives, being offered the mandate, cooperate with Indonesia in giving self- They acknowledged, but we wanted a whereas that mandate has never been repre- determination to East Timor people. We pure decolonization. You (sir) the one who sented you for lying the international com- were delighted with their offer. said there are three options, full independ- munity. That’s why I have to correct the In September 1975 talking with the late ence, federation or association, integration to wrong perceptions, because even without Mr. Adam Malik, foreign minister of RI, Indonesia. That’s your own planning, not being distorting the history is complex, and I and foreign minister of Portugal in that time, us, and you have told us that among the five have to say honestly, a history that can be that East Timor is a part of an island in the parties, some of them want independence, repeated may be used wisely, but the his- mid of Indonesian archipelago, certainly federation and others want integration. tory is irreversible. What has happened, Indonesia has any vested interest, therefore Indonesian request is only one sir, be happened! We ought to looking forward and we would like to cooperate. We accepted! honest, and offering them the same right, try to make a new history together. Right, we will cooperate honestly in accor- offering them a fair chance through referen- For instance, the first big lie, which was dance to the anti-colonialism, helping Portu- dum, whatever you do, and whatever the used over time, was that Portugal seemed to gal. As we emphasized, we didn’t have terri- results, Indonesia will accept it. be implementing decolonization towards torial ambition over ET. We only have an That’s the reality, written, announced in self-determination by offering three options ambition that every country which has not the newspapers, I don’t lie, I don’t add to the East Timorese in 1974, calmly, cor- been offered independence, be offered anything, would you (intellectual people) rectly and honestly. chance to decide. please have a look in the newspapers at that And with all tranquillity and sincerity of And the cooperation started following time, research the documentation as you its effort, Indonesia was accused to have various meeting. In Portugal itself, talks must know what happened prior to 1974. invaded and annexed and stopped that self- between Portuguese ministers and the late After proclaiming its independence, In- determination process. That’s the big lie Ali Murtopo took place. The London meet- donesia needed another five years of struggle that they always come up with over and ing, Jakarta meeting, and a number of high to attain recognition from the Netherlands over. ranking officials visited Jakarta and we had and Britain. Beside that, from 1950-1963 Why is this a big lie? The fact reveals various meeting in several places. Then, another struggle to free Irian Jaya (Indone- that what they’re doing is totally untrue, they explained to us. We will allow the crea- sian name for West Papua) was accom- and there are facts. The facts were well- tion of political parties, and five parties plished. Subsequent struggle occurred in the documented. And it’s worthwhile for you, were created, as you knew. following years as confrontation with Ma- as young intellectuals of East Timor, to Parties like UDT, Fretilin, APODETI, laysia/Britain and, then the bloodshed know your own history and know these KOTA and Trabalhista. That’s the fact of coup(1965), which again, caused thousands facts. Because in 1975 the dictator in Portu- the history. There was a political program of casualties which in turn led to the emer- gal was overthrown by a revolution, a and that was also a historical fact. Each gence of the “New Order” under President peaceful revolution, and the new govern- party leader went to Jakarta, talking with Soeharto, our current father. ment in Portugal later announced a drastic us. There, we stressed once more that Indo- Indonesia at that time offered peace, be- policy change: i.e. Portugal wanted to liber- nesia has no territorial ambition. Indonesia cause we would had to develop, as many of ate its former colonies. consists of many islands, 17,000 islands. our sons and daughters had become the vic- There are five ex-colonies: Angola, Mo- Why would Indonesia wants another island, tims of many unpleasant events. We must zambique, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Sao aren’t those enough? Moreover, the struggle develop, we must think of our people’s Tome and Principe are all in Africa, and the of Indonesia to fulfill its territory was over welfare. That’s why we ceased confronta- sixth is East Timor. They announced that by the joining of West Irian, which at first tion with Malaysia, we set up ASEAN and they would offer the right to self- was a part of Netherlands East Indies. We Father Soeharto said that “now had emerged determination. Indonesia was one of the first explained to Portugal, please think logically. a new Indonesia which is equal to Singapore countries to respond. Why? Because in the If Indonesia wanted to annex East Timor, it or other small countries wherever they are.” UN and outside the UN, in NAM, Indone- would be logical and easy for Indonesia to We do not want to show that as we are a big sia has been consistently implementing anti- do it when you hadn’t changed your democ- country so we can easily dictate our colonial politics. ratic government, when you were still being neighbors. We want peace. We want devel- And we urged Portugal to do so. When ruled by a dictator who was discredited by opment. Portugal announced that, we were the first the international community i.e. Caetano In that context the East Timor problem who said, Great! This happened. We gave a Salazar. Wasn’t that easy for Indonesia, if emerged. It was an embarrassment. The last good response. As I told you, we have been Indonesia wanted East Timor by force, by thing we want is, we need Portugal to fulfill consistently implementing anti-colonial annexation similar to India? India did the her words to pursue the decolonisation politics, and we don’t need to be spouted same thing to Goa. But India did it when process. But apparently Portugal was un- forth nonsense. In the UN and other places, Portugal was still under the dictatorship of fair. It was a pity. I need to say that because since the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference, Caetano Salazar. there are heaps of evidence. Why? Because 1961 the first NAM summit and etc. in No country demanded India to get out, or in Portugal riot is an ordinary activity. In drafting the resolution 1614 and 1541 which the like. Why not? Everybody hated Cae- East Timor there was a Governor and his always been used to self determination, tano Salazar. We told Portugal, “if we want two assistants, Lemos Pires, Major Mota Indonesia also participated. to do so, it would be better off to do at that and Major Yonatas. They had not power to Page 32 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. control and were also unfair. So decoloniza- in UN and NAM conferences. So, based on November Indonesia was willing to invite tion was not their purpose. They wanted to manipulation, unfairness emerged a civil the Portugal Foreign Minister. Indonesia and hand over the power to one of their close war. Some of those who get involved in that Portugal Foreign Ministers met in Rome. political allies without decolonisation, with- civil war are still alive among your leaders. Portugal Foreign Affair Minister Melo An- out general election, without referendum, Ask them about war between Fretilin and tunes while ours was Adam Malik. Again I yet through weapons, terror, and other form other parties. was there. I took all of the notes. I was the of unfairness which was evidently hap- In August 1975, Indonesia was absent in translator of Mr. Adam Malik. pened. East Timor. So we had not participated yet, They agreed due to Indonesia willingness Indonesia was not in those events. We however it (the civil war) effected Indonesia. for Portugal to come back to Timor. Please only pray. We did not want to get in more The terror, intimidation and killings by Fre- come back. Don’t leave East Timor. Please and more trouble. We have had heaps of tilin resulted in a massive exodus to West accomplish your decolonisation process difficulties in the past. But it was evident Timor. Approximately 42,000 East because we do not want to be included in that the way Portugal was, and hence led to Timorese fled to West Timor, scared of that process. terror, intimidation and killings. That was killing and terror. Is that a voice of a country to annex East one party and you know the party was Now, you can check the truth. We found Timor? We invite them to come back. Fretilin, in which its remnants is still waged mass burial graves in Aileu, Same and wher- And it was evident, a joint-communiqué by Portugal. Unsurprisingly, they lived in ever which show that what they had tried was released in November 1975. I’m not Portugal, so they were only instruments and neither decolonisation nor referendum or joking or I’m not trying to overthrow the not revolutionary movement. self-determination, yet forced to gain one fact of history. There we suggested Portu- Don’t teach Indonesia what is the revolu- party only. So nothing happened at that gal, even previously, we urged Portugal, if tion and what is revolutionary movement. time, civil war, hence what had Portugal you cannot afford to do that, we will go and We have had such enough experience to do a done, they packed their luggage and ran do it together. revolution. We know who are the actual away. They fled and left behind East Timor, In the beginning they even said Indonesia revolutionaries, and who are artificial revolu- without any responsibility, not surpris- alone went in. We answered, you’re mad, if tionaries. Fretilin from the beginning was ingly, it was another side of a coin of what we enter all the international community and is an artificial revolutionary. happened in Mozambique and Angola. Por- will condemn us. You must enter, but if you In Mozambique there was Frelimo. Here tugal tried to manipulate. There (Mozam- yourself don’t want to, well, you, Indone- they adopted the name Fretilin in order to bique) was the Frelimo, but there were other sia, Australia, Malaysia, four of us enter be same in its sounds, however they have parties, Renamo and so on, but when the East Timor. But with a limited mandate, we never got involved in any war against the war was broken they fled away. It still per- stop the war, the civil war; then we get out colonial power. On the other side those, sist. In Mozambique, Angola there were leaving Portugal alone to continue its de- who are your leaders now, had involved in parties as MPLA and UNITA etc. Portugal colonisation process honestly. wars against colonial power. You must be cannot solve the problem. They pack up They refused. After the Rome meeting proud of your ancestors’ struggle. Since their stuff and run away. they promised they would come back, but 1910 East Timorese had fought the Portu- There is no end to that problem yet. The they didn’t come back and a series of events guese. Massacred, thousands died. In 1945- same thing occurs here. But why in Mo- occurred inevitably. Fretilin unilaterally 1946 when Indonesia proclaimed independ- zambique and Angola they keep quiet while, declared its independence; Apodeti, UDT, ence, East Timorese was oppressed. In 1959 here they insist to be the colonial adminis- Kota and Trabalhista also unilaterally de- in Viqueque, there was another rebellion, but trator they want to hold referendum, why clared integration, while the war continued again many of them killed, many were exe- they only insist it to do here? and many refugees fled to Indonesia, many cuted and hundred were sent to exile. Those There is an elaboration of that. Because casualties happened. The world ignored it, are facts of History. Is there any Fretilin when they fled from Mozambique the win- and Indonesia was criticized by the Apo- member who is “singing” abroad involved in ning party was Frelimo, somehow extreme, deti, UDT, Kota and Trabalhista leaders. these struggles? None. Because Fretilin is an compatible with Portugal politics at the “Hey you, what a coward you are, such a artificial instrument. The reason I’m saying moment. And Portugal said the decolonisa- big country. We had asked you for integra- artificial is because most of them were tion process was over and we (Indonesia) tion, we are now being killed by TROPAZ “TROPAZ” plus colonial army and other formally recognise that. And they want using guns supplied by Fretilin from form of its combination. And that combina- Frelimo to hold the power. In Angola it was TROPAZ. You remain silent, what a cow- tion (re-alliance) was Fretilin whereas the MPLA. However as I mentioned beforehand ard country, what kind of moral do you other were, UDT, Apodeti, KOTA, Trabal- that another form of struggle still going on. have?” hista which acted through underground line. Portugal willingness to “top in” the party But Indonesia thinks, “Oh dear, this is So it is clear, who they are, why they was achieved so they claim that the decolo- not what we’re expected.” I just explained pursuing different outlook. Fretilin, nobody nisation process in Angola was over. that Mr. Suharto in that time explained, I knows, where are they from, they actually While in East Timor , Fretilin was not the just offered a mandate to develop Indonesia came from Portugal plus TROPAZ. Hence, winning party. They, of course do not like peacefully, to create peace with Malaysia colonial army was the “Backing” of that that. Hence, they allegedly said that since and ASEAN. How could this happen? So, party. 1976 Indonesia illegally and brutally invaded you are lying, a big lie if you say that Indo- Isn’t it an oddity? It is an oddity. How and annexed East Timor. Is that any inde- nesia wanted to annex East Timor if she got can a party labelled itself as National Libera- pendence in November? and had it ceased the chance. That’s nonsense, nonsense. So, tion Movement apparently consists of co- the decolonisation process? that’s the reality. lonial army? I have not ever, in my memory, The fact that can reveal that allegation is So, what had happened, the world mis- read of such a struggle throughout the Asia- obviously another fact in other history. In understood, the international community Africa independence struggle. I m telling this August 1975, Portugal left behind East condemned Indonesia. In the UN we were due to facts and no Fretilin members dare to Timor. The civil war broke out. September, condemned even by our own friends who answer this, even I confirmed this statement October and November or three months. In didn’t understand on what has gone in the East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 33 process. Although we had invited the UN, I agreed. We started to dialogue, but with as today. In that time, the UN Secretary- this decolonisation process will be imper- the condition that is based on the latest General will send a UN mission to visit fectly implemented, but the situation forced, resolution and not on the clock which could Indonesia, to several provinces, including this was the petition requested for integra- be set back for Portugal to come back again. East Timor to observe the general election. tion, please come to observe. Too much bloodshed, too many casualties Observer means that they can talk with Portugal blocked, followed by its sup- among the Timorese people. That’s not anybody, see the facts not only in East porters, while integration occurred in July acceptable anymore. But, sort of that, a new Timor, but also everywhere. On their return 1976. Since then we had to face determined negotiation emerges, Indonesia is ready to they will submit a report to the General world opinion. From 1976 to 1982, every listen to. Assembly. year we had to face the UN General Assem- I returned to the UN and the negotiation And based on that report a debate will bly. We were criticized, condemned by took place. Voting was cancelled. In 1983, take place on its observation. Its results, as many countries. The most harmful were 84, 85, 86, 87, I was in New York. I told we were so confident at that time, were those countries which we helped gain inde- based on the fact and by experience dialogue displayed as happened in 1987. People pendence, the small countries in Africa directly with Portugal. Three of us, every participated in the general election, people which we have helped be independent even time we sit down, the three of us, Secretary- chose and talked about the competent par- arrogantly said that Indonesia must be General or his deputy, myself and Portugal ties. That was the fact that they saw. Well, taught to implement Non Alignment princi- ambassador and we had agreed on many that was the Secretary-General’s plan, not ples. things. Many things in that dialogue. ours. That report submitted and a member Oh dear, it’s very painful, painful indeed. Firstly, there were many requests from of one delegation will stand up. Let’s say They teach us, do they? Then they said Portugal. “Is it possible for our people who delegation A, who says : “Mr. Chairman, Indonesia had toppled a national liberation remain there to return home?” based on this report we concluded that with movement. Oh dear, sir, we were the one Indonesia said “yes, please. Which peo- its limitations there has been an expression who had revolution, not you sir, over years ple?” of voice from the East Timorese which as- we had revolution, which national liberation “Are they our former government offi- sured us that actually the decolonization movement is, right? But we will face it. cers allowed to be repatriated?” process was not implemented smoothly –- It’s difficult, but inside East Timor we “OK, who are they?” I asked them for a but where are the places that have been able tried to improve the situation, tried to re- list. to implement a perfect decolonization proc- duce the causalities. From 1976 until 1982 Then, they gave me a list. At that time ess in other Portugal’s places? – therefore many countries were gradually understand- we did have our own list. Our list was far we suggest you to withdraw this question ing the real situation, therefore in 1982 there more complete than theirs. We said, how (problem) from the UN agenda.” After that, was a narrow difference in voting over a come your list is smaller than ours? In our the Portuguese representative stood up, resolution made by Portugal where 50 for opinion, there are many more ex-officers even jumping up. I said that if he wants to Portugal and 48 for Indonesia. So there were from your country. Oh, we don’t want, we jump up, please. He will yell, and say: “I only 2 votes difference. just selected them, said Portugal. Oh, I see, disagree with Mr. Chairman, I don’t agree to Others, more or less 100 countries, kept that’s how they thank their own officers in be concluded like that, I’m still the adminis- silence and were bored; they even said that their country. Anyway, I followed them. trator of East Timor, and I should be al- they wouldn’t interfere with the voting They asked furthermore: “How about lowed to go back to East Timor to imple- which is 50 to 48. So, logically, in 1983, if Catholic news, the Catholic religion is op- ment the decolonisation process.” we tried again we would win, we could win pressed and pursued.” Then the debate goes on. Some will sup- due to the two votes remained there. I said “Where did you get the fact from? I port Portugal, some will support the first Thereafter, Perez de Cuellar, the new UN have the statistics which reveal, and I ask delegation who suggested the withdrawal of Secretary-General came up with a big role. you if I’m lying please put on the news that the matter. I even told Portugal “Look, I He summoned me, in that time I was still I’m lying. In fact after integration the num- promise I won’t say anything, not to make the ambassador, and he also summoned the ber of Catholics increased dramatically. Isn’t your life difficult, I will keep silent, because Portuguese ambassador, and he said: “Give that a reality, so where did you get that fact I know very well my friends in NAM will me the chance as new UN Secretary-General from? Finally they were delighted.” speak out on behalf of Indonesia.” After the to resolve this question in my good offices.” Are you sure that all the objects left be- debate there will be a vote, and I’m sure, and Then he argued that through voting one may hind by Portugal are not destroyed? Are so is Portugal, that if that time voting oc- be the winner, but the problem may be un- they well preserved? I said, you know that curs, I’m sure there was an overwhelming resolved due to humiliation from the loser. in ET the names of the streets are holding vote, the majority will support that first And the question remains unresolved; but if Portuguese names, even its monuments. speaker. it’s thoroughly solved, maybe I’ll help. While, I was saying, I know very well in But what was the interesting point from I replied, Mr. Secretary-General, “Why Mozambique all the objects were destroyed that plan? The interesting point was that should I accept your suggestions? You have and damaged and you said nothing. In An- Portugal, the foreign minister of Portugal, or seen the result of voting, just 2 voices re- gola all were damaged. No one that I can see, its ambassador, may go back to Portugal and main there, and next year I’m sure we will because the revolution there is so powerful. say: “I have fought seriously, this is my win, why should I start to dialogue, why Anyway, you want that assurance and I’m speech, I have got a lot of support from should we accept your suggestions although ready. many countries, but finally we were de- I appreciate your sympathy?” The dialogue went on and we were so feated, not by Indonesia, but by the UN But our president has always said, like flexible. Until 1986, we were summoned by General Assembly, not by Indonesia. So, this more or less, I have forgotten, “Alex, the UN Secretary-General. And the Secre- that’s a great honour. This the world’s we have our own philosophy that if we win tary-General had a plan to resolve the ques- voice. That’s what the UN Secretary- Gen- without being arrogant. So, the best win is tion thoroughly. His plans as follows: “In eral expected would be interesting, but his that if lost without being feeling lost. The 1987 there will be a general election plan may be too risky for both parties, for UN Secretary-General is right, follow him. throughout Indonesia including East Timor us and also for them. We accepted that plan. Page 34 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

After a while, Portugal came up with a do not agree. It is normal, that there is no a minute, I said. How can international jour- statement by saying “Sorry, we don’t ac- agreement among the people, however, if nalist be included in your official delegation. cept.” All the efforts failed, all dialogues you want it must be actually “drained” I have never heard such thing. I have served from 1983 to 1987 ended. After several through democracy. There are no normal as diplomat for 35 years, I’ve served as months they came back. “Let’s have dia- people in Spain who insist the government foreign affairs director of information, I had logue.” That happened. And I said dialogue has to listen to the minority Basques only never heard other international journalists what for? You just rejected several months and not the majority. included in a national delegation of a inde- ago a very constructive plan which we have But, apparently they treat that it is nor- pendent state. Normally, international accepted, now you want a dialogue again. mal, that we must listen to the minority of newsman will come independently to cover What kind of dialogue? Then they explained: Fretilin, not the majority. No normal people the event. And we will allow that. But they “Look, the Government of Portugal actually in India or Britain who sees that, those who must be included in your delegation? wanted to resolve the problem, but our par- severely plot the government will likely to (Portugal said) That’s the way we are. liament is stubborn. Our parliament was not be the leader of their government, and not We want it, and you can also free to choose. well informed on the situation. So, would those from the majority. Why in East So, you will select 6 (re-journalists) and we you accept us to send a mission of Portu- Timor, they calmly says that it must be will do so. guese parliament?” done. However, I replied, it will only induce It was in 1987. Keep in mind. So the idea In essence, we start to make a deal. Fi- trouble. We may refuse the journalist that of the Portuguese Parliament emerged when nally we reach a consensus that there will be you choose. And you may also do so. We I was ambassador. That’s not Ali Alatas’ a simultaneous visit of two missions, the will fight again only in this case (re- idea. I got the idea when I was ambassador. I UN mission together with the mission of journalist). Okay (I said) throw off this idea, replied immediately, “What’s in it for us in Portugal parliament. Even in advance a mis- drop off the whole idea, let them come accepting your idea?” You want to send sion had gone, simply to seek which places alone, because independent journalist com- Parliament. There were pros and contra, left that will be likely to visit, who is going to be monly do not deserve it. However they wing and right wing, although they see visited and so on. You know, that there was (Portugal) strongly insist it. something is white, they will say it is black. still three problems unresolved. Those were: Finally, the intervention of the UN Secre- I know all of them, they want to be back to 1. Visa tary-General was inevitable in order to reach your Parliament. What will happen, and a compromise. What compromise? Indone- Portugal arrogantly said “We do not want what is in it for us? sia, He told me you better accept this idea, our Passport stamped by Indonesia’s visa.” Yes, but please. If you still want dia- six journalists will be elected by Indonesia OK. But, you enter our territory, so proba- logue, we can give Portugal’s Parliament a and six by Portugal. Take it. That was a part bly in a small (rough) paper, or another chance so they can see by themselves that of his (UN Sec-Gen.) compromise. Then he rough sheet apart from your passport, so our government is “stronger” to confront turned to Portugal and said, Okay you we will not “damage” your passport with them. They can see the situation. In essence, should accept that the two parts must ap- Indonesian visa. Oh, they still reject it. So after several meetings Indonesia says, OK. prove the two lists. If there is any name that what do they want, without our visa you However, (Alatas said) we should combine you do not want, you can ask to be re- want to enter our territory. Finally we that. Portugal parliament agreed. But we placed. That was the compromise. Logically agreed, OK without visa. should make a precise deal, who is going to good, isn’t it. If there is no quid pro quo. come, how many people and so on. We 2. Then their second demand. THAT WAS NOT A COMPROMISE. agreed, but it must be included a UN mis- We want to directly enter East Timor. SO, WE MUST ACCEPT SOMETHING sion who will come together, appointed by From which destination? we asked. Wher- AND THEY DO SO, EVEN THOUGH IT The UN Secretary General. You don’t ever, they said. Then we argue, look, since WAS NOT GOOD. HENCE WE ACCEPT want? They, initially did not agree, but fi- the beginning we started to talk, you “com AND THEY (PORTUGAL) ACCEPT nally accepted it. Because I told them, tanta manha” (desculpa, que eu não sei o TOO. whatever the mission is if it wish to come to proprio termo em Portuguese) insisted invi- Finally the list was released. In our list, East Timor it must honestly report what tation from Indonesia parliament chairman we did not choose the journalists due to they see, and also honestly draw a conclu- to Portugal parliament chairman. It was an their stance as pro-Indonesia, yet because sion, including the demonstrations. invitation. I said then, but why an invitation their quality, and because they will write I’m not afraid, I told them. Who is going must be written. You “com tanta manha” things objectively. When they (re-Portugal) to hold a demonstration. 100, 200, 300, 400 insisted invitation. Now you impolitely do released the list we deliberately suspended or 750,000 Timorese will keep quiet. Be- not want to pass through Jakarta, but on the ours. We saw there was (in their list) a cause 17 years ago we told already that we other side you are invited. name, an anti-Indonesian who I knew very want peace, we want develop East Timor You may interpret that we have recog- well, Jill Jolliffe. She has been in Portugal together with our brothers in the same is- nised East Timor _(re-as yours)_. Oh no, for 12 years. Probably she has a boyfriend land, in the island divided only by a small no. You can make any free statement in there, we do not know. However, her border caused mainly by colonialism, with Jakarta, you can say whatever you want. _news_ has never been a positive one, All same language and culture. And this was a However we insist you, even though only were worst. In fact, she has not been here majority decision. Not the decision of all. one hour, to pass through Jakarta. So you for twelve years, even to South East Asia, We never said before that this was 100% can politely meet the “host” according to let alone East Timor. Her report confidently agreement of all. our tradition. Finally they accepted that. shows as she ostensibly knows everything. In every nation, there always exists what 3. The question of journalists. Hence when I saw that name, I told Portugal is the “unequal perception” within the ma- to exclude that name, instead of getting into They wished their journalists to be in- jority. In Britain up to now, there is still conflict. Why? Because this person is not an cluded. Of course. And we said, sure! Who- “firing” in the Northern Ireland. In Spanish, objective one, I said. If you want an accom- ever they are, TV, radio or Newsman Okay. the Basque people, up to now are still caus- plishment, let us choose the more objective Welcome. But, international journalist? wait ing terror, blowing up bombs because they journalist, not those who pro-Indonesia, but East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 35

(please) also not those who strongly anti- Timor on spotlight abroad, they’re funding established a good relation with Indonesia. Indonesia. and using some of our brothers who’re un- Just be quiet. We’ll find the solution later Suddenly, and I did not understand, they fortunately being manipulated. on. (Portugal) changed and strongly oppose. What’s their objective? The objective is Brothers, the world now has been inter- They said if this journalist cannot be in- may be for their domestic consumption. nalized us that this problem must be sepa- cluded the visit will be cancelled. Oh, We Why? Because inside Portugal itself there is rated, we must separate “right” and desperately asked ourselves. We have pre- a feeling of frustration and guilt, being com- “wrong,” and separate “fact” and “fiction.” pared everything, we have started to negoti- mitted mistakes due to their total failure in And if people say that they’re motivated ate for a long time and now we are in an its colonization. Where can they show their by humanitarian, human rights, are these advanced stage, we have prepared your decolonization politics successfully? Nei- ways used to achieve their objectives? Is accommodation, we have started to take a ther in Mozambique, nor in Angola and East that the way to provoke, to continuously special satellite to cover the visit and to be Timor. The remaining, yes, East Timor. seek reasons for creating friction, or are used by the journalists; and you finally Hence everybody get frustrated, that guilty there any other ways to sit down and start cancelled the visit only because of one jour- feelings are manifested on a problem which to negotiate nicely? I think the second way nalist? I do not understand. I told them. has been stopped becoming a world prob- is logical than others, more impressive for all They stay motionless for one day. In the lem. of us, more civilized or something like that. next day they threatened our ambassador. If, That’s the conclusion that must be drawn That’s what we wanted, what we had tried up to 06:00 tomorrow morning there is no in our mind, because every time the problem over years but we never achieved. any positive replay we will cancel every- is nearly resolved, they stand backward. But I never discouraged, finally we will thing. The ambassador made a call. Mr. But, when the situation is in ‘fuss,’ you can be able to solve this problem abroad hence Nana rang me. How is that? I said, tell them, see again, the Portugal foreign minister starts we could focused our attention and energy The man that they are confronting is a for- to “singing” his old songs “ Let’s, let’s make to a more enormous task, which is extremely eign minister who since 1983 with all of his dialogue.” essential. How can we achieve the prosper- flexibility, deep understanding and full con- Now the pattern is similar again. So, he’s ity, intelligence, remarkable socio-economic sciousness tried to understand all of Portu- asking to make dialogue with a certain at- development of the East Timor province as gal manipulation. tribute. soon as possible not only to be equal, but However, in such matter, do they think We have seen it before. Therefore, you also leading other provinces in the Republic that they will easily manipulate Indonesia? brothers, I want you to know these facts. of Indonesia? Because there are ‘talents’ and “tell him to go and sit on the roof” I do not By describing these facts, once more I potential. I certainly believe, and I see you care again with the visit. I said, you are the have no intention to repeat the past experi- (brothers) the ET intellectuals from this wrong man, if you try to intimidate Indone- ences, nor reveal all what we have done, by place who must have the right (at first) to sia. But if you want to replace that journal- Indonesia, by East Timor (fighters) -heroes- know these facts. ist any time, you can come, we are ready for together with us, we have had this struggle Therefore I welcome every chance to dia- you. over the past years. logue with you. And I apologise you for They announced (from Portugal) about We did have our own weaknesses and talking too much. Thank you. the Cancellation of the visit. It is an oddity. mistakes, but there is one thing that I Goebbels(?) distrusted. It was an odd be- couldn’t accept: i.e. the attitude of Portugal, JAKARTA HAS LONG WAY TO cause in their statement they said, we cancel the attitude of ex-Fretilin, Fretilin remnants, GO IN GAINING the visit because Indonesia (out of our they seem to be “clean or white” no sins. agreement) refused to accept the journalist, We are “black,” we are the evil and they’re ACCEPTANCE OF ITS and Indonesia is afraid of the effect of the the angle. Sorry! Actually the world never PRESENCE IN EAST TIMOR visit, so she is trying to avoid it. happens like that. Therefore I used to tell How come? I said. How come I will re- my counterpart, the foreign Minister Joao By Richard Borsuk, Asian Wall Street Jour- act? That statement had been “the head line De Deus Pinheiro, yeah joking, but, it hap- nal, May 31, 1993 .” Later, I had a press conference. I said, pened. DILI, East Timor – Indonesia has put its here is the agreement. Here, all that we had I told him like this: “When you attack us most-wanted man away for life. But Jakarta negotiated, this is the agreement, who is the it seems that we are standing upon podium. still faces problems in gaining acceptance of wrong party? And that was the second time. Teaching the world, condemning Indonesia, how it runs East Timor. In 1987 everything had prepared, the plan but have you ever thought that I could ask On May 21 a court in this coastal town of the UN Sec-Gen. had completed, they you ‘What have you done in 400 years of sentenced Xanana Gusmão, leader of the (Portugal) went out. Now in 1991 it happen oppressing the East Timorese?’ Bullshit. independence movement Fretilin, to life again with the same pattern. 400 years you had colonized East Timor, imprisonment for rebellion anti-state activ- I was not surprised because that was the and you neglected the East Timorese peo- ity and illegal possession of firearms. way (pattern) they are. Hence we wonder ple, now you come back as champion of Mr. Gusmão, who headed Fretilin from whether they honestly want an accom- human rights. the late 1970s, has been considered a key to plishment? What is their actual intention, Terrific, indeed it’s terrific! If another keeping alive armed guerrilla resistance to keep on raising the East Timor question country that is doing that, we may appreci- Indonesia’s controversial 1976 annexation of abroad, keep on going financially supporting ate it a little bit. But I think Portugal has no the former Portuguese colony. some of our brothers abroad? What a pity. I moral right at all to teach us on human Local authorities believe imprisonment of do not want to be manipulated. rights. Moreover, I said that “if you stand the 46-year-old former seminary student, I’m not surprised any more by the Por- upon that pedestal, podium or tribune yell- captured in November, deals a decisive blow tuguese attitude. So we came to the conclu- ing and then as you said a compromise has to armed anti-Jakarta activity, already at a sion whether they’re honestly trying to find been reached, how do you feel afterwards, low level. an accomplishment. What’s their intention don’t you feel ashamed? One day you criti- However, Timorese and other analysts actually? They continuously put East cize, the next day you claim that you have say the defiance Mr. Gusmão showed late in Page 36 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. his trial – after earlier cooperating with In- televised interview, he accepted East Timor “We’re scared of spies “ a taxi driver says. donesian officials – could make him a martyr as part of Indonesia and appealed for com- Asia Watch, while agreeing that military who inspires continued resistance to integra- rades still in the hills to surrender. On the discipline has improved, says Gen. Syafei’s tion with Jakarta. And while the high-profile trial’s opening day in February, he remained command has meant “tighter control over case is over, there is still no verdict on extremely pliant, stating his nationality as civilians in East Timor including severe re- whether Indonesia is winning the battle for Indonesian rather than East Timorese. straints on freedom of expression and asso- the hearts and minds of East Timor’s This stunned many Timorese who ex- ciations.” 750,000 people. pected Mr. Gusmão to fight Indonesia all The atmosphere in Dili would likely be- Improved Atmosphere the way. It disillusioned some young people come more relaxed if the government does in Dili, for whom the rebel leader had ac- what it says it will do – reduces troop It is only 18 months since Indonesia quired folk-hero status. (During the Novem- strength now that Mr. Gusmão is in jail. badly hurt itself in that effort – and put ber 1991 protest during which troops Gov. Abilio says there already has been a largely forgotten Timor back on world maps opened fire, many teenagers wore T-shirts cut at this year to 10 battalions from 12 (A – when soldiers shot dead dozens of anti- hearing his image.) battalion is usually about 700 soldiers.) In government demonstrators. Compared with Mr. Gusmão, who appeared in good April, Jakarta announced the disbanding of late 1991, the atmosphere in East Timor has health in court, changed tack and became its special East Timor field command though improved, and some progress in promoting defiant near the end of the trial. He tried to that mainly involves withdrawing a number integration has been made. The fear widely read a lengthy defense statement in Portu- of senior officers. “People will be watching felt by Timorese after the killings has eased, guese, but was stopped by the chief judge to see if units are removed “ a foreign dip- while improved military discipline has after eight minutes. When the sentence was lomat says “There will be doubts until this ended attacks by masked vigilantes that given, he said, “Viva Timor L’Esté” (Long actually happens.” One Timorese church made Dili a ghost town after dark. live East Timor), a Fretilin slogan. worker expressed skepticism, saying that on Still, there is a long way to go. While an- the day the ending of the field command was tipathy to Indonesia has diminished, it is Switch in Position announced, three landing craft dropped off unclear if much affection has grown in the Early submissiveness may have been in- soldiers in Dili. process. Timorese remain frightened of in- tended to lull authorities into complacency. Critics of the government would like to formers and residents say abuses by secu- Their contention that resistance to Jakarta see not only fewer soldiers but also more rity officers continue. The economy remains was virtually over was undercut by two accountability for their actions. The military weak and almost wholly dependent on state ambushes in the eastern part of the territory hasn’t cleared up questions on what hap- spending. Continued high unemployment in March, in which eight soldiers were pened to all the November 1991 victims. could provide fertile ground for sustaining killed. President Suharto last year asked then resistance. Mr. Gusmão’s switch to assertiveness Armed Forces Commander Gen. Try Su- “People still feel it’s occupied territory,” appeared to frustrate Indonesian officials, trisno, now vice president, to find the miss- a Timorese intellectual says. “So naturally who had reaped propaganda gains from his ing people but there has been little headway. there’s still resentment of that occupation.” earlier attitude. Less than a week before the The military also never found all the bodies. The province’s new governor, Abilio trial ended the commander who oversees Gen. Try had claimed there were only 19 Jose Osorio Soares, dismisses this view as East Timor, Maj. Gen. Theo Syafei, accused killed, but a national investigation commis- one held only by a very small number of a United Nations envoy of influencing Mr. sion overruled that and put the toll at about people still supporting Fretilin. Mr. Gus- Gusmão’s position during an April meeting 50 and possibly more. mão’s capture and government plans for in Dili. (In a statement, U.N. Secretary- Some Timorese continue to call for more withdrawing army units make him very General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said the autonomy for East Timor to increase accep- upbeat. allegation against his envoy was “entirely tance of Indonesian sovereignty. Proponents without foundation.”) New Flak include Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo of the The statement by Gen. Syafei, promoted “There’s no more security problem,” the Dili diocese, who wasn’t in Dili at the end this year to regional commander in Bali, is governor says “There’s no more fear of of the Gusmão trial. In a recent interview consistent with the hard line he has taken on soldiers.” East Timor still badly needs in- view with the BBC, the bishop said abuses East Timor. During 15 months as com- vestors, but Mr. Abilio believes they will continued and that he has seen no change in mander in Dili, he kept his promise to deal start coming soon because of the improved the situation there in years. harshly with dissent. “I don’t tolerate dem- security picture. Mr. Abilio, the new governor, sees lots onstrations “ he told an Indonesian news- Whatever happens in East Timor after of positive change. He says the persuaded paper last year. “Demonstrations are pro- the Gusmão trial, Indonesia already has Jakarta to make all the district chiefs hibited by law.” started catching new flak over human rights. Timorese for the first time. “There is no His predecessor in Timor, Brig Gen. R.S. The U.S. group Asia Watch, which in May need for autonomy, as Timorese are already Warouw, was commander in November praised Indonesia for letting international able to handle more of their affairs,” Mr. 1991. After the demonstration and killings, observers attend Mr. Gusmão’s trial, said Abilio contends. he was first replaced and later dismissed on May 21 that the court proceedings “vio- Jakarta is very unlikely to give real from the army. His older “prosperity ap- lated (Gusmão’s) rights to freedom of ex- autonomy in any case. The idea runs proach” to running the province was pression and a fair trial.” counter to Indonesia’s highly centralized dropped and there was renewed emphasis There was a surprise twist in the case political system. Political analysts say if on security. that adds to the difficulties in assessing the East Timor obtained meaningful autonomy, The hard line has brought changes. Gen. impact of his life sentence on future devel- other remote provinces would clamor to Syafei cleaned up the vigilantes and pun- opments. alter their ties to the capital. ished many badly behaved soldiers. But After Mr. Gusmão was captured in a East Timor’s outspoken former governor Timorese complain he has been too tough in house on the edge of Dili, he was surpris- Mario Carrascalão, who complained he inhibiting them from giving their opinions. ingly cooperative with authorities. During a didn’t have enough power, had strikingly East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 37 different views from Mr. Abilio. After the He said a 1969 Act of Free Choice, a ref- EAST TIMOR STUDENTS - 1991 killings Mr. Carrascalão said he felt as erendum which integrated West Papua with if “practically everybody” in East Timor Indonesia, was not freely and fairly con- ASSISTANCE NEEDED was against Indonesia. Mr. Abilio says he is ducted and exercised. From CNRM.NT, June 18, 1993 convinced practically everybody is happy “ All people has the right to self- being part of Indonesia. determination...,” he said. East Timorese nationalist students are a After the Gusmão trial, one question is The UN committee chairman, Renagi Lo- significant component of the Resistance how open the province will be to visitors. hia, told the seminar that the issue of West struggle. Many have applied themselves Access for reporters was denied for much of Papua was not within the committee’s man- with great dedication to the Resistance, 1992, but then Timor was opened for the date because it not on the UN’s list of the despite the grave personal dangers they trial. It isn’t completely open, though, as a world’s remaining 18 non self-governing expose themselves to by doing so. group of foreign reporters were stopped on territories. The following report is compiled from in- May 22 from reaching Baucau, the second- terviews with student leaders in Indonesia largest city. REPORT FROM INSIDE ON conducted some weeks back. MA’HUNO 1. Student hardship: TIMOR OPPRESSION The November 1991 student protests in ‘INTENSIFIED’ From ETRA, Sydney, 15 June 1993 Java and Bali which followed the Dili mas- Following is a summary of what a visitor sacre, led to strong crackdowns by Indone- The Canberra Times, 11 June 1993 By AAP brought from East Timor some days ago. sian security authorities. Students were Port Moresby: Indonesia has intensified This info is based on the content of a note subject to harsh punitive measures. As a its oppressive regime in East Timor in re- written by a very reliable source from Dili- result, many have had to interrupt their cent months, a spokesman for the East East Timor, regarding the situation of studies and go into hiding. Timor resistance movement, José Gusmão, Ma’Huno and the situation of ET in terms In particular, many students who took has told a United Nations decolonization of arrests and arbitrary imprisonments. part in the Dili demonstrations have sought conference. “(...) Ma’Huno has yet to be visited/seen to flee persecution by the East Timor secu- Mr. Gusmão said the hardship and viola- by the Red Cross International. He asks rity authorities by escaping from the island tion of human rights had been exacerbated ICRC to visit him. When ICRC tried to visit and hiding in urban centres in Indonesia. since the arrest last November of his cousin, him, the guards hide him. Ma’Huno spoke These people live under extreme hard- Xanana Gusmão, leader of the resistance’s to Amos Wako. (...). ship. Firstly they do not have any docu- National Council of Maubere Resistance (Ma’Huno himself is under tremendous mentation, which in Indonesia is essential in (CNRM). pressure). order to work and carry out any normal daily life activities. Document checks in Xanana Gusmão was sentenced to life Concerned about: imprisonment in May. “Since then he was Indonesia are a highly frequent activity. They (the Indonesians) are forcing been kept in total isolation with no visitors, Such students are thus constantly under the Xanana to give support to the Indonesian not even closest family members have been risk of being arrested by authorities. government. It may not be Xanana that allowed,” Mr. Gusmão told the seminar on Secondly, they are unable to find em- wants to be in hunger strike; it may be that non-self-government territories. ployment to meet their subsistence needs. the Indonesians themselves are starving him. He said Xanana Gusmão’s successor, Young people in Indonesia generally ex- It is believed that the Indonesians may give Mau Hunu, who was capture in April, was perience difficulties to find employment. drugs to Xanana in order to affect his brain. also in solitary confinement, and he read the This is especially so for outsiders with no CNRM’s defence statement which his Lists of latest imprisonments: social links and in a precarious security cousin was prevented from reading at his On the 16 of May 1993, the following position like East Timor refugee students. trial. people were arrested: They thus depend on the meagre support The statement said East Timor, a Portu- 1. Augusto da Costa Leonardo fellow East Timorese students can provide guese colony which was taken over by In- them, leading a hopeless and harassed day to 2. Octavio da Conceicão Anos day clandestine existence, in great depriva- donesia 17 years ago, was the responsibility 3. Paulo Farol of the International community and a matter tion, with little prospects of improvement. of international law. 4. Egas dos Santos Given continuous security crack downs “We again reaffirm our readiness to enter 5. Manecas Soares in East Timor, the number of students at- into a process of dialogue with Indonesia 6. Abilio tempting to seek refuge outside the territory continues to be significant. and Portugal under UN auspices and with- 7. Anibal Ximenes out pre-conditions,” it said. Given the sub-human conditions under 8. Muguel Kulu-Hum “The aim of such dialogue will be to ex- which they live -in many cases in hovels- plore all possible avenues conducive to an 9. Juvito mailina they are also under great health and moral internationally acceptable solution to the On the 5th of June 1993, the following risks. Their conditions of life are generally problem of East Timor.” people were arrested: insalubrious and health care is not available. The three-day seminar which ended yes- 1. Paulo Alves Some of them are also exposed to the moral risks of living on the fringes of the terday heard also from a representative of 2. Jose Guterres lowest socio-economic levels of the poverty Indonesia’ Irian Jaya province, otherwise 3. Lucas known as west Papua. ridden Javanese society. Powes Parkop, of the Melanesian Torture and arrests continue to take Latest reports claim that increased num- solidarity group, called in the United place. The telephone of Bishop Ximenes bers of East Timor-based Indonesian intelli- Nations to recognise West Papua’s right to Belo is bugged. gence operatives are being sent on missions self-determination under international law. to Java to hound East Timorese students Page 38 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. hiding there. The past ‘mysterious killings,’ In many cases the plight of these young (telecommunications, formerly Marconithey so strongly decried by the international Resistance heroes is dramatic, even if it has have a mechanism for recording the community, seem to be on again. attracted little publicity so far. Bishop’s and the priests’ telephone conver- 2. Funding needs: sations. At night they listen to them and write it all down. In the post office, they So far student networks have been able to BISHOP OF DILI UNDER open the Bishop’s letters, and the letters of fund their Resistance work with extremely SIEGE people they are suspicious of (...). I was meagre resources. Limited assistance has ordered to answer the telephone call from a come from some outside sources. Publico, 16 June 1993. Original Lang.: woman journalist (from Publico) to the This is however far from sufficient. In Portuguese Bishop, and then they told me to translate order to function properly they need in- (Lisbon) Telephone calls to the house of (...) creased support for communications and Msgr. Ximenes Belo, Bishop of Dili, are transport. The recipients would endeavour answered by Indonesian secret service Propaganda to regularly account for the funds received agents or by Timorese prisoners forced by “(...) They say: “you Timorese, you ha- from outside. the Indonesian authorities to translate the ven’t got a hope at the UN, because the UN 3. Material requests: conversations. The situation, which Publico diplomats are all bought and paid for, and so are the journalists. The UN is weaker than Recently requests for one video camera, a learned of in late May, during and after Indonesia because it asks Indonesia for sol- lap-top computer and one digital short-wave Xanana Gusmão’s trial, has now been con- diers...” They say that to torture Timorese radio (to listen to international news) have firmed by the testimony of a political pris- is not a sin, it’s an honour and a pleasure. been received. This material should be pro- oner, recently released from Colmera prison, “In just 17 years we have given Javanese vided form abroad or purchased locally with Dili, and who sent a letter to this newspa- and Timorese more children than the Portu- funds made available from abroad. Medi- per, dated 30 May, recounting his experi- guese did in 400 years.” cines for wounded Resistance fighters are ence. It is an impressive document, given the also needed. information it contains on the repression of prisoners, and the way in which the A PROBLEM OF THE SOUL 4. Other requests: occupying authorities act when there is a The students in refuge outside East UN or International Red Cross visit. At the Asiaweek, June 23, 1993 Timor could be greatly assisted if they were end of the letter there is a simple appeal to (Hong Kong) To visitors, Dili sometimes able to buy new identity documents with Boutros Ghali to “bear in mind human rights seems like a city of whispers. Informers and changed details from corrupt officials. This in Timor...” military outposts abound in the capital of can be done at a cost of about US$150 per Church and Priests East Timor. But critics of Indonesian rule air person. “In the presence of the prisoners (the their aspirations in marketplaces, inside People under greater security risk would churches or in their homes. There are risks. prefer to leave the country altogether. Pass- Naggalas, Indonesian forces) ridicule the Catholic faith, make fun of the Rosary, stat- “If you’re seen speaking to a foreigner,” ports may be obtained for about US$250- says a Timorese, “you’ll inevitably be asked 400, through reliable contacts. ues, criticize the Bishop (he organizes the demonstrations): they speak ill of the what was said.” An ethnic-Chinese store- 5. Other East Timorese youth welfare priests - they wear cassocks but hide keeper argues that the issue is no longer needs: women underneath them and in their homes; resistance, but jobs. Others say it’s much In addition to students in hiding, there are they are the ones who give Fretilin its more. “It’s a problem of the soul, not close to 100 young East Timorese workers strength; it is they who influence the people money,” reckons Florentino Sarmento, who brought to Java under false pretences by against Indonesia,..” heads a local non- government organization. Says former governor Mario Carrascalão: President Suharto’s daughter Tutut over one Red Cross and UN year ago. “The people of East Timor love freedom.” The work promises made to these people “When members of the International Red Indonesian authorities may have put were not honoured, so that most of them are Cross visit, they take the prisoners into the away Xanana Gusmão for life and, for the jobless and trying to seek a living in any city, and then say that the prisoners are not moment, broken the back of Fretilin, the way they can. there; or that they are out visiting their fami- East Timor resistance movement he led. But It usually means working at the roughest lies (...). When one of us is going to talk to their problems are by no means over. Ja- chores for minimal pay. A condition close to the Red Cross, they place a small and pow- karta has yet to win the hearts and minds of slave labour, in the words of an NGO erful tape recorder inside our shirt, so that many of the former Portuguese colony’s worker trying to assist them. They mostly they can hear our replies (...). When Mr. 774,000 people. The U.N. still refuses to live in slums in Jakarta’s port area, Bogor Amos Wako (UN Secretary General’s spe- recognize Indonesia’s incorporation of East and West Java, under deplorable conditions. cial envoy) came, I went to speak to him, Timor in 1976 as its 27th province. And Some are trying to learn some skills so as and they hid a recorder beneath my shirt, so Lisbon and international groups continue to to be able to return to East Timor as soon as I was not free to say what I wanted” (...) deplore what they say are human-rights possible. Some funds are being provided Special forces’ commander X, calls Mr. abuses there. Wako “si hitem” (the black one)...They through NGOs to assist them, but these are The state of affairs has its roots in his- nowhere near what is needed to enable these speak disparagingly of former Governor, tory. In the 19th century, Portugal and the people to finish some courses and return Mario Carrascalão, of Mr. Abilio Osorio, Netherlands divided between themselves the home. the present Governor, and of all the island of Timor in the Lesser Sunda chain. This notice is posted in the hope that it Timorese. (...) “ When Indonesia won independence from the may elicit initiatives among various East Ximenes Belo Dutch in 1949, West Timor became one of Timor support groups to assist materially “They have connected the Bishop’s tele- its provinces. The eastern part remained a and in any other effective way. phone to Intel (political police); calls from Portuguese enclave. In 1974 a coup brought journalists are attended by them. In Telkom a change of government in Lisbon. The new East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 39 regime decided on a decolonization program The U.N. has asked its Secretary- The Portuguese neglected the territory and announced a plebiscite to settle the General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, to find a but they gave its people a level of freedom future of East Timor. solution to the problem of East Timor. In greater than they enjoy now. “If I wanted to One of the political parties formed in the February last year he sent his personal en- go to another town, I just went,” recalls a territory was Fretilin, the Revolutionary voy, Amos Wako of Kenya, to Dili. Wako Timorese who looks back on colonial rule Front for an Independent East Timor. The made a second trip two months ago. Alatas with affection. “If I wanted to go to Austra- Timorese Democratic Peoples Association said some of the recommendations Wako lia, I just got my passport. It was purely a espoused integration with Indonesia, as the made after his first visit have been imple- matter of money.” The nostalgia for the old initially pro-independence Timor Democ- mented. Wako met Gusmão in April and days is evident in the wide use of the Portu- ratic Union eventually did. Civil war soon said the Fretilin chief seemed to have been guese language. Church attendance, particu- erupted between the factions. On Nov. 28, treated well. Wako also checked reports that larly among the young, is also on the rise. 1975 Fretilin, which Jakarta suspected of the army is reducing its presence in East The resentment helps Fretilin. The group being pro-communist, declared East Timor a Timor. Some 30,000 soldiers are stationed insists that the only solution is a plebiscite, sovereign nation. Nine days later, Indone- there. a course that the U.N. has called for in two sian troops landed. The envoy would not comment on his votes in the Security Council and eight in Over the years Jakarta lavished funds on findings. “I don’t want to be held responsi- the General Assembly. “We’re ready to its newest province. It pushed through an ble for your conclusions,” he told reporters. lose, but we want to do it legitimately,” impressive infrastructure program and built Some observers believe the military is bring- says Alfredo Ferreira, Fretilin’s spokesman roads, schools, clinics, an airport and a sea- ing in new units to replace those that have in Darwin, Australia. Jakarta maintains that port. Dili acquired a new cathedral – left. They say it regards East Timor as a the people already voted to join Indonesia in Timorese are predominantly Christian – and good training room. The army is also said to 1976, when a Popular Assembly endorsed a a soccer stadium. The capital’s population have links with the marketing of coffee, the petition for integration. But the whispers in grew from about 25,000 in 1976 to some territory’s major export. Says one analyst: Dili today make no secret of their stand. 125,000 today. “Until some degree of independence is given But the tenacious Fretilin kept the dream to civilian officials, the military will go on AN ISLAND OF EXILES of independence alive. At one point, the using East Timor as a means of making Indonesian army exiled thousands of money.” Asiaweek, June 23, 1993 Timorese to an outlying island. The military Jakarta’s new man in East Timor, Gover- (Hong Kong) Abelino Soares says he is was criticized for alleged torture and arbi- nor Abilio Soares, says he has real author- 33 years old. But his permanent stoop trary detentions. In recent years the world ity. “If I want a military operation in a cer- makes him look much older. Blind in one largely forgot East Timor. Then in 1991, tain region to be reduced because it’s not eye, he supports his wife and two children Indonesian soldiers fired on marchers who useful anymore, that will happen.” He has by working as a laborer in plantations on were mourning the slaying of a Timorese awakened cautious hope. “Abilio is a man of Atauro Island off the coast of Dili, the capi- youth. Many civilians died. The conduct of the people,” says one Timorese. “Already tal of East Timor. In 1981 the Indonesian Gusmão’s trial last month also attracted he has won agreement that all his regional armed forces ordered Soares to leave his international attention. administrators should be Timorese, not home in Viqueque. The Timor district was a Some in Indonesia now wonder if it has military men.” There is talk of a future hot spot in Jakarta’s war against the Fretilin all been worth it. “We should never have based on more efficient agriculture, fisheries resistance movement. The military decided gone into East Timor,” says a retired par- and possibly tourism. that one way to choke off support for the liamentarian from West Timor. “These peo- The local economy needs a boost. Un- guerrillas was to deny them their base. Ac- ple are different from us. We’ve poured employment is high. Throughout the day in cordingly, Soares was shipped to Atauro money into the place for years, and all we Dili, youths can be seen lounging in parks together with 3,000 others. have for it are headaches.” But the govern- along the waterfront. Sarmento, who heads The Timorese were first lodged in bar- ment of President Suharto has made clear the East Timor Agricultural Development racks, recalls village head Vasco Lopes da that East Timor is part of Indonesia. Eco- Program, says Jakarta should do more. “Of Silva, whose father was an exiled journalist nomic factors have reinforced security con- all the money that the government provides, from the former Portuguese colony of cerns. Indonesia and Australia are jointly probably only 10% actually stays in East Guinea-Bissau. Portugal had used Atauro as exploring for oil in the Timor Gap, off the Timor,” he reckons. Sarmento says the few a detention center too. There was little to do coast of East Timor. fledgling industries are basically operations on the rocky island. Fruit trees and corn Jakarta insists that human rights, as de- that provide materials to upstream plants in were grown in the few pockets of arable fined by Western countries, is a concept Java. land. Fishing was the main occupation. that does not apply in local conditions. “What we have is a lack of confidence on Many exiles returned to East Timor when “The argument has proved ineffective in the part of the government itself,” adds the Indonesian authorities released them in repulsing criticism of Indonesia,” admits Sarmento. He notes that the base camp for 1986. But about a thousand chose to build a senior foreign affairs official Hadi Wayarabi. the Timor Gap oil-exploration project is in new settlement a few kilometers from Lopes Foreign Minister Ali Alatas left for Vienna West Timor. It doesn’t do much for da Silva’s village. Atauro is now inhabited last week for an international conference on Timorese self-esteem. “People are apathetic by some 6,500 people. human rights. “The last thing I would want and this apathy is part of the process of Soares and a few families stayed in Lopes is for Indonesia to be identified as a single- alienation,” says Sarmento. Last month da Silva’s little community. “They were problem country,” he told reporters in Ja- former governor Carrascalão, now attached happy here and it was safe,” says the head- karta. Alatas complained about misinforma- to the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta, called for man. Soares insists that he was never in- tion on East Timor in the international the army’s withdrawal from East Timor. volved in politics. “Some of the people who press. “If you repeat a lie over and over Said he: “You have to trust people and dis- were brought here were active in Fretilin but again,” he said, “it becomes a fact in the miss suspicions.” I wasn’t,” he says. “I didn’t have anything minds of gullible readers.” Page 40 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. to do with political parties.” Very poor in a impotent outrage still seems to permeate regards the rag-tag rebels as a minor nui- community that is relatively prosperous, every aspect of daily life for many of East sance. Soares says he would like to return to Timor’s 750,000 inhabitants. “There are no more human rights prob- Viqueque. “But I can’t afford to move back “There is no freedom of speech, no free- lems, everyone can relax. The rebels are to the mainland.” Yet even if Soares were to dom of thought,” said a Roman Catholic finished, we should concentrate now on return, there is no assurance that he and his clergyman. “To express the mildest criti- building better lives for our people,” said a family would find a better life there. cism” of the government or military “is to spokesman for East Timor Gov. Abilio Jose risk an interrogation or torture.” Osorio Soares. ONCE MIGHTY EAST TIMOR International human rights groups and SEPARATISTS DYING BREED several Western governments, including the PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE United States, charge that Jakarta continues NOT ALLOWED ON The Boston Globe June 29, 1993, By Colin to keep the lid on its unhappy “27th prov- Nickerson, Globe Staff ince” through harsh repression, “including CATHOLIC RADIO IN TIMOR the torture and killing of civilians” in the Diario de Noticias, 4 July 1993. By Luis DILI, Indonesia - Separatist fighters, who words of a recent US State Department Santos. Translated from Portuguese. for years ferociously battled the Indonesian report. troops that invaded East Timor in 1975, Government spies and informers are eve- (Lisbon) Radio Timor Kmanek (Voice of have dwindled from thousands a decade ago rywhere, at workplaces, lingering in cafes, Our Lady) is the name of a Catholic radio to fewer than 200. even in Roman Catholic catechism classes. station, being set up by the diocese of Dili, Even those who quietly sympathize with Military “watchers” dressed in mufti – Timor. Due to start broadcasting this the cause of independence express more but still conspicuous – stand on street cor- month, the station will normally use Indo- pity than support for the few die-hards still ners, saunter along side streets and stake out nesian, though some programs in Tetum will defiant in the rugged hills of this remote Santa Cruz Cemetery. be allowed. former Portuguese colony. Much as Beijing’s Tiananmen Square be- According to a Timorese church source, “They are just sad souls, waiting with a came the bloody symbol of China’s shat- the station has come into being because the few rifles and a few bullets to be hunted tered democracy movement, the dusty Ro- Maubere Church has long wanted “to have down by government troops,” said an edu- man Catholic cemetery in Dili has come to its own radio, so as to be able to reach every cator, one of very few Timorese willing to symbolize East Timor’s suppressed but still corner of Timor, and in this way carry out speak to a visitor. “The dream of freedom is smoldering desire for freedom. its evangelical work more efficiently, even fading from the hearts of the people. Now On November 12, 1991, a funeral service though around 90 per cent of Timorese are all that remains is the fear.” for a slain separatist turned into an antigov- Catholics.” At the time of the Portuguese The United Nations has never recognized ernment rally. As the funeral marchers began administration, the Timorese Church had a Indonesia’s brutal annexation of East Timor, shouting demands for an end to military weekly 15-minutes of air time on the na- which occupies the eastern half of the island occupation and human rights abuses, troops tional radio, for pastoral work. of Timor, located in the southeastern ex- suddenly opened fire. The launch of the project was supported treme of the world’s fourth most populous The number of dead remains in dispute, by the Verbo Divino (Divine Word) priests, nation. Jakarta has admitted that 50 people were who run the Radio Verbum in Indonesian But the world paid little heed in the late slain while listing an extra 61 as “missing.” territory. They were willing to help materi- 1970s and throughout the 1980s as Indone- International human rights groups put the alize the idea, and gave technical and per- sian troops killed thousands of separatists. death figure at about 150 with scores sonnel support. According to Western diplomats, as many wounded. Contributions of money and equipment as 200,000 East Timorese also perished of Indonesia, stunned by the thunderclap of came from Belgium and England, while Ra- hunger and disease during a vicious civil war outrage from around the world, jailed several dio Renascenca (Portuguese church radio in which whole villages were razed, fields soldiers who participated in the massacre station) gave financial support and trained torched and farm animals slaughtered in and fired two generals. Nonetheless, Jakarta personnel. retaliations for rebel strikes. placed the blame for the bloody melee on According to the same source, “two boys The conflict was and remains both politi- “extremists” and the separatist guerrillas of are being trained at Radio Verbum in pro- cal and cultural: East Timor is an over- the Revolutionary Front for an Independent gramming and locution, and another is get- whelmingly Roman Catholic enclave in an Timor, known as Fretilin. ting training on the technical side.” The pro- archipelago-nation that is more than 90 per- Despite their dwindling numbers–and the gramming will be varied, “because we do not cent Muslim. apparent dwindling popular support for want a completely religious station, so as to Not until November 1991 did the plight their cause–the Fretilin separatists are still be more readily accepted by the people. In of East Timor gain international attention, capable of striking out against the territory’s spite of the fact that the Indonesian authori- after government troops turned their guns despised military occupiers. ties are only allowing us to broadcast in on marchers protesting human rights abuses. Recent months have seen an ambush of Javanese, and occasionally in Tetum, never Scores were slain, prompting the United an army patrol in the town of Los Palos that in Portuguese, we think it better to start off, States and other nations to condemn Jakarta killed two soldiers–along with two innocent because there is a large number of people and withhold some foreign aid. students caught in the cross fire. Another asking for baptisms, and the number of Since then, the government has mounted Fretilin attack on a military outpost left six seminarists continues to increase. Radio a “hearts and minds” campaign intended to Indonesian troops dead. Timor Kmanek can supply the clarifying win the support of ordinary inhabitants–and But the mere fact that the government support they need for their life of faith. stifle foreign criticism–by building new pub- has broken recently with a long policy of With regards the project, “the Indonesian lic housing, schools, clinics and roads. silence on such incidents and confirms the authorities’ reaction was not negative, since But fear, mistrust of almost anyone out- attacks in itself suggests that Jakarta now the former Governor, Mario Carrascalão, side the immediate family and a sense of agreed to the idea and even made a monetary East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 41

contribution. The military government was upset about the prices. The production of consequence to a priest, that’s the least of asked for its view, but has not said anything coffee is what supports the population, the my concern. up to now.” However, this attitude would drop in the price means that they are unable not appear entirely innocent because, ac- to buy much or the money they get from the Q: What is the situation with the extent of the cording to the same source, “the fear is that, coffee goes just buying food. We have al- military presence? later on, they are capable of forcing Radio ready tried to talk to those responsible DOMINGOS SOARES: Here in Timor, Timor Kmanek to give out information about introducing free market for coffee, but their presence have always been a big prob- which is not in line with Church teaching. because we are living under the monopolistic lem. It was supposed to be the way in But we will broadcast such news, stating generals and because in Indonesia it’s very which they could control the Timorese as that it does not come from the Church, and difficult to oppose those who are higher up, we’ve seen in the November the 12 saga - identifying the source.” it is very difficult for us to reach a free mar- “We Timorese are expecting a lot from ket status. that they retreated when the world cried Portugal. We received our faith from Portu- In the meantime, I don’t know what kind foul, so they try other means. At the mo- guese missionaries, and we are proud of of promises the Government wants to make ment they are using a network of territorial that, and hope that they give us their sup- to the people. I often come here and ask the command spread all over Timor. In the vil- port so as to continue to maintain that faith people questions - was told that they want lages they are building houses, they work on alive. I would ask the Portuguese people to to kill the people by using this method. a ricefield, and visit vegetable gardens. They help us to find the best settlement which Some of us had the courage to ask the Gov- aiming at conquering the people through the would satisfy both parties.” ernment that this was the way they wanted to annihilate the East Timorese people. heart, but they just seen as an army pres- ence who are armed even when they go to INTERVIEW WITH FR. Q: What impact has the arrest and the trial DOMINGOS SOARES of Xanana Gusmão and the second in the field. Their caring strategy does not melt command da Costa had on the morale of our hearts, because we are people of strong ABC (Australia) radio national. Program: the people? will who won’t be bought, what we want is Indian Pacific, 5 July 1993 Fr. DOMINGOS SOARES: Above all our freedom. NOTE: Our apologies for not spelling cor- Xanana Gusmão is a leader of the Timorese Father Domingos speaking to Rick Sel- wick in Ermera in East Timor. rectly the name of the American journalist. people. He has always been seen as their In Tokyo, just before the summit will be leader. His 17 years of work in the jungle US SCHOLARSHIPS FOR President Suharto of Indonesia, representing put him in a very favourable position with the views of the Non-aligned Movement. the Timorese who are hoping for their free- UNTIM The speculation that President Suharto may meet with Clinton and as the result could be dom, freedom of their land and freedom of According to an Antara story carried in a reduced sentenced for Timorese resistance East Timor. His imprisonment is seen by Republika on July 9, East Timor University leader Xanana Gusmão. But it is just specu- the people as a consequence of the war as is (Untim) will take up an offer of short-term lation at this stage. In East Timor itself op- Mau Huno’s. The people regret their cap- scholarships to the U.S., says former Untim position to Indonesia rule continues despite ture but see them as heroes who have fulfill Rector Dr. Paulus Wiryono. The USIS head a more hearts and minds approach by mili- (from the U.S. embassy, probably Richard their duties and now at the mercy of the Gong, whose tour of duty has just ended) tary forces in territory. Father Domingos enemy. Even so the resistance have not died Soares is a catholic priest in the town of made a donation of books to Untim in May. Ermera, south west of the capital Dili. In down and it has a new leader, Konis Santana The scholarships are designed particularly this recent candid interview with American who is both leader of the armed resistance for Untim teaching staff. Wiryono said the journalist (Rick Salwick) he describe the and the leader of the silence resistance - best possible use would be made of this difficulties facing coffee growers in his par- THE PEOPLE. In this way, Timorese will offer. Since the scholarship quota was lim- ish, and he says the problem is dominance continue to resist the strong forces of Indo- ited, selection would be tight. Teaching staff chosen would return to Untim. Paulus of the coffee trade by military officers. nesia. Fr. Domingos Soares: Ermera is the rich- Wiryono, a Jesuit priest, left Untim after est district in East Timor, this is mainly Q: Do you have fear for your own safety serving as Rector for four years. As of July because of the coffee production. AS you given the outspokenness of your views? 1, he became Rector of Sugiyopranoto Uni- know it has some of the best coffee in the DOMINGOS SOARES: Here in Timor we versity in Semarang. The new Untim Rector world. Before Ermera was well off economi- all fear for our safety and security. We can is Ribertus Pardjojo Bratasudarma, formerly cally. But now due to the very low coffee Assistant Rector II at Sanata Dharma see when a Timorese has the opportunity to Teacher Training Institute (IKIP) in Yogy a- prices, which is currently 800 rupiahs a kilo leave, they do either through the Red Cross we cannot say that the Ermera region is not karta. economically disadvantage due to that fac- or a higher status offices, business people tor. This is the problem, we don’t have a with a lot of money leave through their own TWO MORE DILI MASSAC RE free market to export coffee. Our coffee is means. Timorese don’t want to stay because SURVIVORS FOUND exported by a company called DENOK. I they don’t feel secure here. I myself, I am heard this company belongs to some gener- not afraid of death, today or tomorrow it’s JAKARTA, Indonesia (UPI July 10) – als with stars. They are the ones who are all the same thing. The important thing is to The military said Saturday that after another year of searching it has found another two selling as well as establishing the prices. defence justice for our people who have They often tell the people of Ermera that of the 66 people listed as missing after the the price is low due to some local activity. suffered enough. In this world where human 1991 massacre by government troops of And that they, Ermera people have to suffer rights is an issue we are fighting for own unarmed civilians in East Timor. because of this. People are very shocked and rights. Dying today or tomorrow is of no Page 42 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

The search was prompted by allegations Indonesian authorities have responded by “The utmost efforts have been made by the military shot dead far more people than saying the trials were carried out in accor- ABRI (the Indonesian armed forces), the the 50 civilians it admitted killing in the dance with Indonesian law. East Timor provincial Government and the aftermath of a funeral protest in November Hamid told reporters that military au- people to find the missing 64 victims.” 1991 in the East Timor capital Dili. thorities received the help of local govern- The investigators found four bodies bur- The two people reportedly found during ment officials, church leaders and citizens in ied near the provincial capital, Dili, but have the past year of searching included a man carrying out Suharto’s order for it to track been unable to determine if they were among identified as only Januario, whom authori- down the missing people. the victims of the massacre on November ties said voluntarily surrendered May 14 12, 1991. after he was identified as being among the INDONESIANS SAY FEWER One missing man was found at his Dili missing. MISSING FROM DILI MASSACRE home in April and another reported to au- Another person was found to have re- ATVI (Australian Television international), thorities n May, the reports said. Both were turned to his family on Nov. 5, 1992, armed 12.30am news, 13th July 1993 allowed to go free. forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Syarwan General Syarwan appealed to those on NEWSREADER: The Indonesian army Hamid told reporters. the list of missing to report to authorities, says the number of East Timorese missing Hamid, at a news briefing, did not say pledging no action would be taken against after the Dili massacre in November 1991 whether Januario surrendered to face charges them. now stands at 64. That is two fewer than or why the military believed it remained “The objective is to return them to their the military’s previous figure of those after unable to find the 64 people still listed as home towns and reunite them with their troops fired on a crowd at the Santa Cruz missing. families so they can live in peace,” he said. cemetery. Australia television Ian MacIn- The Indonesian government initially An Indonesian government inquiry found tosh reports the latest figures are unlikely to claimed 19 people died in the shootings, but at least 50 people died when soldiers fired resolve uncertainties about the toll. after international condemnation it held in on a crowd of civilians outside Dili’s Santa IAN MacIntosh: The Indonesian military inquiry that initially found about 50 people Cruz cemetery. chief spokesman brigadier general Syarwan died, 90 were missing and at least 91 were Hamid quoted by the official Antara news- Sydney Morning Herald had similar story. wounded. agency said the number of people still miss- East Timor, 1,250 miles east of Jakarta, ing after the massacre had dropped from 66 TIMOR HISTORY BOOKS was a Portuguese colony for more than 400 to 64. The military’s inquiries which began a years before Lisbon ended its colonial em- ATTACKED year ago turned up two East Timorese - pire in 1975. both alive. General Syarwan also quoted as Sydney Morning Herald, 16 July 1993 Indonesia annexed East Timor soon af- saying it has not yet been determined terward and unilaterally declared the terri- Jakarta, Wednesday: The Governor of whether four unidentified bodies found out- tory its 27th province in 1976, kicking off a East Timor has ordered that three books on side Dili were among those the armed forces campaign of violence that by some accounts the history of the disputed province’s inte- listed as missing. The military’s latest has killed an estimated 200,000 people. gration into Indonesia be rewritten, calling statement greeted with skepticism by some The United Nations never recognized In- them “illogical and not factual.” The books, foreign diplomats has not clarified confusion donesia’s annexation of East Timor, con- written for the provincial education and over the issue. Last April visiting United tending the population should be allowed to culture office, were to have formed the basis Nations envoy Amos Wako said Jakarta had determine its own future. school courses on the province’s integration. put the number unaccounted for at 61 and President Suharto, in his talks this week Governor Abilio Soares ordered the revi- told reporters he didn’t think anyone could in Tokyo with U.S. President Bill Clinton, sion after receiving several complaints and say with any finality how many people defended Indonesia’s involvement with East reading the books himself. were still missing. At the time, a senior In- Timor by saying it has been motivated The books have been criticised for failing donesian official said that of 115 East solely by a desire to help the majority of its to clearly explain the 1975 civil war, which Timorese then listed as missing, 31 had been population. proceeded and invasion by Indonesian found, 23 confirmed dead and 61 were unac- Suharto also told Clinton the Dili massa- troops that December, and for failing to counted for. cre was an accident provoked by a minority consult East Timorese who witnessed the of East Timorese residents who are opposed 64 STILL MISSING FROM DILI events of the mid-1970s. to integration with Indonesia. “We can’t turn history upside down,” The Australian, 13 July 1993. By Terry Friel The Indonesian government also has been media reports here quoted Mr. Abilio as (AAP) widely criticized for the sentences it has saying. handed out in the wake of the massacre. (Jakarta) An extensive Indonesian mili- Future generations would suffer “if we Dissidents and human rights groups have tary investigation has failed to find 64 peo- cheat our children by offering a false history cited the discrepancy between the lenient ple still listed as missing after the 1991 Dili which is illogical and not factual.” sentences given to members of the military massacre in the disputed province of East After being appointed last year, Mr. and the heavy jail terms handed to dissi- Timor. Abilio said he wanted to introduce courses dents. The investigation, launched last July, into the province’s schools to teach children The Indonesian military tribunals sen- found only two of 66 people then listed as about its integration into Indonesia. tenced nine soldiers and one policemen to unaccounted for, media reports yesterday jail terms ranging from eight months to 18 quoted armed forces spokesman Brigadier- months for their roles in the Dili shootings. General Syarwan Hamid as saying. Convicted dissidents, by contrast, have “It is very possible that those listed as received long multi-year prison sentences. missing ran into the jungles, are in hiding and afraid to report to the authorities or fled abroad or subsequently died,” he said. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 43

INFANT MORTALITY patrol and killed eight soldiers. Two army to investigate the allegations of repression. reservists died in another attack earlier. Indonesia which condemned the charges has HIGHEST IN WORLD The Timorese conflict began in 1975 as in recent weeks been playing a cat and Excerpt from: WORLD POPULATION TO Portugal was preparing to grant independ- mouse game with International Red Cross STABILIZE, IN 2200 By Neill A. Borowski, ence to the territory. But the Indonesian officials trying to visit Timorese political Knight-Ridder Newspapers army mounted an invasion and annexed East prisoners -promising free access, then deny- Timor the next year, giving impetus to the ing it on the day of the visit. The worldwide infant mortality rate – a resistance: movement. The rebel council hopes that the Clinton baby who dies before age 1 – is 68 out of Human rights groups have condemned administration will back up its vote with every 1,000 births. The highest rates are 160 Indonesia for waging a brutal counterinsur- action. “We don’t need support in words deaths per 1,000 births – or 16 percent – in gency campaign of murder, rape and torture but in deeds,” said Ramon. Mali in West Africa and East Timor, an ever since. As many as 200,000 Timorese Reese Erlich was expelled for East Timor island off Indonesia. are believed to have been killed, about one- by Indonesian authorities for carrying out third of the population. “unauthorized journalistic activities.” EAST TIMOR REBELS Last year Congress cut off military assis- SIDEBAR: EAST TIMOR’S STATUS CONTINUE STRUGGLE tance to Indonesia, sharply criticizing the * East Timor,. a former Portuguese col- AGAINST INDONESIA army’s massacre of as many as 100 unarmed ony, was invaded by Indonesia in 1975 and civilian demonstrators at a Dili cemetery in annexed one year later. The United Nations San Francisco Chronicle; July 16, 1993, by 1991. has never accepted the takeover and has Reese Erlich The rebel movement, the National Coun- repeatedly called for Indonesia to allow the cil of Maubere Resistance, continues to East Timorese to decide their future. West Despite the recent arrest of its top two organize in the cities. The council includes leaders, the East Timorese resistance move- Timor has been. part of Indonesia since that the original Timorese guerrilla group, Fre- country attained independence after World ment continues to defy Indonesia and main- tilin, as well as other organizations. Since tains considerable civilian support. War II. the mid-1980s, movement has described * Access to the island is strictly con- Interviews with Catholic Church and in- itself as Christian socialist. digenous political leaders in the tense terri- trolled by the Indonesian government. But In a clandestine interview with mid-level several diplomats who have visited East tory, the site of extensive human rights vio- rebel council leaders, one explained, “We lations by the Indonesian government, make Timor say the rebel movement fighting for want Christian socialism because all the independence, the National Council of clear that the island is far from pacified. Timorese are Catholics.” He said that the A Portuguese colony for more than 300 Maubere Resistance, has at most only a few future independent East Timor envisioned hundred combatants left after nearly two years, East Timor was invaded and occupied by the rebel council would adopt the princi- by Indonesia in 1975. Jakarta maintains that decades of Indonesian military rule. But the ples of European-style social democracy. Indonesian military presence is so heavy- the Timorese voluntarily agreed to join In- Ramon, who leads the council’s central donesia and that the resistance – which ad- handed that most of the population of district, claims the movement has about 750,000 live in a state of perpetual fear. vocates independence for East Timor – en- 1,000 people in the hills of whom 350 bear joys little popular support. Tensions between the military and the local arms. The movement also claims to have 24 population reached a high in November Years of counterinsurgency efforts by the groups in Dili, mostly among students and Indonesian military paid off when it arrested 1991, when troops opened fire on a crowd workers. Foreign diplomats say those fig- at a funeral in Dili, killing 60 to 100 people. the resistance’s top leader, Jose (Xanana) ures are somewhat inflated. Gusmão, last year and its second in com- Four officers and six enlisted men were The independence movement was much court-martialed for the killings. But the mand. Ma ‘Huno da Costa Gomes, in April. larger in the 1970s fielding several thousand Gusmão was sentenced to life imprison- longest sentence handed out was 18 months. armed guerrillas and a sophisticated network The military has never admitted that more ment May 21 in a trial criticized by interna- in the urban areas. tional human rights groups. The rebel than 19 people were killed. A government- leader’s lawyer was selected by the govern- Political Struggle appointed investigating commission said at ment and given almost no time to prepare, Ramon says the rebel movement no least 50 people had died,. a slap. at the mili- while Gusmão himself was not allowed to longer hopes for a military victory. “In the tary’s performance. Two senior generals read his closing statement. military struggle alone,” he said, “Indonesia were forced to accept responsibility and Concern About Torture will win. But in the political struggle, the resigned. victory is ours.” A televised confession given by Gusmão He bases his hopes on international pres- before the start of the trial prompted diplo- TROOPS BREAK UP DEMO sure intended to force concessions from the IN DILI mats to wonder whether he had been tor- Indonesians. tured or threatened by the military. In March, the United States joined in BBC World Service, 23 July 1993 A Catholic official, who asked that his supporting a resolution of the U.N. Human [This is not a transcript. It is based on in- name not be used, said the arrests have de- Rights Commission expressing “deep con- formation received over the phone.] prived the movement of two experienced cern” over Jakarta’s East Timor policy. leaders and led to a “reorganization of the Indonesian officials were reportedly stunned Forty young East Timorese held a dem- resistance.” But he said the rebels continue by the shift; under former Presidents Ronald onstration outside the Cathedral in Dili on to have “great popular support, (and that). Reagan and George Bush, Washington Thursday, 22 July. Troops broke up the many young people want to leave Dili to blocked similar resolutions. demonstrators within minutes and took join the guerrillas in the hills.” The U.N. action called on Indonesia to al- twelve of the demonstrators away for ques- The rebels are still capable of mounting low international experts on torture, execu- tioning, according to information conveyed selective attacks’ on the Indonesians. On tions and disappearances to visit East Timor to the BBC in Jakarta by Bishop Belo. March 28. guerrillas ambushed an army Page 44 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

[This is the first time any East Timorese FILM-MAKER EXPELLED FROM David: Well, yeah, I got a little bit of the have organised a demonstration in Dili EAST TIMOR resettlement camps, the “transmigrasi” since 12 November 1991 when troops fired camps, that they’ve set up to bring in peo- on thousands of peaceful demonstrators SBS TV dateline- A Current Affair, 5 August ple from Java and the overcrowded island killing nearly three hundred people.] 1993, Unabridged transcript of interview The demonstrators were carrying pro- conducted by Paul Murphy. Bali, and so on like that. But I mean, these independence banners. The demonstration INTRODUCTION: are known facts that Indonesia Government is quite proud to insist upon that their took place as the Vatican ambassador to David Bradbury is an independent film- Jakarta, Mgr. Pietro Sambi was on a visit to maker who over the years has built reputa- transmigration is a happily successful way Dili. tion for hard hitting documentaries made in of dealing with the population of Timor and The army has refused to confirm reports the world’s trouble spots. His uncompro- making it a happy little island. I can’t say about the demonstration. mising style coupled with his investigative that I found too many happy people there From: Robert Davison, City Polytechnic zeal have often landed in hot water. This though. of Hong Kong time he had angered the Indonesian after a Q: How did you get into strife with the au- this same demo was reported on BBC trip to East Timor to document the living thorities? world service TV (via Star TV) here in Hong conditions of ordinary people under rule Kong. It was said that the visiting Vatican from Jakarta. Now he is back in Darwin David: I think the mistake was that to me it cleric was inside the cathedral outside which after been expelled by the Indonesian au- was a fairly innocent mistake. We went to a the demo happened. other details corre- thorities. I asked him whether his initial catholic mass in Dili about ten days ago and spond with those in the last email. intention was to make a film. it happened to be the mass for the visiting David Bradbury: well eventually I would Ambassador for the Vatican and at the end BRADBURY TAPE SEIZED IN like to do something like that. But it is basi- cally a bit of holiday with my four year-old of it some of Timorese youths brought out TIMOR son and a look-see situation. I felt very half a dozen handkerchiefs to wave them THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 6 July strongly about what happen in Timor, we above the heads as a symbolic protest that 1993. By Deborah Cornwall are coming up to the 18th anniversary of the despite the arrest last November of their deaths of the 5 Australian journalist which Australian documentary film-maker, Mr. leader Xanana - that there is still opposition are yet unexplained by Indonesian and mili- alive and well in Timor. It lasted literally for David Bradbury, had all the videotape from tary and government. And also since the Dili 2 or 3 seconds if you blinked twice you his planned documentary on East Timor massacre, I was pretty interested to see seized by the Indonesian intelligence officers what was happening in our nearest would have missed, that the intelligence last week when he was detained hours leav- neighbour’s door-step. plain clothes men in the crowd, and they ing the country. Q: So you took a camera with you, did you? grabbed these young kids and just stopped Speaking from Darwin last night, Mr. them from demonstrating anymore. Bradbury said he had spent three weeks David: I took a little a HS home video with touring East Timor with his son Dylan, 4. me. Yes, to record just memories with my Q: Did they whisk them away or what? Last Friday six plain-clothes police went to boy and anything else that I came across. A: I was told later that they were taken and his hotel in Dili and demanded the tapes. Q: Well, what the conditions like when you the usual procedure is to beat and torture He refused and insisted that the Austra- and burn them cigarettes and the like and lian Embassy be contacted, but the officers were there? What did you see traveling confiscated 11 hours of videotape on the throughout the country? some of them have not been released. The grounds that he might have filmed Timorese David: I saw a very indignant, very angry bishop of Dili has protested internationally military installations. people that are too fearful to be able to do about this incident. Mr. Bradbury, was kept under guard in anything about what is happening in their Q: Now, did you get this incident, this dem- his hotel room until the following day, when country. The thing that struck me most onstration and videotape. police escorted him to the airport. He said had been under surveillance from the time he Timor is a society that is ruled by fear. The David: No, I had my video camera with me entered East Timor. fear comes from the military. There are mili- but it was in my bag and it was so quickly. Three days into trip, he saw a minor tary everywhere, in every little village, if you didn’t what was happening you demonstration at a Catholic church in Dili you’ve got either the police or military gar- would have missed because it was literally 3 where 24 Timorese youths were arrested for rison there. A lot of resettlement of people seconds that was all that it would lasted for. waving white handkerchiefs to protest at the that who were living in mountains brought Q: Did the security police get on to you and Indonesian regime. The next day, he was down to these horrible tin shacks on the asked what were you doing there and find detained for six hours. your camera? “I was questioned about what I was do- coast where they got the beddings done on ing there (at the church), what I had seen galvanized tin roofs, and their activities are David: The next day they came to our hotel and if I had filmed any of it, which I monitored - and this was in a tent very suc- and said “We could like you to come into hadn’t,” he said. cessful I must say of isolating them from in our main office” an interview with the major “Obviously, they can kill 200,000 supporting the Fretilin guerrilla forces fight- of intelligence, grilled me for six (6) hours Timorese but only white skin could cause ing against the Indonesian the Indonesian and finally having asked if I could speak to them a bit of political embarrassment these military. days.” the Australia Embassy which didn’t get Q: Well, David what did you manage to through until they make a call - supposedly film? I mean it must have been just more - but it never got through, I don’t even know than memories than you were getting? if they even made the call. I showed them a East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 45

video tape which showed my entry into after taking part in a demonstration in Janu- Dili, which was just travelling shot, nothing E.T. STUDENTS SEEK ary 1990 when the UN ambassador visited of the demonstration at all. ASYLUM IN JAKARTA Dili; Oscar Gonçalves da Silva, 20, who escaped arrest after the 1991 demonstration; Q: Well, look you were on a tourist visa and Ventura Valentino de Conceicão, 23, obviously you were for a holiday as you SEVEN EAST TIMORESE who was detained and tortured after demon- have said. Do you think you were behav- STUDENTS SEEK POLITICAL strating during the Pope’s visit to Dili in ing properly? Do you think that there October 1989 and later took part in a pro- were ground for the Indonesian authority ASYLUM IN SWEDISH AN D independence rally at his school in Septem- to expel you as they then did? FINNISH EMBASSIES ber 1990. David: I think if someone come to Australia It is clear that the Indonesian government and done exactly the same things that I was Tapol release, June 23 (Abridged) will exert all possible pressure on the Swed- doing, they would have been quite happily TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Cam- ish and Finnish governments to convince them to hand over the seven students. received and there would not have been any paign, today issued the following press re- lease. All solidarity groups are requested to TAPOL has issued an appeal to both gov- problem. I challenged the Indonesian au- make immediate representations to the ernments to resist this pressure and give thorities to show my video tapes on Austra- Swedish and Finnish governments, through them asylum in accordance with the Univer- lian television or any Indonesian television. the embassies in their country, for the seven sal Declaration of Human Rights and the Q: They have confiscated them have they. All men to be granted asylum. UN Protocol on Refugees. A number of West Papuan and Acehnese the stuff you shot. Seven young East Timorese who have fugitives from Indonesian persecution have been on the run from the Indonesian army David: Just the day that I was leaving, they already been given asylum in Sweden. came to the hotel and obliged me to bring all for nearly two years have today gone into my gear and they searched through my staff the Swedish and Finnish embassies in Ja- karta to ask for political asylum. They have ASYLUM REQUEST TO and then confiscated the 11 tapes that I had all had terrifying experiences at the hands of FINLAND AND SWEDEN taken in Timor. the army of occupation, especially since the Q: OK, well you probably won’t see them Santa Cruz massacre on 12 November 1991 The following is the statement given to the again, do you think? when Indonesian troops shot dead more Finnish ambassador in Jakarta by Mateus Brito Ximenes, Clementino Faria, Oscar David: They claim that they would look at than 200 peaceful demonstrators. All seven went into hiding in East Timor Gonçalves da Silva and Ventura Valentino them and then give them back to the Austra- after the massacre and eventually left the de Conceicão: lian Embassy. But we will whether there is country last year, since when they have JOINT STATEMENT AND REQUEST any integrity amongst the Indonesian gov- been on the run in Jakarta. As fugitive aliens FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM ernment in passing on if they are innocent as in over-crowded Jakarta, without documents Wednesday, June 23 1993 I say they are. or social support, they have lived a precari- ous existence, haunted by the threat of cap- 1. INTRODUCTION INDONESIAN SOLDIERS ture. Attempts to leave the country illegally Honoured and respected Ambassador and have been unsuccessful. officials of this Embassy, we come to you in KILLED IN LOS PALOS In recent months, army military intelli- the name of the youth of East Timor who From BBC monitoring by TAPOL gence has stepped up its pursuit of East live under the Indonesian military occupa- Timorese students studying in universities tion and constant threat to their lives and Portuguese radio, RDP said on 28 July throughout Java. Fully-armed platoons are well-being. We request your protection in that guerrillas in East Timor had killed ten known to have surrounded student resi- the sincere belief that the government of Indonesian soldiers on the outskirts of dences in Jakarta at night. The most recent Finland holds in high regard the value and Lospalos, near the eastern tip of East incident took place on 18 May. dignity of human life in accordance with the Timor. The three men now in the Swedish em- Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It quoted the head of the East Timorese bassy are: Florencio Anunciacão Fernandes, We come to you as witnesses to the In- National Council of Maubere Resistance, 22, who participated in the 12 November donesian military brutality which, since Ramos-Horta, who is currently in Portugal, 1991 demonstration and was forced to December 7, 1975, has become a fact of as saying the killings were the first armed abandon his studies after being constantly everyday life in East Timor, a military bru- action by East Timorese guerrillas since the pursued by the army; Porfirio da Costa tality which has consisted of torture, rape, capture in early April of resistance leader Oliveira, 23, who was badly wounded dur- intimidation, terror and slaughter of the kind Antonio Gomes da Costa, also known as ing the massacre and was treated by Catho- the world witnessed on 12 November 1991 Mau Huno. lic nuns for several months before fleeing to in Dili, a military brutality which has robbed The radio did not say when the killings Jakarta; and Jose Manuel de Oliveira Sousa, us of the right to an education, has made us took place but added that a source inside 24, also a demonstrator in November 1991, foreigners in our own country, and has now East Timor had confirmed the action in a who escaped arrest four days later with his forced us to leave our beloved homeland and telephone call to Australia. brother but they got separated and his our families and friends. brother has since disappeared. We are here today, therefore, not as The four in the Finnish embassy are: Ma- youths seeking adventure or a free trip out teus Brito Ximenes, 23, who fled the army of this country (as no doubt the Indonesian although severely wounded during massacre government will attempt to convince you of and reached Jakarta last July; Clementino in the days to come) but as persecuted indi- Faria, 27, who was hounded by the army viduals who fear for our lives. We trust that Page 46 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. the government of Finland will assist us in be quite clear from our testimonies and ties allow the seven to leave Indonesia and our bid for political asylum, in accordance those of independent international and non- in this regard, calls on the authorities to with International Law and the Universal governmental agencies over the past seven- provide effective and reliable guarantees that Declaration of Human Rights, Article 14, teen years that Indonesia has failed abys- their right to leave Indonesia will be re- Clause I of which states that “Every human mally in the above respect, it is our fervent spected.” being has the right to seek and be granted hope that your government may lead the * Swedish embassy officials said they refuge in another country for the purpose of way in putting this UN-endorsed principle could not accept the students request for avoiding persecution.” Article 15, Clause I into practice. asylum and asked them to leave but they of the same Declaration states that “Every In the name of the peace-loving and mar- remained inside after more than four and a person has the right to citizenship,” and tyred people of East Timor, we thank you half hours of talks. Clause II, “No human being may be arbitrar- for your kind attention. AP: ily denied citizenship of a country or be Jakarta, 23 June 1993 * Both embassies declined to say refused their right to alter their citizenship.” Mateus Brito Ximenes Clementino Faria whether asylum would be granted, but H.J. II. BACKGROUND Oscar Gonçalves da Silva Ventura Valen- Princen, a human rights activist who accom- In order that you may be aware of the re- tino de Conceicão panied three of the youths to the Swedish ality of our situation, we would like to in- A similar statement was handed to the Swed- embassy said he was told they would have form you of the following facts: ish ambassador by Florencio Anunciacão to go to Sweden to seek asylum. Sources at In recent months we have been con- Fernandes, Profirio da Costa Oliveira, Jose the Swedish embassy said that the youths stantly pursued by members of the Indone- Manuel de Oliveira Souza, with an addi- there refused to go home and rejected food sian intelligence acting under orders from the tional sentence at the end of the third from offered to them. Special Operations Command/Udayana IX last paragraph: We trust that we will be * Along with Princen, director of the In- Commander, Brigadier General Theo Syafei accorded the same rights to a life free of fear stitute for the Defence of Human Rights, an to arrest us and to attempt to prove to the and persecution as were respected by your Indonesian police official also joined talks at world that we are among the sixty-six government in the case of Free Aceh Move- the Swedish embassy, trying to persuade youths reported missing (see attached arti- ment Leader, Tengku Hasan di Tiro. the Timorese to leave. cle, Jakarta Post 3 April 1993) since the AFP: bloody incident on November 12 1991. Our ASYLUM-SEEKERS ON * The seven asylum-seekers said they names however are not included on either HUNGER STRIKE had started a hunger strike until a decision the lists of killed or missing, and this is was made on their request. “Now, we start a purely and simply a tactic of the Indonesian 23 June 1993 hunger strike until we get a decision from government aimed at improving their image Summarised in the following round-up the Swedish government,” said Florencio A. at the UN World Conference on Human Fernandes speaking for the three in the Rights currently taking place in Vienna, UPI: Swedish embassy. “In case the Swedish Austria. Let us repeat that we are not among * Seven East Timor students entered the embassy rejects our demand, we will refuse those documented as killed or missing after Swedish and Finnish embassies saying they to leave the embassy. We will go on hunger the Santa Cruz massacre but rather a small needed protection. The Swedish embassy strike until a decision is taken.” group of eye-witnesses to Indonesian mili- said it tried to turn back the three who ar- * Four others seeking asylum at Fin- tary atrocities who managed to escape from rived but instead began negotiations with land’s embassy which is housed in the same East Timor from July 1992. We firmly be- them. The Finnish embassy declined to building as the Swedish mission, told lieve that this latest strategy of the Indone- comment on its four asylum-seekers. reporters who were just outside the grounds sian government is yet a further attempt to * Amnesty International said it was that they were also on hunger strike. The dupe the international community in the gravely concerned for the safety of the four were stopped at the Finnish embassy interests of freeing themselves and ABRI seven and demanded that the Swedish and reception area where they demanded to [the Indonesian Armed Forces] of all blame Finnish do not hand them over to the Ja- speak to a diplomat. After several hours, for the deaths of our innocent East Timorese karta government. “According to evidence they spoke with a high-ranking envoy who friends and relatives. gathered by Amnesty International, all of asked them to leave. But all seven have re- We are fully aware of the diplomatic re- these young men have suffered grave perse- fused to leave the embassies’ grounds where percussions which our request for political cution by the Indonesian authorities for they are outside the jurisdiction of the Indo- asylum will have for you and your govern- their non-violent political beliefs and activi- nesian authorities. ment in relations with Indonesia; however, ties in recent months and years. Some are * Special branch Indonesian plainclothes in the interests of Truth, Justice, the su- known to have been victims of serious hu- police as well as uniformed police and sol- premacy of International Law, we strongly man rights violations, including arbitrary, diers were in the corridors just outside both appeal to you to give due consideration to unacknowledged detention and torture,” said missions. our request and to act in a spirit of democ- Amnesty. It urged the governments of Swe- * Prominent Indonesian human rights ac- racy and freedom to defend our rights as den and Finland to provide the seven with tivist Johannes Princen told reporters just prescribed in the Universal Declaration of political asylum and provide them with outside the embassy he had been invited by Human Rights. whatever protection or documentation may the Swedish diplomatic corps to negotiate UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros- be required. on behalf of the three East Timorese. “It is Ghali, delivering the keynote speech at the AI also said that any transfer of the asy- quite possible they will not give them asy- opening of the Vienna Human Rights Con- lum seekers to Indonesian custody would be lum,” Princen told journalists, adding that he ference, stated that “The international com- inconsistent with the European Convention was awaiting contact with Indonesian for- munity ... must take over from those states on Human Rights which both Sweden and eign ministry officials. that fail to fulfill their obligations (in terms Finland have signed. “Amnesty Interna- * A Swedish diplomat said it was the of respect of human rights). Since it should tional demands that the Indonesian authori- policy of the Swedish government not to East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 47 grant asylum at embassies, but only on day I fled to Jakarta where I continue to be PERSONAL INFO: On 17 January 1990 Swedish soil. Both embassies are awaiting closely watched by the military. I participated in the demonstration which further instructions from their foreign minis- 2. NAME: PROFIRIO DA COSTA coincided with the visit of John Monjo to tries. OLIVEIRA Dili. Following my involvement in this demonstration, I was forced to give up my REUTER: BORN: Dili, 7 April 1970 studies at the Sekolah Teknologi Menengah * The seven asylum seekers began hunger FAMILY: Son of Sertorio da Costa Ol- in Dili as a result of persistent threats to my strikes at the embassies in Jakarta, saying iveira and Ana Casilda dos Santos life made by the Joint Intelligence Unit. Like their action was in protest at Indonesia’s PERSONAL INFO: On 12 Jan 1990 I many of my friends, I joined the Nov. 12 role in the territory. They vowed to con- participated in the anti-integration demon- 1991 demonstrations and subsequently tinue their hunger strikes until a decision stration which coincided with the visit to sustained gunshot wounds when the Indo- about their asylum was taken. Dili of the former US Ambassador to Ja- nesian military opened fire on us. I was * “They want their action to be looked karta, Mr. John Monjo. Following that accompanied by the Bishop to the St Anto- upon as a protest against what is happening event, I was forced to give up my studies at nio Polyclinic in Motael where my wounds in East Timor,” H.J.C. Princen told report- the Externato Sao Jose since I was con- were treated. I was among seven youths ers at the Swedish embassy. stantly pursued by members of the Joint who had sustained serious injuries. At the * More than ten armed policemen waited Intelligence Unit (SGI - Satuan Gabungan Polyclinic I was only able to sleep for one at the two embassies, located in the same Intelijen). On 12 Nov. 1991 I joined the night, since it was rumored that at any min- office block in central Jakarta. demonstrations at the Santa Cruz Cemetery, ute the building would be attacked by the * Princen said that Swedish diplomats and on that occasion was shot and badly military. The following day I fled, still se- had told the three students in their embassy wounded. However, I managed to flee, my verely wounded, and hid out for a full year. that there was no prospect of their being body soaked with blood, to the residence of On 7 July 1992 I fled to Jakarta where the given asylum. “The answer from the Swed- the Bishop who accompanied me to the St Indonesian military continue to pursue me. ish government is quite definite, that they Antonio Polyclinic, Motael, where my seri- are not going to give asylum to those who ous gunshot wounds were treated by the 5. NAME: VENTURA VALENTIM are not in their territory. A Swedish diplo- priests and nuns. At that time it was feared BORN: Ira-Ara, Los Palos, 22 October, mat said earlier that embassies did not count that the Polyclinic would be attacked by the 1968 as national territory. Indonesian military. FAMILY: Son of Pedro Valentim da * Indonesia has so far remained silent on Two days later, one of the nuns took me Conseicao (deceased) and Terezina de Jesus the issue. to a safer village where my wounds contin- (deceased). ued to be treated over a period of 8 months. PERSONAL INFO: My whole family BIODATA OF EAST On 7 July 1992, fearing for my life since I has been involved in the struggle since the TIMORESE REQUESTING was aware that the military were seeking to time of the Indonesian invasion up to the arrest all youths involved in the incident of present date. As part of this struggle, I par- POLITICAL ASYLUM 12 November, I fled to Jakarta where to date ticipated in the demonstrations of 12 Octo- Wednesday June 23, 1993 I continue to be pursued by the Indonesian ber 1989 in Tasi Tolu which coincided with Intelligence forces. the wish of Pope John Paul II to East 1. NAME: FLORENCIO ANUNCIACÃO 3. NAME: JOSE MANUEL DE Timor. Following the demonstration, on 4 FERNANDES OLIVEIRA SOUSA November, I and a number of other col- leagues (including Donaciano Gomes, cur- BORN: Los Palos, 10 Sept. 1971 PLACE AND DATE OF BIRTH: Dili, rently living abroad) were arrested by the FAMILY: Son of Gabriel (deceased) and 12 April 1969 military, imprisoned and tortured. I was Marcelina Anunciacão, two brothers exe- FAMILY: Son of Manuel Soares de detained without trial for three months in cuted by military in Iliomar on 13/12/83 Sousa and Regina de Oliveira Lim Sousa the Dili Komando Resort Militer, during PERSONAL INFO: After the death of (Kulu-Hun, Dili) which time I was repeatedly beaten and my father at the age of 8, PERSONAL INFO: As a youth involved tortured. We were released from detention I was cared for by Father Walter van in our national struggle, I participated in the only after a visit from the International Vouve who also took responsibility for my demonstration of 12 November 1991, and Committee of the Red Cross. On 19 Sep- education until I graduated from High School was fortunate to escape the military brutal- tember 1990, I along with a number of other in Dili I continued my education at the Uni- ity which resulted in the death of many of students of the St Paulus Junior Catholic versity of East Timor, working for some my friends on that day. Four days later High School IV, Dili, demonstrated in the time also as assistant manager and recep- (16/11/91) at 6 am a track full of Indonesian school’s compound, unfurling a Fretilin tionist at the Hotel Turismo, Dili I was soldiers armed with American made auto- banner. As a result, on 25 September fully unable to continue my studies after my matic AR-15 and M-16 weapons burst into armed members of the Indonesian Armed involvement in the demonstrations of 12 my home to arrest me and my brother. We Forces arrested me and took me to Nusra Nov. 1991 as a result of being constantly both managed to flee but were separated, Bahkti, a traditional place of detention for pursued by military intelligence. In order to and to this date the whereabouts of my East Timorese anti-integrationist youth. free ourselves of this military threat to our brother are unknown. I fled from Dili to be During the two months I was detained there, lives, on 30 March 1992 two of my brothers free of this kind of persecution. (Laurindo A. Lourdes and Antonio da Silva) I was beaten and tortured day and night, and 4. NAME: MATEUS BRITO XIMENES and I fled to Kupang. In Kupang we lived was frequently denied food. together with Gaspar Luis Xavier Carlos BORN: Dili, 16 May 1970 Whilst in detention, my older sister was (Abonu’s brother). On 3 September 1992, FAMILY: Son of Vicente Gusmão Xi- intimidated daily and my brother-in-law we were encircled by the military, and Gas- menes and Elisa Ribeiro Brito X. (Vila interrogated for a full week in the Los Palos par was arrested. Nothing further has been Verde, Dili) District Military Command. After my re- heard of him since that date. The following lease, my every move was monitored by the Page 48 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Intelligence forces and informers. In mid- the Maubere Resistance (CNRM) called for The committee quotes the special represen- May 1992 1 arrived in Kupang, West support from the international community. tative of East Timor Mr. Jose Ramos-Horta Timor, and then in July that year I made my He alleged that the building accommodat- who just few weeks ago during his visit in way to Jakarta. ing the two embassies had been surrounded Helsinki told that torturing of the detained 6. NAME: CLEMENTINO FARIA by Indonesian troops. Ramos-Horta’s mes- East Timorese is routine in Indonesia. This sage also included the statements allegedly announcement is parallel with the reports of BORN: Manatuto, 9 January, 1966 made by the students to both embassies on the international human rights organisations. FAMILY: Son of Jaime Faria (Nunbai requesting their protection. That is why the committee demands the Oekussi), mother deceased Amnesty International confirmed the government of Finland to give protection to PERSONAL INFO: On 17 January 1990 news and said it was “gravely concerned” the students so long they can safely leave 1 participated in the demonstration which for their safety, after three of the group the territory of Indonesia. The Committee coincided with the visit of John Monjo to entered the Finnish embassy and four the of 100, which is the main Finnish peace Dili, and was subsequently arrested. After Swedish embassy. organisation, points out that many embas- my release on I8 January, I was closely “If they are handed over to Indonesian sies, like the US embassy in Beijing, have watched by the Indonesian military, and authorities they would be at serious risk of given protection for even years to those was forced to move daily from residence to further violations, including torture and who are politically oppressed. residence to avoid arrest On 20 August imprisonment as prisoners of conscience,” 1990, members of the Indonesian military For more information: The Committee of Amnesty states. led by former Commander of District 1627 100, Mr. Kalle Sysikaski, tel. +358-0- The charge d’affaires at the Swedish em- Dili travelling in a Toyota Kijang and armed 141336, fax.147297, email. co- bassy, Anders Stohr, said an embassy is with AR-15 and M-16 automatic weapons [email protected] foreign territory and that no-one is permit- ordered me to get on board. When I refused, ted to stay there. But the three youths have they began to shoot at me, and I ran for my URGENT CAMPAIGN refused to leave. life. On 14 February 1991, 1 was again sur- S. Wiryono, Director General of Political NEEDED FOR ASYLUM- rounded on the street by a group of intelli- Affairs and Head of the Indonesian delega- gence officers, but again succeeded in escap- SEEKERS tion to the Human Rights Conference said in ing. Following my involvement in the dem- Vienna that, after consultation with Jakarta, TAPOL called for pressure on the Swedish onstration of November 12 1991, my home both ambassadors had refused the students’ Government was invaded by a group of armed military in request. civilian dress. Since I was not at home at the An urgent campaign is needed to support “They are still at the embassies, but our time, my family was threatened and intimi- the three East Timorese students now in the government is negotiating with the Finnish dated and pressured to give information Swedish embassy in Jakarta in their desire and Swedish Ambassadors to resolve the regarding my whereabouts. to leave Indonesia under the protection of problem,” Wiryono said, adding that “the the Swedish government. 7. NAME: OSCAR GONÇALVES DA students will be well treated by Indonesian The four East Timorese who left the Fin- SILVA authorities.” nish embassy today are now known to be at BORN: Dili, 14 January 1973 Staffan Bjork, a spokesman at the Swed- the home of Lopez da Cruz. It is possible FAMILY: Son of Jose Gonçalves da ish foreign ministry in Stockholm said it was that after the four who were in the Finnish Silva and Maria Anita da Silva (East Lahane) against Swedish rules to apply for political embassy were persuaded (forced?) to leave PERSONAL INFO: The life of my entire asylum in an embassy abroad. “According the embassy with a guarantee for their family has been threatened since Indonesia’s to Swedish law they need to come to Swe- safety from the Jakarta military commander 1975 invasion of my country. On 12 No- den first to be able to apply,” he said. (we are trying to obtain the text of this guar- vember 1991, 1 was present at the Santa However, during the time of the military antee), pressure will be brought to bear on Cruz cemetery to lay flowers on the grave dictatorships in Latin America there were a the three in the Swedish embassy to do the of my murdered friend, Sebastião Gomes. few cases in which refugees managed to gain same. Because my presence there on that day asylum at embassies. I can confirm that a few hours ago, three meant that my life and that of my family Amnesty said the students “have suf- East Timorese were still at the embassy and was put into even greater danger, I decided fered grave persecution by the Indonesian were preparing a statement which they in- to escape to Jakarta. authorities for their non-violent political tend to issue, tonight or tomorrow. I was beliefs and activities in recent months and not able to glean the thrust of the statement. SEVEN TIMORESE years” and victims of serious human rights I was however given an assurance by the STUDENTS ASK FOR violations, including arbitrary unacknow- Swedish Consul that he would tell the three ledged detention and torture. that I had phoned and pass on a message ASYLUM IN JAKARTA from me urging them to stand firm because VIENNA, June 23 (IPS) - Seven East FINNISH COMMITTEE OF 100 there is much pressure worldwide to help Timorese students sought asylum in the TELLS GOVERNMENT TO them leave Indonesia. The Swedish authorities have been embassies of Sweden and Finland in Jakarta PROTECT THE TIMORESE Wednesday, according to reports received quoted as saying that they cannot grant here by Amnesty International and the head The Committee of 100 demands the Fin- asylum in the embassy; they can do it only of a Timorese resistance group. nish government to protect the East on Swedish territory. This should not be In a message sent to the organisers of the Timorese students who are asking for the taken a refusal to help the East Timorese to NGO Forum at the World Conference on political asylum in the Finnish embassy in leave Indonesia. The Swedish government Human Rights here, Jose Ramos-Horta, Jakarta. The committee wants to press that must be pressed to work for an arrangement leader of the East Timor National Council of the students should not in any case be given whereby the three East Timorese can leave to the hands of the Indonesian authorities. the embassy under Swedish or perhaps UN protection. Once outside Indonesia, as the East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 49

Portuguese authorities have stated, they will Thursday, but the group refused to leave the gees at the Finnish embassy through a glass be looked after by Portugal, since they are embassies of the two countries despite In- panel. He said they had been given food and indeed Portuguese citizens. donesia’s assurances that they would not be water but there was no indication if they Meanwhile, the three are in effect being harmed. had accepted them. The Swedish embassy kept incommunicado! Officials at the em- Reports from Jakarta said government three floors below was locked. bassy are under instructions from the Swed- troops surrounded the building housing the Meanwhile, Indonesia continues to draw ish Foreign Ministry not to allow the East two embassies on Wednesday after three of flak from international human rights groups Timorese to accept or make telephone calls. the students sought refuge at the Swedish for its treatment of East Timorese resistance This is a grave violation of their human embassy and the four others at the Finland leader Xanana Gusmão who is now serving a rights; it isolates them and may encourage embassy. life sentence. them to surrender to pressures inside Indo- Swedish officials explained they do not His lawyer has lodged a plea for clem- nesia. grant asylum to applicants outside Sweden. ency, but Da Silva says this was likely done Solidarity groups are urged to take the Negotiations are still going on, but there are without Gusmão’s consent since it contra- following immediate action: signs of a long standoff. dicted a handwritten statement by the resis- 1. To protest to the Swedish Foreign The refugees rejected Jakarta’s guarantees tance leader which was smuggled out of Dili. Ministry against the denial of the right of for their safety and demanded that their case In the statement which he was not al- the three in the embassy to make and receive be resolved under international law. Despite lowed to read at the end of his trial, Gusmão phone calls. the denial of their asylum requests, Finnish said: “I reject the competence of any Indo- 2. To phone the Swedish embassy in Ja- and Swedish officials have shown no inclina- nesian court to try me, and particularly the karta (+62-21 520-1551) and ask to speak tion to drive them out. jurisdiction of this court which has been to the East Timorese. You will probably be The incident comes at a critical time for implanted by force of arms and crimes connected to the Consul, Anders Stohr. Indonesia, when its human rights record is committed against my homeland, East Insist on speaking to them. If he refuses, being scrutinized at the World Conference Timor.” protest strongly and ask him to convey a on Human Rights in Vienna. Gusmão had agreed with testimony from message of support to the three. You can The Forum for International Solidarity in prosecution witnesses and took responsibil- also ask whether they have completed their Indonesia (FISI) sent a message to the ity for everything that his troops were statement, what they want from us outside United nations meeting on Wednesday seek- claimed to have done. Observers said he had and so on. ing assurances from Finland and Sweden apparently hoped he would be allowed to The East Timorese students can receive that they would protect the students and speak at the end of his trial. He said the East faxes at the Swedish Embassy, +62-21- help them leave Indonesia. Timorese had been coerced to testify against 512652. “These East Timorese, like thousands of him. 3. Put the strongest possible pressure on them who are fighting for the national libera- He appealed to the “new generation of the Swedish Foreign Minister, Margaretha tion of East Timor against the intervention Indonesians to understand that the people Af Ugglas, (fax no +46-8 723- 1176) to and occupation of the Indonesian military of East Timor attach more value to freedom, make immediate plans for the three to leave regime, have been persecuted for their activi- justice and peace than to the development Indonesia with proper guarantees for safe ties and fear for their lives,” the group said. carried out here with help from Australia, conduct out of the country. Until such time FISI said the U.N. Declaration of Human the United States and European countries as this is arranged, the three should remain Rights recognises the right of individuals to which have close economic ties with Ja- in the embassy, be properly looked after seek and be granted refuge in another coun- karta.” and be given facilities to make contact with try, and urged Finland and Sweden, as mem- Gusmão also urged the Indonesian people the outside world. bers of the United Nations, to respect this to understand that East Timor is a non- 4. Pressure can also be brought to bear right and grant the students asylum. autonomous region which is not a threat to through the Swedish embassy in your coun- Estanislau da Silva, coordinator of the Indonesia. “The story they tell you, that try. Unfortunately, tomorrow, Friday is a East Timorese Community in the Australian East Timor is communist, is old hat,” he Swedish national holiday and you will state of New South Wales, said Indonesia said. probably find that the embassy is closed had tightened surveillance of East Timorese East Timorese sources told IPS Gusmão until Monday. students in Jakarta, Bali and central since has been transferred to a hospital where he 5. Please protest to the Finnish govern- the 1991 massacre of civilian in the East is being force-fed after going on hunger ment through the Finnish embassy in your Timorese capital of Dili. strike. country for have failed to help the four in He said the students – Mateus Brito Xi- Ma’Huno, who replaced Gusmão as head their Jakarta embassy to pursue their wish menes, Clementino de Oliveira Faria, Oscar of the resistance group FRETILIN, was to leave the country. The Committee of 100 Gonçalves da Silva, Ventura Valentin de arrested in February but has not been tried. is currently preparing a protest which will Conceicão, Florencio Anunciacão, Jose He was allowed to meet special U.N. envoy shortly be posted on reg.easttimor. Manuel de Oliveira Sousa and Profirio da Amos Wako in April, but his condition Carmel Budiardjo, TAPOL Costa Oliveira – had sought asylum because remains unknown because Wako’s report they feared they would be arrested sooner was not published. LONG STANDOFF or later. The Australian Broadcasting Cor- EXPECTED ON STUDENTS’ poration (ABC) reported Thursday that FOUR LEAVE FINNISH authorities were awaiting the arrival of the EMBASSY ASYLUM REQUEST local representative of the U.N. High Com- missioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to meet by Suganthi Singarayar TAPOL report, 24 June 1993 with the asylum seekers. SYDNEY, June 24 (IPS) - Sweden and Journalists were not allowed to speak to The four East Timorese who went into Finland rejected the asylum requests of the students, but the ABC correspondent the Finnish embassy yesterday to ask for seven East Timorese students in Jakarta managed to communicate with the four refu- political asylum, left the embassy at about Page 50 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

8pm Jakarta time. All we know at present is are in grave danger of reprisals for their cou- surely have the protection of the Portuguese that they left on the basis of a statement rageous bid to leave the country. Their state. giving assurances of their safety, signed by situation could be even more precarious than Until such time as these arrangements are the Jakarta military commander, Major- it was before they went into the embassy. made, we urge you to protect them on your General Hendro Priyono, Francisco Lopez Fearing for the safety of the four who left embassy grounds and not allow the Indone- da Cruz and Haji J.C. Princen who remained the Finnish embassy Thursday, TAPOL sian authorities to exert pressure on them in in the Swedish embassy along with the three urges international agencies such as any way. Whatever assurances the Indone- who had gone into that embassy. (The two the International Red Cross or the sian authorities may give them, their liberty embassies are close to each other.) UNHCR, which both have offices in Ja- and lives would be in grave danger. They are thought to have been taken to karta, to monitor their whereabouts and We hope you will commence discussions the home of Lopez da Cruz. The statement safety. with the Indonesian authorities regarding regarding their safety is not yet available. It TAPOL has also protested to the Swed- safe conduct out of the country for the three is difficult to assess what it was that per- ish Foreign Ministry for not permitting the men, if necessary under UN protection. suaded them to leave, except to say that the East Timorese in the embassy to receive or Until such time as this has been arranged, Finnish authorities clearly did not make make phone calls, which is a grave violation the men should be allowed to stay in your things easy for the East Timorese. of their human rights. TAPOL was unable embassy. to speak to the men by phone Thursday I today phoned the embassy and asked to SWEDEN SHOULD ARRANGE evening. It later learned that embassy offi- speak to the East Timorese but was aston- SAFE CONDUCT cials, on instructions from Stockholm, re- ished to be told that the staff were under fused to pass on a fax to the East Timorese instructions from your Ministry not to TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Cam- from Jose Ramos-Horta, representative allow the men to take or make phone calls. I paign, today 25 June 1993, issued the overseas of the East Timorese resistance immediately phoned the Swedish embassy following Press Release: movement. in London to register my strong protest at this violation of their rights. I fear that the The Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, LETTER TO THE SWEDIS H FOREIGN isolation could cause them to waver in the TAPOL, today called on the Swedish Gov- MINISTER resolve that brought them to your embassy ernment to take immediate steps to arrange in the first place. for the safe conduct out of Indonesia of TAPOL, 24 June 1993, sent the following letter to the Swedish Foreign Minister: On several occasions, Sweden was able to three young East Timorese who entered the extricate political fugitives from similar pre- Margaretha Af Ugglas, Swedish embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday, dicaments in other countries. I earnestly Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stockholm seeking refuge from persecution by the In- hope that your Government will be able to Fax: 010 46-8 723-1176 donesian army. help these East Timorese in this way. In a letter to the Swedish Foreign Minis- Dear Foreign Minister, Yours sincerely, ter, Margaretha Af Ugglas, TAPOL said the I am writing, as a matter of urgency, re- Carmel Budiardjo three men, Florencio A. Fernandes, Porfirio garding the three East Timorese, Florencio da Costa Oliveira and Jose Manuel de Ol- A. Fernandes (22), Porfirio da Costa Ol- iveira Sousa, had been on the run for nearly PORTUGUESE POSITION ON iveira (23) and Jose Manuel de Oliveira EMBASSY TIMORESE two years, at first in East Timor and more Sousa (24), who have come to the Swedish recently in Jakarta. embassy in Jakarta to ask the protection of TAPOL report, 25 June 1993 “Sweden has an enviable reputation as a your Government to get them out of Indo- country that gives asylum to people fleeing nesia. A spokesperson of the Portuguese For- political persecution. In this case, since the These young men have lived through hell eign Ministry in Lisbon has made the fol- men are Portuguese citizens, the question of for nearly two years, persecuted by the lowing known to TAPOL: asylum does not arise. Once abroad, they Indonesian army in East Timor and forced Once the three East Timorese who are will surely have the protection of the Portu- into hiding. Oliveira was badly wounded in now in the Swedish embassy in Jakarta are guese state,” TAPOL said. the Santa Cruz massacre and recovered safely out of Indonesia, the general rule with Until such time as safe conduct has been thanks to protection and treatment by regard to all East Timorese will apply, agreed, it called on the Swedish Government Catholic nuns. Sousa fled an army raid with namely that the Portuguese authorities will to protect the men in their embassy and not his brother, four days after the massacre; his make arrangements for them to go to Portu- allow the Indonesian authorities to exert brother has since disappeared. After being gal and to be integrated into Portuguese pressure on them. on the run in East Timor they made their society. TAPOL was amazed to learn that the Ja- way to Jakarta last year and have been on All that is required of the Swedish au- karta military commander, Major-General the run from the army ever since. thorities is to arrange safe conduct for the Hendro Priyono was given access to the In fear of the Indonesian army, they de- three to reach the airport and leave Indone- four East Timorese who sought refuge in the cided that they could only be free from per- sia. Finnish embassy and persuaded them to secution if they left the country. Sweden TAPOL also understands that bilateral leave the embassy. Before his appointment negotiations are under way between the has an enviable reputation as a country that to head the Jakarta command, Hendro Pri- gives asylum to people fleeing political per- Swedish and Portuguese governments re- yono was in charge of operations at the secution. In this case, since the men are garding the fate of the three East Timorese notorious intelligence agency, BAIS. He also Portuguese citizens, the question of asylum in the Swedish embassy. led the armed onslaught against villagers in does not arise. Lampung in February 1989 when many We urge you to continue in your coun- dozens of people were shot dead. TAPOL try’s fine tradition by making arrangements warns that whatever assurances Hendro for the three men to leave Indonesia under Priyono may have given, the East Timorese strict protection. Once abroad, they will East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 51

SEVEN LOSE ASYLUM BID resolutions demanding the withdrawal of the bassy’s room temperature is too cold, yet it Indonesian armed forces from East Timor. has not been possible to get Embassy staff Telegraph Mirror, 25 June 1993. By Terry Over the last eighteen years, the Indonesian to turn up the air conditioner temperature. Friel government have violated the spirit of these They do require a the visit of a medical doc- Jakarta: Finland and Sweden yesterday ten resolutions. As the UNCHR noted last tor, which he was hoping to arrange for refused requests for political asylum by February, even the very basic human rights Saturday. seven hunger-striking East Timorese shelter- of the Timorese people have been violated In the meantime, the students remain iso- ing in the two countries’ embassies in Ja- by the Indonesian authorities. lated from contact with outsiders through karta. The move came despite an appeal by The deteriorating human rights situation the refusal of the Swedish Embassy person- human rights group Amnesty International in East Timor led to the East Timorese stu- nel, acting on orders from their Foreign Of- for the seven to be given asylum because dents seeking protection in the Finish and fice, to let them accept or make phone calls they faced torture or jail if handed over to Swedish embassies. Even the International or receive or send fax messages. The aim of the Indonesian authorities. Committee of Red Cross, usually extremely this appears to be twofold. One, to mini- But a Jakarta-based human rights activist prudent in making public statements, has mize public awareness of the issue, and two, Haji Princen, who is at the Swedish em- criticised the restriction and difficulties im- to weaken the resolve of the students to bassy said the Indonesian authorities had posed on its activities in East Timor. hold out, as they are kept unaware of the guaranteed the safety of the seven. The East Timor Relief Association Inc., mounting support for them overseas. “Amnesty International believes that all use this opportunity to appeal to your Ex- On Saturday, a third day of negotiations would be at serious risk of further serious cellency’s government, to use all your influ- is expected to begin, between Indonesian violations, including torture and imprison- ences and international standing in the field authorities attempting to convince students ment as prisoners of conscience, if handed of Human Rights to provide save passage to that their options of leaving Indonesia are over to Indonesian authorities,” the London- the seven students to a third country. exhausted, and that their safety in Indonesia based Amnesty International said. Yours sincerely is “guaranteed,” and the students kept in the But the Swedish Foreign Minister in Agio Pereira dark about international developments in Stockholm and the Finnish Foreign Minister Executive Director their support. Heikki Haavisto said yesterday their coun- Annexed to the letter were the following It is imperative to pressure Sweden for a tries could only grant political asylum if the information: lifting of the communications restrictions on the students, which are a particularly critical applicants were in their territory. 1. Joint statement and request for politi- violation of their human rights. It is clear cal asylum by the seven students; that the aim at present is to delay matters as 2. Info on the ICRC recent difficulties re- ETRA’S LETTER TO long as possible to get the students’ resolve garding its operations in ET; and, EMBASSIES to break down. 3. Pope John Paul’s statement to the pil- Less than a day after, doubts are starting grims 25th June 1993 to be confirmed regarding the four East A group of Timorese living in Sydney Timorese students who left the Finnish were present at today’s press conference - EAST TIMORESE IN JAK ARTA Embassy Thursday night after a written High Court Challenge to Timor Gap Legisla- SWEDISH EMBASSY UPDATE assurance regarding their safety was signed tion - Jose Ramos Horta, Jose Gusmão and by Major General Hendro Pryiono and Mr. Abel Guterres Vs The Commonwealth of From CNRM/Darwin, June 26. Lopes da Cruz, who was to protect them in Australia. The three East Timorese students in the his house. The full text of the document has The press conference was well attended Embassy are still holding firmly to their so far not been released. by the media considering being on a Friday intention of leaving Indonesia. The long Finnish parliamentarians attempting to and also not a parliament sitting day. negotiating session on Friday between the contact the students by telephone at Mr. While in Canberra we sent letters to the students, Swedish diplomatic officials and Lopes da Cruz’s house have not been con- embassies of Finland, Sweden, USA, United Indonesia’s Roving Ambassador Francisco nected. It was claimed that they are “unable Kingdom and the Vatican. Lopes da Cruz failed to produce an agree- to speak any language other than Tetum.” The text follows: ment. According to Haji Princen, the well- It is felt that the tragic outcome of the Dear Mr. Ambassador, known Human Rights defender who is act- Finnish case is primarily the responsibility of the Ambassador of Finland in Jakarta. In We noted with deep concern the situation ing as a mediator, the students refuse to their haste to start their mid summer night’s of the seven East Timorese students who leave the Embassy as they can’t accept holiday, Foreign Ministry officials left the applied for political asylum to the embas- Indonesian guarantees of safety. The situa- handling of the matter primarily in the Am- sies of Sweden and Finland accredited in tion is not favourable for them in Indonesia bassador’s hands, known as a ‘friend’ and Jakarta-Indonesia, on Wednesday, 23 June or in East Timor they hold. They ask the admirer of President Suharto. It obviously 1993. Swedish Government to protect their safety did not prove difficult for the Ambassador East Timor is still considered by the and for the assistance of the Portuguese to intimidate and overcome the four disori- United Nations Organisation as a Non-Self- Government and international institutions to ented and bewildered youngsters. governing territory which must be decolo- assist towards their departure from Indone- It is not too hard to imagine the state of nized. Over the years, eight resolutions were sia. “They are living witnesses of the 12 mind of the East Timorese fugitives after passed by the General Assembly of the UN November 1991 massacre,” Princen added. being held for 24 hours in a small reception demanding the withdrawal of the Indonesian The scars from shots and torture are clearly area separated by a full view glass door from armed forces from East Timor so that the visible on their bodies. a corridor teeming with threatening armed Timorese people can freely choose their Princen added that it may take consider- Indonesian military personnel waiting for own future. The Security Council of the able time to find a solution. In the meantime their prey. United Nations, too, passed two strong it needs to be noted that the health of the three is not in a good condition. The Em- Page 52 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

On one hand they faced the harsh refusal cen, who has been in regular contact with But we will not give up. On the contrary of their hosts, on the other the wiles of the the three, said they appeared to want to go we are determined to follow closely the sly Lopes da Cruz, famous to many to Portugal. events at the home of Lopez da Cruz and Timorese for his insincerity and falsity. To Portugal, the former colonial ruler of East the East Timorese in Jakarta. add to the intimidation, no one else than the Timor, has led a relentless campaign against For more information: Major General in charge of Jakarta security Indonesia’s rule of the impoverished terri- Kalle Sysikaski, chair of the East Timor and former head of the dreaded BAIS intelli- tory which it invaded in 1975. The Indone- Group gence service was called in to give “assur- sian military is effectively in charge of the Phone: Helsinki 141 336, 490 537; Fax: ances.” territory and up to a third of the population Helsinki 147 297 The Ambassador’s response must have is thought to have died since Jakarta took borne little relation to the idealistic picture control. The UN has never recognised Indo- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL of justice and respect for human rights of nesian rule. URGENT ACTION ON the ‘civilized’ country these victimized The Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali young people were so much longing for. In Alatas, returning Friday night from an inter- ASYLUM-SEEKERS fact, it would have no doubt more closely national human rights conference in Vienna, EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI approximated what would be expected from said the students had no reason to ask for Index: ASA 21/14/93 a friend of Suharto’s. A bitter disappoint- asylum and denied that they had been per- ment which must have significantly contrib- secuted. 25 June 1993 uted to achieve the Ambassador’s diplo- “There is a strong suspicion that this UA 212/93 Fear of arbitrary deten- matic ‘victory.’ thing was engineered by our enemies, even tion/Fear of torture Who, now, will monitor and ensure that from abroad...they are trying to undermine INDONESIA/EAST TIMOR: the written guarantees are actually more Indonesia,” he said. 1. Mateus Brito XIMENES, 23 years than a mere formality to expedite a solution 2. Clementino FARIA, 27 years to a problem interfering with the start of a FINNISH COMMITTEE OF 100 3. Oscar Gonçalves da SILVA, 20 years holiday? Do human rights matter at all in QUESTIONS FINNISH this context? 4. Ventura Valentina de CONCEICÃO, 23 DECISION years (female) JAKARTA REFUSES EXIT TO The following statement was issued June 25 5. Florencio Anunciacão FERNANDES, 22 EAST TIMOR by the Committee of 100, Finland. (Original years ASYLUM-SEEKERS English, with corrections.) 6. Jose Manuel de OLIVEIRA SOUSA The Committee of 100 questions the de- 7. Profirio da COSTA OLIVEIRA, 23 years Reuter, 25 June 1993 cision of the Finnish Foreign Ministry, ac- There are serious fears for the safety of Comment: As of Friday evening, London cording to which the East Timorese students seven East Timorese asylum- seekers who time, the three are still in the embassy. Swed- were allowed to leave the Finnish embassy entered the embassies of Finland (Nos. 1-4 ish Radio reported this evening that talks at in Jakarta yesterday. This is in contradiction above) and Sweden (Nos. 5-7 above) in the embassy (not clear between whom) have with an earlier statement by Mr. Heikki Jakarta on Wednesday 23 June 1993. Am- been discontinued for the time being. Haavisto, the Finnish Foreign Minister. nesty International believes that the seven Indonesia refused on Friday to give travel According to this statement, Mr. Haav- are at serious risk of arbitrary arrest and documents to three East Timorese students isto said that the students would not leave torture for as long as they remain in Indone- who have been holed up at the Swedish the embassy before the government obtained sia or East Timor. It calls upon the Gov- embassy for three days hoping to be granted guarantees that the East Timorese would be ernments of Finland and Sweden to take political asylum. safe. immediate steps, by all appropriate means, “There’s no compromise...they are ask- We question the statement of the Foreign to facilitate the departure of the seven from ing for tickets and passports to leave the Ministry, according to which they do not Indonesia. It also demands that the Indone- country... just for any other country,” Ja- know anything about the contents of the sian authorities permit the seven to leave the karta military commander, Hendro Priyono agreement in which the guarantees were country. told reporters after talking with the students given. Information gathered by Amnesty Inter- for about three hours. According to the information we have re- national provides clear and substantial evi- The three went to the embassy on ceived, the students are now in the home of dence that the seven have, over a period of Wednesday, saying they feared for their Francisco Lopez da Cruz, an official of the years, been persecuted by the Indonesian lives in Indonesia. Indonesian government. In our opinion, the security forces because of their non-violent Another four who went to the Finnish students lives are in danger. political opposition to Indonesian rule in embassy in the same central Jakarta building We are very ashamed at the way in which East Timor. Some of the seven suffered left on Thursday night after the government the Finnish ambassador in Jakarta handled beatings, torture and arbitrary arrest after promised not to detain them. this affair. The East Timorese students in participating in public demonstrations dur- Hendro said the students at the Swedish the Swedish embassy are still there and we ing and after visits to East Timor by Pope embassy had ended their fast, although the have been informed that the Swedish For- John Paul II in 1989 and by the Ambassador three indicated to journalists that they were eign Ministry is trying to get them out of of the United States of America in 1990. still on hunger strike. Indonesia. The demonstrations aimed to alert the inter- Both Sweden and Finland say they can- After all that has happened, we would national community to the appalling record not accept asylum-seekers at their diplo- like to ask whether it is the Finnish embassy of human rights abuse by the Indonesian matic missions. Earlier the leading Indone- in Jakarta that is leading the Foreign Minis- security forces in East Timor. Three of the sian human rights campaigner, H.J.C. Prin- try in Helsinki. Normally, it should be the seven were shot and wounded by the Indo- other way round. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 53 nesian military during the Santa Cruz mas- being of political detainees in the territory. - calling upon the Government of Indone- sacre of 12 November 1991. These restrictions had been imposed despite sia to permit the seven East Timorese asy- On Thursday 24 June 1993 the four East assurances by the President and the Minis- lum-seekers to leave the country. Timorese who had sought refuge in the Fin- ter of Foreign Affairs that unrestricted ac- APPEALS TO: nish embassy left the premises, apparently cess to prisoners would be granted. President Suharto after Indonesian military officials provided Third, the Indonesian Government has [Salutation: Dear President Suharto] assurances that their human rights would be consistently denied reports of even the most Presiden RI respected and that they would not be in well-documented and widely publicized Istana Negara danger. The current circumstances of the human rights violations in East Timor, pre- Jl. Veteran, Jakarta, Indonesia three East Timorese in the Swedish embassy ferring instead to question the political mo- Telegrams: President Suharto, Jakarta, are unclear; unconfirmed reports indicate tives of those, including Amnesty Interna- Indonesia that they too may leave the embassy com- tional, who have reported them. Few re- Telexes: 44283 BIGRA IA; 44469 pound in the near future. ports of human rights violations are investi- DEPLU IA The evidence clearly shows that those gated by the authorities and, virtually with- Faxes: (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs) who attract international attention to human out exception, the perpetrators have gone Minister of Foreign Affairs: rights abuse by Indonesian forces are those unpunished. Ali Alatas S.H. most vulnerable to beatings, torture and RECOMMENDED ACTION: [Salutation: Dear Minister Alatas] other violations. Amnesty International Menteri Luar Negeri Please send telegrams/telexes/ faxes/ ex- believes that, far from being protected, the Jl. Taman Pejambon 6 press and airmail letters either in English or risk of the seven asylum-seekers being sub- Jakarta, Indonesia in your own language: jected to further abuse may have increased Telegrams: Minister Alatas, Ministry To the Governments of Finland and following their unsuccessful appeal for asy- Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, Indonesia Sweden: lum. Telexes: 44205; 44469 deplu jkt - expressing concern for the safety of the Faxes: +62 21 36 0517; +62 21 36 7782 BACKGROUND INFORMATION East Timorese asylum-seekers who have In Amnesty International’s view there sought refuge in their embassies; are a number of compelling reasons why - noting that Amnesty International has TIMORESE STUDENTS WANT Indonesian military assurances of respect documented the arbitrary arrest and torture TO GO TO PORTUGAL for the human rights of the East Timorese of some of the asylum-seekers and that cannot be accepted as genuine guarantees of some were shot and wounded by Indonesian By Jonathan Thatcher their safety. soldiers during the Santa Cruz massacre in Jakarta, June 25, Reuters - Three East In the first place, asylum-seekers who Dili, November 1991; - noting that Indone- Timorese students holed up for two days in have been returned to the authorities in pre- sian government assurances of respect for the Swedish embassy in Jakarta now appear vious years have suffered serious human the human rights of East Timorese have to want to go to Portugal, a leading Indone- rights violations. Seven East Timorese who consistently been breached by military au- sian human rights campaigner said on Fri- sought asylum in June 1989 left the embas- thorities; day. sies of Japan and the Vatican after receiving - urging the Government of [Finland or They probably want to go to Portugal. virtually the same assurances that their hu- Sweden] to take immediate steps, through “They consider themselves Portuguese citi- man rights would be respected. In February all appropriate means, to facilitate the de- zens,” rights activists MH Princen, who has 1991 a confidential military intelligence parture of the seven asylum-seekers from been in regular contact with the students, document revealed that five of those seven, Indonesia. told Reuters. Fernando de Araujo, Marciano Garcia da APPEALS TO: They are expected to make a statement Silva, Carlos da Silva Lopes, Agapito Car- Heikki Haavisto later in the day which will include an appeal doso and Lucas da Costa were under perma- [Salutation: Dear Minister Haavisto] for financial aid, he said. nent military surveillance because of their Foreign Minister Portugal, which colonized East Timor for non-violent political and human rights ac- Ministry of Foreign Affairs 300 years, does not have diplomatic rela- tivities. In May 1992 Fernando de Araujo Merikasarmi tions with Indonesia which it has consis- was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment. 00160 Helsinki, Finland tently charged with flagrant human rights The judge said the long sentence was war- Telegrams: Foreign Minister, Helsinki, abuses in the impoverished territory. ranted because of his attempts to “ gain the Finland A Swedish embassy official referred en- sympathy of the international community Faxes: +358 0 1341 5009 quiries to his foreign ministry but said the for the abuse of human rights in East Margaretha al Ugglas students had ended a brief hunger strike. Timor.” He is a prisoner of conscience. [Salutation: Dear Minister al Ugglas] Another four students who had gone to Second, it cannot be assumed that assur- Foreign Minister the Finnish embassy, in the same central ances by governmental authorities, even Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jakarta high-rise, also on Wednesday, left on those at the highest level, will be respected Gustave Adolfstorg 1 S-10323 Stockholm, Thursday night following Indonesian gov- by members of the security forces in East ernment assurances of their safety. Sweden Timor or elsewhere in Indonesia. For exam- Telegrams: Foreign Minister, Stockholm, They are now staying at the home of In- ple, the International Committee of the Red Sweden donesian ambassador-at-large FX Lopes da Cross (ICRC) in June 1993 suspended visits Faxes: +46 8723 1176 Cruz, himself an East Timorese. to political prisoners in East Timor for the All seven had asked for political asylum, third time this year, after the military in To the Government of Indonesia: saying they feared for their lives and pro- East Timor continued to place unacceptable - expressing concern for the safety of the testing at what they called Indonesia’s bru- restrictions on the visits, thus making it seven asylum-seekers; tal military rule since its troops invaded in impossible to monitor the safety and well- 1975. Page 54 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

But both Sweden and Finland say they The special territory of the Indonesian which still views Lisbon as the administra- accept asylum seekers at their borders or capital of Jakarta holds the status of a prov- tor there. inside the country but not at their diplo- ince. matic missions. Another four East Timorese left the Fin- SWEDEN, FINLAND The students appear to have timed their nish embassy here late yesterday, a day “MORALLY RESPONSIBLE” move to coincide with an international hu- after they entered the embassy premises and man rights conference in Vienna where In- demanded asylum, and were now in the FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS donesia have been expected to come under home of a high ranking East Timor-born By Melissa Langerman of AAP fresh attack over its human rights record in Indonesian official. East Timor. Hendro said he was offering similar (Reuters, June 25, Canberra) Sweden and Portugal, still considered by the United safety guarantees to Florencio Annuncião Finland were today accused of betraying Nations the legal administrator of East Fernandes, 22, Porfirio da Costa Oliveira, their tradition of aiding asylum-seekers by Timor though it quit the territory 17 years 23, and Jose Manuel de Oliveira Sousa, 24, the main international spokesman of the ago, has been holding occasional talks, with who were still at the Swedish embassy - as East Timorese resistance, Jose Ramos- Indonesia on the issue but without any he had given the four others yesterday. Horta. agreement. “Basically the same, but there is another The Swedish and Finnish embassies in Portugal denies Indonesia’s claim that the request from them, and that, I’d like to find Jakarta have refused seven East Timorese East Timorese have already decided on rule out now,” Hendro said declining to say fur- political asylum with the seven (?) leaving from Jakarta. ther but that he believed he would be able to the embassies after Indonesian authorities Criticism of Indonesian rule took on fresh get the three to leave the embassy later in promised them safety and homes. impetus after its troops killed up to 180 the day. Mr. Ramos-Horta, international spokes- mourners in the local capital. Hendro had come to negotiate with the man for the East Timorese resistance um- Most recently Jakarta was accused of three remaining asylum-seekers along with brella group the National Council Maubere staging an unfair trial of East Timor rebel Swedish and Indonesian, diplomats activist (CNRM), told a news conference here he leader Xanana Gusmão who in May was who had been asked by the Swedish to serve would accept the assurance given to the sentencing to life imprisonment on charges as mediator. asylum seekers. which included trying to separate the terri- Princen said earlier today the three East And he said he hold Sweden and Finland tory from Indonesia. Timorese “don’t want to return” and were “morally responsible” for the fates of the asking for Portuguese passports in order to seven, four of whom had sough asylum at TIMORESE IN EXILE AP PEAL leave the country. Finland’s embassy and three at the Swedish embassy. FOR SAFE PASSAGE FOR According to them they are still Portu- guese citizens,” he said. Swedish premises “I have stated to the Swedish and Finnish STUDENTS were still on a hunger strike as they had authorities that I am prepared to fly to declared late on Wednesday. They have said Stockholm and Helsinki and bring the matter (Reuter, June 25, Jakarta) In Sydney, that it was the policy of Stockholm not to to the Parliament and the courts there if Timorese exiled in Australia called on Swe- grant asylum at embassies but only on anything happens to these students, he said. den and Finland to offer the students safe Swedish soil. “I know how great is the Swedish and passage out of Indonesia. Hendron said that the four who had left Finnish tradition in granting asylum to refu- “I appeal to the Swedish and Finnish au- the Finnish embassy yesterday were “all gees to political dissidents. thorities to be true to their Nordic commit- right now.” The four were currently at the “And what they are doing now is a be- ment to human rights and right of asylum home of roving Indonesian ambassador F.X. trayal of that tradition and it would cause and stand firm,” said Jose Ramos-Horta of Lopez da Cruz and Hendro said that one of and enormous uproar in Sweden and Fin- the National Council of Maubere (Timorese) them had even asked help to get to a school land, said Mr. Ramos-Horta, East Timor’s Resistance. here. Foreign Minister before the Indonesian “The lives of these young men are in When they sought asylum, all seven East invasion in 1975. their hands.” Timorese, aged 20 and 27, said they were It was understood the four at the Finnish political refugees who have been persis- Embassy left first. Mr. Ramos-Horta said JAKARTA COMMANDER tently pursued by the Indonesian army was he believed the three at the Swedish Em- OFFERS GUARANTEES ON trying to arrest them and use them to prove bassy had held out because they were SAFETY OF EAST TIMORESE that they were among those the government “much hardened veterans of the resistance said had remained missing after Indonesian who have been much more subjected to Reuter, 25 June 1993, By AFP Dateline: soldiers fired on civilians in the East Indonesian deceit and lies over the years. Jakarta Timorese capital of Dili on November 1991. “They know how many people were promised amnesty and made to disaster, he Jakarta Military Commander Major Gen- An official inquiry by Indonesia into the said. eral Hendro Priyono today pledged that all bloody incident put the death toll at around In December last year the Catholic seven East Timorese asylum-seeker, includ- 50, but witnesses in Dili have reported up bishop for East Timor had stated he would ing the three still holed up at the Swedish to 115 deaths. The latest official toll how- never call for any guerrilla to surrender be- embassy, would not be arrested. ever said earlier this year that the bodies of cause in the past those who had surrendered “As long as they are in this province (Ja- 61 people remained unaccounted after the were simply killed, he said, the seven had karta), they will never be arrested,” Hendro shooting. said they feared arrest for joining in demon- told journalists shortly before attempting to The former Portuguese colony of East strations in November 1991 against Indone- negotiate with three East Timorese who are Timor was unilaterally declared Indonesia’s sian rule in East Timor. Indonesian troops holding out inside the Swedish embassy for 27th province in 1976 but the move has not opened fire on the demonstrations, killing the second day. been recognised by the United Nations dozens of protesters. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 55

Amnesty International says it is con- Indonesia’s ambassador-at-large Lopez peared to be losing patience with their de- cerned about the seven asylum seekers’ da Cruz, an East Timorese, said the four mands for safe passage. safety. It urged Sweden and Finland to grant who left the Finnish embassy earlier were Human rights activist H.J.C. Princen, them asylum and asked Indonesia to let the safe at his Jakarta residence and would leave who has mediated on behalf of the students seven leave the country. soon as they had been guaranteed they with the government and embassy, said Under Swedish and Finnish regulations, would not be harassed. He dismissed Am- Indonesia appeared to be hesitating in its however, applications for political asylum nesty’s claim [see AI Urgent Action of 25 original offer of passports which would can be made only at the borders or on Swed- June 1993] that five students, who were allow the three to leave the country. ish and Finnish soil, but not in their embas- given assurances when they failed to gain ‘The situation is very difficult. Appar- sies abroad. asylum from the Vatican and Japan in 1989, ently the Swedish are losing patience and Mr. Ramos-Horta said he had appealed had been harassed on their release and in one this is affecting the (Timorese),’ he said by to the UN Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali case later sentenced to nine years in jail. telephone. to use his offices so the seven could leave “The guarantee given to them is not Swedish diplomats were not available for Indonesia if they wished and travel to the something like immunity for all things they comment. nearest Portuguese embassy or consulate as (may) do in the future, but for what they The three students, who entered the em- Portugal had guaranteed them asylum. “So have done in the past, including their stay at bassy on Wednesday saying they feared for Indonesian can easily save face, I don’t un- the embassies,” he said. their life in Indonesia, have altered their derstand personally why Indonesia won’t Princen, speaking before he returned to original request for asylum from Sweden to simply let them leave,” Mr. Ramos-Horta the Swedish embassy for further talks, said Portugal after Swedish diplomats said they said. the remaining three appeared determined in must first be on Swedish soil. Note: only 4 students left the Finnish em- their demand for safe passage from Indone- Indonesia has governed the former Portu- bassy; the other 3 appear to be determined sia. guese colony of East Timor since 1975. to stay in the Swedish embassy. “They do not want to see other authori- Human rights groups have blamed it for the ties. They do not want to see the military deaths of more than 200,000 people, most TIMORESE STUDENTS again, they do not want to see representa- of them in the first years of its rule. tives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” Four students who sought similar sanctu- DEFIANT IN DEMAND FOR he said. ary at the Finnish embassy gave up their SAFE PASSAGE He said Indonesia and Sweden appeared quest earlier in the week. Seven Timorese equally defiant not to accede to their re- unsuccessfully sought asylum from the Reuter, 26 June 1993. By Jeremy Wagstaff. quest, fearing such a move would set a embassies of the Vatican and Japan in 1989. Slightly abridged precedent for hundreds of other East They have demanded safe passage to Three East Timorese students began a Timorese scattered throughout Indonesia. Portugal. Lisbon, which considers all East fourth day holed up in the Swedish embassy An additional problem is that Portugal, Timorese its citizens, has yet to say in Jakarta on Saturday defiantly demanding which acknowledges all East Timorese as its whether it would give the three asylum. asylum as diplomats and Indonesian offi- citizens, has no diplomatic relations with Amnesty International has demanded cials debated their fate. Indonesia and therefore cannot easily nego- Sweden ensure their safe passage as they The students, who said that they feared tiate safe passage for the students, Princen were in danger of ‘arbitrary arrest and tor- for their lives if they were handed over to said. ture.’ plain-clothed military officials outside the It has not so far offered asylum to the The three, aged between 22 and 24, said embassy, have asked for safe passage to three. they were involved in the November 1991 Portugal, which they hope will give them Princen said he did not believe Indonesian procession in Dili when troops opened fire, sanctuary. claims that the asylum bid had been engi- killing up to 180 civilians. “It all depends on the diplomats,” H.J.C. neered by outsiders to embarrass Jakarta at Princen, a human rights activist who has this week’s Vienna World Conference on THREE EAST TIMORESE acted on behalf of the three students, told Human Rights. Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, HOLDING OUT AT SWEDISH reporters. speaking on Friday after his return from the Four students who sought asylum from conference, said he suspected “enemies EMBASSY abroad” were responsible for the asylum the Finnish embassy gave up on Thursday AP, 27 June after officials promised not to punish them. bid, questioning why Portuguese journalists Talks about the fate of the three in the knew about it before he did. Comment: This item suggests that the three Swedish mission ended in deadlock on Fri- “I do not agree with his assertion that asked for Indonesian passports. This is not day. enemies within and outside the country are, the case. Someone on the Indonesian side The London-based human rights group so to say, conspiring in this case. I didn’t said that passports could be issued; the Amnesty International called on Finland and get that impression,” Princen said. source of this offer is not clear. Sweden to help the students leave Indonesia Hendro Priyono’s offer to evict the three as they “are at serious risk of arbitrary ar- TIME, PATIENCE RUNNING makes it clear that he is leaning heavily on rest and torture.” OUT FOR TIMORESE the Swedish embassy/ government to end the The students, who changed their request matter fast. It is crucial that Sweden is not after Finland and Sweden turned down their STUDENTS intimidated and that they give time to the pleas for asylum, said they were involved in Reuter, 27 June 1993 three to work out precisely how they will the independence movement. Six of them leave the embassy and reach a plane safely. said they had been at a Dili cemetery in Three East Timorese asylum seekers be- TAPOL gan a fifth day holed up in the Swedish Em- November 1991 when soldiers opened fire Jakarta, Indonesia (AP) – Three East on mourners, killing up to 180 people. bassy in Jakarta on Sunday as their reluctant hosts and the Indonesian government ap- Timorese asylum seekers are holding out in Page 56 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. the Swedish Embassy for permission to THREE EAST TIMORESE Legislator Theo Sambuaga hailed the Fin- leave Indonesia, but a government negotiator nish and Swedish governments’ refusal to said it would be impossible to fulfill the SPEND FIFTH DAY AT grant asylum, saying that the seven East request. SWEDISH EMBASSY Timorese have no real reason to seek protec- The three entered the Swedish embassy tion from Indonesia. The men may have Wednesday and requested political asylum, Jakarta Post. 28 June 1993, Abridged been inspired by fantastic stories about East saying they feared arrest for joining demon- Comment: This piece suggests that the three Timorese separatist leaders like Ramos strations in November 1991 against Indone- are relenting and will accept assurances Horta who travels the world and preaches sian rule in East Timor, a former Portuguese from Indonesia. But by reporting that the about the rights of the East Timorese peo- colony annexed by Indonesia in 1976. negotiations are about ‘safe passage,’ it ple. But the request was turned down despite means that they are going to leave. Most a plea by Amnesty International because confusing! NO INDONESIAN Sweden does not accept asylum requests at Three East Timorese spent their fifth day PASSPORTS its embassies abroad. at the Swedish embassy, despite repeated Four other East Timorese who asked for guarantees from the government that they (TAPOL Report, June 28) It is now clear asylum at the Finnish four later left the will not be arrested if they leave. that the Indonesian government will not embassy after receiving assurances of safety The men, who had insisted on political offer the East Timorese three at the Swedish from Indonesian authorities. asylum from Sweden or safe passage out of embassy Indonesian passports. It is unclear H.J.C. Princen, a human rights activist the country, showed signs they were begin- whether this was a serious offer in the first who is acting as mediator, said he had re- ning to relent on their demands as negotia- place and unclear where the offer came from, ported the request of the three men in the tions resumed last night, their mediator if it was. Swedish embassy for Indonesian passports H.J.C. Princen said. Indonesian-language newspapers in Ja- to Maj. Gen. Hendro Prijono, the govern- The three “had begun to believe” in the karta today, 28 June 1993, have reported ment’s representative. authorities’ assurances, said Princen, a hu- that Indonesian passports are not on offer. Princen said the East Timorese were de- man rights lawyer who has been mediating The ‘offer’ was clearly a red herring, in- manding that immigration officers come to on their behalf with the government and the tended to confuse the issue, and an attempt the embassy to process the passport re- Swedish embassy. to trap the East Timorese into seeing this as quest and that they be escorted to the air- A solution was already in sight, he said, their chance to escape, whereas agreeing to port by the Swedish Ambassador and Prin- before returning to the Swedish embassy for accept the passports would have given the cen himself, among other people. negotiations with Swedish embassy offi- authorities the chance to claim that they But another government negotiator, Lo- cials, Maj. General Hendro Priyono, chief of accepted Indonesian citizenship. The ploy pez da Cruz, ruled out the request, saying the Jakarta Military Command, and Lopez failed and the ‘offer,’ if there ever indeed as the asylum seekers had acknowledged their da Cruz, a respected (sic) senior East Timor one, has now evaporated. Indonesian citizenship by seeking Indone- politician. sian passports. Princen identified the three East PORTUGAL SAYS WILL ‘Why as Indonesian citizens do they Timorese who have been holed up in the ACCEPT EAST TIMOR have to be allowed to go abroad just for embassy at the Bina Mulia Tower Office seeking asylum?’ da Cruz asked in a tele- building in Central Jakarta as Florencio A. STUDENTS phone interview. ‘I am not about to escort Fernandes, Jose Manuel de Oliveira Sousa them because it would mean that I was em- Reuter, 28 June 1993, By Natasha Brown. and Profirio da Costa Oliveira. Abridged barrassing my own country.’ The meeting is aimed at finalizing the A senior member of parliament, who agreement on the safe passage assurance, (Lisbon) Portugal is prepared to receive asked to remain anonymous, explained that Princen said, “We want to make sure no- three East Timorese asylum seekers who the government would not fulfill the request body loses face,” he told The Jakarta Post. have taken refuge in the Swedish embassy in because it feared setting a bad precedent. The Swedish embassy has declined their the Indonesian capital Jakarta, Foreign Min- ‘Many (Indonesian) people will make a request for political asylum or tickets out of ister Jose Manuel Durão Barroso said on similar request just if they want to go the country. Major General Hendro Priyono Monday. abroad,’ said the legislator. has repeatedly given his word that the three “Although it is not our obligation, for Indonesia annexed East Timor in 1976 af- will not be arrested or prosecuted if they humanitarian reasons we are perfectly pre- ter intervening in a civil war there.(sic) The leave the embassy. pared to receive these Timorese and support United Nations, however, still recognizes Their bid for asylum has provoked criti- all the costs of their journey,” Durão Bar- Portugal as the administering power of the cal remarks from officials both here and in roso told reporters. territory. Dili. Clementino Dos Reis Amaral, an East Durão Barroso declined to elaborate on Princen said he was not sure whether the Timorese politician said the incident should contacts between Lisbon and Stockholm asylum-seekers wanted to go to Stockholm, open the government’s eyes to the need to over the students who turned up at the Sweden or Lisbon, Portugal. give the same treatment to the East Swedish embassy in Jakarta last Wednesday Prijono has said that the military is ready Timorese as to natives of other provinces. to request asylum, saying they feared for to evict the three from the Swedish Em- Outsiders their lives in Indonesia. bassy if the embassy requests. (!!!) Amaral said outsiders who went to work “This is a humanitarian issue and any in the province are generally unsympathetic statement could harm the negotiations... The and have low regard for local people. “They important thing is to find a humanitarian definitely need to receive a sympathetic solution for these East Timorese who want approach to make them willing to talk and to leave Indonesia,” Barroso said. accommodate their aspirations.” The three students briefly went on hun- ger strike. They asked for safe passage to East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 57

Portugal after Sweden said they could not few seconds after the conversation with step up pressure on the Swedish govern- apply for asylum through its diplomatic Clementino Faria. ment, through the Swedish embassy in your missions abroad. Some moments before, Clementino said, country or directly to the Swedish Foreign Indonesia offered passports to them on “We are all right . . . with Mr. Lopes Da Ministry. Saturday but on Sunday human rights activ- Cruz.” But, in spite of the fact that he un- Write to: ist, H.J.C. Princen, who has mediated on derstood the questions, at least partially, the Foreign Minister Margaretha Al Ugglas, behalf of the students with the government young man had some difficulty expressing Fax: +46 8 723 1176 and the embassy, said Indonesia appeared to himself directly in Portuguese or English. Cabinet Secretary, Foreign Ministry, be hesitating in its original offer. So, Lopes Da Cruz took the telephone re- Lars-Ake Nilsson, fax: +46 8 723 1171. “The situation is very difficult. Appar- ceiver again, and acted as interpreter. Su- Use any contacts you may have with ently the Swedish are also losing patience harto’s adviser translated the question to groups in Sweden or with the Swedish me- and this is affecting the (Timorese),” Princen Clementino about what he wanted to do and dia. said. after listening to Clementino’s response The four Timorese who had to leave the (close to the phone), Lopes da Cruz indi- Finnish embassy: cated that Clementino wanted to come to JAPANESE DIET MEMBER It is also necessary to focus on the plight Lisbon. And, between laughs, he commented EDA APPEALS TO SWEDEN of the four East Timorese who are now as follows: “I don’t know . . . they want to being held at the home of Lopes da Cruz. study now.” But, in response to the ques- From Free East Timor Japan Coalition, One of them managed to make contact with tion about his motivation for participating in June 29, 1993 the outside world when the Portuguese the demonstration on November 11 (sic) newspaper, Publico phoned. [See item Satsuki Eda, the secretary general of the 1991, and whether he still had the same posted separately.] Diet Members Forum on East Timor, a motivations, Clementino refused to answer. Protest in the strongest terms to the Fin- suprapartisan group of some ninety mem- And Lopes Da Cruz explained, “He still nish government through the Finnish em- bers of the Japanese Diet, sent an appeal on feels hounded, he says he does not want to bassy in your country, and directly to the June 29 to the Swedish Foreign Minister, answer.” government, insisting that it was not their urging Sweden to arrange safe conduct out of This short interview conducted by Pub- wish to leave the embassy and that they still Indonesia for three East Timorese who took lico with Clementino Faria happened after wish to leave the country. refuge last week in the Swedish Embassy in Lopes Da Cruz stated that the four young Their demand to travel to Portugal must Jakarta. men were all right. “They are watching tele- be addressed. Press the Finnish government “I believe,” Eda said, that based on what vision.” He said that “they don’t speak to begin negotiations with the Indonesian we know of the treatment the Indonesian Portuguese or English well,” but ended by government for the four men to leave the security officials routinely mete out to saying “wait a moment, let me see if some country. The Finnish government should Timorese, and particularly based on the of them want to speak to you.” not be allowed to forget their responsibility terrifying experiences the three have under- Note: TAPOL has tried to speak with to these four men. gone in the past few years, their fears for the four, giving them the chance to speak in Send your messages to: their safety are not exaggerated.” Indonesian, but as yet to no avail. In his letter, Eda recalled the case of two Heikki Haavisto, Minister for Foreign East Timorese who sought asylum at the Affairs, fax: +358 0 1341 5009 and to the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta in 1989 and PRESSURE ON SWEDEN AND Finnish ambassador in your own country were persuaded to leave. One of the two, FINLAND Fernando Araujo, is now serving a nine-year LETTER TO SWEDISH KING TAPOL report, 29 June 1993 jail term in connection with the events sur- FROM WORLD SERVICE rounding the Santa Cruz massacre. The let- The three East Timorese at the Swedish AUTHORITY ter says, “I think events show that the embassy: Japanese Government should have helped The Swedish government is under grow- The following letter was addressed to King the two to leave Indonesia.” ing pressure from all sides not to ask or Carl XVI Gustaf by the World Service Au- force the three East Timorese in their em- thority, an organisation founded in 1954 to FARIA: “WE’RE BEING bassy to leave. The critical demands being implement sovereign human rights: HOUNDED!” made are: 29 June 1993 1. To give the men protection until such H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf, Publico, 29 June 1993, Original language: time as travel documents are provided. Portuguese Office of H.M. The King, 2. To negotiate a plan for their safe pas- Kungl. Slottet, Stottsbacken, Clementino Faria, one of the four sage from the embassy to a plane which S-111 30 Stockholm, Sweden Timorese who have been in Lopes da Cruz’s would take them abroad. Your Majesty, house in Jakarta since they left the Finnish 3. To recognise that this may take weeks Embassy on Thursday, said to Publico that rather than days to complete. The World Service Authority (WSA) was he feels hounded and wants to come to Por- 4. It the meantime to help the three men been apprised of the situation of three peo- tugal. He said this in a telephone conversa- at the embassy live reasonably comfortably, ple from East Timor who have sought refuge tion in which Mr. Da Cruz, the itinerant with medical attention, visits by priests, at the Swedish Embassy in Indonesia which ambassador to the Indonesian president, books and any change of clothing they may is their right under the 1951 and 1967 Con- acted as a translator. need. vention and Protocol Relating to the Status If someone wants to pay for his journey, 5. To make it possible for them to make of Refugees. he says he wants to go to Lisbon: this was or receive phone calls. The Indonesian military has committed the answer transmitted by Lopes Da Cruz, a All people and groups of goodwill to- acts of political persecution specifically wards the people of East Timor are asked to against these three individuals as they state Page 58 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. in a letter to the Swedish Ambassador: “In THREE TIMORESE AT their obligations towards men in need of recent months, we have been constantly their protection and has asked them to do pursued by members of the Indonesian in- SWEDISH EMBASSY IN everything possible to expedite travel telligence acting under orders from the Sp e- JAKARTA CALL FOR HELP documents from the UNHCR or from an- cial Operations Commander...to arrest us other international agency. and prove that we are among the TAPOL, 30 June 1993 issued the following fifty...reported missing since the bloody Press Release: EAST TIMORESE STUDENTS incident on November 12 1991,” they wrote In a letter from the Swedish embassy in COMPLAIN OF SWEDISH regarding the Indonesian government’s at- Jakarta where they have been taking refuge tempt to disavow the government- since last Wednesday, three East Timorese EMBASSY HARASSMENT sponsored killing at the Santa Cruz massa- students have appealed for help to get out MEDIA RELEASE from CNRM, 30 June cre. of Indonesia safely. 1993 According to the standards set in the The three men, Florencio A. Fernandes, Refugee Convention, these East Timorese Jose Manuel de Oliveira Sousa and Profirio The first communication from the three individuals have a well-founded fear of per- da Costa Oliveira, complain that they are East Timorese seeking refuge in the Swedish secution based on their nationality and po- not being treated by the embassy in accor- Embassy in Jakarta has reached the outside litical opinion. Because of their refugee dance with Article 14 of the Universal Dec- world exactly one week after they entered status, they have “the right to seek and to laration of Human Rights according to which the embassy to escape persecution from the enjoy in other countries asylum from perse- “Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy Indonesian military. The students are being cution,” under Article 14 of the Universal in other countries asylum from persecu- prevented by the Swedish authorities to Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). tion.” They say in the letter that they are communicate by telephone or fax with any- All United Nations member states are ob- under pressure from the Swedish embassy one. ligated to “promote the universal respect and the Indonesian military to sign a guaran- The letter signed by Florencio Fernandes, for, and observance of human rights and tee from the Indonesian authorities on the Jose M de O Sousa and Profirio da Costa fundamental freedoms” (i.e. the rights pro- basis of which they would leave the em- Oliveira, dated 29 June, says: We are in claimed in the UDHR) under the United bassy: poor physical condition. The three of us in Nations Charter, Articles 55 and 56. There- “All the time, the military and the Swed- the Swedish embassy are facing considerable fore your government must either grant ish embassy are insisting that we sign a difficulties. In the time we been here intelli- these East Timorese refugees asylum in statement that they have drawn up, but we gence officers often come and stand outside Sweden or must protect them from further have persisted in refusing to do so.” the door, threatening and insulting us. The persecution by assuring their safe departure The statement, they say, has been Swedish government has barred the press from Indonesian to Portugal, the interna- drafted by the embassy and military officers access to us. We are being terrorized from all tionally-accepted administrative authority “without our knowledge and without con- sides: not only the Indonesian government over East Timor. sulting us.” but also the Swedish embassy and the In order to expedite their departure from They also charge that they are being in- UNHCR in Jakarta. We are not being treated Indonesia, the World Service Authority is timidated by Indonesian intelligence agents in accordance with our rights as noted in willing to issue these individuals the WSA just outside the door of the embassy, and Articles 14 and 15 of the universal declara- passport, the only neutral, global identity complain that embassy officials have cut tion. The military and the Swedish embassy and travel document based on Article 13 of them off from the press. TAPOL has constantly try to force to sign the statement the UDHR - guaranteeing the right to free- learned independently from Jakarta that the of assurance that they have drawn up...... dom of movement. Please contact our world area surrounding the embassy, on the floor without our knowledge or agreement..... we office in Washington, DC for assistance in below, is “swarming with Indonesian sol- continue to refuse to do so. Please help us the issuance of these documents. diers.” All efforts from abroad to speak to to leave Indonesia safely. According to Article 20(4) of Sweden’s the three men by phone have been thwarted The students complain that UNHCR also Instrument of Government, these East by embassy officials. appear to want to force them to sign the Timorese must not be deprived of their The letter from the embassy is dated 29 statement and refuges to be involved in ne- liberty, which would occur if they were June and was smuggled abroad overnight. gotiations to obtain travel documents from turned over to the Indonesian authorities. The three say that the representative in them. We are confident that as a representative Jakarta of the UNHCR is also trying to Speaking from Northern Territory in of the Swedish people and as the highest- persuade them to sign the statement and has Australia, CNRM special representative ranking official of the country of Sweden, refused to become involved in top-level Mr. Jose Ramos Horta has strongly criti- which desires to maintain its reputation of negotiations to secure travel documents to cized the UNHCR for not intervening and respecting human rights, Your Majesty will help them leave Indonesia. failing to fulfill their obligation to protect ensure that all Swedish government officials TAPOL has conveyed this information these three young people whose lives are in uphold the law and prevent any human to the Swedish Foreign Minister, urging that such danger. “ it is also obvious that Swed- rights violations by your government. the embassy be instructed to stop exerting ish authorities place bilateral relations with We thank you for your consideration in pressure on the three Timorese. TAPOL has the murderous Indonesian military regime this matter. appealed to the Swedish government to act above their humanitarian obligations,” he For the World Service Authority, promptly to obtain travel documents for the added. David Gallup, Esq., General Counsel men and to negotiate safe passage for them Horta appeals to the UNHCR and the In- from the Indonesian authorities to get them ternational Committee of the Red Cross to from the embassy to a plane that will take urgently seek safe passage out of Indonesia them to safety, out of Indonesia. for the three students. He also appeals to TAPOL has also complained to the Sweden to act according to the Nobel repu- UNHCR in Geneva of a serious breach in East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 59 tation as a protector of Human Rights it has nesses of the Dili massacre of 12 November Over six weeks after the sentencing of the earned in the past. 1991. Head of the Timorese Resistance , Xanana Horta also drew attention to the fact that Sweden has always strongly claimed to Gusmão, his actual whereabouts are un- almost one week after four students left the be a champion of human rights and peoples known. The European Community, in a Finnish Embassy in Jakarta, reportedly after self determination struggles, freedom and show of cowardice towards the Indonesian “agreeing” to accept Indonesian “guaran- democracy. During the black years of dicta- military dictatorship, did not condemn the tees” for their safety, no one has had access torships by Latin American colonels and farcical trial, and with total lack of dignity to them to independently confirm that they generals, Swedish diplomats searched the appealed for the reduction in the sentence are safe. On the contrary, media statements streets picking up political dissidents fleeing imposed on someone who has earned one of have quoted some of them insisting in their from repression by security forces. the highest Portuguese national decorations. desire to leave Indonesia. Sources in Jakarta In the case of East Timor Sweden has al- I appeal to all international solidarity or- also claim that they are being constantly ways shown a different face. A face of hy- ganisations, human rights organisations, harassed by intelligence personnel. Horta pocrisy and mercantilism. As one of the political parties, parliamentarians through- added that Finland must be held responsible major arms manufacturers in the world, out the world, Churches, friendly govern- for the safety of these students. Sweden has supplied weapons to the Indo- ments, to intensify the campaign of denun- nesian military throughout the last 18 years ciation of the arbitrary acts of the despotic SWEDEN CALLS EAST both under the Social Democrats of Olaf Indonesian regime. TIMORESE ASYLUM PLEA Palme as well as under the Liberal Conserva- Further Information tive coalition. Margherita Tracanelli, CNRM Media Di- PROPAGANDA In the Swedish Embassy in Jakarta the rector three East Timorese students continue to phone +61 2 369 2676, fax +61 2 389 Source: Reuter, 1 July 1993, Abridged resist pressures by Swedish diplomats in 2488 (Stockholm) Reuter from Stockholm collusion with Indonesian security forces Jose Ramos Horta :phone +61 89 quoted the Swedish Foreign Ministry as and the puppet Francisco Lopes da Cruz, 528955, fax +61 89 528300 denying “allegations” that East Timorese who are trying to get them to leave the Em- students stranded at its Jakarta embassy bassy premises. TIMORESE DUE TO LEAVE have been treated badly, and said that it will I have just received a message from the EMBASSY 8 AM FRIDAY not go along with their “propaganda” tac- three students, denouncing the pressures tics. they are being subjected to by Swedish dip- TAPOL report, July 2 The three students said they are in bad lomats, the efforts to entice them on the shape and under pressure from all sides to part of Lopes da Cruz, and the insults and This is a brief summary only of news give up their bid for asylum, according to a threats they receive from Indonesian secu- that, unless last-minute events happen to letter sent to a London-based human rights rity forces. prevent it, the three East Timorese who organisation [TAPOL], a copy of which The three are in a precarious health con- have been taking refuge at the Swedish em- Reuters obtained. dition, lacking medical assistance. They have bassy since 23 June will leave the embassy “The East Timorese have received every- no been visited by the International red at 8 am Friday, 2 July and will go to the thing they have asked for – food, drinks, Cross and their request to meet an official of home of H.J.C. Princen who has been medi- cigarettes, clothes, showers,” Foreign Minis- the United Nations High Commissioner for ating with all sides. try spokesman Staffan Bjorck told Reuters. Refugees has been refused. However, LUSA has reported an inter- “They are not been treated poorly,” he said. The students have said in the Tetum lan- view with Lopes da Cruz in which he con- “For some reason, they have chosen the guage : .”..dala ida tan, alin ami nain tolu sei firms the decision that they will leave but Swedish and Finnish embassies in a well- la hakfodak, la monu ba lian fuan midar sira says they will be taken to his house or to a organised incident that we see as a propa- nee be samodok sira soe ami nain tolu.” (We Catholic church. ganda attempt,” Bjorck said. “In that situa- state again that the three of us are not afraid. More details of wire-service reports will tion, we believe it is not right that they use We are not scared, we won’t fall for the be posted shortly. Also, we will try to re- our faxed and phones because we don’t sweet words the vipers say to us). port events as soon as possible, should the want to strengthen their propaganda possi- One week after the four students who three indeed leave as scheduled. bilities.” sought refuge there left the Finnish Em- This is a terrible blow to the hopes of the bassy, nothing is known about their situa- three and their safety cannot be vouchsafed ET STUDENTS IN SWEDISH tion. The Finnish authorities are morally and from the moment they leave the embassy. One thing is sure: if this happens, the Swed- EMBASSY materially responsible for the fate of these four. They were compelled to leave the ish government should be strongly con- demned for making it impossible for the Report from CNRM, July 1, 1993 Embassy by strong pressures, threats and three to remain in the safety of their mission Over one week has now passed since promises. The Finnish government and the Indone- until they can arrange for their safe depar- East Timorese students Florencio A, Fer- ture from Indonesia. nandes, Jose M Oliveira Sousa and Porfirio sian authorities must produce visual proof about the health and security condition of da Costa Oliveira have entered the Swedish ROUNDUP OF ASYLUM Embassy in Jakarta. the four students in front of ICRC and UN The students took their decision to ap- representatives. NEWS, JULY 2 peal to the Swedish Embassy for diplomatic Stronger actions are required before the UN, the Swedish government, the European From protected sources in Jakarta, via protection after careful deliberation after TAPOL. over one year of persecution by Indonesian Community and the ICRC to resolve the intelligence forces. The three are living wit- situation obtaining the departure of the stu- The three East Timorese, Florencio A. dents from Indonesia. Fernandes, Jose Manuel de Oliveira Sousa and Proforio da Costa Oliveira, who entered Page 60 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. the Swedish embassy in Jakarta on 23 June ASYLUM SUMMARY embassy. “I expect to hear back from Maj. 1993, asking for asylum and for help to Gen. Hendro Priyono (who earlier led abor- leave Indonesia, have now left the embassy Indonesia Publications, Indonesia News tive talks with the students) by telephone, and are at the home of J.C. Princen who, Service No. 377 - July 2, 1993, Excerpt possibly tonight. It is only a matter of throughout the affair, has acted as mediator. Three East Timorese students began a time,” he said. (RT, Jakarta, June 26) The three left the embassy following the fourth day holed up in the Swedish embassy signing of an agreement which reads (more in Jakarta Saturday, defiantly demanding EAST TIMORESE LEAVE or less) as follows: asylum as diplomats and Indonesian offi- SWEDISH EMBASSY IN Statement, Jakarta 2 July 1993: cials debated their fate. The students, who JAKARTA In a meeting attended by Military Com- said they feared for their lives if they were mander of Jakarta Major-General Hendro handed over to plain-clothes military offi- TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Cam- Priyono, Special Ambassador Lopes da cials outside the embassy, have asked for paign, today 2 July 1993, issued the follow- Cruz, J.C. Princen, the mediator, Anders safe passage to Portugal, which they hope ing press release: Stohr, Swedish charge d’affaires and Floren- will give them sanctuary. “It all depends on Three young East Timorese who have cio A. Fernandes, Jose Manuel de Oliveira the diplomats,” H.J.C. Princen, a human been on the run from the Indonesian military Sousa and Proforio da Costa Oliveira from rights activist who has acted on behalf of the since the Santa Cruz massacre in Dili in East Timor, the following agreement was three students, told reporters. Foreign Min- November 1991 and who took refuge at the reached: ister Ali Alatas, speaking Friday after his Swedish embassy in Jakarta on 23 June, 1. The three signatories from East Timor return from the conference, said he sus- hoping for help to leave Indonesia, left the are leaving the Swedish embassy of their pected “enemies abroad” were responsible Swedish embassy this morning. They left own free will. for the asylum bid, questioning why Portu- believing that they will be assisted by the 2. The Indonesian government, repre- guese journalists knew about it before he International Red Cross to go abroad. The sented by Major-General Hendro Priyono did. “I do not agree with his assertion that three are now at the home of J.C. Princen, and Mr. Lopez da Cruz, will not lay charges enemies within and outside the country are, chair of the Indonesian Institute for the against them, interrogate them, carry out so to say, conspiring in this case. I didn’t Defence of Human Rights, who acted as the any intimidation, arrests or other such ac- get that impression,” Princen said. (RT, mediator at the embassy. tions in relation to matters connected with Jakarta, June 26) TAPOL vehemently condemns the fail- a. their stay at the Swedish embassy, Three East Timorese asylum seekers be- ure of the Swedish government to live up to b. their activities in the past excepting gan a fifth day holed up in the Swedish em- its obligations under the UN Convention on such criminal activities as theft or assault as bassy in Jakarta on Sunday as their reluctant Refugees to protect the men who all have defined in the Criminal Code (KUHP). hosts and the Indonesian government ap- well- founded fears of persecution. For 3. The above mentioned people from peared to be losing patience with their de- Sweden, promoting profitable trade links East Timor are absolutely free to make con- mands for safe passage. Human rights activ- with Indonesia counts for more than pro- tact with Mr. Princen or the Swedish em- ist H.J.C. Princen, who has mediated on tecting the lives of East Timorese fleeing the bassy whenever they wish regarding matters behalf of the students with the government relentless persecution of the Indonesian connected with this agreement. and embassy, said Indonesia appeared to be armed forces. The asylum bid came as a –––––––––– hesitating in its original offer of passports huge embarrassment, according to a Swedish which would allow the three to leave the official speaking anonymously in Stock- The three decided to leave the Swedish country. “The situation is very difficult. embassy because conditions for them to holm, just as the Swedish multinational Apparently the Swedish are also losing ABB was concluding a deal worth $1.5 bil- remain there had become impossible and patience and this is affecting the because they also were given assurances that lion to build three power stations in Indone- (Timorese),” he said by telephone. Swedish sia. This was a deal, he said, that Sweden the International Red Cross would help diplomats were not available for comment. arrange travel documents for them to leave had worked very hard for years to clinch. (RT, Jakarta, June 27) Four other East Timorese took refuge in the country. (The ICRC operates a ‘family Indonesia offered passports to three East reunion programme’ which has helped some the Finnish embassy in Jakarta last week Timorese asylum-seekers Saturday, allowing but left the embassy on the next day. Fin- 1,500 East Timorese people to leave the them to flee the country, but they demanded country.) land too has massive business interests in more guarantees before abandoning their Indonesia, particularly in the paper and Members of the press were outside the refuge at the Swedish embassy. Human embassy when the three men left with Prin- pulp industry. These four are now incom- rights activist H.J.C. Princen, who has acted municado at the home of Lopes da Cruz, the cen. There were also many ‘intel’ people as mediator during a four-day stand-off, said around. After they reached Princen’s home, top- ranking East Timorese collaborator by telephone that Indonesian officials were with the military regime. there was a press conference attended by considering the demands. “The ambassador Indonesian journalists. Six of the seven men took part in the No- doesn’t have any problem with these pro- vember 1991 Dili demonstration that ended The three men appear to be in good spir- posals. I don’t have any problem with these its and are grateful for all the efforts around in a bloodbath when troops opened fire, proposals. The only question is will the killing nearly 280 people. Several of them the world to help them while they were at Indonesia government agree?” he said. Prin- the embassy. Their protection is now were wounded during the massacre and were cen said that Indonesia had agreed to give treated and protected by Catholic missionar- largely in the hands of Princen who has been the three students passports after earlier quoted as saying that anyone trying to harm ies. Other injured survivors were killed on ruling out the possibility. He said Indonesia capture. After being on the run for nearly a them in any way would do so ‘over my was still considering the extra demands from dead body.’ year, they each managed to escape sepa- the students including guarantees from all rately to Jakarta where they have been in parties of a safe passage to the airport, air hiding for nearly nine months. tickets and delivery of the passports to the East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 61

TAPOL regards the army’s assurances in the ICRC programme to reunite East THREE TIMORESE YOUTHS that they will not be harmed as worthless Timorese with their families abroad. and believes they could face persecution as But such a request would have to await AND HJC PRINCEN’S FAMILY soon as the regime feels that international the arrival of the new ICRC representative TERRORIZED attention has waned. in Jakarta, expected in the middle of July. All seven men will not feel free from per- The tour of the previous representative The following Press release was issued by secution until they have left Indonesia. ended Thursday. Infight on July 3, one day after the three East TAPOL has today called on the Interna- Should the ICRC help them under its Timorese students left the Swedish Embassy tional Red Cross to get them out of the family reunion programme, they would in Jakarta with assurances from Hendro country. It has also urged the British gov- probably go to Portugal or Australia. Priyono, Head of Jakarta Security, that they ernment and the European Community to Hendro said the Swedish had asked him would not be persecuted as a result of their seek assurances from the Indonesian gov- to remove them from the embassy but with- stay in the Embassy in connection with their ernment that they will be allowed to leave out using force. As they left the embassy demands that the Swedish government en- Indonesia, as is their right. compound, one of the three told reporters sure their safe passage out of Indonesia. British aid to Indonesia increased three- they were doing so of their own free will. On July 2 1993 at 10am, three East fold UPI Timorese youths (Florencio AF, Profirio The international community has shown CO and Jose Manuel OS) who had re- The three East Timorese moved to a little regard for the sufferings of the East quested political asylum from the Swedish house behind the home of H.J.C. Princen, an Timorese although it was the invasion of Mission, left the Embassy after an agree- Indonesian human rights activist who served East Timor in December 1975 that encour- ment was reached between Major General as mediator. Through the ICRC, they were aged Saddam Hussein to believe that he Hendro Priyono, Anders Stohr of the Swed- to be reunited with their families, he said, could invade Kuwait with impunity. This ish Embassy, Roving Ambassador Lopes da adding that the Portuguese government will week, the World Bank-led international aid Cruz and the Chair of the (Jakarta-based) support them financially. consortium, the CGI, granted Indonesia $5.1 Institute for the Defence of Human Rights, After the Swedish government turned billion financial assistance for 1993/94, an HJC Princen. down their request on June 23, the three increase on last year of $200 million. Re- refused to leave, demanding travel docu- The agreement stated that: gardless of its stated commitment to condi- ments to leave Indonesia. “The Indonesian government as repre- tionality of aid relating to a country’s hu- The London-based human rights group sented by Major General Hendro Priyono man rights conduct, the British govern- Amnesty International and the Indonesian and Lopes da Cruz has guaranteed that the ment’s aid commitment to Indonesia this human rights monitor (sic) Tapol, expressed three East Timorese in question will not, year was increased threefold, from $35 mil- concern over the safety of the men and ap- except for criminal actions, be subject to lion to $98 million. This comes on top of a pealed to the Swedish embassy not to hand demands, cross-examination, intimidation, 500 million deal this month by British them over to the Indonesian authorities. arrest or other such treatment as a result of Aerospace to sell Hawk aircraft to Indone- their stay in the Swedish Embassy.” sia’s air force. The embassy affair has become big news According to information received by In- in the Swedish press. A major afternoon fight on July 3 1993, since 10 am Princen’s TIMORESE LEAVE EMBAS SY: daily carried a full-page article yesterday. house has received visits by people claiming ROUNDUP BY TAPOL, JULY 2 Today, Sweden’s leading daily, Dagens to be intelligence personnel from the local Nyheter, carried a strongly-worded editorial, district military command. They forced their The following is a round-up of reports filed rebuking the government for its handling of way into Princen’s house, terrorizing his from Jakarta today by several news agen- the case. wife. At the time of writing, the security cies: personnel refused to leave the house, such AFP - Endang Nurdin THREE ASYLUM SEEKERS that Princen’s family felt they were hostage AP PEAL FOR to the military by receiving the three The three East Timorese asylum seekers Timorese in their house. These events show are now hoping for assistance from the In- INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT that the military has clearly violated the ternational Committee of the Red Cross to agreement it signed. SBS TV news, 3 July 1993, Unabridged get them out of the country. Infight demands that all sides involved in transcript “They agreed to leave and I have signed a this matter concede to the agreement which statement guaranteeing that they would not NEWSREADER: Three East Timor ac- they have jointly signed. The military’s be arrested or intimidated,” said Jakarta’s tivists who unsuccessfully sought asylum in violation of the agreement reflects a belit- military commander, Major-General Hendro Jakarta’s Swedish Embassy have appeal for tling human rights. Priyono. He had also promised not to bring urgent international help to leave Indonesia. up “their past deeds,” referring to their The group have been at the home of a lead- INDONESIA CHARGES claims that they were involved in several ing Indonesian human rights activists since anti-Indonesia demonstrations in East leaving the embassy yesterday morning. ASYLUM BID ENGINEERED Timor. They say they have under surveillance by BY AI But he added: “I do not guarantee, if it is Indonesian security forces since taking in found out later that they have been involved the Dili demonstrations of November 1991. Source: ATVI News Australia, 5 July 1993 in crimes.” He did not elaborate. And despite a written guarantee of safety (12.30am) Unabridged transcript The three were taken to the home of from Indonesia the three say they remain NEWSREADER: Indonesia claims a re- H.J.C. Princen. “The long- term plan is, we under virtual house arrest and are fearful of cent bid for political asylum by a group of will contact ... the ICRC,” Princen said, action by Indonesia. East Timorese men was engineered by Am- adding that he hoped they could be included nesty International and activists living Page 62 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. abroad. A senior Indonesia diplomat says believes that all seven remain at risk of seri- likely to be in even greater danger of arrest the failed asylum bid was design to embar- ous violations, including torture and impris- than they otherwise might be. rass Indonesia. Amnesty International re- onment as prisoners of conscience, if they Finally, this report provides clear and sponded by saying the suggestion was ab- remain in Indonesia or East Timor. This substantive evidence that, contrary to the surd and irresponsible. concern has been further heightened by the claims of Indonesian officials, all of the ADAM BROOKS: Seven East Timorese actions and statements of Indonesian au- seven have suffered persecution and human men last week entered the Swedish and Fin- thorities in recent days. Amnesty Interna- rights violations by the Indonesian authori- nish embassies in Jakarta. They said they tional therefore reiterates its call for the ties because of their non-violent political were been persecuted by the Indonesian Governments of Finland and Sweden to take opposition to Indonesian rule in East Timor. authorities for their association with the all appropriate steps to facilitate the safe For example, some suffered beatings, torture East Timorese independence movement and departure of the seven from Indonesia to a and arbitrary arrest after participating in they requested asylum. The bid failed. By safe country of asylum. It also demands that public demonstrations, between 1989 and Friday all of them have left the embassies the Indonesian authorities permit the seven 1991, which aimed to alert the international after accepting guarantees for their safety to leave the country. community to the appalling record of human from the Indonesian armed forces. On Sat- This report begins by outlining the re- rights abuse by Indonesian security forces in urday the Director General of Political Af- sponsibilities of the Governments of Swe- East Timor. Three of the seven - Florencio fairs of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry den and Finland under international law, and Anuncião Fernandes, Mateus Brito Ximenes Woryono Sastro Handoyo alleged that the contrasting these with each government’s and Profirio da Costa Oliveira - were shot asylum had been engineered by Amnesty behaviour in this case. Amnesty Interna- and wounded by the Indonesian military International and Jose Ramos-Horta, a sen- tional considers that, by failing to take all during the Santa Cruz massacre of 12 No- ior figure in the East Timorese independence necessary steps to facilitate the safe passage vember 1991, while three others took part in movement who lives abroad. of those who had sought protection, and by the demonstration. All fled the territory in encouraging them to leave the embassies, 1992 fearing for their lives. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL thereby placing them at risk of being arbi- 2. INTERNATIONAL REPORT ON ASYLUM- trarily detained and tortured by the Indone- RESPONSIBILITIES sian authorities, the Governments of Finland SEEKERS and Sweden may have acted contrary to Domestic and international legal restric- their responsibilities under international law. tions on granting asylum in diplomatic mis- INDONESIA/EAST TIMOR: Seven East It urges both Governments to reconsider sions do not in any way prevent govern- Timorese Still in Danger their positions and to take all possible ments from offering protection to those who 5 JULY 1993 measures to facilitate the safe departure of enter embassy premises and are genuinely at AI INDEX: ASA 21/14/93 the seven from Indonesia. If they do not do risk, and facilitating their departure from a country. In this regard, Amnesty Interna- 1. INTRODUCTION so, Amnesty International believes that the Finnish and Swedish governments must tional has reminded the governments of Amnesty International remains seriously Sweden and Finland that the prohibition on concerned for the safety of seven young accept a long-term responsibility to ensure that the guarantees given by the Indonesian torture in Article 3 of the European Conven- East Timorese who entered the Embassies tion on Human Rights (ECHR), to which of Finland and Sweden in Jakarta on military authorities are rigorously adhered to, and to intervene immediately and effec- both governments are party, applies to the Wednesday 23 June to seek political asy- acts of agents of contracting states abroad, lum. Four of the seven - Mateus Brito Xi- tively to protect the seven if they are breached in any way. including in diplomatic or consular premises. menes (23), Clementino Faria Oliveira (27), Given the risk of torture faced by the seven Oscar Gonçalves da Silva (20), Ventura The report also details several reasons why, in Amnesty International’s view, the East Timorese in question, the organization Valentim de Conceião (23) - left the Finnish advised both governments that transferring Embassy on 24 June after receiving assur- assurances offered by Indonesian govern- ment officials regarding the safety of the them to the Indonesian authorities might be ances from Indonesian military officials that inconsistent with government obligations they would not be arrested, and are cur- seven East Timorese do not constitute a genuine guarantee of their protection, and under the ECHR. rently staying at the home of an Indonesian In a letter to the Government of Finland, Government official. The other three - Flor- why the Governments of Finland and Swe- den should not have accepted them as such. dated 23 June, Amnesty International encio Anuncião Fernandes (21), Profirio da stressed that the four East Timorese then in Costa Oliveira (23), and Jose Manuel de Official assurances of a very similar nature have been routinely breached in the past, the Finnish embassy should not, under any Oliveira Sousa (24) - left the Swedish em- circumstances, be surrendered to the Indo- bassy on 2 July, and took refuge at the resulting in the imprisonment as prisoners of conscience of at least five people who nesian authorities. On the same day Finnish home of the human rights activist, Haji Prin- government officials stated that the four cen. had sought protection in foreign embassies, and the harassment and persecution of sev- would be allowed to remain in the embassy Notwithstanding the decision of the until they could leave safely, and that every seven to leave the two embassies, it is Am- eral others. The historical evidence indicates either that the authorities are not sincere in effort would be made to ensure that their nesty International’s view that their appeal human rights were respected. The following offering such assurances, or that they are for protection has yet to be satisfactorily day, however, Finnish embassy officials in resolved. Given the well-documented pat- incapable of ensuring that they are honoured by their own security forces. In either case, Jakarta surrendered the four to an Indone- tern of grave and persistent human rights sian official, Francisco Lopes da Cruz, ap- violations against East Timorese since the the assurances themselves cannot be consid- ered to constitute a satisfactory guarantee of parently after receiving assurances from the Indonesian invasion of December 1975 - and Regional Military Commander for Greater in view of the particular circumstances of protection. In fact, past experience indicates that those who embarrass the Indonesian Jakarta, Major General Hendro Priyono, those who have sought protection in embas- that they would not be arrested. The Am- sies in the past - Amnesty International Government by drawing international atten- tion to its poor human rights record are bassador told the press that he was satisfied East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 63 with the official assurances. In Helsinki, the as noted above, the central question was not following an unfair trial. He is a prisoner of Finnish Government reportedly announced whether the Finnish and Swedish govern- conscience. that it was satisfied with the arrangements ments could legally grant asylum, but In another case, four people who sought but admitted, when asked, that it did not whether they were prepared to recognize protection at the Consulate of Papua New know precisely what assurances had been that the seven were in need of protection Guinea in Jayapura, Irian Jaya, in December given. The four remained at the home of and to assist them to leave the country 1989 were arrested and later convicted of Francisco Lopes da Cruz on 4 July, but safely. An announcement by the Govern- subversion despite having received assur- little was known about their situation since ment of Portugal on 28 June, that it was ances from Indonesian government and mili- they were unable to leave the premises, and more than willing to allow the East tary authorities that they would not be ar- their freedom to communicate with the out- Timorese to enter Portugal, made it clearer rested or prosecuted if they left the Consu- side world was strictly controlled. still that Sweden and Finland would not late. The four, Drs. Jakob Rumbiak, Edison Like the Government of Finland, the have to grant them asylum, but only to pro- Waromi, Martinus Kambu and Jakob Matui Swedish Government stated at the outset vide the necessary assistance and facilities in - all of them supporters of independence for that it would ensure the safety of the three helping them reach a third country. the province of Irian Jaya - went to the East Timorese in its embassy. Nevertheless, 3. FALSE PROMISES Consulate out of fear that they might be after Indonesian authorities announced on The available evidence suggests that the arrested in connection with anti-government 25 June 1993 that they would not issue the Governments of Finland and Sweden either demonstrations planned for 14 December three with travel documents, the Swedish encouraged or pressured the East Timorese 1989. At the time the Indonesian Minister Government proved unwilling to provide to leave their embassies on the strength of of Foreign Affairs gave assurances that the them with safe passage out of the country. assurances of their safety from Indonesian men would not be arrested if they left the According to reports from Jakarta, but governmental and military authorities. In Consulate, and an Indonesian military strenuously denied by the Swedish Gov- Amnesty International’s view there are a spokesman said that the four had nothing to ernment, the three were thereafter placed number of important reasons why Indone- fear: “The safety of those proven not guilty under pressure from Indonesian, Swedish sian military and government assurances of will be well guaranteed.” On the basis of and officials from the United Nations High respect for the human rights of the seven these assurances, and under pressure from Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to East Timorese cannot be accepted as genu- Papua New Guinea officials, they left the sign an agreement similar to that accepted ine guarantees of their safety, and why they Consulate. A few weeks later all four were by the other four, and to leave the embassy. should not have been treated as such by the arrested and charged with subversion for In a message written from the embassy on Governments of Finland and Sweden. The their alleged role in the planned demonstra- 30 June the three said: most compelling evidence lies in the record tions. They were all found guilty in unfair “During all this time, Francisco Lopes, of Indonesian government behaviour in simi- trials and sentenced to prison terms of be- the Indonesian military officials and the lar circumstances in the past. Viewed against tween six and 12 years. Like Fernando Swedish Embassy have told us that there is this background the actions and statements Araujo, they are prisoners of conscience. no way for us to get out safely from Indo- of government and military officials in the Second, as these cases illustrate, it cannot nesia unless we sign a statement in Indone- current case have a chillingly familiar quality be assumed that assurances given by Indo- sian which they have written themselves.” and provide little room for optimism that nesian governmental and military authori- Facing mounting pressure to leave the official assurances will be honoured. ties, even those at the highest level, will embassy, and a flat refusal of their request always be respected by other members of for safe passage out of the country, the The Historical Record the security forces in East Timor or else- three finally agreed to leave on 2 July, on The historical record provides four pow- where in Indonesia. There are currently the condition that they would not be prose- erful reasons to doubt official assurances significant political rifts within the Indone- cuted for entering the embassy or for their that the seven East Timorese will not be sian state apparatus - over the issue of hu- past activities. After leaving, they took arrested or persecuted for their non- violent man rights among others - which sometimes refuge at the home of human rights activist political activities. First, others who have result in one authority ignoring or overriding Haji Princen, who acted as a mediator in the sought protection in foreign embassies in decisions made by another. For example, case. Immediately after their departure, they Indonesia and who have left their premises while the Foreign Ministry is principally were subjected to acts of intimidation by the after receiving such assurances from the concerned with improving Indonesia’s poor Indonesian authorities, which heightened authorities, have subsequently suffered human rights image, key elements in the fears for their safety. On 3 July 1993, for serious human rights violations. Seven East military leadership remain preoccupied with example, just one day after they left the Timorese who sought protection in the em- matters of “national security” and political embassy, military intelligence officers came bassies of Japan and the Vatican in June stability. In this respect, the recent experi- to the home of Haji Princen, and refused to 1989 left the embassies after receiving offi- ence of the International Committee of the leave until a formal complaint was lodged by cial assurances that their human rights Red Cross (ICRC) in East Timor is instruc- him to the Regional Military Commander. would be respected. However, in February tive. In June 1993, the ICRC suspended Shortly after the seven entered the em- 1991 a confidential military intelligence visits to political prisoners in the territory bassies in Jakarta, the Governments of Swe- document revealed that five of the seven, for the third time in six months, after mili- den and Finland announced that they were Fernando de Araujo, Marciano Garcia da tary authorities in East Timor continued to unable to grant political asylum to appli- Silva, Carlos da Silva Lopes, Agapito Car- place unacceptable restrictions on the visits, cants unless they were at or inside their doso and Lucas da Costa had been placed thus making it impossible to monitor the national borders. These announcements under permanent military surveillance be- safety and well-being of political detainees. evidently contributed to the decision of the cause of their non-violent political and hu- These restrictions had been imposed despite four to leave the Finnish embassy, and man rights activities. In May 1992 one of assurances by President Suharto and the placed those in the Swedish embassy under the five, Fernando de Araujo, was sentenced Minister of Foreign Affairs that unrestricted pressure to do the same. In Amnesty Inter- to nine years’ imprisonment for subversion access to prisoners would be granted. In national’s view this was unfortunate since, short, even in its dealings with a respected Page 64 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. international humanitarian body, the gov- which had been issued by the organization arrested or persecuted for entering the em- ernment said one thing and did another. several hours after the seven entered the bassy or for “their actions in the past, with Third, those who attract international at- embassies in Jakarta. the exception of any criminal offense cov- tention to human rights abuse by Indonesian The Contemporary Evidence ered by the Indonesian Criminal Law forces are those most vulnerable to arbitrary (K.U.H.P), such as theft, rape or the like.” Viewed in historical context, the actions imprisonment, beatings, torture and other In view of the fact that the Criminal Code and statements of government and military violations. For example, when Fernando contains provisions outlawing certain kinds authorities since the asylum bid the seven Araujo was convicted, the judge said the of non-violent political activity, under East Timorese began on 23 June, bear a long sentence was warranted because of his which scores of East Timorese and Indone- striking familiarity. In Amnesty Interna- attempts to “gain the sympathy of the in- sians have been imprisoned over the years, tional’s view they leave little room for con- ternational community for the abuse of hu- this assurance provides no effective guaran- fidence that the safety of the seven will, in man rights in East Timor.” Francisco tee against arbitrary detention. In fact, the fact, be guaranteed while they remain in Miranda Branco, another East Timorese wording of the agreement appears deliber- Indonesia. convicted for having organized the demon- ately to provide the grounds upon which the Shortly after the four left the Finnish stration which preceded the Santa Cruz three may be arrested and prosecuted for embassy, apparently after official assur- massacre, was sentenced to 15 years’ im- their non-violent political activities. ances that their rights would be protected, prisonment in June 1992. The indictment high-ranking government and military offi- 4. A HISTORY OF PERS ECUTION against him stated that he had “attempted to cials began to issue statements qualifying Indonesian forces invaded East Timor in give a wrong picture of the facts in East the assurances, and effectively establishing 1975 and have occupied the territory ille- Timor to prove that the Indonesian Gov- the grounds for the future arrest and impris- gally since then. In that period, Amnesty ernment did not respect human rights in the onment of some or all of the seven. On 24 International has documented a pattern of province.” Yet another, Carlos dos Santos June, for example, Coordinating Minister of gross and persistent human rights violations Lemos was sentenced to eight years impris- Political Affairs and Security, Soesilo in East Timor, leading to the death of some onment on the basis of allegations that he Soedarman, said that the four who had left 200,000 East Timorese, and the arrest, tor- had taken photographs of the Santa Cruz the Finnish embassy would not be arrested ture and “disappearance” of several hun- procession, and for planning to send the for seeking protection, but stressed that dreds of others. Those who have advocated photographs to several countries, including they might still be prosecuted for their past independence have been especially vulner- Australia, Portugal and Japan. Given this activities. This clearly left open the able to human rights abuses, and East well-established pattern, International be- possibility that, like scores of other East Timorese who have attempted to document, lieves that, far from being protected, the risk Timorese and Indonesians before them, they protest or publicize the pattern of abuses of the seven East Timorese being subjected might be imprisoned for their non-violent have frequently themselves become victims. to further abuse may have increased follow- pro-independence activities. Furthermore, In early 1990, Amnesty International re- ing their recent appeal for asylum in foreign State Secretary Moerdiono Minister clearly ported the emergence of a new pattern of embassies. insinuated that their plea for asylum was in short- term arrest, torture and ill-treatment Fourth, the Indonesian Government has itself evidence that the four were guilty of of suspected political opponents of Indone- consistently denied reports of even the most some crime. He told the press: “If they did sian rule in East Timor. In the years since well-documented and widely publicized not do anything unlawful why should they then, thousands of East Timorese, most of human rights violations in East Timor, pre- take the trouble to seek asylum? What’s them young people, have been detained ferring instead to question the political mo- their problem?.” without charge by military authorities for tives of those, including Amnesty Interna- Similarly, on 1 July 1993, the military periods of a few days to several months for tional, who have reported them. This pat- commander of East Timor publicly alleged their real or alleged political activities. The tern has been reflected once again in the case that at least two of the seven were wanted Indonesian Government has claimed that of the seven East Timorese, thereby raising for their role in the Santa Cruz demonstra- these people have not been arrested but further concerns about the sincerity of the tion. In view of the fact that dozens of East have simply been invited for questioning. government’s stated commitment to pro- Timorese have already been unfairly tried Yet the intention of the practice has been tecting their human rights. On 25 June, for and sentenced to long prison terms for their clear - to weaken and undermine all pro- example, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister said participation in the non-violent procession independence political activity, however that the seven had not been persecuted, and at Santa Cruz, this was tantamount to a peaceful, and to intimidate any who might that they had no reason for seeking asylum declaration that at least two of the group of wish to take part in it. in the embassies. This was simply untrue as seven might be imprisoned, despite official Many of those detained have been held the substantive evidence provided later in assurances that their human rights would be incommunicado and tortured or ill-treated this report reveals. The Foreign Minister respected. If any were to be arrested, the by their captors in order to extract confes- also characterized the request for asylum by Indonesian authorities would very likely sions or political intelligence. Most have the seven as a political plot hatched by In- claim that they were guilty of a criminal been released only after swearing an oath of donesia’s “enemies": “There is strong sus- offence under the Criminal Code (KUHP). allegiance to Indonesia and to the state ide- picion” he said “that this thing was engi- However, in Amnesty International’s view, ology, Pancasila, and after promising not to neered by our enemies, even from if they were to be jailed for participating in take part in further political activities. Even abroad...they are trying to undermine Indo- Santa Cruz procession they would clearly after their release, political and human rights nesia.” On 3 July, a high-ranking Foreign be prisoners of conscience. activists have been kept under heavy, often Ministry official told journalists in Jakarta The assurances given to those who had aggressive, surveillance by military intelli- that the asylum appeal had been “engi- sought protection in the Swedish embassy gence, and have been required to report regu- neered” by Amnesty International. As “evi- have also been subject to reinterpretation larly to military authorities. Both they and dence” the official cited the two-page state- and manipulation by the authorities. The their relatives and friends have been sub- ment of concern, entitled Indonesia/East agreement stipulated that they would not be jected to persistent harassment, threats and Timor: Seven East Timorese Seek Asylum, East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 65 intimidation by military authorities and of people in East Timor have been arrested, prison where I was hit and kicked and gen- civilian operatives working on their behalf. held incommunicado and subjected to tor- erally taken revenge upon. I was asked my In short, East Timorese suspected of having ture and ill-treatment. They include the name, to which I responded...They laughed pro-independence political sympathies live leader of the East Timorese resistance, as they tortured me further, tearing off my in a climate of fear. Xanana Gusmão, arrested on 20 November rosary and forcing me to eat [it], the way While this pattern of arrest, torture and 1992, and scores of his close associates and they had done to the youths on the day of persecution has continued without signifi- relatives detained shortly thereafter. Xanana the Santa Cruz massacre. They ripped off cant interruption over the past five years, Gusmão was sentenced to life imprisonment and stole my gold chain and after having the majority of incidents of human rights following a blatantly unfair trial in May drawn blood, placed me in an empty room abuse have occurred during or immediately 1993, while many others arrested at the where I was left for two days without food. after one of the series of peaceful pro- inde- same time had yet to be charged or tried by In a nearby house where there are cells, I pendence and human rights-related demon- early July. heard the voices of prisoners, some of strations which have occurred since 1989. 5. SEVEN LIVES whom were moaning with hunger. One of At least 20 East Timorese young people The seven who sought asylum on 23 the voices I thought to be that of my were detained, and some were tortured or June 1993 were among a group of ten politi- brother...but I couldn’t positively identify beaten, following a pro- independence dem- cal activists who left East Timor in the first it. onstration staged on the occasion of the half of 1992 to escape military harassment “Two days later I was interrogated again Pope’s visit to East Timor on 12 October and persecution following the Santa Cruz and had all of my clothing, apart from 1989. One month later, on 14 November massacre. Three of the seven had actually shorts, taken from me. I was accused of 1989, Indonesian security forces stormed been shot and wounded in the massacre, and being the leader of the clandestine group and the Externato San Jose school in Dili to most had suffered human rights violations forced to admit that I knew about every- search for students suspected of involve- over a period of years - including beating, thing. Since I denied this, they began again ment in the October demonstration. At least torture and arbitrary detention - because of with their dreadful torture: electric shocks, three students were detained and two were their involvement in the other non-violent beatings with a club and, whilst forced to badly beaten by Indonesian security forces pro-independence demonstrations described kneel on sharp rocks, I was burned with during the incident. On 17 January 1990, above. Fears that the seven were in grave cigarettes and electric irons. Today my dozens of young people were beaten in Dili, danger of further human rights violations, whole body bears the scars resulting from and at least six people were detained shortly were considerably heightened after some this torture. I was forced to sit on the floor after the departure of United States Ambas- members of the group of ten were arrested with both feet up on a chair and then a huge sador John Monjo, with whom they had and tortured in 1992. rock weighing roughly 30 kilos was placed spoken of their desire for independence and According to their own testimony, mem- on my knees for a long period of time, their fear of official persecution. Further bers of the group crossed into the Indone- whilst I was being interrogated. Today my arrests reportedly followed another peaceful sian province of West Timor in early 1992 left knee is crippled. demonstration on 19 September 1990. Dur- and went into hiding in the town of Kupang. “During the interrogations one of my col- ing this event students of the St Paulus Jun- Still fearing for their safety, eight members leagues...was also brought in and subjected ior Catholic High School in Dili unfurled a of the group moved to various cities in Java, to torture. When I first saw him, I was to- Fretilin banner in the school compound. beginning in July 1992. Two others, tally unable to recognize him because of the The most notorious example of Indone- Agostinho Pereira and Antonio da Silva, physical state he was in. I remained in the sian military brutality in recent years was decided to return first to Dili before pro- cell for one month and, fearing that my the Santa Cruz massacre of 12 November ceeding to Jakarta. On 19 August 1992, death was imminent, I decided to escape 1991, in which government troops opened Agostinho Pereira was captured by Indone- rather than be shot.” fire on a peaceful pro-independence proces- sian security forces at the airport while In early September 1992, as the arrests sion at the Santa Cruz Cemetery, killing at attempting to board a flight from Dili to and torture continued in East Timor, mem- least 200 people, and wounding scores of Jakarta. Eyewitnesses said that he was bers of the group that had gone to Jakarta others. In the aftermath of the massacre, beaten on the spot by soldiers until his face wrote a joint letter of appeal to the “Direc- hundreds of suspected political activists was swollen and blood came from his ears, tors of Human Rights Organizations in Aus- were detained, many of them were tortured and there were reports that he was tortured tralia, America, Europe and Africa” asking or ill- treated, and at least 200 subsequently further while in custody. for help in putting an end to human rights “disappeared.” One week later, on 19 No- Shortly after Agostinho’s arrest, security abuses in East Timor. Two months later, the vember 1991, about 70 East Timorese were forces arrested dozens of other political same group wrote to the President of the arrested in Jakarta as they staged a peaceful activists and their relatives, heightening fears United States of America, Bill Clinton, say- protest against the massacre. Forty-six peo- that he had been tortured to reveal the ing in part: ple were detained for two months without names of other political activists. Some of “The greatest desire of the youth and charge and a further 13 charged with politi- those arrested at that time are known to people of East Timor is to end the suffering cal offenses and eventually sentenced, some have been tortured and ill-treated. They which we have borne under the occupation to lengthy prison terms, after unfair trials. include a young man named Francisco Car- of the Indonesian forces for 17 years. The Many of those who took part in the 12 los (Abonu), arrested in early September oppression has taken various forms, both November procession and the 19 November and held without charge in unacknowledged open and rigorously concealed, as acknowl- demonstration subsequently went into hid- detention for one month. He has described edged and noted by a number of American ing within East Timor, while dozens of oth- his treatment as follows: Senators and Congressmen to date. Through ers fled to various parts of Indonesia, in “At 9am the agents sought me out at the this message of good will and congratulation order to evade imprisonment as prisoners of Polytechnic in Hera and I had no choice but we would also like to take this opportunity conscience, torture and possible extrajudicial to surrender. I was handcuffed and tortured to draw your attention to the desperate execution. Since that time they have lived in on the spot and then taken to Colmera political situation we now face...” a state of constant fear. Meanwhile, scores Page 66 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

In what follows, the personal histories of murdered friend, Sebastião Gomes.” After Kupang and in July 1992, made his way to the seven East Timorese are summarized. the Santa Cruz massacre, he became increas- Jakarta, where he lived in hiding until enter- Particular attention is paid to the reports of ingly afraid and worried that not only he but ing the Finnish embassy on 23 June 1993. human rights violations inflicted upon the also his relatives were at risk of persecution Florencio Anunciao Fernandes seven by members of the Indonesian secu- by Indonesian security forces and for this Florencio Anunciao Fernandes, aged 21, rity forces. The majority had participated in reason he decided to flee to Jakarta, where was orphaned at the age of eight and was peaceful anti- Indonesian demonstrations in he remained in hiding until he sought asylum subsequently cared for by a local priest who 1989 and 1990; most also joined the demon- in the Finnish embassy on 23 June 1993. supported him through high school in Dili. stration at the Santa Cruz cemetery in No- Ventura Valentim de Conceiao Before fleeing Dili he worked as a reception- vember 1991. Ventura Valentim de Conceiao has been ist at the Hotel Turismo and studied English Clementino Faria Oliveira arrested and severely tortured by members at the University of Timor. He had hoped to Aged 27, he participated in the 17 Janu- of the Indonesian security forces on two be able to study international relations but ary 1990 demonstration on the occasion of separate occasions. Ventura took part in the was forced to give up studies after being the US ambassador’s visit to Indonesia and October demonstration which coincided wounded during the Santa Cruz massacre of was subsequently arrested by the Indone- with the Pope’s visit to East Timor in 1989. 12 November 1991. sian security forces. After being released on He was subsequently arrested on 25 Sep- Following the massacre, Florencio was 18 January he was closely watched by the tember by armed Indonesian soldiers. He constantly pursued by military intelligence military and was forced to move daily from was detained without trial for three months agents. Fearing for their lives he and two residence to residence in order to avoid ar- in the KOREM military resort command in others fled to Kupang on 30 March 1992, rest. On 20 August 1990, armed soldiers Dili, during which time he was repeatedly where they stayed with a friend. In a letter stopped him and ordered him to board their beaten and tortured. He was released after a to a friend, dated 27 November 1992, Flor- vehicle. When he refused they began to visit by the International Committee of the encio described his reasons for fleeing: shoot at him and he ran for his life. On 14 Red Cross. Ventura has recounted his ex- “I fled Dili with two friends, who also February 1991 he was again surrounded by perience while in detention as follows: joined in the 12 November demonstration in a group of intelligence officials but managed “On 17 October it reached my ears that Santa Cruz. The military was constantly to escape. In November 1991, after partici- the intelligence men were looking for me, pursuing us, saying we were leaders and pating in the procession to the Santa Cruz because I was also accused of taking a radio members of a youth organization which cemetery, a group of armed military men in and a pistol, and I fled to Lospalos. On the received orders from Falintil to organize the civilian dress entered his home and intimi- 20 October at midnight three armed sections 12 November demonstration. On 28 De- dated and threatened his family in order to came to the village of Ira-Ara, Lospalos, cember, around the middle of the night the obtain information about his whereabouts. where my family lives. They barged straight military surrounded our house. I escaped Fearing for his safety, Clementino fled to in and asked for me. My brother replied that through the window and went and hid at the Jakarta, where he lived in hiding until he I was in Dili; they saw my photo and took home of a colleague. As the military contin- entered the Finnish embassy to seek asylum it. They took my sister and her husband to ued to pursue us we decided to flee to Ku- on 23 June 1993. the cells of KODIM 1629, Lospalos. They pang. In Kupang we stayed with a Timorese Mateus Brito Ximenes were questioned, threatened and tortured functionary...In August 1992 we sent a until four in the morning...When they real- colleague - Agostinho Pereira to Dili to see In January 1990 Mateus Brito Ximenes, ized that I was still in Dili they searched at how the situation was and at the same time aged 23, participated in the demonstration my dwelling and on the 4 November I was to look for some money for us to live in which took place when US ambassador John taken, tortured and locked up in the cells of Kupang. He went, but on 23 August we Monjo visited East Timor. Following this the Nusra Bakti...at 7am in the morning. I learned he had been arrested...After four event military intelligence agents persis- was interrogated by Captain S and his men days secret agents appeared in Kupang, tently threatened to kill him. In November and I was brutally beaten by him and a first surrounded our apartment and captured our 1991 Mateus joined the Santa Cruz demon- sergeant called B without a break until 7pm brother the functionary; to save ourselves stration and sustained gunshot wounds after so that now I am suffering chest pains. I me and two other companions escaped being fired upon by Indonesian troops. He was in the cells for five days and five nights, through the window.” and seven other seriously wounded youths after which I was freed because they His letter went on to describe how he and were accompanied by the Bishop of Dili to thought I was innocent...” his companions remained in hiding in Ku- a clinic, where he was treated, but he was On 19 September 1990 Ventura joined a pang until they were lucky enough to meet only able to remain there for one night be- number of other students in a further peace- two people who took a letter to their rela- cause a military attack on the clinic was ful demonstration at St Paulus school com- tives in Dili. Their relatives sent back word expected. Still wounded, he fled and lived in pound. On 25 September, six days after the that they should not go to Dili because it hiding for one year in the interior of East demonstration, he was arrested by members was too dangerous, and so they decided to Timor. On 7 July 1992 he travelled to Ja- of the Indonesian armed forces and detained travel to Jakarta. Florencio lived in hiding in karta, where he continued to live in hiding in the Nusra Bakti centre for two months, Jakarta until he entered the Swedish em- until entering the Finnish embassy on 23 during which he was beaten and tortured bassy on 23 June 1993. June 1993. “day and night.” While in detention his older Jose Manuel de Oliveira Sousa Oscar Gonçalves da Silva sister was subjected to daily intimidation As an active opponent of Indonesian rule Oscar Gonçalves da Silva, aged 20 has and his brother- in-law was interrogated for in East Timor, Jose Manuel de Oliveira stated that the lives of his entire family have one full week at the Lospalos District Mili- Sousa, aged 24, joined the peaceful demon- been threatened since Indonesia’s invasion tary Command. After being released Ven- stration to Santa Cruz cemetery on 12 No- of East Timor in 1975. He joined the Santa tura’s every move was monitored by mem- vember 1991. He escaped from the cemetery Cruz procession on 12 November 1991 in bers of the military intelligence force and unharmed but, four days later, on 16 No- order to “lay flowers on the grave of my informers. In mid-May 1992 he arrived in vember 1991, a truckful of Indonesian sol- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 67 diers armed with automatic AR-15 and M16 and Ambassador Lopes Da Cruz, guarantees Indonesia/East Timor: Fernando de Araujo - rifles burst into his home to arrest him and that the above-mentioned East Timorese Prisoner of Conscience, May 1992 (ASA his brother. The two managed to flee but will not be subject to any persecution, inter- 21/07/92) were separated. To date he has no knowl- rogation, intimidation or arrest or any simi- East Timor: “In Accordance with the Law” edge of his brother’s whereabouts. Fearing lar action as a consequence of: Statement before the United Nations Sp e- for his own safety he decided to leave Timor a) their stay at the Swedish Embassy cial Committee on Decolonization , July and make his way to Jakarta, where he lived b) their actions in the past, with the ex- 1992 (ASA 21/11/92) in hiding until entering the Swedish embassy ception of any criminal offence covered by Amnesty International refused access to East on 23 June 1993. the Indonesian Criminal Law (K.U.H.P) Timor for anniversary of Santa Cruz Mas- sacre, press statement, 6 November 1992 Profirio da Costa Oliveira such as theft, rape or the like. 3) The above mentioned East Timorese (ASA 21/WU 04/92) Profirio da Costa Oliveira, aged 22, par- shall have full freedom to contact Mr. Prin- Indonesia/East Timor: Amnesty International ticipated in the January 1990 demonstration cen and the Swedish Embassy at any time fears further deterioration of human rights when the US ambassador visited Dili. Fol- with a view to assuring the well functioning situation, press statement 9 November lowing that event he was “constantly pur- of this agreement. 1992 (ASA 21/WU 05/92) sued” by Indonesian intelligence agents. As Jakarta, 2 July 1993 East Timor: Xanana Trial a Travesty of Jus- a result of military harassment and intimida- (Signed) tice press statement, 21 May 1993 (ASA tion he was forced to give up his studies. On Hendro Priyono 21/ WU 02/93) 12 November 1991 he joined the demonstra- F.X. Lopes de Cruz Indonesia/East Timor: Seven East Timorese tors at Santa Cruz cemetery and was shot H.J.C. Princen Seek Asylum 23 June 1993 (ASA and badly wounded when Indonesian troops Anders Stohr 21/13/93) opened fire on the crowd. Profirio was able Florencio A. Fernandes For further information on human rights to flee to the residence of the Bishop of Dili Profirio da Costa de Oliveira violations in East Timor see: and was accompanied by him to the San Jose Manuel de Oliveira Sousa East Timor: Violations of Human Rights - Antonio clinic, run by the Roman Catholic Extrajudicial Executions, “Disappearances, church, where his wounds were treated. APPENDIX III Torture and Political Imprisonment 1985 However, Profirio was unable to remain at AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL (ASA 21/16/85) the clinic because it was feared that it would REPORTS HUMAN RIGHTS be attacked by Indonesian troops. He was VIOLATIONS IN EAST TIMOR SINCE JAKARTA CLAIMS ICRC taken by friends to a village in the interior, 1990 PROGRAMME IS DEFUNCT where he spent the next eight months recov- East Timor: Short-term Detention and Ill- ering from his wounds. In mid-1992 he treatment January 1990 (ASA 21/02/90) Jakarta Post, 5 July 1993 learned that the Indonesian military forces East Timor: Amnesty International State- Comment: What follows is a bare-faced lie. were seeking to arrest all those who had ment to the United Nations Special Com- The family reunion programme is very much joined the Santa Cruz demonstration and, mittee on Decolonization August 1990 fearing for his life, he fled to Jakarta in July, (ASA 21/09/90) still running, with families due to leave this week! How much can they get away with? – where he lived in hiding until entering the East Timor: Update on Human Rights Con- TAPOL Swedish embassy on 23 June 1993. cerns Since August 1990 January 1991 APPENDIX I (ASA 21/01/91) ICRC CANNOT ASSIST EAST JOINT STATEMENT AND REQUEST East Timor: Amnesty International State- TIMORESE IN LEAVING COUNTRY ment to the United Nations Special Com- FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM MADE TO An official has ruled out the possibility THE EMBASSY OF SWEDEN ON mittee on Decolonization August 1991 (ASA 21/14/91) of East Timorese asylum seekers leaving the WEDNESDAY 23 JUNE 1993 (included country under the Red Cross family reunion East Timor: The Santa Cruz Massacre, 14 earlier in this Document volume) scheme as the program is long defunct. November 1991 (ASA 21/23/91) APPENDIX II “The program was closed a long time Indonesia/East Timor: AI Appalled at Massa- ago,” a ministry of Foreign Affairs official AGREEMENT SIGNED IN THE cre, Calls for Impartial Inquiry, press state- who preferred to remain anonymous said at EMBASSY OF SWEDEN ment, 14 November 1991 (ASA 21/21/91) At a meeting held at the Swedish Em- the weekend. He was commenting on the plan of three bassy, with the participation of Major Gen- East Timor: After the Massacre, 21 Novem- East Timorese to ask the International eral Hendro Priyono, Mr. F.X. Lopes da ber 1991 (ASA 21/24/91) Cruz, Ambassador At Large of the Republic Committee of the Red Cross to arrange for Indonesia/East Timor: AI Urges Rigorous their departure from Indonesia after the of Indonesia with special tasks, Mr. H.J.C. Standards for International Inquiry into Swedish Embassy declined their request for Princen from the Institute for the Defence of Massacre, press statement, 3 December Human Rights in Indonesia, Mr. Anders 1991 (ASA 21/WU 03/91) political asylum and the Indonesian govern- ment refused them passage out of the coun- Stohr, Chargé d’affaires A.I. of the Embassy East Timor: Violations Continue and Doubts try. of Sweden and Messrs. Florencio A. Fer- Remain Over Official Inquiry, press state- nandes, Profirio da Costa de Oliveira and ment, 26 December 1991 The three - Florencio Anuciacao, Fernan- dez, Jose Manuel de Oliveira Sousa and Jose Manuel de Oliveira Sousa from East Indonesia/East Timor - Santa Cruz: The Gov- Profirio da Costa Oliveira - spent nine days Timor, it was agreed that: ernment Response, February 1992 (ASA 1) The three above-mentioned East 21/03/92) holed up in the Swedish Embassy here be- fore they left on Friday after the military Timorese leave the Swedish Embassy of Indonesia/East Timor: Human Rights Protest- assured they would not be prosecuted. their own free will. ers Charged with Subversion, press state- 2) The Indonesian Government, repre- ment 27 March 1992 (ASA 21/WU 02/92) They are being accommodated in the sented by Major General Hendro Priyono house of human rights activist H.J.C. Prin- Page 68 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. cen, who had acted as their mediator during CNRM: ICRC REPATRIAT ION quence of (a) their stay at the Swedish em- the negotiations with the authorities and the bassy, (b) their actions in the past, with the Swedish embassy. Princen said he would PROGRAM STILL IN exception of any criminal offense covered contact the ICRC for the possibility of the OPERATION by the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) men joining the East Timor family reunion such as theft, rape and the like.” Further the program. Press release from CNRM in Darwin, July Statement said: “The above mentioned East The Red Cross in the 1980s ran a pro- 6, 1993. Timorese shall have full freedom to contact gram for East Timorese to contact their Sources in Geneva deny claims by an un- Mr. Princen and the Swedish embassy at relatives living in Portugal, the colonial mas- named official of the Indonesian Foreign any time with a view to assuring the well ter of East Timor until 1975. Ministry, reported in the Jakarta Post functioning of this agreement.” [Taken from The family reunion process had been (5/7/93), that the East Timor humanitarian the original.] completed and both Indonesia and Portu- repatriation program under ICRC auspices However, on the first and second day, guese agreed that the case was closed, the has been closed. soldiers were outside Princen’s home. On official said. “The ICRC is not able to do The East Timorese students who left the Saturday, a television crew from Australia anything any more in our view.” Swedish Embassy in Jakarta after being which had been commissioned by Portu- The ICRC has retained its representative refused protection and safe passage may guese TV, RTP, visited the house and inter- office in East Timor but its responsibility is still benefit from the family reunion and viewed the three East Timorese for about an solely in seeing that political prisoners and repatriation scheme under which hundreds hour. As they were about to leave the detainees are being treated well. of East Timorese have left East Timor for house, soldiers entered the building and tried The three East Timorese entered the Portugal in the last few years. to confiscate the cassette. Princen and his Swedish Embassy and four others the Fin- The students are currently living in the daughter managed to drive the soldiers out nish Embassy on 23 June to seek political home of human rights activist Haji Princen and the TV cameraman left with the cas- asylum by claiming that their lives were who acted as their negotiator whilst in the sette. Footage from the visit was shown on under constant threat after they had taken Swedish Embassy. Portuguese and Swedish television news part in a series of anti-government demon- Concern for the well-being of the other programmes yesterday. Anyone wishing to strations. four young students who were persuaded to follow this up should ask TV companies to Both embassies declined their requests. leave the Finnish embassy earlier on, is contact RTP - phone +351-1 793-1774. The four at the Finnish Embassy left after mounting as human rights organisations and Mr. Princen reported the aggravating and 24 hours with military assurances that they the international media have not been al- intimidatory presence of troops outside his would not be prosecuted while the three lowed contact with them. house to the Swedish charge d’affaires who others stayed on until the standoff ended Princen visited the four in the home of made a complaint to Major-General Hendro last week. Lopes Da Cruz on Friday and was told that Priyono who promised to take action. As of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs official they were unhappy and wanted to make this morning, the troops have been with- reiterated an earlier assertion by Minister contact with Human Rights organisations, drawn. One is stationed at the end of the Ali Alatas that the incident in the two em- the media and the ICRC, and were being alley-way where Princen’s house is located. bassies was orchestrated by outsiders aimed prevented from doing so. There may be others lurking unseen in the at discrediting Indonesia in the world forum. A written agreement which stated simply vicinity but they are not at present in front The event developed in the closing days that the four were leaving the Finnish em- of the house. of the World Human Rights Conference in bassy of their own free will on the 24th of Princen and the three East Timorese went Vienna and the case was reported in the June at 7.30pm had been signed by the four to the ICRC office in Jakarta this morning to conference’s bulletin based on the state- students, the Finnish ambassador, Mr. Veli register to leave Indonesia under an ICRC ments by Amnesty International and Jose Ollikainen, Indonesian Ambassador at-large programme for East Timorese to leave Indo- Ramos Horta, a leader of Fretilin, the East Francisco Lopes da Cruz and Jakarta Mili- nesia under a family-reunion programme or Timor separatist movement. tary Chief Major Gen. Hendro Priyono. for humanitarian reasons. On Friday, the Asked whether Portugal was behind the Unlike the agreement signed by the three Portuguese government made a formal re- maneuvering, the official said ‘maybe’ but who left the Swedish embassy it gave no quest to the ICRC for all seven East he added he would not want to accuse any- guarantees about their ongoing safety. Timorese who entered the Finnish and one in particular. Swedish embassies to leave under this pro- He said the East Timor issue is a problem TENUOUS EXISTENCE AT gramme. It is now up to the Indonesian that nobody needs to aggravate further. “We PRINCEN’S HOME authorities to give their approval. don’t mind that people express concern over With regard to the basis on which the the November 12 incident. But if they try to From protected sources in Jakarta, via four East Timorese left the Finnish embassy perpetuate the issue., I think that’s mali- TAPOL. 5 July 1993 on 24 June, we now know that the state- cious and we cannot possibly tolerated ment which they signed contained no guar- them.” The three East Timorese students who antees at all. The document, signed by the He was referring to the Nov. 12 1991 in- left the Swedish embassy on Friday 2 July four men, simply said: “We are leaving the have been staying ever since in a small room cident in Dili in which troops clashed with embassy of Finland of our own free will East Timorese demonstrators. at the back of Princen’s home and are under after joint discussions with Major-General his constant protection. Hendro Priyono, Mr. F.X. Lopes da Cruz, The Statement which they signed con- Mr. H.J.C Princen of the Institute for the tained guarantees from the military com- Defence of Human Rights and .... (the am- mander of Jakarta, Major-General Hendro bassador of Finland). [The original docu- Priyono that they “will not be subject to ment has not yet been received.] any persecution, interrogation, intimidation or arrest or any similar action as a conse- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 69

SWEDEN APPRECIATES THE Since leaving the Swedish embassy, the the agreement,” accepting the Indonesians’ three men have been accommodated at the guarantees. EFFORTS OF THE JAKAR TA home of Princen. That is how the asylum Yesterday morning, Haj Princen accom- MILITARY COMMANDER request was eventually resolved. panied the three youths to the ICRC delega- tion, so they could be included in the or- Media Indonesia, 6 July 1993 PRINCEN APPEALED TO ganization’s Timorese repatriation program, The Swedish government has officially SUHARTO agreed by the Indonesian and Portuguese conveyed its gratitude to the military com- governments. “The names and dates of mander of the Jakarta military commander, Publico, 6 July 1993. By Sao Jose Almeida, birth” of Florencio Anunciacão Fernandes, Major-General Hendro Priyono, for his Translated from Portuguese Jose Manuel de Oliveira Sousa, and Porfirio efforts in removing three young East da Costa Oliveira, were registered, explained Timorese from the Swedish embassy last The three Timorese who requested po- Haj Princen. week. litical asylum at the Swedish embassy yes- The names of the four Timorese who, The statement of gratitude was conveyed terday put their names on the Red Cross since the 24th, have been staying in the personally by the Swedish Charge d’affaires waiting list. Princen, their protector who house of Lopes da Cruz, after they left the in Jakarta, on behalf of the Swedish ambas- wrote to Suharto reminding him of the “con- Finnish embassy (in which they had taken sador, to the office of the military com- fidence-building measures” promised by refuge the day before), are still not on the mander yesterday. Alatas, went with them. The other four are Red Cross list. They are: Mateus Brito “The Charge d’affaires conveyed thanks still being considered, assured Lopes da Ximenes, Clementino Faria, Oscar Gon- for such cooperative coordination, even to Cruz, who does not believe the Jakarta Post çalves da Silva, and Ventura Valentino da the extent that the military commander him- report that repatriation had been suspended. Conceicão. self took a personal hand in the matter,” said Yesterday, Haj Johannes Princen, Chair- Haj Princen told Publico that “Lopes da the military commander, quoting the Charge man of the Human Rights Institute of Indo- Cruz said he would do it,” adding that “I am d’affaires, Anders Stohr. nesia, sent letter to Suharto with and appeal no bureaucrat, but it is for him to do.” For The explanation about the resolution of that the departure of the 7 Timorese, who his part, Suharto’s itinerant ambassador the asylum request by three young men were refused political asylum by the Swed- explained that the four young men staying at from East Timor at the Swedish embassy ish and Finnish embassies, be facilitated. his house have not yet put their names on was given when the military commander According to what he told Publico, this the ICRC list because “they need time to was inspecting Infantry Battalion lawyer of Dutch origin reminded Suharto reflect and consult their families in Timor, 202/Tajimalcia in Bekasi yesterday after- that the Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas, had their parents and brothers.” Should they noon. The military commander told journal- “said at the Rome meeting on 21 April, that decide to ask to be repatriated, Lopes da ists who had asked questions about this that he would take confidence-building meas- Cruz does not intend to go with them at the he was only performing his duty as was ures” which would contribute towards un- time of inscription because, he assured, required of him. derstanding with Portugal, in order to find a “they can go alone, they are free.” He stressed that the Ministry of Foreign solution to the Timor problem. In the letter In Geneva, the ICRC headquarters had al- Affairs were really the ones who played the he also upheld that allowing “the boys” to ready “taken note that three of the seven key role. “Thanks to the Department of depart for Portugal would constitute such a had registered,” and that “Portugal agrees to Foreign Affairs, the requests for political “confidence- building measure.” Today, receive them,” according to the organiza- asylum by the three East Timorese youths Suharto is meeting US President Bill Clinton tion’s spokesman Joerg Stoechlin. He went at the Finnish and Swedish embassies were in Tokyo, on the eve of the start to the G7 on to confirm that the humanitarian organi- eventually rejected,” he said. summit. sation would be dealing with the “repatria- Asked about the terror conducted against On the telephone, Haj Princen told Pub- tion documents after the usual procedure of the youths by security forces, as reported lico that the three young men, who left the checking identities.” He mentioned, how- by Princen in a release faxed to the mass Swedish Embassy on Friday, are still in his ever, that “there are other conditions to be media in Jakarta, the military commander house, but added that “the men in green met,” and explained: “Even with Red Cross said that this was totally untrue. came back,” meaning that yesterday “a pa- free passage, we need Indonesian Govern- “Princen was the mediator for these East trol car” was “parked” in front of his house ment authorization for their departure.” But Timorese youth. It is not impossible that a and “two military” walked up and down he clarified that this case must be included third party is deliberately trying to stir up outside in the street. under the heading “repatriation on humani- trouble by waging terror against these men,” On Sunday he had seen nobody, in con- tarian grounds rather than reunification of the military commander said. “There are trast to Saturday, when several military families.” others trying to stir things up. Let’s find kept his house under surveillance, and even With regards their departure date, Joerg them,” the commander said. “Who knows, it came into the property and questioned the Stoechlin said “God knows, I don’t!,” and could be that the three youths are being young men when they were going out to stressed that it is a “slow job” and that “de- watched by Fretilin splinter groups who buy cigarettes. This gave rise to a protest lays are very frequent.” He gave an example want to murder them.” from the Swedish Ambassador to General of the repatriation of two Timorese families, Priyono, Military Commander in Jakarta, As already reported by Media Indonesia, programmed for today, but postponed in- the three young East Timorese who sought who later signed a guarantee that they would definitely at the last minute because there protection at the Swedish embassy were not be disturbed. were problems with the documents.” This eventually removed by the Jakarta military According to a foreign ministry source, week, “probably on Wednesday,” only commander last Friday. Major-General although officially unaware of these events, Alvaro Baiao (“a very old man who wants Hendro Priyono succeeded in softening the the Portuguese Foreign Ministry has already to die in Lisbon”) will be flying out. hearts of the three men who initially were asked the Stockholm Government to keep Lusa’s report on Friday that the seven, determined not to leave the Swedish em- watch on the young men’s situation, given or some of them, would be included on this bassy. that it was their “representative that signed flight, was roundly denied by the ICRC Page 70 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. spokesman. Although he confirmed having keep out of the clutches of the officers who they started watching a house where we spoken to the Portuguese news agency, were looking for us. Nor did we all hide in were staying, we would watch them from Joerg Stoechlin gave assurances that he had the same place. Some of us fled to the hills, inside, either through a window or from the only said that in the case of these 7 some fled to the homes of friends and some roof. Timorese, “the same process that is used for even fled abroad. The next day, when they had left, we repatriation could be used,” and had “re- In my case, after helping to organise the would usually move somewhere else. We ferred, by way of example, to the repatria- demonstration that is now popularly known could only watch them from afar, helped by tion planned for today.” as the Dili Incident, I hid at the home of a what the friend we were living with told us. The ICRC spokesman refused to com- priest in Dili. While there, I worked as the We closely monitored every single devel- ment on yesterday’s Jakarta Post report, priest’s assistant and did all the tasks he opment. We could rarely sleep at night be- according to which the repatriation program gave me as well as I could. The main thing cause if a security officer was watching the of Timorese to Portugal had been temporar- was that I was out of reach of the people place where we were, we had to keep our- ily suspended. Joerg Stoechlin would just hunting us down. selves ready so as to avoid anything unto- say “I know nothing ... We do not comment However, I didn’t feel safe because I ward happening. on this kind of rumor which appear, from knew that the officers knew all about me. We could only sleep during daylight time to time, in Indonesian or even Portu- But because I was at the home of a priest, hours and then only if things were really guese newspapers.” the officers would not come and arrest me. I safe. Usually, the people whose home we The Foreign Office also refused to com- stayed there for quite a while, until March took refuge in would stay on full alert. If an ment, alleging it had not seen the report. 1992. Then, I moved to a friend’s home. officer came to the house, we would be Lopes da Cruz seemed convinced that the I soon realised that the security forces woken up immediately. We kept ourselves ICRC will continue its program and that the knew about my new hiding place so I moved at all times in a state of readiness. This is three young men who have already regis- again. I moved from one friend’s home to how we lived during those days. tered will be included, as well as the others, another friend’s home. I kept moving on. I After playing cat-and-mouse for many if they make the same decision. Mentioning didn’t dare return to my mother’s home in months, things came to a head. We had been that the “former Red Cross delegate in Ja- Lospalos. The security people would cer- staying in that particular house for quite a karta offered his assistance” to settle the tainly have raided the house and captured while, for about four days. In the dead of case, he emphasized that he felt “sure that me there because I was definitely known to the night, a number of officers came to the he is going to transmit” this attitude to his be one of the people who helped to organise house. Fortunately, we had been woken by replacement. He warned, however, that that incident. So, even though I was longing a lot of noise in the house opposite so we “Repatriation takes time, since there are to see my family, I resisted the temptation. immediately escaped through a back win- many Timorese waiting to leave Timor. And However, after some time, I found it dow. We fled to the seashore and spent the what is necessary is that they find a better quite unbearable to be on the run from the night by the sea near Kupang. The next day, life there in Portugal because, if not, then security forces all the time so, together with we decided to go to Jakarta. This was in they will just be victims of politics.” two friends, Profirio da Costa Oliveira, 23 June. Luckily the security people had lost years, and Jose Manuel de Oliveira Sousa, track of us. The three of us travelled to JAWA POS INTERVIEWS 25, we started planning to flee to Jakarta. Denpasar in Bali and from there we took a ASYLUM-SEEKERS Profirio’s name was on the list of casualties Garuda flight to Jakarta. of the Dili incident who had disappeared, After arriving at a friend’s home in Ja- The following account, published in Jawa but my name wasn’t on the list. karta, we discovered that four other friends Pos on 11 July 1993, is by Florencio Anun- At first, we planned to go straight to Ja- were in the same position as us. Those four ciacão, one of the East Timorese who sought karta by plane but after thinking this friends are now staying at the home of Lo- political sanctuary in the Swedish embassy through carefully, we realised that it would pez da Cruz. We had all been close friends in June. The article which runs across three be too risky. Security forces were patrolling in Dili so when we met each other again at columns, starting on page 1 and continuing all the roads leading to the airport at all this friend’s house, there was a great reunion on page 16, is illustrated by a photo of Flor- times. So we finally decided to go by bus to after we had all been on the run for such a encio. Kupang in Nusa Tenggara Timur. long time. We exchanged stories about all But after we arrived in Kupang, we real- that we had been through. [This is an unabridged translation.] ised that the security knew we had fled. In Jakarta we immediately started plan- WE MOVED AGAIN, WE WERE Fortunately they didn’t know for sure ning to study at a university because the SHADOWED, SO WE MOVED YET which house we were staying at in Kupang three of us had all graduated from the senior AGAIN so they were not immediately able to launch high school, SMAK, in Dili. June was en- How many people ran away after the a raid to capture us. rollment time for new students at the pri- Dili incident? I don’t want to answer that To cover our tracks, we moved almost vate universities. We knew that it would be question by giving the precise figure because every day from one friend’s home to an- extremely difficult for us to enroll at a state that’s our secret. One thing I can say for other. We never stayed anywhere for as long university because their entrance examina- certain - I was one of those who ran away. as a week. The longest we stayed anywhere tions are very strict. Even so, I am sure that the security forces was four days. Usually, after being in one However, we were unable to proceed know quite a lot about us. The proof is that place for only two days, a security officer with this idea because it soon became ap- from the time of the incident up to the time would come along and start staking the place parent that we had not escaped the attention I came to Jakarta - and asked for asylum - I out. of security. Wherever we went, from one was always being shadowed by the security I knew very well what they were doing. (bus) terminal to another, from one shop to forces. If they were not absolutely sure we were in another, they trailed us. We became very We didn’t stay in only one place while a house, if they had not actually seen us in familiar with the way they shadowed us all we were on the run. We had to do this to person there, they would just keep watch the time. from close by. I knew this because when East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 71

At first we thought that we would be four who had sought political asylum in the hold office, the affable but politically weak safe in Jakarta but this was not true at all. Finnish Embassy. Sutrisno would take office, guided from The security forces found out that we were Since their removal on June 24, they had behind by a military junta presumable led in Jakarta only a few weeks after we arrived been essentially under house arrest in the by former defence minister Benny Murdani. at the house where we were staying. Once home of Lopes da Cruz, an East Timorese At the launching of the book, Benny again, we began to feel that we were under a who serves the Indonesian government as an Moerdani- Profile of a soldier statesman last great deal of pressure, so the six others and I ambassador at large. The move improves the month, Murdani was in top form, the ball- discussed what we should do to escape the situation of the young men because they room crammed with a who’s who of Jakarta, forces who were hunting for us. will be freer to seek out the help of the leaving no one in any doubt that he had Finally, we decided that we would go to ICRC (Red Cross) and other agencies in relinquished little political power despite his the foreign embassy that was nearest the leaving Indonesia. They will register with retirement. Murdani, Indonesia’s intelligence place where we were staying and ask for the ICRC tomorrow. The transfer was ac- chief from 1974-83, and armed forces chief political asylum. That’s what we did on 23 complished by Princen with the cooperation from 1983-88, he is deemed both king-maker June. The three of us went to the Swedish of Jakarta Military Chief Major Gen. Hen- and, since retirement, a rallying point for embassy and the other four went to the dro Pryono. the” opposition from within” to Suharto. Finnish embassy. Both embassies are in the the chief focus of military opposition same building, Gedung Bina Mulia, on Jalan within Golkar is research and technology Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta. EVENTS IN INDONESIA minister B.J. Habibie, a self-avowed protégé At the Swedish embassy we met the of Suharto, who’s links to the president are chargé d’affaires, Anders Stohr. We told him sufficiently close to have enabled him to why we were asking for political asylum. REMILITARIZED ZONE - push through the purchase earlier this year The main reason was that it had become ARMY STRENGTHENS ITS of a 39 German navy vessels, reputedly unbearable for us to be on the run all the POLITICS bypassing the naval command. time from the security forces. Habibie is also chairman of the Indone- I don’t know what happened to the other Far Eastern Economic Review, 27 May 1993 sian Muslim Intellectuals Association, the four because they were separated from us. Dateline: Jakarta political platform from which he hopes to But we had agreed at a meeting beforehand launch himself into higher office, and a that we would seek political asylum because After two years of keeping a relatively group which is antithetical to the armed we were on the run from the security forces. low profile, the Indonesian armed forces forces’ pan-religious principal of govern- As it turned out, both the Swedish and have moved back into civilian politics, ma- ment. Finnish embassies rejected our request. Even neuvering openly to strengthen their hold in Civilian politicians and the military do so, we tried to hang on at the Swedish em- the ruling Golkar party ahead of party elec- agree on one thing: should Suharto be inca- bassy. Our objective was to go on negotiat- tions and the party congress in October. pacitated in the next five years, the process ing until we were able to leave the country. The revival is apparently the opening of for a smooth transition must be locked in But in the end, a document was signed to a long term campaign focused on 1988 in- place. With memories of abortive but the effect that we were willing to leave the cumbent President Suharto is widely ex- bloody 1965 coup still very much alive, embassy on condition that nothing would pected to relinquish office in the intervening there is little chance the military will leave happen to us after leaving the embassy, years, the military looks set to launch an all the leadership succession to chance, pro- until we left Indonesia to go to Portugal, out effort to place its candidates in posi- military sources argue. which is where we want to go. tions in power both in the party and in That said, the chance of another violent During all this time, there was never any other powerful slots such as the vice- coup are remote. The legitimization of the problem about money. We regularly re- presidency, cabinet posts and gover- dominant socio-political role that the mili- ceived money from Australia, from my nosrships. tary plays in Indonesia means the army can great-aunt who has been living there for a Among the most public military moves get what it wants without having to resort long time. Some money also came from Lis- have been the pre-empting of a civilian can- to force. That was demonstrated in March bon where a cousin of mine lives. And didate for the vice-presidency in march in by the sophisticated maneuvering which money also came from other sources. favour of former armed forces chief Try resulted in Sutrisno’s elevation to the vice- Money was never a problem. Sutrisno. Within the party, efforts are under presidency. Now, we are waiting. We have no idea way to ensure that Golkar chairmanship and One unexpected result of moves by the whether our wish to go to Portugal will ever other key party positions remain in the military to solidify its position could be a be fulfilled. hands of retired generals. real taste of democracy of Indonesians, ac- Translated by TAPOL, the Indonesia The more obvious hand of the military in cording to Burhan Magenda, dean of politi- Human Rights Campaign civilian politics has in part been prompted cal science at the Universitas Nasional. The by Suharto’s relatively advanced age - he is military may find its expedient to allow 71. this makes the question of succession, ASYLUM-SEEKERS MOVED public debate and open political contest in should he die or become incapacitated, more its efforts to block other groups from bid- the largely academic exercise it has been in ETAN/US report July 12, 1993 ding for power. the past. Also spurring the drive is the mili- The armed forces meanwhile will be busy According to Indonesian human rights ac- tary’s anxiety to ensure that government tivist Johannes Princen, the four young East trying to win delegates at the provincial maintain a broad, pan- Indonesia focus and level ahead of the contest for party chairman Timorese men who had been in the house of not fall into the of a civilian group with Francisco Lopes da Cruz have been moved at the Golkar congress in October. All are narrower interests. aware, however, that as Golkar’s supreme today (July 12) to another home in Jakarta, The military game plan, or at least that where they are staying under the protection adviser Suharto holds the final decision and envisaged by one powerful faction, is sim- could, if provided with a shortlist rather of a Dutch Catholic priest. These are the ple. In the event that Suharto is unable to Page 72 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. than a single nominee, overturn the dele- RAMOS-HORTA MALIGNED Jose Ramos-Horta has already reacted, gates’ choice. accusing Wendy Holland of being “used by BY INDONESIAN Indonesian intelligence.” In a statement INDON MOVE TO PUSH NEWSPAPER made on the phone to the CMR - the first TIMOR PROGRESS medium to make public the content of the Publico, 11 June 1993. Darwin. Ana Fer- interview published by the Indonesian pa- nandes. Translated from Portuguese The Age, also Canberra Times, 9 June 1993 per - Horta said it is a campaign “which has A document containing serious accusa- been dragging on for several months” and (Jakarta, AAP) Indonesia’s parliament tions about the private, financial and politi- which was launched by Petrus Suriadi, the has urged the Government to establish a cal life of Jose Ramos Horta, representative journalist, who was in Portugal recently. special team to try to resolve the controver- of the Maubere Resistance National Council The CNRM’s special representative con- sial issue of East Timor. The house of rep- (CNRM), was circulating yesterday in the firmed that there are bank accounts in his resentatives wanted the team to publicize political spheres of Darwin’s Timorese name, but clarified that only two of them - East Timor’s progress since the former Por- community, with much secrecy and cautious one in Lisbon and one in Australia - are tuguese colony became Indonesia’s 27th reaction. The published document consists personal. The others are in his name because province in 1976, reports in Jakarta said of an interview, translated into English, the structure of representation of Resistance today. It would include representatives from carried out by the Indonesian newspaper abroad, which he is in charge of, has no legal the provincial administration, the Depart- Kompas, of a woman alleging that she and existence. “I am the CNRM’s representa- ment of Foreign Affairs and the Department Ramos-Horta had an amorous relationship tive, I put the money in some important of Information, a house of representatives and that, disillusioned, she decided to show places precisely so as to facilitate payment member of East Timor, Mr. Salvador Soares, that the Timorese politician “was not sin- of expenses,” he said, explaining that if he was quoted as saying. “Unclear prospects cere.” were not able to resort to those funds to for the solution of the East Timor issue will In addition to this alleged “insincerity” pay travel expenses, he would not be able to only hurt Indonesia’s interests,” he said. He on the part of Ramos-Horta, who “just carry out “necessary duties.” said Indonesia had been too defensive in the wants to be the centre of attention,” accord- Xanana Gusmão’s spokesman also de- international debate over the province. “Por- ing to the article published in the paper’s 6 nied having written the document said to tugal and Fretilin separatists have aggres- June edition, Australian Wendy Holland have been sent to supporters in Melbourne. sively made propaganda publication to dis- also raises suspicions about the Timorese I sent a half-page (not even that) document credit Indonesia,” he said. The United Na- leader’s involvement in the incidents con- which was made public at the time refuting tions does not recognise Indonesian control cerning the Dili cemetery and arrest of Emilia Gusmão’s allegations,” he said, of East Timor. Xanana Gusmão - of whom he allegedly felt pointing out that a document with a differ- “jealous.” ent formulation “is false.” INDO NGO’S CALL FOR Furthermore, the text gives the numbers A Timorese, with an important job in lo- CHANGES IN HUMAN RIGHTS of bank accounts, said to be in Horta’s name cal politics, told Publico that the Kompas and worth a total of 14,500,000 Escudos, in interview passed unnoticed in Dili. He was Source: ATVI(ABN 2) 9 June 1993 Australia, Switzerland, the US and Portugal. still totally unaware yesterday of Wendy By Ian MacIntosh The Indonesian journalist adds that, as Holland’s accusations against Jose Ramos- Presenter: A large group of Non- will as photographs of Horta in “compro- Horta. Government Organizations in Indonesia has mising situations with other women in called for major changes in the way human Europe, Sydney, and Thailand,” Wendy TIMOR APPEAL FAILS rights one defined and protected. The group showed him a letter in which Jose Ramos- comprising 56 human rights and environ- Horta recommended to supporters in Mel- The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 1993 mental organization issued the call ahead of bourne that they ignore the accusations By Reuter next week’s world conference on HR in made by Xanana’s former wife, Emilia Jakarta: Indonesia’s supreme court has Vienna. Gusmão, relating to Horta’s involvement in rejected the final appeal of East Timorese Ian MacIntosh: The group, Ind. NGO’s the guerrilla leader’s arrest. student leaders jailed for protesting against for democracy wants the UN universal dec- Fretilin and UDT representatives in Aus- an army massacre in Dili, a lawyer said to- laration of HR and the international conven- tralia refused to give their reactions to the day. The lawyer said the court upheld the tion on civil and political rights reformu- article, saying that “commenting on an In- jail terms for Fernando de Araujo, Joao lated. The Ind. NGO’s warned that putting donesian newspaper makes no sense.” The Freitas de Camara, Virgilio da Silva Guter- an emphasis on cultural, historical and reli- two Timorese political factions will only res. gious differences as many developing have take up a position, to be decided jointly, proposed will only undermine the universal- once the international press (namely Austra- YELLOW STARS IN ity of human rights. And they call for lian and Portuguese) refer to the matter. The strengthening of workers rights as well as Darwin CNRM also refused to make any INDONESIA those of women and indigenous people. statement on the case. Much of the group’s declaration is sharply The big question circulating the Timorese FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS at odds with the policies of the Suharto community is what made this sick woman BRANDED BY SPECIAL ID administration and other Asian governments (Wendy suffers from multiple sclerosis) by Lina Cabaero on defining and administering human rights. choose Kompas in which to publish her (NGO News, Vienna, June 22) In 1965, story, because “if there is any truth in it, between 500,000 to 1 million Indonesians then an Indonesian paper would be the last were killed by the military for either being choice for anyone seeking a minimum of Communists, suspected of being Commu- credibility,” they comment. nist, or being a Communist sympathizer. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 73

Thousands others were detained and re- SSDI STATEMENT ON NEW In its analysis of the decree, the Commit- leased 15 to 20 years later. Some ex- tee found “strong reasons to believe the detainees remain under house arrest. They STUDENT-ARMY CLASH ON Commission will not be independent, that it and their families are survivors. Today, their JAKARTA CAMPUS will be composed largely of persons with number reaches 5 million. close ties to the government, that its man- Survivors of the 1965 massacre in Indo- June 23 date is vague, and that it will have little or nesia continue to have their rights system- According to a statement issued by the no power to conduct investigations of hu- atically violated. They are virtually excluded Students Solidarity for Democracy in Indo- man rights violations and press for the in the society, as they are forced to bear nesia (SSDI), a coalition of campus student prosecution of those responsible.” special identity cards bearing the remarks organisations and the Indonesian affiliate of The Committee concluded that the “Ex-TAPOL” or ex-political detainee. the Asian Students’ Association, at 1.00 am “commission seems designed more as a re- An interview with Mr. B. Nasution of June 24 last week troops and police at- sponse to international criticisms of human the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) tacked protesting students, injuring several rights violations by the Indonesian govern- revealed that bearing such a card prevents and wrecking various parts of the National ment than as a serious effort to address those former detainees, their families and Science and Technology Institute campus. human rights problems within the country.” children from finding jobs. The students had been protesting for the It called on the government “to reconsider “Those political detainees are officially last two days over the cost of lecture fees at the existing commission and provide it with “free people,” but in reality, they are not the private universities. The minimum cost a firmer basis in the law.” free at all.” is approximately $1,000 per year, with Presidential Decree No. 50 (1993) sets Mr. Nasution spoke of a case in which many courses costing much more. These are up a National Commission to promote ad- the granddaughter of an ex-political detainee huge amounts for the thousands of students herence to human rights in Indonesia and to succeeded in attaining a job in a government seeking enrollment in the scores of private improve protection of human rights in sup- agency. But when the military found out, tertiary institutes that have mushroomed to port of Indonesian national development. she was fired. cater for the massive demand emanating Twenty-five persons are to sit on the com- Mr. S. Wiryono, Director General for Po- from the extremely young population. mission, including a chairman and two vice- litical Affairs and Deputy Head of the Indo- In recent weeks, the new Minister for chairmen. In addition to a full-time secre- nesian Delegation to the Conference, was Education and Culture also has proclaimed tariat, the commission is to be divided into asked to comment on the 1965 massacre in that education should be more open to mar- three sub-commissions on human rights an interview yesterday. According to him, ket forces encouraging the charging of exor- education, human rights instruments and “the people used force in 1965. The gov- bitant prices. promoting the implementation of human ernment didn’t have a choice but to fight The several hundred students had begun rights. them. And the figure is not one million. It is their protests a day before. The university The Lawyers Committee believes gov- 40,000.” administrators refused to discuss the issue ernmental human rights commissions can Mr. Wiryono was also asked to comment of fees and the police were called in. The play an important role in promoting and on whether or not the Indonesian govern- students were unable to leave the campus protecting human rights, so long as they are ment played a role in selecting the Indone- until the morning raid by a combined force independent, have a clear mandate, consist sian NGOs to come to Vienna. He said of army and police. Over 50 students were of competent individuals and have sufficient “Yes, we did have a hand in it. But it wasn’t arrested and beaten outside the campus. powers to investigate violations and compel our hand alone.” Indonesian NGOs present Two were later found, severely injured, in government action. in the Conference have informed NGO paddy fields in Srengseng Sawah district and While the Presidential Decree declares the News of the presence of GONGOs from were taken to hospital. commission to be independent, the legal Indonesia. Student groups from other cities are now basis for the commission, as well provisions East Timor seems to be an issue on planning a follow-up demonstration outside on appointments, tenure and funding, raise which the Indonesian NGOs prefer to re- the Parliament. serious doubts that the commission will ever main silent, though one of them said that Released in Australia by AKSI - Indone- be able to function as an independent body. “this doesn’t mean that we like what is sia Solidarity Action, 24 June, 1993. P.O. The composition of the commission, as happening in East Timor.” Box 248, Broadway 2006, Australia. Fax: indicated by the appointment of former When Mr. Wiryono was asked to com- 61-2-3141508 Supreme Court Chief Justice Ali Said as its ment on East Timor, he said “if Indonesia head, undermines the government’s claims wanted to occupy East Timor, they would RIGHTS GROUP CALLS that it seeks to create an independent body. have done so in 1960. But we never touched INDONESIA’S HUMAN Justice Ali is closely identified with the East Timor until 1975, and this is because Suharto administration, the military and the Portugal left the place in total disorder. RIGHTS COMMISSION Ministry of Justice. As Chief Justice of the They also made the mistake of giving their “SERIOUSLY FLAWED” Extraordinary Military Tribunal, created in arms to the FRETILIN. So you see, 1966, he oversaw unfair trials of suspected FRETILIN is not at all an anti-colonial NEWS RELEASE from the Lawyers Commit- members of the Indonesian Communist group but an instrument of colonial power.” tee on Human Rights, July 9, 1993. Party (PKI) arrested following the at- When asked about the massacre in Dili, East Today, the New York-based Lawyers tempted coup of October 1, 1965. He was Timor last November, Mr. Wiryono said Committee for Human Rights issued an 8- Attorney General of Indonesia from 1971- “Dili and 1965 are black pages in our his- page statement, “One Step Forward, Two 81, and was Minister of Justice from 1981- tory and I’m ashamed of it. But please don’t Steps Back,” that is highly critical of Indo- 84 during the height of the so-called call them massacres, they were tragic inci- nesia’s new National Commission on Hu- “Petrus” killings, when the police killed dents.” man Rights, which was established by thousands of suspected criminals. He sat on Presidential Decree No. 50 on June 7, 1993. the Supreme Court from 1984-92, during which time he played a major role in gov- Page 74 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. ernmental efforts to bring the country’s the new commission as “independent and of the Indonesian government to create an independent bar associations under govern- free from the government’s influence” and as effective human rights body. ment control. According to the Committee, a body that will “monitor and investigate The formation of the National Commis- Justice Ali’s “background strongly suggests tile implementation of human rights domes- sion comes at a time when the government that he is an unlikely candidate to undertake tically."(2) An analysis of the decree itself, of Indonesia has come under increasing the aggressive and impartial investigations however, shows it to be without mecha- pressure to improve its human rights record. necessary to make the Commission an effec- nisms to ensure the commission’s independ- Serious human rights violations by the In- tive body.” ence or powers that would enable it to donesian government have been well docu- The mandate of the National Commission monitor and investigate violations of human mented and include extra-judicial killings, is very vague, providing little guidance for rights. The commission seems designed torture, unfair political trials, and severe setting priorities. In addition, the mandate is more as a response to international criti- restrictions on the rights to freedom of ex- constricted by the Decree’s reference to the cisms of human rights violations by the pression, assembly and association.(8) In national doctrine of Pancasila, which is fre- Indonesian government than as a serious March 1993 the UN Commission on Human quently used to restrict the fundamental effort to address human rights problems Rights adopted a resolution where it “ex- human rights of Indonesian citizens. within the country. pressed its deep concern” for continuing The powers conferred upon the National The Presidential decree sets up a Na- human rights violations by the Indonesian Commission under the Presidential Decree tional Commission to promote adherence to government in East Timor and expressed its are minimal. Nowhere does the Decree spe- human rights in Indonesia, consistent with regret for the government’s failure to iden- cifically empower the Commission to con- the state doctrine of Pancasila (Five Princi- tify all those responsible for the November duct investigations of alleged violations of ples),(3) the 1945 Constitution and the 12, 1991 killings in Dili and its failure to human rights or provide special powers that Universal Declaration of Human Rights."(4) account for those still missing.(9) Recently, would assist in such investigations. Unlike The commission is also intended to improve foreign governments and non-governmental other national human rights commissions, protection of human rights in support of human rights organisations have condemned Indonesia’s is not specifically empowered Indonesian national development.(5) blatant violations of due process rights in to hear and consider complaints; subpoena Twenty-five persons are to sit on the com- the trial of East Timorese opposition leader witnesses or documents; file information mission, including a Chairman and two Vice- Xanana Gusmão.(10) It is evident that the with the courts; or visit jails and prisons. Chairmen.)6) in addition to a full time secre- Indonesian government must begin to ad- The formation of the National Commis- tariat the commission is to be divided into dress seriously the continuing human rights sion comes at a time when the government three sub-commissions on human rights violations in Indonesia and East Timor- The of Indonesia is under increasing pressure to education, human rights instruments and new National Human Rights Commission, improve its human rights record. Serious promoting the implementation of human on its face, is one step forward – and two human rights violations by the Indonesian rights.(7) steps back. government have been well documented and The Lawyers Committee supports ef- 1. Independence: include extra- judicial killings, torture, unfair forts by governments to improve compli- Presidential Decree No. 50 states tersely political trials, and severe restrictions on the ance with international human rights stan- that the “National Commission is independ- rights to freedom of expression, assembly dards, and governmental human rights com- ent."(11) Yet the decree includes no mecha- and association. In March 1993 the UN missions can play an important role in pro- nisms to protect the commission’s inde- Commission on Human Rights adopted a moting and protecting human rights. To be pendence. To the contrary, the legal basis resolution where it “expressed its deep con- effective, however, governmental human for the commission, as well as the decree’s cern” for continuing human rights violations rights commissions must be 1) independent provisions on appointments, tenure and by the Indonesian government in East Timor of government control; 2) have a clear man- funding, raise serious doubts that the com- and expressed its regret for the govern- date to investigate a wide range of human mission will ever be able to function as an ment’s failure to identify all those responsi- rights violations; 3) be composed of compe- independent body outside of executive con- ble for the November 12, 1991 killings in tent and impartial individuals not beholden trol. Dili and its failure to account for those still to the government; 4) be sufficiently funded The commission’s independence is of missing. Recently, foreign governments and and in a manner that does not reduce their Particular concern given the absence of an non-governmental human rights organiza- independence; and 5) have sufficient powers independent judiciary in Indonesia. As the tions condemned blatant violations of due and expertise to investigate allegations of Lawyers Committee concluded in a recent process rights in the trial of East Timorese human rights violations, take remedial action report, the “judiciary in Indonesia is neither opposition leader Xanana Gusmão. How- and induce the government to respond ap- independent nor impartial .... Many judges ever, according to the Lawyers Committee, propriately to alleged violations. demonstrate clear partiality to government the “new National Human Rights Commis- Indonesia’s new National Commission on positions at the expense of individual sion, on its face, appears to be one step Human Rights, however, appears designed rights."(12) Since the early 1960s the Indo- forward – and two steps back.” to accomplish little of substance. As dis- nesian judiciary has not been independent, cussed below, there are strong reasons to nor is there is a history of independent gov- LCHR ON INDONESIA’S HUMAN believe the commission will not be inde- ernment commissions in Indonesia. This RIGHTS COMMISSION, FULL TEXT pendent, that it win be composed largely of underscores the need for comprehensive persons with close ties to the government, ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS provisions to ensure a human rights com- that its mandate is vague, and that it will mission’s independence and autonomy from BACK: INDONESIA’S NATIONAL have little or no power to conduct investiga- the government. COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS tions of human rights violations and press The National commission is established On June 7, 1993, President Suharto of for the prosecution of those responsible. by presidential decree, rather than by stat- Indonesia issued Decree No. 50 of 1993, Taken together, these problems demonstrate ute. According to the UN Principles Relat- establishing a National Commission on Hu- a lack of seriousness of purpose on the part man Rights.(1) The government has touted ing to the Status of National Institutions for East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 75 the Promotion and Protection of Human 2. Composition 3. Mandate Rights (“UN Principles on National Human The Suharto government’s long record of The mandate of the National Commission Rights institutions”), the mandates of such human rights violations and its failure to is very vague, providing little guidance for institutions “shall be clearly set forth in a prosecute members of the security forces setting priorities. According to Presidential constitutional or legislative text."(13) The responsible for abuses places special de- Decree No. 50, an objective of the National National commission was created by presi- mands on the members of the Human Rights Commission is to increase the protection of dential decree and so can simply be dis- Commission. This requires outspoken and human rights in accordance with Pancasila, solved in the same manner. The independ- committed individuals who are willing to call the 1945 Indonesian Constitution, and “the ence of the commission would have been the government to account. Neither the pro- United Nations Conventions, including the strengthened somewhat had it been enacted visions of the presidential decree nor the Universal Declaration of Human into law by the parliament with provisions government’s first appointment to the Rights."(20) This broad formulation, with- on the duration of the commission’s man- chairmanship suggest that the government out reference to especially important con- date. intends to appoint such individuals to the cerns, such as extra-judicial killings, disap- Presidential Decree No. 50 grants the commission. pearances and torture, threaten to misdirect President wide authority to control the The Presidential Decree says very little the resources of the commission to less composition of the commission. AH 25 about the composition of the National important endeavours. The decree also members of the full commission will initially Commission other than that its members are makes no mention of specific human rights be appointed by the president. Thereafter, to include “prominent national figures.” The instruments, such as the international Cove- they win be appointed according to rules the UN Principles on National Human Rights nant on Civil and Political Rights and the commission itself devises. The president Commissions calls on states “to ensure the UN Convention Against Torture and Other will retain the power to confirm all future pluralist representation of the social forces Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or chairmen and vice-chairmen, who will be (of civilian society) involved in the promo- Punishment, to which Indonesia is not a chosen by the full commission.(14) tion and protection of human rights,” includ- party but which set out important human The decree is less clear as to the process ing, among others, representatives of non- rights standards. The commission’s mandate for reappointment to the commission. An governmental human rights organisations. is also narrowed by the decree’s reference to members, including the chairman and vice- The Indonesian government has an- the 1945 Constitution and the national doc- chairmen, are appointed for a five-year term nounced that the first chairman of the com- trine of Pancasila. The government’s inter- and can be reappointed for a second mission would be former Chief Justice of pretation of Pancasila in particular has fre- term.(15) The role of the president in the the Supreme Court, Ali Said. Justice Ali has quently been invoked to restrict the funda- reappointment process is not specified. By long been associated with Suharto’s New mental human rights of Indonesian citizens. giving himself full power to appoint the Order government and with the armed 4. Powers initial commission, it seems all but assured forces. He is a retired army Lieutenant Gen- The powers conferred on the National that the president will retain a role in reap- eral; as Chief Justice of the Extraordinary Commission under Presidential Decree No. pointing its members. This will have an Military Tribunal, created in 1966, he over- 50 are minimal. Nowhere does the decree obvious chilling effect on the activities of saw unfair trials of suspected members of specifically empower the commission to members of the commission, particularly the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) conduct investigations of alleged violations before their reappointment to a second term. arrested following the attempted coup of of human rights or provide special powers The manner in which the National Com- October 1, 1965. More than one million that would assist in such investigations. mission is funded further undermines its suspected members of the PKI were ulti- Unlike other national human rights commis- independence. Presidential Decree No. 50 mately imprisoned by the government. Jus- sions,(21) the Indonesia’s is not specifically states merely that all funding for the imple- tice Ali was Attorney General of Indonesia empowered to hear and consider complaints; mentation of the commission’s activities from 1971-81, and was Minister of Justice subpoena witnesses or documents; file in- will come out of the state budget.(16) There from 1981-84 during the height of the so- formation with the courts; visit jails and are no mechanisms to prevent the govern- called “Petrus” killings, when the police prisons; or second police or military investi- ment from restricting or otherwise withhold- killed thousands of suspected criminals. He gators to provide technical expertise in in- ing the commission’s budget in response to was appointed to the Supreme Court in vestigations. The commission has also not its activities. This is inconsistent with the 1984 and sat on the bench until 1992. He been given power to take affirmative action UN Principles on National Human Rights played a major role in governmental efforts on behalf of victims of human rights viola- Institutions which states that a commis- in the late 1980s to bring the country’s in- tions, such as by providing interim relief or sion’s funding “not be subject to financial dependent bar associations under govern- a witness protection program. This absence control which might affect its independence. ment control.(19) of powers is the strongest indication that In addition, the commission will be “given The appointment of Justice Ali to head the government did not intend to craft an funds for basic expenses, offices and pro- the, National Commission undermines the effective human rights body. grams.(17) Yet no indication is given as to government’s claims that it seeks to create Without such powers, the commission whether, for instance, the commission will an independent body. Justice Ali is closely will have to rely on the good will of gov- have its own facilities or will be situated in a identified with the military and the Ministry ernment agencies, particularly the police and government ministry, or to what extent the of Justice, as well as with the Suharto ad- military, in order to investigate alleged hu- commission will have control over its ministration. His background strongly sug- man rights violations. The Indonesian police budget. The UN Principles call for funding gests that he is an unlikely candidate to and military have shown themselves to be that “enable it to have its own staff and undertake the aggressive and impartial inves- wholly unresponsive and often hostile to premises in order to be independent of the tigations necessary to make the commission outside inquiries, such as those from law- Government.(18) an effective body. yers seeking to establish the whereabouts or condition of persons in custody or who have “disappeared.”(22) Unless the com- Page 76 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. mission is specifically empowered to sub- investigations of alleged human rights man Rights, _Broken Laws, Broken Bodies: poena officers and information, and to have violations. The commission should be Torture and the Right to Redress in Indo- access to jails, prisons and other detention empowered to hear and consider com- nesia_ (New York: 1993) [hereinafter facilities, it will be unable to conduct plaints; subpoena witnesses and docu- Broken Laws, Broken Bodies]; Amnesty prompt and thorough investigations. ments; file information with the courts; International, Indonesia/East Timor: The visit jails and prisons; and second police Suppression of Dissent, July 1992; Asia Recommendations Watch, ‘Remembering History in East or military investigators to provide tech- Indonesia’s National Commission on Timor,’ Apr. 1993; Yayasan Lembaga nical expertise in investigations. The Human Rights was established pursuant to a Bantuan Hukum Indonesia, _Summary of commission should be able to provide in- seriously flawed presidential decree. Rather the observations of the Legal Process in terim relief and a witness protection pro- than hope that the members of the commis- the Cases in Aceh_ (Jakarta: 1991); Asia gram, and have the necessary funding to sion can overcome the major institutional Watch, _Prison Conditions in Indonesia_ do so. obstacles to its successful functioning, the (New York: 1990). Lawyers Committee urges the Indonesian In the absence of fundamental changes to 9. Human Rights Commission, Resolution No. government to reconsider the existing com- the formal structure of the National Com- 97/1993, Mar. 11, 1993. mission and provide it with a firmer basis in mission, we urge the members of the existing 10. See, e.g. Letter from the Permanent Mis- the law. We also urge that the government commission to undertake a number of spe- sion of Portugal to the Secretary General undertake to include the interested public, cific human rights investigations to establish of the United Nations, May 21, 1993 namely the human rights community in the body’s credibility. The commission (A/48/175-S/25819). Indonesia, in its further discussions of the should conduct a full inquiry into the fate of 11. Id. art. 3. commission. A reformulated commission persons, missing and unaccounted for since 12. _Broken Laws, Broken Bodies_, p. 92. would include the following: the November 12, 1991 massacre in Dill, 13. “UN Principles Relating to the Status of East Timor. This inquiry should entail both National Institutions for the Promotion 1) Independence: The commission needs on-site investigations and hearings involving safeguards to ensure its independence. A and Protection of Human Rights (annex), military and civilian witnesses. The com- Commission on Human Rights, 52nd meet- statute providing for the commission mission should conduct a similar inquiry ing, Mar. 3, 1992, in Report on the Forty- should be in effect for a fixed period. into the human rights situation in Aceh, Eighth Session, E/CN.4/1992/84 [hereinaf- Checks should be placed on the power of particularly the use of torture against per- ter UN Principles on National Human the President to appoint members. sons arrested for alleged political offenses. Rights Institutions]. Commission members should serve until The Lawyers Committee is not aware of a 14. Presidential Decree No. 50, art. 9. retirement or for a single, fixed term. single prosecution of military personnel in 15. Id. art. 8. Funding levels for the commission should Aceh for human rights offenses. The find- be established by law and salaries of 16 Id. art. 13. ings of these and other investigations should 17. Id. art. 9. Commissioners should be guaranteed. be made public. The commission should be provided with 18. UN Principles on National Human Rights its own facilities and the necessary funds ENDNOTES: Institutions, p. 130. under its control to carry out its tasks. 1. ‘Keputusan Presiden Republik Indonesia, 19. See _Broken Laws, Broken Bodies_, p. 51. Nomor 50 Tahun 1993, Tentang Komisi 20. Presidential Decree No. 50, art. 4. 2) Composition: To be effective, the com- Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia (“Decision of mission will require in its top positions the President of the Republic of Indonesia, 21. See for example, the charters of the Phil- persons competent in the field of human Number 50, 1993 on the National Com- ippines Commission on Human Rights and rights and can be relied upon to undertake mission on Human Rights’) [hereinafter the proposed Indian Human Rights Com- independent and impartial investigations Presidential Decree No. 50]. mission, discussed in Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, _Impunity. Prosecu- of alleged human rights violations. The 2. ‘Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, tions of Human Rights Violations in the government should give priority to ap- Press Release: ‘Indonesia’s President Su- Philippines_ (New York: 1991) 57-87, and pointing commission members from the harto Sets Up the National Commission on _’India: The Human Rights Commissions private sphere, particularly the non- gov- Human Rights,’ Washington, D.C., June 9, Bill_, 1993,” June 1993. ernmental human rights community. 1993. See The Straits Times, “Jakarta Sets Up Commission on Human Rights,” June 9, 22. “See Broken Laws, Broken Bodies_, pp. Commission staff members should also 37-43. have experience in the field of human 1993, for the statement of State Secretary rights and receive necessary training in Moerdiono. According to Moerdiono, the The Lawyers Committee for Human commission would be “an independent monitoring and investigations. Rights body whose tasks included monitoring, in- Since 1978 the Lawyers Committee for 3) Mandate: The mandate of the commis- vestigating and offering views to govern- Human Rights has worked to promote in- sion should be clarified and should in- ment agencies” on human rights in the ternational human rights and refugee law and clude the authority to monitor compli- country. legal procedures in the United States and ance with all UN human rights instru- 3. Pancasila is most simply defined as belief in abroad. The Lawyers Committee has sent ments. Priority should be given to inves- one God, humanitarianism, nationalism, research missions to and issued reports on tigation of violations of the integrity of democracy and social justice. more am three dozen countries throughout the person, namely extra-judicial killings, 4. Presidential Decree No. 50, art. 4. the world. The Chairman of the lawyers torture and disappearances. Universal 5. ld. Committee is Marvin E. Frankel; Tom A. principles of human rights should not be 6. Id. art. 8. Bernstein is its President; and Michael H. abridged by applying the doctrine of 7. Id. art. 10. Posner is its Executive Director. Pancasila. 8. See, e.g. U.S. Department of State, Copies of the Committee’s report Bro- 4) Powers: The National Commission _Country Reports on Human Rights Prac- ken Laws, Broken Bodies: Torture and the should have specific authority to conduct tices for 1992_ (Washington D.C.: 1993) pp. 568-80; Lawyers Commission for Hu- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 77

Right to Redress in Indonesia ($10) and this “Because we suffered severely from the main factions: the Suharto clique and the report ($3) are available from: colonists’ violations of human rights, we armed forces (ABRI) leadership. Many Publications Department, Lawyers don’t want to violated human rights our- observers tend to think that Suharto has Committee for Human Rights 330 Seventh selves,” Mr. Soeharto said. been moving towards attempting some kind Avenue, 10th Floor New York, New York Earlier this week, in reply to questions of political solution. 10001. Tel: (212) 629-6170 Fax: (212) 967- from the Japanese newspaper, Womiuri This view has been fed by the numerous 0916 Shimbun, Mr. Soeharto also defended the twists and turns in the regime’s diplomatic business activities of his six children which efforts to counteract the influence of the SUHARTO DEFENDS ROLE have expanded significantly in recent years, pro-Timorese lobby in many parts of the IN EAST TIMOR prompting complaints from other business- world. Every decision to meet with a UN or men that the family has been favoured by Portuguese delegation has been read as an Sydney Morning Herald, July 12. by Lindsay government departments. indication that Suharto is “softening” his Murdoch “Among my children, there aren’t any approach. that I have spoiled or that I have given spe- At the same time, the refusal of Indone- (Singapore) President Soeharto has bro- cial facilities and they manage their business sian military authorities to allow Interna- ken his silence on several controversial is- professionally and pay all their tax obliga- tional Red Cross personnel to visit Xanana sues, including East Timor, which he said tions.” Gusmão unhindered, despite assurances Indonesia never had ambitions to annex. from Jakarta that it would be possible, has Speaking to Indonesian journalists on a been taken as a sign that ABRI holds a more flight from Tokyo, Mr. Soeharto said the SWIFT RESPONSE TO INDONESIAN REPRESSION hardline position. former Portuguese colony had added to The recent meeting between Suharto and Indonesia’s “burdens” and that the annexa- US President Clinton in Tokyo logically tion was because “we wanted to respect Green Left #106, July 14, 1993. By Vanessa Hearman would have provided an opportunity for human rights.” Suharto to indicate some softening of the He said he told the United States Presi- MELBOURNE - The news that students regime’s approach. Clinton had just received dent, Mr. Bill Clinton, during a meeting in at the Jakarta campus of the National Sci- a letter from 43 US senators calling for Tokyo this week that Indonesia was re- ence and Technology Institute had been greater support for UN efforts to resolve sponding to the wish of the majority of East beaten and arrested by the Indonesian mili- the conflict in East Timor. Timorese when it annexed the colony in tary for protesting against rising course fees Even Indonesian foreign minister Ali 1976. on June 24 led to a picket in Melbourne Alatas, in Tokyo with Suharto, expected the Mr. Soeharto said he told Mr. Clinton outside the Garuda Indonesian Airways a issue to be raised. According to Alatas, In- Indonesia had only reluctantly accepted the few days later. donesia “would not think it strange” if Clin- integration because it was still facing prob- The picket, organised by AKSI (Indone- ton raised the issue of human rights with lems in its own development programs to sia Solidarity Action), was attended by Suharto. “All countries have their shortcom- improve the welfare of its people. around 30 people carrying colorful placards. ings,” he said. “The task of developing East Timor has Speakers condemned not only this instance Despite Alatas’ comments, on his return added to our burdens,” .The Jakarta Post of repression against students but also the flight to Indonesia, Suharto made it clear to newspaper quoted the Indonesian President Indonesian government’s poor human rights journalists that there was no change in the as saying. record - one that countries such as Australia regime’s position. Suharto told the journal- Mr. Soeharto also defended the 1991 would not expose, because of economic ists that he had informed Clinton that Indo- shooting of scores of anti-Jakarta demon- interests. nesia had only reluctantly taken over East strators in the East Timor capital, Dili. The The radical youth organisation Resis- Timor because that was what the East incident was started by a small group of tance, one of the sponsors of the picket, Timorese wanted. There was no indication people which opposed the integration and also expressed its solidarity with students in of any change in this. The Indonesian media had committed illegal actions, the President Indonesia. Petitions addressed to the Indo- also reported that Suharto defended the said. nesian government against the repression of action taken against East Timorese demon- “If anybody wants to criticize Indone- students were signed by passers-by. strators in Dili in November 1991. sian, we ask them to please do so and we AKSI recently launched a 12-page bulle- The only real difference between Suharto will try to give explanations,” he said. “If tin Suara AKSI (AKSI Voice), a publication and ABRI on East Timor is due to the fact the person is still not satisfied, he should discussing Indonesian political issues, with that Suharto is in government and ABRI is come to Indonesia.” special emphasis on news on the radical not. Suharto has to deal diplomatically with The comments surprised some interna- student movement in Indonesia. It is avail- the rising level of support, including in US, tional observers as Indonesia often refuses able from local AKSI groups, or in Mel- Japanese and European parliaments, for visas for journalists and human rights activ- bourne contact PO Box 4345, Melbourne some kind of resolution to the conflict. ists. Uni, Parkville 3052. This pressure on Indonesia is likely to Mr. Soeharto, the chairman of the Non- continue as a result of the continuing cam- Aligned Movement, went to Tokyo to meet SUHARTO: A SOFTER LINE paigns by the East Timorese and their sup- leaders of the 7 major industrialised nations. ON EAST TIMOR? porters and as a result of rivalries between The movement is concerned that western Japan, the US and Europe over influence in countries want to link aid grants to the hu- Green Left #107, July 21, 1993, By Max Indonesia and access to the oil in the Timor man rights records of developing nations. Lane Gap. Mr. Soeharto raised a variety of issues but Supporters and observers of the inde- Portugal has succeeded in pushing highlighted concerns of the west’s human Europe in a very strong anti- Indonesia di- rights policies. pendence struggle in East Timor have for some time been watching for signs of differ- rection, while Japan provides considerable ences between the Indonesian regime’s two aid to Indonesia. The US, closely aligned Page 78 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. with elements in the Indonesian state appa- Proselytization College (PTDI) in North his much more outspoken wife Erna will be ratus now out of government, including Jakarta. He often gave fiery sermons, includ- removed from her long-standing roles in the ABRI, does not mind seeing some pressure ing some which involved clear incitement to domestic NGO scene. on Suharto. violence. He was sentenced to 18 years – John While Suharto must deal with the diplo- imprisonment for alleged involvement in the matic problems, ABRI can afford to thumb BCA bombing, according to Tempo. He is INDONESIA’S HIDDEN WAR IN its nose at international opinion. ABRI itself now awaiting ‘conditional freedom.’ Also NORTH SUMATRA has suffered only minor setbacks, such as waiting is Tashrif Tuasikal, accused as the loss of small amounts of military training aid main figure in the BCA bombing. by Lucy Johnson from the US. This year, with Pentagon ap- To the best of my recollection, neither proval, it is making an attempt to buy the Abdul Qadir Djaelani nor Tashrif Tuasikal London, July 28 (ips) – the Indonesian training. It is increasing its weapons acquisi- were ever adopted by Amnesty Interna- government-backed military campaign tions from Britain and its training exercises tional as prisoners of consciences, though against the little-known armed opposition with Australia. their trials were closely followed. group Aceh merdeka, has led to the killing of There are no real signs, however, of any – John MacDougall up to 2,000 civilians in north Sumatra says change by either faction towards allowing human rights group amnesty international. self-determination by the Timorese. Such in a report published Wednesday, the NEW INDONESIAN human rights watchdog says it fears that the change is not out of the question but is most AMBASSADORS TO US, likely to come with the strengthening of the Indonesian military is killing innocent civil- pro-democracy movement in Indonesia. FRANCE, SAUDI ARABIA, ians as a terror tactic to dissuade others RUSSIA from joining or harboring the rebel faction. “the characteristic features of these kill- A.M. FATWA RELEASED According to an article in Tempo of July ings – the practice of public execution and According to a story in Tempo of July 17, former Bank Indonesia Governor and the dumping of bodies – all bear the hall- 24, A.M. Fatwa, former secretary of the later Trade Minister Arifin Siegar is under- marks of military tactics to terrify the Petition of 50 Working Group and former going the Foreign Affairs Department’s population and quash support for the guer- personal assistant to one-time Jakarta Gov- course for prospective ambassadors. He is rillas,” said an Indonesia researcher at am- ernor Ali Sadikin, has received day leave widely tipped to become Ambassador to the nesty’s headquarters in London. “this is the from Cipinang Prison, where he contracted US. If this happens, he will be the first non- only way that the military thinks it can hepatitis. Fatwa had been sentenced to 18 military Ambassador to the US from Indo- crush the Aceh movement,” she added. years imprisonment for subversion in con- nesia’ in recent memory. Retired Gen. for the past two decades, Indonesian nection with P50’s “White Paper” circulated Benny Moerdani reportedly earlier turned government forces have been engaged in a after the 1984 Tanjung Priok incident. Dur- down the job, so as not to be ‘exiled’ as campaign against Aceh merdeka (free Aceh), ing the day Fatwa works at the publisher were Dharsono, Kemal Idris, and Sarwo that calls for the establishment of an inde- PT Pustaka Antara as a consultant. He must Edhie in the early consolidation days of pendent state of Aceh and other parts of the be back at Cipinang by 5 p.m. He is barred Soeharto’s rule. Possibly this is another Indonesian province of north Sumatra. from taking strolls (keluyuran) and may not example of Soeharto’s basic current message the counter-insurgency campaign, how- speak to reporters. Now 53, Fatwa’s release to the Army: “You don’t want to play the ever, has had virtually no coverage in the conditions may be further loosened to ‘con- game? Then you lose.” What will happen to world’s press. international attention has ditional freedom.’ This request is now being Benny? Wait and see. focused, instead, on the former Portuguese processed. Barring further obstacles, a deci- Residents of France may be interested to colony of East Timor, where the Indonesian sion could be made in four months. know they will likely be honored by Wiry- military has killed an estimated 200,000 in Fatwa may just be the first in line. For- ono Sastrohamidjojo as the new Indonesian its efforts to quell armed rebellion against mer Textile and Light Industry Minister and ambassador there. Wiryono currently is Indonesian rule. P50 signatory Ir. A.M. Sanusi could be next. Director General for Political Affairs in the the report documents 67 pages of mili- Sanusi was sentenced to 19 years impris- Foreign Affairs Department. He has served tary atrocities in Aceh, and calls on the in- onment for alleged involvement in the Bank at the U.N. and long had occasion to deal ternational community to “demonstrate Central Asia bombing in Jakarta nine years with the East Timor issue. A great surprise similar resolve” in condemning human rights ago. A recent court decision set aside his is that Ismail Suny will be appointed as violations in north Sumatra. concurrent sentence in another case in which Indonesia’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia. but amnesty says governments – like he was found guilty of involvement of sev- The 64 year old expert in state administra- Britain, with its lucrative 1.5 billion dollar eral alleged plots to assassinate President tive law has a reputation as a ‘hard-liner.’ hawk jet arms deal with Jakarta – have in Soeharto. During his day leave, Sanusi, now He was jailed twice, in 1978 and 1979, but the past been reluctant to speak out against 71, will work in Optic Kasoem. Reportedly, never charged in connection with subversion Indonesia’s human rights record. President Soeharto has given the green light allegations for inciting the student move- amnesty also said that British diplomats to allow Sanusi a full amnesty. While in ment in 1978. He is now a member of the attempted to block a 1992 united nations prison, Sanusi gave several very recent in- Advisory Council of ICMI, the Indonesian commission on human rights resolution terviews to the press which were highly Muslim Intellectuals Association, led by calling for an improved human rights record critical of the government. Research and Technology Minister B.J. in East Timor. the vote, however, went To the best of my recollection, both Habibie. Rachmat Witoelar, reportedly too through. Fatwa and Sanusi were adopted by Am- ‘vokal’ for Soeharto domestically in his role but while downplaying the Indonesian nesty International as prisoners of con- as Golkar Secretary General the past five authorities human rights record makes it less science. years, will become Indonesia’s ambassador awkward for the British government to ex- Next after them may come Abdul Qadir to Russia (plus Uzbekistan, the Ukraine, plain its large arms deals, it is not an impera- Djaelani, former lecturer at the Islamic and Mongolia). Unfortunately, this means tive. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 79

the British American security informa- violations in Aceh. it is imperative they act Aceh and in other parts of Indonesia and tion council (basic), an anti-arms trade lob- now.” East Timor. bying group analyzed the British arms trade Second, the repercussions of past viola- and its human rights records. they noted AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: tions are still being felt by the victims and that Britain announced a 19 million dollar “SHOCK THERAPY” their families. The fate of many of those sale of an ex-royal navy supply ship just RESTORING ORDER IN ACEH, 1989- killed and “disappeared” in Aceh remains three months after Indonesian forces shot 1993 unresolved, and no compensation of any dead over 100 peaceful protestors in Dili, The complete report is 67 pages long, with kind has been provided to their relatives. In capital of occupied East Timor, in 1991. attachments. It is available on paper from addition, at least fifty people are only now “there is a gap between the government’s Amnesty or electronically from ETAN/US, beginning to serve lengthy prison terms, stated policy and what it’s actually doing the AI Index number is ASA 21/07/93. Only imposed after blatantly unfair trials, while that it seriously needs to address,” said a the introductory section is included here. an untold number of political suspects re- spokesperson for basic. main in unacknowledged, incommunicado the British government, however, defends 1. INTRODUCTION detention. the sales on the grounds that all military It is now four years since Indonesian se- Third, none of the suspected perpetra- hardware sold to Indonesia is used for na- curity forces began counter-insurgency op- tors of past violations has yet been brought tional defence not internal suppression. erations against an armed resistance move- to justice, and there is no indication that “we don’t believe that any recent mili- ment in the province of Aceh in northern they will be. This slackness on the part of tary equipment sent to Indonesia has been Sumatra. In that time an estimated two the authorities stands in marked contrast to used against the civilian population.” said a thousand civilians, including children and the the considerable effort and expense devoted spokesperson for the foreign office. “should very elderly, have been unlawfully killed, to bringing alleged members of Aceh Mer- it be modified in any way to do that the some in public executions and others while deka to trial. In Amnesty International’s contract would be curtailed.” in military custody. At least one thousand experience, the failure to prosecute those but amnesty dismisses this argument. “in people, and possibly many more, have been who have committed grave human rights a country where people are being shot down arbitrarily arrested on suspicion of support- violations sends a clear message that such for their peaceful views can the British gov- ing the rebel group, Aceh Merdeka, or be- acts may be committed with impunity, ernment really justify supporting the mili- cause they were related to an alleged mem- thereby making future violations even more tary apparatus?” said the group’s re- ber of the group. Many of those detained likely to occur. searcher. have been held incommunicado for periods Fourth, while the Indonesian Govern- Indonesia has been engaged in crushing of more than one year, and subjected to ill- ment has given repeated assurances that life the Aceh rebel group since its emergence in treatment and torture to extract confessions in Aceh has returned to normal, the evidence the mid-70s. led by Dr. Teungku Hasan di or political intelligence. Others have “disap- in this report indicates that serious viola- Tiro, a descendant of resistors against Dutch peared” in military or police custody. At tions continue to occur, even if on a reduced colonisers in the late 19th century, the or- least 50 have been sentenced to lengthy scale. Scores of people have been killed in ganisation gained a measure of support and prison sentences for subversion after unfair apparent extrajudicial executions within the in 1976 unilaterally declared Aceh’s inde- trials, including some who neither used nor past year and a half, and a similar number pendence. advocated violence. are thought to have “disappeared.” That the five years of military operations drove The incidence of political killings, “dis- number of victims of serious violations re- the organisation to ground. but in 1989, it appearances” and arrests in Aceh peaked in ported since early 1992 has been in the reemerged when scores of fighters returned late 1990 and early 1991, and has declined scores rather than the hundreds or thou- from training in Libya. significantly in the past year and a half. This sands is a welcome change, but it is small since then, says the report, security decline has led many observers to conclude consolation to the victims themselves. forces have stepped up military operations that there is no longer a serious human rights Fifth, the relative “peace and order” and have shot an estimated 2,000 civilians, problem in Aceh. Amnesty International which now prevails in Aceh, and the decline including children and old people. some have takes a different view. It believes that the in the overall number of human rights viola- been publicly executed, while others are pattern of gross human rights violations tions reported, does not reflect any signifi- killed and dumped in public places. reported from Aceh since 1989 continues to cant change in the policies or practices of in addition, Indonesian armed forces have warrant urgent international concern, and to the Indonesian security forces. On the con- arbitrarily arrested an estimated 1,000 peo- demand prompt and concrete measures by trary, it appears to reflect a continuing and ple. the report says detainees are routinely the Government of Indonesia and members pervasive fear of government retribution on beaten with iron bars, bottles, rocks and of the international community. There are the part of ordinary people living in areas of electric cables, burned with lighted cigarettes several reasons why. suspected rebel activity. Under the circum- or slashed with razor blades. scores have First, no thorough and impartial investi- stances, a pattern of grave and widespread ‘disappeared’ while in military custody. gations of the violations committed over the violations may quickly re-emerge in the Aceh merdeka fighters are also accused of past four years have yet been carried out. event of renewed opposition to Indonesian committing human rights abuses, including Independent human rights observers, both rule. the deliberate killing of civilians suspected domestic and international, have been pre- Finally, the pattern of grave human rights of being informers. but amnesty dismisses vented from conducting proper first hand violations reported from Aceh since 1989 is this as an excuse for terror tactics among the investigations, while government and mili- not unique. On the contrary, the heavy- local population. tary authorities have simply dismissed alle- handed methods employed by the security “the Indonesian government has shown gations of human rights abuse as “lies.” Not forces in Aceh are strongly reminiscent of no sign of taking the problem of human only has this left unresolved the fate of those that have been used to “restore order” rights violation seriously,” says amnesty. thousands of victims, it has created an at- in other parts of Indonesia for more than a “what’s more, the international community mosphere conducive to future abuse both in quarter of a century, and in East Timor since has failed to act on persistent reports of the invasion of 1975. The most conspicuous Page 80 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. similarity has been in the government’s use 1974 and profoundly weakened by the in 1976. Indonesian troops have occupied of summary executions by anonymous events of 1975, has shown itself to be ex- the territory since 1975. death squads, known locally as “mysterious tremely deficient and to lack an adequate amnesty international estimates that killings,” a technique which President Su- response capacity. Being aware and heedful 210,000 Timorese have died at the hands of harto described in 1989 as a kind of public of the urgent need to invigorate the Party so the Indonesian army. before the invasion, “shock therapy” designed to restore public as to confront the challenge we face, the the territory had a population of about order. Leadership, represented by the Chairman of 650,000. In short, the failure of the Indonesian the External Relations Committee and by the eight-page handwritten communiqué Government to address the serious human the Secretary General met with members of was signed by guerrilla commander Nino rights situation in Aceh has left past viola- the Lisbon Delegation in August 1987, in Konis Santana and another CNRM leader, tions unresolved, and has thereby created a New York. Among the decisions taken at Antonio Gomes da Costa Ma’Huno, who situation conducive to future abuse, not that meeting, was the decision to hold an was captured by the Indonesians in may. only in Aceh itself but in other parts of Extraordinary Congress. it stated that the CNRM’s leaders in East Indonesia and in East Timor. In Amnesty Preparations commenced immediately so Timor had decided that the organisation International’s view, it is incumbent on the that the Congress could be held as quickly would now be led by its main representative Indonesian Government to demonstrate its as possible. Now that the many and varied abroad, 43-year old José Ramos-Horta. stated commitment to the protection of obstacles have been overcome, the Central the CNRM had formerly been headed by human rights and to take immediate and Committee has the pleasure of announcing its guerrilla high command, which Santana concrete steps to resolve these problems. that conditions are finally suitable for the has led since November last, when his suc- Yet responsibility does not rest solely Congress to take place. cessor, José Alexandre Xanana Gusmão, with the Government of Indonesia. The Having obtained approval from the abso- was captured by the Indonesian forces after international community has failed to re- lute majority of its members, and in line leading the Maubere (Timorese) resistance spond firmly to reports of grave violations with the request by 87 Party members resi- for 17 years. in Aceh for almost four years. Some gov- dent in Portugal, UDT’s Central Committee, the new CNRM leader, Ramos-Horta, is ernments, too, have failed to offer adequate with the authority conferred on it by Article a 43-year old law professor at the university protection to Acehnese who have fled the 1 of Part II, appendix d-9 of the Timorese of Sydney, Australia. he has spent the best country to seek asylum. Amnesty Interna- Democratic Union’s Statutes, promulgated part of 17 years pleading the cause of tional urges member states of the United in Dili in 1975, decided: Timorese self-determination on international Nations, which have recently expressed l. To convene an Extraordinary Congress of fora. deep concern over a pattern of serious hu- the UDT, to be held in Lisbon, on 2, 3, the CNRM wants the international com- man rights violations in East Timor, to dem- and 4 December this year. munity to pressure Jakarta into accepting onstrate similar resolve with respect to vio- 2. To authorize the UDT Regional Commit- two U.N. security council resolutions which lations in Aceh. tee in Portugal to establish and nominate call for the holding of a referendum on A degree of responsibility must also be a Congress Secretariat, and submit this autonomy in East Timor. borne by the leadership of Aceh Merdeka. for approval by the Central Committee. Indonesia has rejected the resolutions and Whether as a matter of policy or not, mem- 3. To authorize the UDT Regional Commit- has disregarded successive condemnations bers of the organization are known to have tee in Portugal to take decisions on mat- by the U.N. general assembly of its invasion committed serious human rights abuses, ters relating to the Congress, apart from and annexation of the territory. including the arbitrary killing and ill- what is exclusively the Central Commit- Jakarta claims that it freed Timor from treatment of civilians. The abuses commit- tee’s area of competence. Portuguese colonialism and has done more ted by opposition groups, however violent, for the territory in 15 years than Lisbon did can never justify violations of human rights 18 May 1993, The Central Committee in five centuries. by government forces. Nevertheless, Am- Ramos-Horta has taken over the CNRM nesty International condemns them unre- RESISTANCE GROUP SHIFTS leadership at a time when the U.S. govern- servedly, and calls upon the leadership of EMPHASIS TO DIPLOMACY ment and non-governmental organisations Aceh Merdeka to uphold and abide by basic are expressing serious reservations about the standards of international humanitarian law. Lisbon, June 10 (ips) - East Timor’s na- human rights situation in East Timor. tional Maubere resistance council (CNRM) U.S. president bill Clinton expressed has announced that it will give priority to concern over East Timor at a meeting on THE TIMORESE diplomatic action to free the former Portu- Tuesday in Tokyo with Indonesian presi- EXTERNAL RESISTANCE guese colony from Indonesian occupation dent general Suharto. but will not stop its guerrilla struggle. and in an editorial widely quoted by Por- In a communiqué released here on Satur- tuguese media on Saturday, the ‘Washington UDT CONGRESS day, the CNRM said that diplomacy was post’ came out in support of Clinton’s deci- now the decisive factor in efforts to resolve sion to modify U.S. policy on East Timor. SCHEDULED FOR the East Timor issue, but stressed that “in- the U.S. daily said this was a modest but DECEMBER ternal resistance will continue.” necessary step towards calling Indonesia to Portuguese radio stations had carried ex- account for robbing the territory of its inde- Kaibauk, Timorese Info. Bulletin No.3, p.7. cerpts of the communiqué in June, but the pendence. May/June 1993. UDT Central Committee complete text only arrived here on Saturday The fight for the right of the Timorese after it was relayed through the Timorese people to self- determination and independ- jungle to Australia. ence has taken on more subtle and sophisti- the CNRM is made up of groups op- cated forms over the past years. In this posed to Jakarta’s annexation of East Timor respect, the structure of the party, set up in East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 81

WHO’S WHO IN THE CNRM November. Gusmão’s number two, Antonio interview with the Diario de Noticias (DN), Gomes da Costa Ma’Huno was arrested in Abilio Araujo puts his cards on the table Publico, 16 June 1993. By Adelino Gomes. March. with regards Ramos Horta’s alleged leader- Original Lang.: Portuguese The decision to choose Ramos-Horta, ship. He disagrees, naturally. His is the first (Lisbon) Founded in December 1988, the who will lead the movement from abroad, discordant voice on the subject to be heard. CNRM (Maubere Resistance National has not come as a surprise given that Indo- Q.: Do you believe the reports that Jose Council) has already lost three of its leading nesia is currently encircling the guerrilla Ramos Horta will be leader of the founding members: Xanana Gusmão and force of some 800 men, holding out in the Maubere Resistance National Council? Ma’Huno are imprisoned in Indonesian jails, dense Timorese jungle. A.: I still have not had access to the and Ma’Hodu, after his arrest, apparently Ramos-Horta said he was now waiting to documents. But whatever the outcome, the abandoned the struggle, in unclarified cir- receive “a written communication from the CNRM, as conceived in 1989, is barely cumstances. Inside East Timor, the CNRM interior of East Timor” before deciding holding up now. I say this because we all is the leading force, and consists of members whether to accept the new post. know that, today, the various components of Fretilin, UDT the Falintil (the guerrilla The guerrillas in East Timor, according to of the Resistance are going through very forces, not aligned with any party) and the the new leader- designate, “are the symbol severe internal crises. of the resistance of a whole people against clandestine network. Q.: Within the territory? Based on the so-called 20 November the aggressor in Jakarta.” East Timor was invaded by Indonesia A.: Exactly. In the interior, the situation (1992) Declaration, which has still not been is serious. We cannot just happily go on revoked in spite of Ma’Huno’s arrest, Lu- one week after its declaration of independ- ence from Portugal on December 1, 1975. It thinking that everything is just as though Olo and Konis Santana (the then Vice- nothing had changed ... as if Xanana, Secretaries of Fretilin’s Directive Commis- was formally annexed by Jakarta one year later. Ma’Huno and Ma’Hodu had never been sion), Falintil Sub-Commander of General arrested. Everything must be rethought. Staff Taur Matan Ruak, and Jose Ramos- A lawyer with degrees in international re- Horta are part of the Resistance’s Politico- lations and international public law, Ramos- Q.: Does the Resistance have a leader at the Military Commission (CPMR). Horta was foreign minister in the short-lived moment? Appointed in July 1990 special represen- Republic of Timor. At present he is teaching A.: No. On the internal level, it is clear - tative of the CNRM in and spokesman for at the Australian University of New South we are going through a phase which I com- the leader of the Resistance, Ramos-Horta Wales. pare to that of 1978, when the then leader intends to create, “in the coming months,” a However, Ramos-Horta spends much of Nicolau Lobato was murdered. “coordinating body for all the Resistance his time in Portugal and on frequent trips Q.: Do you believe in Konis Santana’s lead- abroad, encompassing the political parties around the world to promote the cause of ership? and the vast majority of the community his people, whom, he says, have been A.: I do not question him being leader of which does not belong to any party.” “practically forgotten by an international the Falintil or the forces he heads. But to Representation of the CNRM abroad, community which uses double standards in say that there is a leader of the whole Resis- which “is not attempting to substitute Fre- evaluating human rights.” tance... Some 200,000 people in East Timor, he tilin and UDT,” has, at the moment, is rep- Q.: And what about Jose Ramos Horta? resented in the US (led by Constâncio Pinto, says, have been killed by the Indonesian army, making it “proportionally the largest A.: There are various aspects. None of us who was awarded a grant for study at here on the outside can possibly lead any- Brown University, Providence), Canada, the genocide in the history of this century, con- sidering that our population originally con- thing that is going on inside. One could, at EC (Jose Amorim), Japan, Australia, and most, represent. But to lead ... I think that is Portugal (Timorese forestry technician Luis sisted of only 610,000 people.” Agreeing that there had been some pro- a very complicated matter... Secondly, with Cardoso, appointed to the post by consen- reference to that report (according to which sus on 6 June). It also has a lobby in Wash- gress, Ramos-Horta admitted that “Indone- sia is already having more difficulty in con- Ramos Horta was appointed chief of the ington; a human rights consultant in Geneva; CNRM by Konis Santana), Ramos Horta it has just created a centre for information, vincing the world to accept its theory that human rights in Asia are not the same as in always opposed appointments coming from training and education in human rights, led inside. by a Timorese “who has had over a year’s the rest of the world.” relevant training/experience in Geneva and Q.: Do you support a general congress of New York"; and it has a consultant on Indo- “THE RESISTANCE IS the entire Resistance abroad? nesian affairs (a diplomat). WITHOUT A LEADER” – A.: Yes. It is time to rethink everything. With regards Ramos Horta, I believe that he ABILIO ARAUJO RESISTANCE MOVEMENT TO himself has to take stock of his own posi- tions. I am not denying he is spokesman for BE LED FROM ABROAD Diario de Noticias, 30 June 1993. By Joao Pedro Henriques. Translated from Portu- Xanana and the CNRM. But the Resistance includes everyone, even those who do not By Mario Dujisisn guese fall under any political formation. When LISBON, June 22 (IPS) - The new leader (Lisbon) Fretilin President Abilio Araujo someone presents himself as the leader of all of the East Timorese guerrilla resistance rejects Ramos Horta’s leadership of the the Resistance, there are many who do not movement is to be Jose Ramos-Horta, cur- Resistance, and is in favour of a general like it... congress. He adds that the time of the guer- rently spokesman for the National Resis- Q.: Including Abilio Araujo? tance Council, Commander Konis Santana rillas is over, and warns against Javanisation. A.: Yes. announced in Portugal on Tuesday. Timor might, one day, freely choose ... inte- Ramos-Horta will take over from Jose gration. Q.: It is the first time you mention this con- Alexandre Xanana Gusmão, who was cap- Timorese resistance abroad is still di- gress... tured by Indonesian occupation troops last vided. Perhaps more and more so. In an Page 82 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

A.: I have already brought up the idea Q.: Why do you not wish to speak of a Q.: Will the meeting of Timorese take place within limited circles. But the current con- definitive statute. Why the reticence? before or after the Barroso/Alatas meet- cern is the reorganization of the UDT and A.: I always talk in terms of the right to ing in September? Fretilin components. Before that happens, self- determination and the fact that this A.: Probably before. we cannot think about a large organisation. right has not been exercised. The interna- Q.: Who will be attending? Q.: And is the armed resistance worn out? tional community ought to create conditions A.: Their names will be made known at A.: It’s worn out. There has been a mili- in which that right may be freely exercised. the appropriate time. But it will not be a tary defeat which Xanana Gusmão himself However, we cannot think only about that, meeting of party leaders. In fact, I think that acknowledged. What concerns me now is ignoring the reality developing in Timor. the concept of convergence, as far as it that this Indonesian presence, in such condi- Q.: What do you propose? unites forces identified with aim of inde- tions, is accompanied by a significant ele- A.: That, within the framework of nego- pendence, could be widened. ment of Javanisation of our society. Far tiations between Portugal and Indonesia, Q.: To include whom? more serious than the actual military defeat with Timorese participation, conditions are A.: All those wanting self-determination, would be the annihilation of our national and created to safeguard, above all, the identity even if they advocate going along another cultural identity. of the people of East Timor. road for Timor, that is not independence. Q.: Is this about to happen? A contribution towards this could be the We also want to say to our brothers that A.: The situation is very serious. In meeting, which I suggested, between the there is a place for them, even if Timor Timor there are around 120,000 Indone- Timorese leaders on the outside and the chooses independence. They are also going sians. The weight of this population is un- Timorese leaders working in the Indonesian to tell us that, if the people vote in favour of balancing our demographic equilibrium. administration. integration, we too will have a place. Then there is education. No Portuguese has Q.: That idea is not being taken up by the Q.: Was this proposal presented to the been taught for the past 18 years. If this other Timorese leaders abroad. Prime Minister the last time you met him? situation doesn’t change we run the risk of, A.: On the inside (pro-Indonesian) the A.: Yes. To the Prime Minister, to the one day, speaking about a people, when that matter is being discussed. But of course we Cardinal- Patriarch of Lisbon, to Joao Alves, people does not exist anymore. all know that they would only participate if Chairman of the Portuguese Bishops’ Con- Q.: In this context, does it still make sense to Indonesia were to give the green light.... ference, to the political forces, ... be thinking of an independent Timor? Q.: Wouldn’t such a meeting just deflect Q.: What was the reception? Wouldn’t the autonomy, supported by attention from what really matters - the A.: In general, it was good. some, be a better solution? meetings between the heads of the two di- A.: I prefer not to talk in terms of stat- plomacies? Q.: Even from the Prime Minister? utes, because when that happens, we are A.: That would all depend on the agenda. A.: Yes. .. it was good. Portugal sides considering definitive situations. I prefer to I proposed specific aspects. We would not with neither of the Timorese sides. Portu- ask: what can be done? I think that the talk about the territory’s statute. We are not gal’s position is to defend the right to self- situation is not irreversible. The people of going to say that Timor is a territory under determination. The Manichaean concept of Timor are resisting culturally. Portuguese administration, and they are not some being good and others bad has to be pushed aside. Q.: If a referendum were held now, don’t going to say Timor is the 27th province of you think that, given the problem of Indonesia. At the moment, what we want to Q.: How do you evaluate the management of Javanisation, the result might be integra- talk about is the pacification of Timorese Portuguese diplomatic activity? tion with Indonesia? society, which would include the uncondi- A.: I only have praise for it, especially A.: A referendum held now would result tional release of all political prisoners. This what Cavaco Silva’s government has been in a victory for the independence option. I is a basic condition, which they also want. doing. I believe that, in spite of its scarce have no doubt about it. Q.: Imagine the following situation: some- means, Portuguese diplomacy has made a tremendous effort. Q.: And would Abilio Araujo go there and thing is achieved at a meeting between the vote for independence? Timorese - the opening up of the territory Q.: What difference is there between Durão A.: But of course! Everyone knows the - which Portuguese diplomacy has not yet Barroso’s management and that of Deus position I have held ever since my youth. managed to achieve. Where would that Pinheiro? But I know that the international commu- leave Portuguese diplomacy? A.: There is still nothing concrete that nity’s position is one of hypocrisy. The big A.: If that happened, the merit would go would enable us to say there is a big differ- countries - the US, Japan, the EC - only talk to the UN Secretary General. Throughout ence. There certainly is a difference in style about human rights, but they don’t talk this whole process it is the UN which is ... Anyway, in Durão Barroso, Minister about the right to self-determination. The leading the way. Freedom of movement has Alatas is faced with a western diplomat Portuguese Government - and I do acknowl- always been demanded by Portugal and the with the astuteness of an oriental. edge that what it has done has been very UN. If it were achieved, it would not be due Q.: Besides the diplomatic activity, don’t you significant in relation to its means - only has solely to the meeting of the Timorese, but to think that the Santa Cruz massacre was diplomatic weapons. a group of factors. decisive in placing Timor on the interna- Q.: And could that people, through a refer- Q.: How do you interpret the rejection of tional agenda again? endum in years to come, choose to be In- that meeting by the majority of Timorese A.: The subject of Timor was brought donesian? leaders abroad? They say the problem of into the spotlight by the Timorese strategy A.: Yes. And what is more, in three years Timor is not between Timorese but be- of bringing the struggle to the urban front. time, the children of Indonesians who were tween Indonesia and the international This began in 88/89, when Indonesia an- born in 1976 will be 21-year-old. They will community... nounced the opening up of the territory. It be Timorese. This is a situation we cannot A.: Exactly. For this very reason, there is was then that the Resistance, then led by ignore. no reason stopping us from talking. Fretilin, opted for student demonstrations, East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 83 which culminated in the Santa Cruz massa- A.: If the Indonesians give no sign by expressing total contempt of the interna- cre. September, then we shall all have to think. tional community. The situation remains Q.: At one time you criticised Xanana, And that includes myself, with regards the unresolved to this day. accusing him of interference in Fretilin. meeting of Timorese. What balance can be drawn of the past 17 Now, after his attitude in court, has he Q.: “We shall all have to think,” but we years? Jose Ramos Horta, Special Represen- risen in your estimation? have not decided anything? tative of CNRM, the non-partisan organ of A.: Xanana has always been high in my A.: The messages have been delivered... East Timorese Resistance, speaking in Sy d- estimation. I’ve always considered him to be and the Indonesians know... However, nei- ney put it succinctly, saying the ill-advised a great patriot... ther the Portuguese Government nor we, aggression by the Indonesian military ourselves, believe there is any advantage in against the small and weak nation of East Q.: But there are many great patriots... Timor has produced no winners on any side. A.: In spite of all the difficulties there announcing now the suspension of negotia- tions. With the exception perhaps of a handful were between Xanana and me, I always of corrupt Indonesian Generals who supported him. “I would not run against Xanana” Timor still has not gained its independ- amassed fortunes out of the conflict, the Q.: What places would there be in an inde- ence - far from it - and there is already a East Timor saga they authored has only pendent Timor for Xanana and for Mario candidate for the Presidency: Abilio Araujo. produced losers. For the people of East Carrascalão? Timor, of which over 200,000 have lost A.: They are both essential. Q.: Would you go back if Timor were inde- their lives the experience has been pro- pendent? foundly traumatic. Not a single family has Q.: Is the evaluation of the results of the A.: Naturally. application - or non-application - of the been spared from loosing loved ones, physi- so-called “confidence- building meas- Q.: Would it be to protagonize in some po- cal dislocation, loss of property, human ures,” for the dialogue between Portugal litical project? rights violations or cultural shock. Many and Indonesia, what you expect from the A.: Yes. I have ideas for developing have fled, often after great hardship and meeting next September between the two Timor, and I intend to fight for them. danger, settling primarily in Australia and ministers? Q.: Would you run for the office of President Portugal. Their place has been taken by A.: Exactly. The ball is in Indonesia’s of Timor? Indonesian colonisers transmigrating to the court now. The sentencing of Xanana to life A.: That is a right all Timorese would territory. imprisonment, and other human rights viola- have. Indonesia’s reign of terror has been char- tions has compromised the climate of trust. acterized by massive killings, intimidation, Q.: But would you consider it? plunder of local wealth and resources, exclu- Q.: Should Portugal suspend the negotia- A.: I would. And any politician who says sion of the East Timorese from meaningful tions? he would not consider it is lying. participation in government, physical and A.: Indonesia should be made to feel that Q.: Is Ramos Horta lying when he says he cultural genocide, influx of outside settlers the atmosphere of trust must be created by will leave politics when Timor becomes who exacerbate the process of marginalisa- both parties. The sentencing of Xanana independent? tion of the local population and so on. The represented a backsliding in relation to the A.: I find that funny. I do not believe it. I people have nonetheless continued waging a Rome meeting. Indonesia will have to give have told him several times that he would resistance struggle for freedom and inde- some positive signals now to inspire confi- make a good Foreign Minister. pendence. dence. Q.: If you were to run for President, what Australia’s diplomatic blunder of Q.: If Ma’Huno is brought to trial and re- places would be “left over” for, e.g., condoning Indonesian aggression towards ceives a heavy sentence, should Portugal Xanana and Mario Carrascalão? East Timor in 1975 has continued to be a burden to this day. Government efforts at a then suspend the negotiations? A.: I would be a presidential candidate if pragmatism aimed at suppressing the A.: I prefer not to say as I don’t know they were not in the running. If Xanana abhorrent truth of Indonesia’s action in East what is going to happen. We should, how- were a candidate, I would not put myself Timor so as to curry favours with the ever, be prepared for what is going to hap- forward as one. With Mario Carrascalão I Jakarta generals, have failed. The truth could pen in July (when Indonesia commemorates can compete. Timor’s annexation). Suharto might do not be covered up, and the moral principles something with regards Xanana, commuta- Q.: Would you live in a Timor that chose espoused by Australian society could not be tion or some other measure. If he does, then integration? ignored.Instead of facilitating the growth of close he will have to do the same for others sen- A.: I won’t say that I would. But I will cooperative relations between Australia and tenced to life imprisonment. If that were to go there, at least to be buried. Indonesia, Canberra’s policies have created a happen, then I would concede that Indone- fundamental conflict between important sia had shown some sense of openness to- SEVENTEEN WASTED YEARS sectors of the Australian community and wards the international community. – J.R. HORTA their government, reinforcing an easily per- Q.: If Suharto were to lighten Xanana’s ceived lingering mistrust of Indonesia. sentence, would that be a confidence- Statement by Jose Ramos Horta, CNRM on The neighborly relationship Canberra building measure? anniversary of annexation. 17 July 1993. prides itself to be building with Jakarta has a false feeling to it. A.: It would be a very euphemistic way July 17 marks the 17th anniversary of East Timorese legitimate resistance of building confidence. However, it would Indonesia’s illegal annexation of East Timor. against the monstrous injustice its stronger be an indication that the Indonesians are After the brutal invasion of the former Por- neighbours are intent on forcing upon it, lead very sensitive to a firm position by Portu- tuguese colony by Indonesian troops on 7 to an ongoing resistance struggle which con- guese diplomacy. December 1975, Indonesia formally annexed tinues on the military, diplomatic political Q.: If Suharto did not lighten the sentence, it as its 27th province on 17 July 1976, in defiance of United Nations resolutions and and even legal fronts, adversely affecting the how should Portugal react? stability of the regional neighbourhood. Page 84 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Its savage approach to East Timor has was reported to have been profoundly hu- On this sad anniversary of the colossal been enormously costly and damaging for miliated by the harsh criticism he was forced historical East Timor mistake, which only Indonesia. On one hand large numbers of to receive. produced tragic losses during these 17 troops have died over the years. Then there Earlier this week, the UN Decolonisation wasted years, we appeal once again to the are the costs of war. Committee in New York heard 24 petition- statesmanship of the leaders of this region The highest cost, however, has been to ers strongly denouncing Indonesia’s neo and the world: listen to our voice, and allow Indonesia’s reputation. The brutality of its colonialist presence in East Timor and its us to share with you in a win-win solution corrupt occupation forces is paralleled only abysmal human rights record. benefiting of our entire regional family. by the murderous Cambodian Pol Pot re- Today, Malaysian NGOs are calling gime. For 17 years a growing chorus of upon President Suharto during his visit to RAMOS-HORTA SPEECH AT voices have denounced in international fo- their country, to seek an internationally LISBON TIMOR rums the wide range of human rights viola- acceptable solution to the East Timor prob- tions taking place in the province. lem, which is detrimental to the interests of CONFERENCE Among the most noted of many events the ASEAN region. which have irreparably blemished Indone- For several years the CNRM leadership Address by José Ramos Horta, CNRM sia’s name internationally are the Santa Cruz has advocated for the search of a peaceful Special Representative to the V Summer massacre of 12 November 1991, to this day and just solution for the East Timor prob- Session on Timor of the University of still not adequately accounted for. lem, proposing direct talks with Indonesia Oporto and the summer school on Indo- Last March the UN Human Rights under UN auspices, without pre-conditions. nesia and East Timor Commission passed a strong resolution Consistent with the above, CNRM’s Lisbon, 22-29 July 1993, abridged condemning Indonesian human rights viola- Special Representative José Ramos Horta, This will be one of my most important tions in East Timor and calling for greater presented a comprehensive Peace Proposal political statements of my life since at the UN involvement in the conflict existing to the European Parliament in Brussels in age of 18 I began to become aware of my there. April 1992, to the Council on Foreign Rela- own personal responsibilities towards oth- Recently, the illegitimate mock trial of tions in New York in May 1992 and later to ers and society, towards conflicts and dra- Commander Xanana Gusmão produced the UN. mas faced every day by human society and further international criticism. The East The Peace Proposal is in three phases: peoples’ struggle for social justice and po- Timorese leader was treated in a totally * Phase One, which would last for about litical emancipation. unacceptable manner. At first crude at- two years, would involve all three parties At the age of 18 I decided to take up tempts were made by Indonesia to make working with the UN to implement a wide journalism as I found delight in reporting him appear as betraying the ideals he had range of “confidence building measures.” and political analysis. My initially confused courageously fought for during 18 years. These measures will necessarily include a convictions got sorted out with years of Then, a political show trial by a Court drastic scaling down of the presence of In- experience and learning. My initial convic- which had no jurisdiction to try him at all donesian troops and weaponry in East tions about freedom and democracy, social was orchestrated. The trial was denounced Timor, together with the introduction of a justice, solidarity and political emancipation for violating even Indonesian legal proce- significant UN presence in the territory . of peoples became consolidated over the dures. Since then Commander Xanana Gus- * Phase Two, lasting between five and years. My natural opposition to totalitarian mão has been kept incommunicado and not ten years, would be a period of genuine doctrines, both from the left and right, was even the International Committee of the Red political autonomy based on ample powers strengthened as I observed the falsity, hy- Cross has been given proper access to him. vested in a local, democratically elected pocrisy, contradictions, abuse of power, One month ago, the ICRC was forced to People’s Assembly. corruption, and nepotism of the preachers suspend its visits to East Timorese prison- * Phase Three, the final phase, would see of scientific socialism. My human and po- ers because of obstacles placed in its way a referendum to determine the final status of litical instinct led me towards the social by the Indonesian military, despite ‘assur- the territory. democratic path. ances’ from the Indonesian President Su- Jose Ramos Horta said when presenting harto that its work in East Timor would not this plan: First Phase of the Great War of Liberation be impeded. We believe that this represents the best The death in battle in December 1978 of Three weeks ago the plight of East possible prescription for a resolution of the Nicolau Lobato, second Fretilin President Timorese youth has made headlines all over conflict. It allows time for a cooling-off (the first one, Xavier do Amaral, moved to a the world as 7 persecuted students at- period in which all sides should try to prove dark page of history and has been forgotten tempted to seek the protection and assis- their good-faith; it will also allow Indonesia by the people) and the almost total annihila- tance to leave Indonesia of two foreign Em- to save face. tion of de Fretilin politico military leader- bassies in Jakarta. Indonesia should seize the olive branch ship between 1975 and 1979, mark the end Two weeks ago, 43 United States Sena- we are now offering. It has only to gain. It is of this first phase. tors wrote President Clinton expressing obvious now that the invasion of East Very few believed that the Resistance concern over the continuing widespread Timor was a colossal mistake: the occupa- would re emerge. Even among the leaders of human rights abuses in East Timor, asking tion has sapped so much of Indonesia’s Fretilin and UDT abroad very few remained for greater access to East Timor for interna- energy and resources. If Indonesia with- faithful after receiving the bad news from tional humanitarian organisations and advo- draws from East Timor, it would be able to the homeland. cating “serious negotiations at the United regain its international reputation as a peace- Second Phase of the Great war of Libera- Nations that might alter the unacceptable loving country and not be threatening to its tion, and the ‘sleep of the just of the Por- status quo. smaller neighbours. Moreover, an independ- tuguese’ Reacting to this, in Tokyo last week ent East Timor will be an asset for Indone- Clinton made East Timor a main agenda item sia, for ASEAN and the whole region in of his meeting with President Suharto, who many ways. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 85

The resurgence of the Resistance in 1981 The Portuguese rulers use the so-called We don’t reject dialogue with our adver- and particularly 1983 caught most by sur- divergences between East Timorese leaders saries.... I always defended dialogue with prise. to cover up for their own lack of determina- Indonesia even in the years of Fretilin tri- It was an uncomfortable embarrassment tion and courage. The Timorese in the dias- umph when dialogue was seen as capitula- for the political class in Portugal, content to pora suffer from the same shortcomings as tion. accept the defeat and ready to enjoy the all exiled groups anywhere in the world. The Timorese Resistance has repeatedly ‘sleep of the just’ . Among the Portuguese They are not exceptional. It is forgotten that its total availability for dialogue without pre public conscience, desperately trying to the heroic and martyred Timorese people conditions with Indonesian authorities under exorcise the ghost of decolonisation, only inside the country have given more than the auspices of the UN Secretary Gen- the odd citizen remembered the Maubere sufficient proofs of unity and determination. eral...... ghost. Only the odd journalist occasionally The repeated statements and confidence ...CNRM also defends the involvement reported on the subject. motions in their overseas spokesperson of the Timorese clergy in consultations.... While Xanana Gusmão resurrected from seem insufficient to make the [Portuguese] There is thus no place for the so called the ashes a Resistance thought dead and rulers support with determination and crea- “reconciliation” talks. It is an Indonesian desired dead, raising a truly popular libera- tivity the peace proposals of CNRM. .... ploy to deny the nature of the problem and tion army, the Portuguese State remained We witness today in Portugal an alliance the role of the UN SG. unmoved and indifferent, if anything made between political and mercantilist interests The Restructuring of the East Timor uneasy by the daring and genius of Xanana...... aiming to pact with the Indonesian devil Resistance It did not occur to the President, Ministers to bury the struggle of the East Timorese You may have had opportunity to study or Generals to look for means to support people. the handwritten documents by Nino Konis that heroic resistance of a people Portugal An obscure industrialist from north Por- Santana about the CNRM restructuring claims not to have colonized but to have tugal, who certainly could never have read a inside the East Timorese homeland. As was civilized and loved, and assimilated in its line of the rich history of Indonesia, created widely reported in the Portuguese press, I own image. a Portuguese-Indonesian Association, claim- was elected Maximum Leader of CNRM The Portuguese diplomacy continued its ing to have only ‘cultural’ aims. replacing Xanana Gusmão. bureaucratic practices aiming merely to get a We wont allow that ...opportunists at- I provide the following views on the mat- few lines in the yearly debate of the plenary tracted by perspectives of engaging in some ter. meeting of the UN General Assembly. And wine or tinned food business with the cor- I have always maintained that the leader- we the Timorese always grateful anxiously rupt Indonesian military class, interfere in ship of the Resistance must be rooted and counted the lines dedicated by the Foreign the Maubere struggle for self-determination based in the motherland soil, close to the Minister to the East Timor issue. and freedom. people, living with the people, drinking its It was later thought to resolve the East The so called ‘reconciliation’ project is a millenary wisdom and leading it through Timor issue administratively, sending a brainchild of the Indonesian secret service. tortuous paths to peace and freedom. delegation of deputies there. They would they try today the same divisive attempts The credibility and legitimacy of those certify that Indonesia really had built more they tried in the past...... [Francisco Lopes who represent the people abroad rest only roads and houses than the miserable Portu- da Cruz...... a destabilizing agent.....] on the reality that there exists a movement guese colonization...... [they would get to- Today there are encouraging prospects and leadership inside of the homeland, ken assurances of cultural identity respect for the Maubere people. The Timorese Re- which has given ample proofs of dedication, from Indonesia, and upon returning home sistance sees great wins internally, and in- abnegation and competence. would recommend re establishment of rela- ternationally. I venerate those who direct the struggle tions, after some token criticism of human The US Congress decision to cut IMET inside the homeland. They are the true lead- rights violations]. ..., the recent Human Right Commission ers who deserve our respect, support and The 12 November massacre proved victory, the Clinton-Suharto meeting, con- love. deeply embarrassing to many, and the good sidered ‘humiliating’ by the Indonesian me- After the capture of Xanana Gusmão and Portuguese people demanded explanations dia are a few of the Timorese victories Mau Hunu I took pains to get to Nino and actions. which preoccupy Jakarta. Konis Santana my modest recommendations The next few months, the next two or New maneuvers : “Reconciliation” about the restructuring of CNRM. three years will be critical for the Timorese After a few month a part of the ruling I advised Konis Santana that the present cause and critical for the Indonesian regime. class began again to search for ‘more realis- collective leadership instituted inside the The Resistance faces many difficulties. tic’ solutions. Referendum? Indonesia would motherland since April 1993 is the most But we are courageous, abnegated, and faith- never agree, so no need to insist. Auton- credible, legitimate and closest to the re- ful in our people and leaders to continue the omy? Perhaps. Then principles were again quirements of the struggle. struggle. abandoned. The 12 November drama was The following structure functions inside: The capture of Xanana Gusmão did not forgotten (further massacres were not As a leadership organ is a ‘troika’ made produce the victory anticipated by Indone- filmed, so they did not embarrass politi- up by the Head of the Executive Council of sia on the ground nor the diplomatic effect cians). the Struggle/Armed Front (CEL/FA) who is desired. New attempts were made using front- assisted by four leaders. It is also made up This led to maneuvers like the latest ‘rec- liners such as the odd Fretilinist Timorese of the Head of the Executive Council of the onciliation.’...... It is aimed to isolate the politician or the odd obscure former Portu- Struggle/ Clandestine Front (CEL/FC), also internal Resistance, as the protagonists guese journalist sold out to the Indone- with four advisers. would only be pro- integrationists from sians...... , in the service of Indonesian secret Thus the current leadership structure in- inside and the exiled pro-independence sup- intelligence services. These people have side has 10 people. Nino Konis Santana is porters. been honoured by a Presidential audience, an the Head of CEL/FA. CNRM reiterates its availability for a honour denied to many Timorese leaders. dialogue without pre conditions Page 86 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

The third ‘troika’ member is the CNRM bane, Melbourne and Darwin have also ambassador Nana Sutresna, currently Special Representative, whose domain re- taken place. An Eminent Persons Council, a Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement. mains limited to the diplomatic area. The consultative and deliberative body compris- When I got back to Lisbon (this had been Special Representative answers to his ing the wise elderly members of our society my second visit to Indonesia and Timor in ‘troika’ colleagues inside the motherland. is being set up. the past 8 years), I wrote an extensive letter The Politico-Military Commission is the While the restructuring of Fretilin and to the President of the Republic, proposing deliberative and operational organ of UDT take place, we will continue in contact a peace settlement for Timor and giving him CNRM. It is composed of the Secretary of and dialogue so as to establish the simplest relevant information. The letter was deliv- the Fretilin Directive Commission (CDF) and most effective ways of cooperation ered on 19 April. Later on, I requested an and by the leadership of the General Staff of between the CNRM Special representative interview with Adriano Moreira, Chairman Falintil. and the two parties. I have said in the past, of the Parliamentary Commission on Timor, Xanana Gusmão retains his title of and repeat it again now: once that and gave him, confidentially, a copy of that Leader of the Resistance, even if his powers restructuring process is completed, and the letter. To this day, Mario Soares has given are frozen given his status of prisoner of elected leaders of the parties notify me that me no answer, in spite of us being on good war. He will resume his role once circum- the conditions are ready for the creation of a terms since even before 25 April 1974. Pub- stances allow it. unique coordinating organ of all Resistance lic silence has enveloped that 11-page letter. I proposed that the current role of the activities abroad, I will promptly and with Meanwhile, I sent copies to all editors of Special Representative of CNRM as mem- an open spirit place myself in the service of the Portuguese newspapers, to the journalist ber of the ‘troika’ be temporary. I continue that institution. colleagues of mine for whom I have special to be in favour of the establishment of a appreciation (independent of whether they coordinating body of the Resistance abroad. share my views on Timor), and I know that Once set up it would have to decide and INDONESIA'S Adriano Moreira had the letter distributed appoint those responsible for various areas SUPPORTERS: PUSHING to all the deputies on the Commission on and determine the type of institutional links Timor. The letter is also in the hands of with the leadership inside the country. INTEGRATION several ambassadors to Lisbon, the UN As my colleague Mari Alkatiri, Vice Secretary General Mr. Boutros Ghali, vari- Chief of the External Delegation and Exter- ous members of the Portuguese Govern- nal Relations Secretary of Fretilin said in a NUNO ROCHA LETTER TO ment, including of course the Foreign Minis- meeting here, this project can only advance SOARES AND GOVERNMENT ter, Durão Barroso, and the Portuguese once the Fretilin and UDT parties finalize ON TIMOR MEPs. One of the Prime Minister’s advis- their current internal restructuring process. ers also received the letter. Up to then, the Special representative Publico, 6 July 1993. Translated from Por- After all these initiatives in favour of will be faithful to the confidence placed in tuguese peace in Timor, only the newspaper Publico him and obey directives from Xanana Gus- From 27 March to 6 April I was in Indo- suggested the publication of this article. mão in his letter of 10 September 1992, nesia, and visited Timor. While in Jakarta, I Being a large Portuguese journalistic project, from Mau Hunu contained in the Declara- met with leading Indonesian Government Publico has always offered varied news tion of 20 November 1992, and of Konis figures, from generals with a lot of political about Timor, favouring pluralistic news Santana, in his Declaration of 25 April 1993. influence to civilians working in high gov- coverage, the only kind to enrich informa- Accordingly he use all means too strengthen ernmental posts. Indonesia’s two main ce- tion in a modern and democratic country, his capability to intervene through the crea- lebrities today are General Suharto, Presi- and be of use to man and humanity. I have tion of functional organs and with an ever dent of the Republic, and his Vice-President always found Publico to be responsive on increasing involvement of the Timorese and natural successor, General Try Sutrisno. matters relating to Timor, as has been TSF, youth. The latter knows Timor particularly well SIC, and even RTPI. In this context, the following have been because he was an army Commander there. Clearly, ever since 1985, I have under- established and have started functioning. In Timor, I met with the local 45-member stood that Portugal should not be hostile in They include several CNRM Representa- parliament. They are all Timorese and long- its attitude towards Indonesia, but should tions, some already announced in the past, standing public servants from the Portu- get along with the Jakarta regime on Timor. I such as for the UN, European Community, guese administration. I talked about the have always supported negotiations as op- USA, Canada, Japan, Portugal, SEA, South Timorese situation with the Governor, posed to a guerrilla, which has destroyed the Pacific Islands. Some departments and Abilio Osorio, as well as with many other relations we had with the Indonesian peo- Commissions have also been set up. For local politicians. On the 3-hour flight be- ples for four centuries. Mine was the first example the Technical commission, respon- tween Denpasar (on the island of Bali) and voice to be raised publicly in support of a sible for the legal action initiated in the Aus- Dili, I had Msgr. Ximenes Belo, Bishop of realistic attitude on the part of Portugal with tralian High Court against the Timor Gap Dili, sitting to my right, and Governor Oso- regards Timor. I suggested, for Timor, a Treaty. CNRM has established the Centre rio to my left. solution along the lines of what was found for Human Rights Information, Education In Jakarta, I met with Lopes da Cruz, the at the time for Macau by General Eanes and and Formation, to operate in Sydney and Timorese who came to be an Indonesian the government. Melbourne, the East Timor News Agency ambassador, and with deputies who repre- I believe that we ought to respect the de- (ETNA), to be fully operational in late sent Timor in the national parliament. For cisions of the Timorese people as a whole, 1993. The recently formed East Timor In- over two hours I discussed Timor with the and not just the proposals of those still formation and Documentation Centre in Indonesian Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas. remaining, abroad, of Fretilin. The only way Sydney and the “Lafaek” Cultural Associa- And I visited old acquaintances like the for us to hear what the Timorese living in tion in Darwin, have also formally associ- former Foreign Minister and today famous Timor wish to say is to renew our diplo- ated with CNRM. Appointments for Com- lawyer in Jakarta, Mr. Mochtar, and the matic relations with Indonesia. munity Relations Officers in Sydney, Bris- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 87

During my last visit to Indonesia, I had Indonesian army, was declared by Suharto dents study in universities on the other the chance to reach some important conclu- “an act which shocked the whole nation and islands. sions, which I transmitted in the letter to which cannot be repeated.” Thousands of healthy children go to pri- Mario Soares. The Indonesians would be Indonesia has not integrated Timor with mary schools wearing yellow uniforms. prepared to resolve the crisis with Portugal, the other part of the island, but kept Timor After the Timorese people’s great suffering, with the following conditions: an autonomous province, with its own gov- it is both good and moving to see them leave 1. Opening of embassies in the two capi- ernment and local parliamentarians. The their classrooms at the end of the morning. tals, and installation of a Portuguese consu- teaching of Portuguese language disappeared In 1974, there were just 47 primary schools late in Dili. as it was thought to be of no pedagogic in- and 3 secondary schools in Timor. Today, 2. Joint setting-up in Dili of a Luso- terest. But the Portuguese street names and there are 579 primary, and 129 secondary Timorese Institute of Portuguese Culture, the monuments left by the Portuguese have schools. In 1974, there were 20 kms. of and joint cooperation in Lisbon with regards not disappeared. Our football games are asphalted road: today, there are 536 kms. the Borja da Costa Foundation, as a relayed by satellite to TV in Timor. The number of hospitals has also grown: Timorese cultural centre. In defence of its territorial integrity (it from two, at the time of the Portuguese, to 3. Repatriation, at Indonesia’s expense, comprises 13,000 islands, 300 dialects, 300 10 now. With regards Catholic churches, of all Timorese who want to leave Portugal ethnic groups, and has only been independ- from the 100 in existence, there are now and return to the land of their birth or to ent for 47 years), Indonesia does not allow 793. Indonesia. separatist movements in Timor, and de- Jakarta’s budget for East Timor has gone 4. Respect, as there has been up until ploys armed forces there (which include from one thousand million Rupees in 1985 now, for the rights of the Catholic Church in Timorese officials), and which are being to 34 million Rupees in 1990. Timor is not a Timor. reduced in numbers, as is publicly known. paradise. For 18 years, the territory has 5. Release of all Timorese political pris- Today I am convinced, without any doubt been subjected to an atmosphere of guerrilla oners, including, of course, Xanana Gusmão, at all, that neither the present regime nor war and confrontation between the ancestral through pardons granted by President Su- any other that one may succeed it, will give patriotism of the Timorese and the arrival of harto. independence to East Timor. The nation is the Indonesians. The Timorese are sad. But 6. Participation of Portugal, as share- built on ethnic and geographical diversity, I ask myself whether that sadness doesn’t holder, in exploitation of oil from the Sea of and today’s armed forces, preponderant in come from their secular suffering. And I ask Timor, should present investigations reveal the regime, are the same ones that freed whether that suffering might be eased if the the existence of economically viable depos- Indonesia in 1946 from Dutch colonial op- Portuguese were to come back, not as colo- its. pression. nisers, but as friends. In an initial phase, the Portuguese and I have no space, in this article, to speak I condemn the Portuguese Government’s Indonesian governments would collaborate about Portuguese responsibilities during the policy and the Portuguese President’s atti- in a meeting between political leaders from tragic months of our decolonisation. Neither tude, for not taking the necessary steps so Timor (who accept integration) and political is the matter relevant today. What can be that we return to Timor as friends. The leaders living abroad (who have opposed said is that Timor does not have the condi- Indonesians accept us as such. We are in an integration). tions to be independent, and its people’s era of negotiations and peace. The dream of One of the most notorious differences be- future ought to be linked to the future of the the Empire has come to an end. The Indone- tween Portugal and Indonesia is on the ques- other peoples integrated within Indonesia. sian Government is waiting for the Portu- tion of respect for human rights in Timor. Timor is the size of the Alentejo, has guese Government to come up with propos- As well as considering that the same de- seven mountains, and less inhabitants than als for a settlement and peaceful coexistence. mands with regards human rights were not Lisbon. Timor produces ten tons of coffee The Indonesians, the Timorese and the Por- made on China, and that the Portuguese per year which, together with some recent tuguese people are also waiting. The unreal- President goes on official visits to Turkey, marble, yields an income of 5 to 7 million istic ambition of politicians cannot ignore Morocco and India, the fact that Indonesia dollars. The island of Sumatra alone pro- that there are 750,000 Timorese in Timor has made clear signs of wanting to change its duces 130,000 tons of coffee. In 1992, the who are waiting for a word of peace. Inter- past attitude should be taken into account. Indonesian Government had to spend 175 ested radicalism was never the road to Xanana Gusmão was not tortured. He has million dollars on Timor. The painful events peace. now asked for a pardon. His trial was pub- of 12 November led the Government to lic, even though Indonesian judicial methods allocate 30 million dollars to help the vic- TIMORESE REJECT could be condemned. tims’ families. PROPOSAL FROM ABILIO Recently, five members of Abilio The need to integrate the territory with Araujo’s family, in whose house Xanana the Indonesian nation (once Portugal had left ARAUJO Gusmão was arrested, were released without without decolonising) forced the Jakarta Publico, 18 July trial. There are evident signs that the pro- Government take big strides in develop- tests from Portugal and other countries ment. When Portugal left Timor in August Remarks: this took place two days before the about human rights in Timor are being rec- 1975 (Indonesia only invaded Timor in De- Indonesian agreement on ognised. There is a shift towards peaceful cember, following terrible slaughter between Timorese/Timorese talks was announced. settlement of the problem. Timorese of opposing political parties), Gregorio Henriques is one of the Timorese There is no resistance in Timor. Just by only two Timorese had obtained a univer- who defended Xanana when he was being chance, I saw the Governor going around the sity degree. There were no medical doctors attacked after his “interviews” performed city of Dili on a bicycle, accompanied by his in Timor. Today, there are 222 Timorese by Indonesian military, last December. children. The governors have always been with degrees, including doctors, lawyers and Bruno Kahn pro-integration Timorese, and none has ever economists. There is a university with three been assassinated. The Santa Cruz massacre, faculties in Timor. Over 700 Timorese stu- (Lisbon) A group of Timorese decided to which shamed humanity and stained the recuse a proposal of Fretilin’s president, Page 88 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Abilio Araujo, for a meeting between inde- The government, which admitted 50 civil- ratic Union (UDT), as rejecting any negotia- pendentists and integrationists. The decision ians died, this month said a further 64 peo- tions that did not include Portugal, the for- was voted by a majority of about 40 people ple were still missing. mer colonial ruler. present in a meeting in Caxias, promoted by Diplomats said Indonesia was showing Gregorio Henriques, a member of the an increasing desire to improve its interna- COMMENTS FROM BRUNO KAHN, Timorese community. The initiative had the tional image over Timor. It is due to hold AGIR POUR TIMOR, JULY 21 support of the president of UDT’s Regional another round of talks with Portugal in Sep- Here are some thoughts about this move Committee, Zacarias da Costa, and the rep- tember. from Jakarta: resentative of CNRM for Portugal, Luis Da Cruz did not say which exile groups, 1. As said in the story, Jakarta may want Cardoso. In statements to Publico, Gregorio most of them opposed to Indonesian rule to improve its damaged international image Henriques considered Araujo’s suggestion but divided among themselves about how to by showing “openness” with respect to “inopportune and incorrect,” adding that oppose it, had made the proposal. East Timor. But this approach would have Fretilin, as an organisation, “did not know He said that in Belgium he had recently two other advantages: the contents of the proposal.” met Abilio Araujo, president of Fretilin – 2. Diplomatic advantage. It would move whose small guerrilla force continues to the issue away from the international arena. harass Indonesian troops. INDONESIA PROPOSES Instead of UN-sponsored talks between the In a recent interview with Portugal’s TIMORESE TALKS Occupying and Administrative powers there Diario de Noticias, Araujo proposed talks would be “informal meetings” not discussing between Timorese exiles and those working Remark: This is obviously a major depar- Indonesia’s sovereignty. Since the meetings with Indonesia, which he said could lead to ture. How it is assessed depends in part on would involve both pro- and anti-Indonesia wider talks in the framework of Portuguese- different readings of East Timor’s likely Timorese, while the UN-sponsored talks do Indonesian negotiations. future over the next 10 years or so. It has the not involve any Timorese, Jakarta could Indonesia has always refused to involve potential to open some doors and close some claim that the former really represent the any exiles, saying they do not represent the doors. I have some thoughts on it, but opinion of the Timorese while the latter do Timorese population. maybe we can first hear others’ views. not. The paper said other exiles, including – John MacDougall 3. Internal advantage. In participating the prominent Timorese leader Jose Ramos Timorese/Timorese talks, Jakarta will ensure JAKARTA, July 20 (Reuter) - Jakarta Horta, had refused to join any such meeting. said on Tuesday it was willing to allow and it controls what is said in these talks. Indo- take part in talks involving pro-Indonesian nesia is aware that even so-called pro- figures in East Timor and exiles who oppose TALKS COULD BE IN TWO Indonesian East Timorese may not be pro- Indonesia’s presence in the former Portu- MONTHS Indonesian entirely of their own will (there guese colony. are notable exceptions, like Abilio Osorio; Lopes da Cruz, an East Timorese who JAKARTA, July 22 (Reuter) - Informal but see Xanana’s comments in his defence works as an ambassador at large for Indone- talks between East Timorese supporting and on Arnaldo de Araujo and Guilherme Gon- sia, said President Suharto had agreed to a opposing Indonesian rule in the former Por- çalves, and also the way Lopes da Cruz proposal by Timorese exiles to open ties. tuguese colony may be held in Europe very nicely helps as an interpreter for Por- Such contacts would be the first since In- within the next two months, the Suara tuguese journalists who want to interview donesia invaded East Timor in 1975, diplo- Karya daily said on Thursday. the asylum-seekers at his home). Her par- mats said. It quoted Lopes da Cruz, an East ticipation will ensure that nothing harmful “They (pro-Indonesian Timorese and ex- Timorese who works as an ambassador at for her will come out of the meeting. And it iles) propose to have a dialogue about the large for Indonesia, as saying that a meeting would be difficult for pro-Indonesian development of East Timor,” da Cruz told between the two sides could take place ei- Timorese to refuse this participation... reporters after a meeting with Suharto. ther in Belgium or Switzerland. Both da Cruz and Foreign Minister Ali Diplomats at both the Belgian and Swiss FROM IAN MACFARLING, JULY 22 Alatas stressed that any such meeting would embassies said they had not been ap- Politics Department, University College - be informal, and would not discuss Indone- proached about the issue. The University of New South Wales sia’s sovereignty over the territory. On Tuesday Indonesian President Su- harto agreed for the first time to a proposal The Indonesian proposal is, as John Alatas said no decision had been reached MacDougall says, a major departure from about where and when talks might be held for talks between the two sides. Jakarta’s rule has been opposed by East Timorese the long standing policy on East Timor. My and who would attend. worry is that we non-Indonesians have an The Timor issue has harmed Jakarta’s in- exiles in a loose alliance with Timorese guer- rillas fighting inside the territory. mono-manic perception of the situation. To ternational image since it annexed the terri- us East Timor is a [if not THE] major issue tory in a move condemned by many western Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and annexed it the following year, a move when we consider Indonesia. However, to countries and not recognised by the United Indonesians East Timor is just one of many Nations. the United Nations does not recognize. Da Cruz made clear that any talks would problems and if we look at it in that light Human rights groups have accused it of perhaps our analyses might be more useful. major abuses, including the deaths of some be informal, and he ruled out any discussion of sovereignty. The problems are not JUST political; to 200,000 Timorese, most of whom perished be sure the succession issue dominates most in the early years of Indonesian rule. The proposal for talks was apparently made by Abilio Araujo, president of the thinking, but what about the economy? The The United States and several European Summa Bank crisis is perhaps the tip of the nations have suspended some forms of aid Fretilin guerrillas. A Portuguese radio station earlier quoted iceberg - what about the flight of peranakan after troops opened fire on mourners in the Chinese capital back to China? - what about East Timor capital Dili late in 1991. Wit- one East Timorese exile, Francisco Nicolau, deputy president of the Timorese Democ- the liquidity of some of the major corpora- nesses said up to 180 people were killed. tions? - consider the problems of labour as East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 89 shown by the number of strikes, and of ciation’ if the meetings turn out to look like young East Timorese intellectuals such as course there is the unemployment/under- mere propaganda or co-optation vehicles. It Helder da Costa and Joao Mariano de Sousa employment problem across the archipel- will be very hard to get round the Army to Saldanha, who have both been educated in ago. On top of this there is a pressing need make any significant progress, but the situa- Java and have written a lot in the Indonesian for major investment in power supply. tion is acute with time not on the East press. The participation of Xanana could Apart from wondering where the huge Timorese side. even be raised. amount of investment money is coming If Indonesia is serious about achieving its from, the thought of a nuke power plant(s) FROM GERRY VAN KLINKEN objective of upstaging the UN General Sec- in an area where earthquakes, tidal waves Some reactions, for what they’re worth. retary, and provided the international dip- and volcanic eruptions are regular occur- As far as I remember, it is not correct to lomatic community is supportive of the real rences frightens me guano-less. say this is Indonesian agreement to an East issues, Indonesia will have to agree to at So if you put the economic problems and Timorese proposal from Abilio Araujo, but least some of these demands. consequent social problems into the equa- an Indonesian proposal. On balance, the East Timorese can profit tion, add the Aceh and underlying Islamic First appearance is of a brilliant move from this, provided they are able to meet the pressures, and wonder why the new P50 from the Indonesian point of view. As challenge Indonesia is throwing at them, i.e. dialogue is happening too, then perhaps the Bruno Kahn points out they upstage the provided Abilio Araujo and Ramos Horta East Timor policy change is just an addi- UN process with its difficult demands. can reach a common response fairly quickly. tional indication that someone on high has They take advantage of disarray in the ranks realised that something has to change very of ET nationalists abroad, which has been CNRM REJECTS TALKS quickly, not just in TimTim but across the greatly exacerbated by the capture of nation. Xanana. They would demonstrate to the SYDNEY, July 22 (Reuter) - Timorese In summary, I think there should be in- international community not only that East rebel exiles in Australia rejected on Thurs- ternational pressure for a resolution of the Timorese living in Indonesia favour integra- day an overture by Indonesia to open a Timor situation but we should keep it in tion (as Indonesia has long claimed), but that dialogue for the first time with compatriots perspective as one of many problems con- a significant proportion of the exile commu- who accept Indonesian rule in East Timor. fronting the current Indonesian government. nity is also coming round, as indicated by Jose Ramos Horta, an official of the Na- their willingness to talk about unsubstantive tional Council of Maubere (Timorese) Re- FROM JOHN MACDOUGALL, JULY issues with junior Indonesian officials. sistance, said he was not prepared to meet 22: Those few who “not yet” accept integration with pro-Indonesian Timorese for informal Thanks to Bruno and Ian for their respec- are out of the race because they are either in talks about the territory, a former Portu- tive comments. Anyone else want to ven- jail (Xanana) or boycotting the talks (Ramos guese colony taken over by Indonesia in ture an opinion? My own basic position is Horta?). 1975. that East Timorese living abroad should The Indonesian intention thus appears to “I am certainly prepared to meet with accept the Indonesian proposal. These are be to give an impression of talks without Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas at not official talks. Nothing binding can come raising real issues with real people, and even any time and any place he might nominate out of them. East Timorese on all sides of taking the high ground by saying talks are but will never accept tactics which seek to should be talking to each other, even if they being sabotaged by a fractured East divert attention from the problem,” he said consider each other ‘traitors’ or ‘opportun- Timorese community. Politically Indonesia in an interview. ists.’ If the proposal is a trap, at this point appears to have very little to lose and quite “The problem is not between the people it seems an easy one to escape at any of a bit to gain in the propaganda stakes. I of East Timor and their resistance leaders several stages. To reject informal talks car- could be wrong, but that’s my reconstruc- against a few puppets on Indonesia’s pay- ries a good risk of charges of intransigence tion of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s roll... It is between Indonesia and the United and excessive fear of Indonesian devious- point of view. Nations, whose resolutions it ignores,” he ness. Portuguese involvement is not neces- The East Timorese of course don’t have said. sary. Portuguese officials will doubtless be to accept Indonesia’s initial bargaining posi- On Tuesday Indonesian President Su- kept informed. Delay in accepting similar tion about the agenda, the participants, and harto agreed for the first time to a proposal proposals in the past – such as endless dis- the meaning of the talks. As John MacDou- for talks between Timorese who accept pute in Portuguese circles about accepting gall points out, those not under Indonesian Jakarta’s 1976 annexation of the former the DPR’s invitation for a Portuguese par- Foreign Ministry authority are free to make Portuguese territory and rebels who oppose liamentary visit – missed chances for fact- declaratory statements at any time. In par- Indonesian rule. finding and finally, after expectations built ticular they will be anxious to insert as The United Nations does not recognise unrealistically, to the bloody November 12 many of the demands they have previously Indonesian rule of East Timor and U.N. tragedy. The diplomatic reality to be faced put up as possible. On the agenda, they Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is is that the Portuguese and Indonesians can- would start with the Xanana peace plan, to convene in September a third round of not end their deadlock. Suspicions from which is still on the table; the referendum talks between Portugal and Indonesia on the both sides run too deep. It is up to the East idea; perhaps the autonomy idea; UNHRC territory. resolutions on human rights access; etc. It’s Timorese to try to move various matters a COMMENTS FROM ROBERT little forward. Internecine exile and solidar- difficult to see how they could avoid men- ity group politics should not, at this point, tioning UN resolutions, Portuguese sover- DAVISON, CITY POLYTECHNIC OF get in the way of forward motion, however eignty, etc. On the participants, they might HONG KONG slow and niggardly. ‘Corridor talk’ in infor- want to suggest a range of significant East Having read through postings of the last mal meetings might produce useful informa- Timorese from within Indonesia who may few days, it seems to me that some sections tion well beyond the currently mooted or may not be “pro-Indonesian.” Chief of the East Timorese community (commu- ‘Timtim development’ agenda. Anyone can among these would be Bishop Belo and nity here is a broad term) are driving them- even stage a ‘walkout’ or post-hoc ‘denun- Mario Carrascalão, as well as a number of Page 90 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. selves into an ever smaller and tighter cor- Timorese themselves need to come together of a leading figure, which has to be Portu- ner. It is essential for the various groups to first. gal.” sit down and talk, precisely because they I advocate the same for Northern Ireland –––––––––– have different viewpoints, because they - the IRA is less of a spent force than Fre- Indonesian ambassador-at-large Francisco support/reject Indonesian interfer- tilin, but even should it be removed, there Xavier Lopes da Cruz held talks today with ence/support/call-it-what-you-will. As, I would still be enormous background sup- President Suharto on meeting representa- think, John mentioned, those who refuse to port for the movement, and equal animosity tives from East Timor, Portuguese Catholic talk are, and history proves it, removed between the communities. The UK govt. is Radio Renascenca reported. from political reality - i.e. they become no better than the Indonesian govt. in this Da Cruz said Jakarta was seeking talks anachronisms. To reenter the process at a respect, but it seems that they are less will- with members of the East Timorese resis- later date when the tide seems to be turning ing to recognise political, military, and more tance on neutral territory, possibly Brussels is well nigh impossible. important, social reality - another issue. or Geneva. He said Indonesia wanted to But there are lessons from the past, and I am not an apologist for dictatorships, discuss the future of East Timor but did not present, that relate more generally to all this. invasions,... but do feel that there is a need want to talk about its sovereignty. I think that it is essential to be pragmatic, to adopt attitudes that transcend political “I met the President, we talked about the whilst avoiding complacency - a difficult convenience. meeting with the Timorese as proposed by task indeed. I am not East Timorese, Indo- Timorese living abroad,” Lopes da Cruz said nesian, affected directly... which means that RESPONSE TO ROBERT FROM BRUNO KAHN: on the radio. I could be said to have either a) a more ob- “This meeting will not involve Portugal jective view point, or b) no authority to Very interesting proposal. If I am not and Indonesia because as you know, talks pontificate when I have not experienced the mistaken, there have been so far 12 contri- between the two are to be held at ministerial trauma of invasion/subjugation/etc. first butions to this discussion (excluding purely level and not at the level of Timorese lead- hand. news items and one not directly related ers.” Over the last 30 years (or longer if you message). Of these 12 contributions, 2 were Talks with the Timorese-in-exile would prefer), there have been any number of re- made by East Timorese: one by CNRM and be held at “a very private, informal level,” gional conflicts: Vietnam, Afghanistan, one by another Timorese. No contribution he said. Northern Ireland, East Timor, Kuwait, Eri- by Indonesians. So it has been mostly a “We are not going to discuss political trea, Namibia, Kashmir, etc. (or should the discussion of Westerners on what the East status, we are simply going to exchange list be reversed?: USA, USSR, UK[??], In- Timorese should or should not do in a prob- opinions on how the Timorese abroad can donesia, Iraq, Ethiopia, South Africa, In- lem with Indonesia - a much popular sport contribute towards the development of dia/Pakistan, etc. Life is lost, suffering en- of Western intellectuals. So far I thought the Timor.” dured, destruction completed, etc. But there people interested in the issue were either has to be an end, there has to be a renewal, analysts or trying to help, now I learn we AFP: and that means renewal for both sides, not also are ‘parties.’ Rather than leaving it to Military authorities in East Timor will just the victim or victor. The US’s refusal to the Timorese to debate on what concerns not tolerate any separatist aspirations in the have anything to do with Vietnam for so them first, we are going to do it ourselves, former Portuguese colony nor hesitate to act many years (and their evident unwillingness and even vote on it. I suggest we also par- against it, the Antara news agency said for anyone else to do business, cf. IMF ticipate the talks instead of them: after all Wednesday. loans) created more trauma on both sides. we are so much more sensible and knowl- Antara quoted Major-General Theo How many US soldiers were killed? How edgeable on Indonesian issues. Syafei, head of the Bali- based Udayana many Vietnamese soldiers remain unac- military command which oversees security counted for? Does it matter? Does Germany ROUNDUP: JAKARTA ‘TALKS’ in East Timor, as saying separatism and still demand information on soldiers still opposition to Indonesia’s state ideology missing from WW2? They still turn up oc- Various reports via TAPOL, 21 July 1993 “do not need to be tolerated and we should casionally, so presumably there are some. not even hesitate to put them into order.” I think that people have to come to terms BBC MONITORING: with reality, to carry on. I may be seen as a An East Timorese resistance leader has ALATAS: TIMORESE MIGHT heretic, but the time has surely come to rejected an Indonesian proposal to hold BE INCLUDED IN TALKS make attempts to heal, not destroy more. If talks because it did not include a role for Indonesia is now in a position to suggest Portugal, Portuguese Radio Renascenca Australian TV international (12.20am), 21 that pro- and anti- Indonesia in Timor ‘par- reported last night. Deputy president of the July 1993 UDT, Francisco Nicolau said it was out of ties’ come together and talk about it, then (NOTE: The same story was broadcast on this should be an opportunity for progress. the question to negotiate without the sup- port of Portugal. ABC radio Australia, 1am news on 21 July I don’t think that so doing is a justification 1993). for all that Indonesia has done in ET over “As far as the Timorese Democratic Un- the last 18 years, but I do think that it ion (UDT) is concerned, it is fundamental NEWSREADER: Indonesia’s Foreign would show a degree of political maturity. for Portugal always to head the representa- Affair Ministers Mr. Ali Alatas has sug- No one can bring back the 200,000 - but do tion of Timorese interests at any kind of gested the possibility of informal talks be- you want that number to become 300,000 or negotiations,” he said. tween East Timorese for and against Indo- 400,000? Perhaps East Timor never will “The matter must never be reduced to an nesian rule in the former Portuguese colony. gain independence? But is this the only East Timor-Indonesia issue. We would only If the talks go ahead Mr. Alatas says he will issue? Life has to go on, and I think that talk to Indonesians in the presence of a include East Timorese living abroad. while it is in the hands of both the Indone- strong partner - more than a partner. I MICHAEL MAHER: After meeting sians and the East Timorese, the East would go further by saying in the presence President Suharto in Jakarta today Foreign Minister Ali Alatas told Indonesian report- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 91 ers that East Timorese with conflicting Ghali last April in Rome. It was presented announcement, Francisco Lopes da Cruz, views might soon get together for heart to as an effort to make a breakthrough in the Suharto’s recently appointed ‘roving am- heart talks. While details have yet to be stalemate situation of the talks and pre- bassador’ for East Timor affairs and the arranged Mr. Alatas said Timorese resident sented as an attempt at reconciliation be- regime’s top-ranking Timorese collaborator, overseas now seem ready to start a dialogue tween the divided East Timorese, pro and stepped forward to handle the matter on with those still living in the former Portu- anti Indonesian. Suharto’s behalf. guese colony. Despite International pressure The persons who were involved from the Many commentators were taken by sur- Jakarta has consistently refused to negotiate outset were Nuno Rocha, a Portuguese prise, seeing this as a concession to world with East Timorese exiles oppose to integra- businessman who has strong ties with opinion made by Suharto under pressure. tion with Indonesia, Mr. Alatas stressed if highly-placed Indonesian officials and On the contrary, it is a slick diplomatic the talks go ahead they will be strictly in- Petrus Suryadi, an Indonesian journalist maneuver designed to fend off persistent formal. with close ties to BAIS, the Indonesian calls for the East Timorese, in particular the military intelligence. Some Timorese exiles East Timorese resistance, to be involved in EAST TIMORESE TO ATTEND were approached by the above persons. the UN- sponsored talks between Indonesia TALKS We strongly believe that these “recon- and Portugal. ciliation” talks are part of an overall Indone- After insisting that Indonesian sover- The Australian, 23 July 1993 sian diplomatic offensive on East Timor. eignty over East Timor “will not be an is- This offensive wants to improve the tar- sue,” Lopes da Cruz set the stage for the Jakarta, AFP: An informal discussion be- nished image of Indonesia on the interna- talks by saying he recently met Fretilin’s tween East Timorese for and against the tional scene and at the same time try to Abilio Araujo in Brussels and claimed that former Portuguese colony’s integration into undermine the position of the CNRM, the the initiative for the talks had come from the Indonesia was expected to be held in August umbrella of Timorese resistance, both inside latter. Abilio Araujo still heads Fretilin in or September, an official said yesterday. and outside East Timor. Portugal and was for years head of Fretilin’s “it might be held in August or September As Indonesians we are very much aware overseas representative body, the DEF. in a third country in Europe, which could be of the nature of the present Indonesian gov- Others see the origins of the idea as having Belgium or Switzerland,” roving ambassador ernment. We strongly denounce such ploys come from Indonesian army intelligence for Indonesia Mr. Lopes da Cruz, who was and call for support to explore new avenues which played such a crucial role in the early born in East Timor, said. for a comprehensive solution to the East period of Indonesia’s war to grab East Mr. Lopes said the talks were being co- Timor problem. If the Indonesian govern- Timor. ordinated by the ministries of politics and ment were really sincere, they would have Origins of the ‘talks’ idea security, as well as foreign affairs and the welcomed the idea of Peace Talks proposed The first mention of talks between pro- State secretariat. several years ago by the CNRM. integration and anti- integration East The talks would be “informal and heart Confidence-building measures are Timorese came in April this year, just be- to heart” and “there would be no discussion strongly needed to break the stalemate situa- fore the UN-sponsored Rome talks between on the status of East Timor and there would tion and we propose the withdrawal of In- Indonesia and Portugal on 21 April. The not be any document issued.” donesian troops from East Timorese soil idea was mooted in interviews made by Mr. da Cruz gave no details of the format immediately and the release of all East Indonesian journalist Petrus Suryadi, during of the debate but said the talks would in- Timorese political prisoners, including a visit to Lisbon. Suryadi who writes for the clude East Timorese exiles, including Mr. Xanana Gusmão, Mau Huno and Mau Jakarta daily, Suara Pembaruan is known to Ramos Horta and Mr. Joao Viegas Carras- Hudo. have close links to army intelligence, BAIS, calão, who are living in Australia and would Estoril, Portugal, 23 July 1993 through the Indonesian military attachés in be likely to reject the proposed talks with FDI, Front Demokrasi Indonesia, Brussels and The Hague. His trip to Lisbon the pro-integration group. FISI, Forum for International Solidarity is known to have taken place at their instiga- in Indonesia, tion. INDONESIAN NGOS Perhimpunan Indonesia, Indonesian As- Many East Timorese political exiles in sociation STATEMENT ON TALKS Lisbon were wary of Suryadi’s background. July 23, 1993 The only ones to respond to his approaches TAPOL ON JAKARTA’S were Abilio Araujo and Jose Martins, leader The following statement was issued by Indo- LATEST ‘CONFIDENCE of the minuscule Kota party who in 1975 nesians who attended the Fifth Seminar on BUILDING MEASURE’ threw in his lot with Indonesia, defected a East Timor of Oporto University: year later, but more recently again took a Indonesians attending the Fifth Seminar TAPOL Statement, July 22 pronounced pro-Jakarta stance. Few people on East Timor of the Oporto University The following is the draft of an article to be doubt that Martins has all along been a tool received news about the endorsement by published in TAPOL Bulletin No. 188, Au- of military intelligence. It therefore came as President Suharto of talks between pro- and gust 1993: no surprise to read about his enthusiasm anti-integration Timorese. We want to make over moves from Jakarta for talks between the following comments: On 20 July, the Indonesian government East Timorese. The talks are a scheme prepared by In- announced that it had given the go-ahead for The shift in position by Abilio Araujo donesian military intelligence, coordinated talks to take place between pro- integration came as more of a surprise and it is far from by the two military attaches in The Hague and anti-integration East Timorese. Foreign clear that he is speaking as a Fretilin leader and Brussels. This initiative began to take Minister Ali Alatas gave the green light after or that his enthusiastic response to such shape prior to the UN talks between Indo- meeting President Suharto, a standard pro- talks represents the views of a party that nesia and Portugal under the auspices of the cedure by cabinet ministers to signal that the has been the staunchest opponent to the UN Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros- move has Suharto’s approval. Following the Page 92 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Indonesian invasion and led the armed resis- take part in these talks. The initiative has sponsored talks between Portugal and Indo- tance in the interior from 1975 on. been roundly condemned by CNRM over- nesia. The main resistance over the years to In an interview with Suara Pembaruan on seas representative, Jose Ramos-Horta. The anti-integrationist East Timorese involve- 8 April, Araujo came out with a number of deputy chief of the UDT in Portugal has ment in the talks has in fact arisen from all remarks that are uncharacteristic for a Fre- also rejected the idea, saying that the three parties – Indonesia, Portugal, and the tilin leader. He criticised the young people Timorese should only accept a format which U.N. who participated in the Santa Cruz demon- involves Portugal as the administering Any decision to join informal East stration in Dili on 12 November 1991 for power. Timorese talks cannot reasonably be made unfurling banners which, he claimed, had Discrediting the resistance on the basis of who originated the idea. This “acted as a provocation.” He went on to reduces ultimately to the form of an argu- So, what are Jakarta’s motives in accuse the Catholic church in East Timor of ment ad hominem. i.e., if Abilio Araujo or promoting the talks? It hopes to win going beyond the bounds of its ‘non- politi- Indonesian intelligence conceived the talks, international favour by appearing to allow cal’ role and then declared that all sides in they can yield no good. In fact, whether opposing East Timorese to come together in the East Timor conflict, Indonesia, Portugal such talks can yield any good depends far an attempt at reconciliation. Jakarta would and Fretilin should acknowledge that they more on a broad (not necessarily exhaus- like to dress this up as a ‘confidence- had made mistakes in the past. tive) range of East Timorese participation building measure’ to end the stalemate in the It was in a later interview with Radio characterized by intelligence, imagination UN-sponsored talks. Netherlands that he made the suggestion and boldness. But the international community should that pro- and anti-integration Timorese TAPOL claims that the Indonesian pro- be warned that Jakarta’s format is deliber- should talk to each other. He acknowledged posal is deliberately designed to exclude the ately designed to exclude the East Timorese that Petrus Suryadi had “offered his ser- main resistance leadership. Yet official In- resistance. Anti-integration exiles, whoever vices” to make this possible. It is difficult to donesian statements only stated the expec- they are, are no substitute for the mass believe that Araujo does not know he is tation that figures like Jose Ramos Horta movement that has waged resistance inside accepting the services of the very intelli- and Joao Carrascalão would exclude them- East Timor, in the mountains, in the towns gence network which has played such a selves, an assessment which so far has and villages and within the Church. sinister and de-stabilizing role in East Timor proved correct. As for Xanana’s involve- It is Jakarta’s intention in particular to throughout the history of Indonesia’s war ment, while all who support the resistance exclude the embodiment of that resistance, against East Timor, bringing so much suffer- might favor this and some even demand it, it the National Council of Maubere Resis- ing to the people of East Timor. He ex- is a pipe dream to imagine he would be re- tance, whose leader, Xanana Gusmão, was plained that the idea of direct talks between leased from prison for this purpose, at least sentenced to life by an Indonesian court in pro- and anti- integration Timorese was at this time. TAPOL is well aware of this. May this year, and now languishes, incom- being promoted because Jakarta has blocked Its position seems to be all or nothing. With municado, in some God-forsaken prison any notion of Timorese participation in the such an approach, of course, nothing will goodness knows where. UN- sponsored talks. ever be accomplished. The talks proposal is The arrest and trial of Xanana Gusmão In an interview last month with the Lis- not the vehicle to obtain Xanana’s release. set in trail a strategy to obliterate both him bon daily, Diario de Noticias [30.VI.1993], Figures like Mario Carrascalão and Bishop personally and the entire resistance move- Araujo acknowledged that the talks could Belo are by no means adequate substitutes, ment, hoping to remove them as the rightful only happen if Jakarta gave the green light but Indonesia has not so far ruled out their participants in any negotiations to lead to an and thought they would take place before involvement. Bishop Belo, however, might act of self- determination in East Timor. the next round of talks between Indonesia himself argue his involvement exceeds his Before his arrest, Xanana Gusmão repeat- and Portugal in New York on 17 September proper role. edly called for talks leading to a peaceful this year. He also revealed that he now be- An interesting aspect of the proposal not solution to the conflict and declared his lieves that the armed resistance in East yet discussed is that it has been mooted not willingness to take part in talks. He returned Timor is “worn out” and that all that now simply as an initiative of the Indonesian to this theme in the defence plea that he was remains for the East Timorese is to “wage Foreign Affairs Department. Rather, the prevented from reading out in court, when cultural resistance.” Coordinating Minister for Politics and Secu- he called on the international community “to Besides Petrus Suryadi, the other figure rity and the State Secretary, de facto Soe- press Jakarta to accept dialogue with the to emerge as a key link in this murky tale is harto voices, have embraced the plan. The Portuguese and the Timorese in the search the Portuguese journalist-turned- business- proposal, rather than being a ploy, as Portu- for an internationally-acceptable solution.” man, Nuno Rocha, a close friend of former guese diplomats claim, to deflect criticism in The voice of Xanana Gusmão has now Indonesian foreign minister, Mochtar Ku- upcoming international meetings, seems yet been silenced but resistance inside East sumaatmadja who became notorious for his another Soeharto gambit to circumvent the Timor is in no way diminished by his ab- glowing report of a visit to East Timor in Army and bring it around to a softer line on sence. Its right to a place in the talks cannot the late 1980s and later published a book East Timor more acceptable internationally. be snuffed out by a diplomatic ploy from entitled, East Timor, the 27th province. Observers should carefully note that the regime that has illegally occupied East Rocha visited Jakarta in April this year Soeharto has of late been winning his cold Timor for nearly eighteen years and brought to sound out the Indonesian government on war with the Army which followed the untold suffering to its people. Araujo’s willingness to hold talks. His an- latter’s successful imposition of Try Su- nouncement that Jakarta would insist on MACDOUGALL: TAPOL ANALYSIS trisno as Vice President. Try has been rele- Jakarta, not Bangkok, as the venue and DOGMATIC, MISLEADING gated to ceremonial roles. Habibie has been would refuse to allow any discussion on de facto assigned the job of the internation- Indonesian sovereignty over East Timor led Contrary to TAPOL’s statement, there is ally active and intellectually shrewd Vice Araujo to abort the talks at that stage. nothing new inherent in the informal East President whom Soeharto really wanted. As yet, Araujo is the only anti- Timorese talks proposal which would fore- Habibie’s arranging of ‘strategic industry’ integration East Timorese in exile to want to stall East Timor involvement in the UN- tours with Petition of 50 leaders – with East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 93

Soeharto’s clear approval – has now forced The reality of the situation concerning to Suharto’s current approaches to former Armed Forces Headquarters to cut back the ‘talks’ is unfortunately quite different. dissidents is well chosen. However, they are severely the number of Indonesians not Tapol, in their article of 22 July, (Tapol on conscious that the old rogue is only acting allowed to travel abroad. The official figure Jakarta’s ‘talks’ ploy) clearly sums it up. out of despair. is now down to 11 – including mainly the Far from being a genuine and sincere at- This is also the origin of the latest ‘talks’ core working group of P-50. New medical tempt to open dialogue, it is once again a red herring. It is aimed at giving Indonesia treatment options were suddenly made Jakarta ruse aimed at misleading interna- the appearance of genuinely wishing to talk, available to sick dissidents Hoegeng, Dhar- tional opinion (which comes a little to soon while avoiding to address the central issues sono, and Nasution after public remarks by after the grotesque Xanana trial travesty!). in the rightful context. P-50 leader Ali Sadikin during the two tours Talks have been repeatedly offered for a There is however a more sinister aim to so far. None of this was ‘on the tour decade by Xanana up to his famous defence this latest ruse: to isolate the Resistance. agenda.’ Bang Ali seems a much more astute statement. Ramos Horta has reiterated this Where is Xanana Gusmão? Where is Mau politician than some too rigid East Timorese in the peace plan he presented last year. Hunu? What role in the talks has there been exile leaders and their putative ‘supporters.’ Such talks must include all parties to the confirmed for them? For the Church? For In short, Soeharto is on a roll. While he conflict: the East Timorese, Portugal and Konis Santana? For the urban clandestine has conceded nothing basic, he has made Indonesia under the auspices of the United network? meaningful political concessions to Indone- Nations. Would it really be useful to enable Indo- sian dissidents against Army leadership After the Rome talks last April, CNRM nesia to proclaim to the world that East wishes and gain increasing room for maneu- in a joint statement with UDT’s Vice Presi- Timorese inside the country all favour inte- ver for himself. Without informal talks dent Joao Carrascalão and Fretilin’s Foreign gration, and that the supporters of inde- among East Timorese, who can convincingly Affairs Department Head Mari Alkatiri, pendence are only the ones outside? say he is prepared to give nothing meaning- outline the East Timorese position regarding It is precisely by supporting such divi- ful away on East Timor? No one. talks with Indonesia. They must be under sive Indonesian maneuvers that the regretta- – John ([email protected]) the auspices of the UN Secretary General ble differences in the East Timorese com- and the Administering Power Portugal. East munity are exacerbated. Most of the East CNRM RESPONDS TO JOHN Timorese participation may initially be Timorese have seen through the ploy. MACDOUGALL indirectly (so far East Timorese have been CNRM, the entire UDT, most of Fretilin July 24, 1993 regularly consulted in the negotiating proc- and many grass roots groups are united in ess by the UN and Portugal at the highest their rejection, not of genuine talks, but of Over the last few days several views level). this new Indonesian attempt at manipulating have been expressed on the subject of the This, in the view of all except Indonesia us all! Indonesian contrived talks between East is the most appropriate format to resolve Timorese in their service and leaders abroad. the problem. MACDOUGALL TO CNRM As the non-partisan umbrella organisa- Let us not fall into Suharto’s and Alatas’ From: John A. MacDougall, July 24 tion of the East Timorese pro- independence trap and loose sight of the basis of the prob- forces leading the struggle for self- Many thanks to CNRM Darwin for the lem: Indonesia’s illegal acts since 1975 determination and independence of East thoughtful reply to many recent postings against Portugal and the East Timorese in Timor, CNRM is deeply grateful to all non- related to the announced Indonesian plan for violation of its international legal obligations Timorese who support our efforts to end an informal meeting among East Timorese, as a UN member. the current conflict and seek a just solution the acceptance of which, in some form, I John MacDougall refers to Fretilin’s ac- that will bring peace to our region. urged. CNRM rejected participation in these knowledged mistake of boycotting the 1975 In the name of the East Timorese people, talks and argues my criticisms of this rejec- Macao talks aimed at solving a domestic CNRM appreciates the concern dedication tion included the assumption this rejection problem between Timorese parties and Por- and good will of all those who, in such a was due to internecine squabbles among tugal, causing their failure, as it was one of variety of ways, assist our struggle, includ- East Timorese abroad. This was not the the key parties. He is also right in his obser- ing John MacDougall’s valuable contribu- position I stated. The real underlying reason vation about the historical consequences of tions. for CNRM rejection, I argued, went much such intransigence. More than anxious to find a solution to deeper, with differences among Timorese – CNRM’s position bears no relationship the tragedy that has befallen our people for many healthy and legitimate – only a mani- to the present situation, however. For years the last 18 years, we appreciate the sense of festation of this underlying reason. The real Indonesia has been urged to enter into talks frustration felt by anyone well intentioned reason is continued CNRM unwillingness to with all key parties to the East Timor prob- and eager to see a just resolution of the consider new policy lines and dogmatic lem. It has steadfastly refused. Ramos problem when faced with perceived obstruc- rejection of Indonesian proposals not Horta, on the other hand has time and time tionist inter-elite factional disputes. amounting to splendidly clear concessions again reiterated his willingness to talk to If the basis of the widespread rejection of to CNRM positions. I do not mean to single Alatas or his delegate, to no avail (is it be- the Indonesian sponsored talks proposal out CNRM in this respect. The criticism I cause as MacDougall writes, DEPLU feels were no more than yet another expression of am making applies, I believe, to a very wide Horta is ‘hypocritical and unreasonable,’ or factional fighting as John MacDougall as- segment of supporters of the East Timorese is there something else behind the unavail- sumes, then his criticism would be valid. No liberation agenda, indeed, to some groups ability of those paragons of sincerity and one has decried East Timorese factional and individuals in many fields – not just reason?). discord in the past more than Jose Ramos NGOs – among the most vocal backers of Now that it has become clear that intran- Horta. Awareness of the need to overcome this agenda. Put another away, the strategy sigence may lead to being bypassed by his- this weakening reality led Xanana Gusmão practiced so long has now become inappro- torical events, as MacDougall rightly argues, to establish CNRM, and Horta to devote his priate to the situation on the ground. Indonesia (rather than CNRM) tries to take services to it. desperate measures. MacDougall’s reference Page 94 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Let me state my own working assump- pressuring international forums and foreign If these assumptions would hold, then tions. I do not in fact think that East Timor governments and focus their main energies perhaps, one might share in John MacDou- will gain independence. However, I concede inside Indonesia itself. I do not say that gall’s defeatist position, and be subservi- the remote possibility that this aim – and international struggle be abandoned, for it is ently mendicant aiming to be granted the definitely desirable more limited aims – just indispensable, but I believe it, too, will as- few limited concessions the Suharto dicta- might be achieved. Since the situation in sume new styles and agendas as small open- torship may deign to offer. East Timor is so dire, it remains, in my ings increasingly get created inside Indone- Fortunately, as we see it, they don’t view, worth the struggle. In this, though, the sia. Without going into detail in this public hold. East Timorese side is the desperate one, not forum, I urge East Timorese abroad to begin The strength of the desire for freedom the Indonesian side. Never has East Timor verbal and written dialogues on a wide range and independence is not waning, neither been so firmly under Indonesian control and of issues with the Indonesian President, inside East Timor nor outside. On the con- the prospects for progress looked so bleak Indonesian Army, Indonesian central bu- trary, it is growing and reaching ever wider for the East Timorese as they do now. The reaucracy, Indonesian mass media, and In- sectors of the East Timorese community, Indonesian President, the Indonesian Army, donesian social organizations and leading particularly its post-annexation young gen- and the Indonesian central bureaucracy have private figures. Please try to think through eration, as has been more than clearly seen a ‘lock’ on the territory. And despite brave what practical work and new tactics this in recent years. Furthermore, strong feelings words and deeds by some Indonesian might entail. of rejection of the brutal and corrupt dicta- groups and individuals, worse, Indonesian One particularly important feature I per- torship, and a longing for greater democracy, public opinion is solidly, overwhelmingly, sonally consider necessary is explicit aban- social justice and truthfulness are increasing and, not least, irrationally backing the broad donment of armed struggle as a tactic. throughout Indonesia. East Timor policy of these three controlling Xanana has already conceded military vic- In view of the previous, and the ensuing pillars of the Indonesian polity. tory to the Indonesians. Continuing the general lack of legitimacy of the regime both If CNRM Darwin and like-minded tactic as an option only provides a very inside and outside, it is the Indonesian side groups who rejected talks do not credit this convenient justification for large numbers of which is increasingly desperate. We do not analysis, I suggest it is in large part due to Indonesian troops to remain in East Timor. see policy changes coming about because of another so far fatal weakness in the struggle. An explicit commitment to non-violent a change of heart in Jakarta, only as hope- Here I refer to the very limited understand- means of struggle would also likely lead, I less and belated damage control attempts, ing of most East Timorese abroad regarding think, to new sources of international sup- aimed primarily at the deception of interna- how the Indonesian political system works port. It remains to work out how to provide tional public opinion. and how changes in policy do sometimes safety for fighters in the field if this tactical As for broad public support for Presi- occur. East Timor will never be free unless change occurs. This is not impossible but it dential, army and bureaucracy policies in those struggling for its freedom gain this won’t be easy. Please be clear that I am not Indonesia, we are of the impression that at understanding. And this understanding can advocating an end to clandestine non-violent no time over the entire New Order lifetime only be gained through intensive interaction resistance. has there been less unison and more latent with a broad spectrum of Indonesian groups This is all more than enough wind from dissent than at present. In our view the and individuals. And this interaction must me for a while. I’d prefer others to take apparent surface calm (if it is still appar- go on for years and years and years. The part in the discussion and debate, as some ent!) is highly deceptive, as we expect the UN-sponsored talks, even if they involved have already begun to do. My intention has nearby future to show. East Timorese members of the resistance been to break some ice by providing a small As to East Timorese understanding of the rather than just the Indonesian, Portuguese, jolt of public criticism. In the final analysis, Indonesian political system, 18 years of and UN sides, will not result in any quick or it will be up to large numbers of East tragedy have allowed the learning of many decisive fix. Any results achieved are even Timorese, a much wider circle of friends, lessons. On the basis of this practical ex- likely to be very limited and perhaps very and, yes, current antagonists to move mat- perience, East Timorese have acquired a unsatisfactory. ters forward. degree of authority which, one would ex- My view is that the only conceivable pect, should entitle them to be accorded a way East Timor will obtain freedom is CNRM REPLIES certain measure of respect on the part of through extensive long-term work within the July 27 their friends. Indonesian political system, however unpal- We thank John MacDougall for his open While it is inappropriate to enter into de- atable and difficult that work will be. A letter in reply to CNRM’s (and not only tails here, CNRM does cultivate close rela- long, drawn-out, incremental movement CNRM Darwin, who merely posted it) reply tions with a broad range of Indonesian toward East Timor freedom is possible – if to his earlier piece on the recent Indonesian brothers and sisters, who, like ourselves East Timorese abroad, in Indonesia, and in ‘talks’ ruse. eagerly look forwards to a rewarding future East Timor recognize this enormous task of justice, freedom and mutual respect in the and bravely retain their idealism, identity, Fortunately John MacDougall provides region after the demise of the Suharto dicta- and ultimate goal. On the other hand, if East his working assumptions explicitly, i.e. that torship. Timorese abroad decide from the start only (a) East Timor will not gain independence; To hasten the advent of this new era, to speak with East Timorese of their own (b) the current situation being very dire, the strong and persevering resistance together choosing and Indonesians of their own East Timorese and not the Indonesian side is with international support is required, rather choosing, the game is lost from the start. It desperate; (c) Indonesians broadly support than attempts at unprincipled and defeatist is unlikely East Timorese in Indonesia and the East Timor policies of their President, accommodation with a decaying dictator- East Timor can gain freedom without exten- army and bureaucracy; and (d) East ship. sive international support. Timorese have only a very limited under- Accordingly, I urge CNRM Darwin and standing of the Indonesian political system all champions of East Timorese freedom to and its process of occasional policy changes. shift their principal focus of activity from East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 95

AN EAST TIMORESE VIEW a piece of thought as a young East Timorese Horta’s proposal by arguing that at that Commentary forwarded July 26 by a list who has been living in several parts of Indo- time Indonesia was still facing her own in- member who has been following all recent nesia and now studying in a foreign country. ternal matters such as the general election. discussions but who must necessarily re- At least I could observe the “East Timor Yet, no official response from Indonesian main anonymous for obvious reasons. question” either inside Indonesia, East authorities to this particular peace plan. As Timor, or abroad. times went on, Indonesia came up with the Being an East Timorese who is directly My comments are as follows : current proposal to embrace the exile leaders or indirectly affected by the continued ET in taking part of the talks INFORMALLY. 1. The proposal which was launched by status quo along with hundred of compatri- How clever they are, as Gerry Van Klinken Indonesian officials through FX Lopes da ots back home (inside East Timor), I heart- pointed out ‘first appearance is of a brilliant Cruz (a well-known collaborator to Indone- ily second the motion of initiating talks on move from the Indonesia point of view.” sia) in his “agenda” as a roving ambassador ET regardless who initiated it. There is far too much political complacency to open informal talks with ET leaders No matter what are their political views in Indonesia and this is truly a difficult task abroad, to me, is a very smart maneuver of and vested interest on this problematic is- for resistance leaders abroad to accept it. Lopes da Cruz with the approval of Suharto sue, the main thing here is WILLINGNESS 3. Although the proposal is rather than and his close aide to give him a green light on to discuss the issue. It’s our hope that a being a ploy, it enables the East Timorese opening talks among East Timorese. ‘just and comprehensive and acceptable ranging from the so-called “opportunists, If we examine carefully the phenomenon solution of ET status’ be solved as quick as traitors, heroics” and the like to come to- that happens so far, it is perfectly under- possible. The sooner the better– otherwise gether and sit down to have an informal standable that Indonesian officials are now we’ll continue witness a long humiliation talks as such meetings (please correct me) pursuing a new method of carrying diplo- and hatreds among these competent parties, have never taken place apart from the formal matic propaganda in restoring its damaged Indonesia, Portugal and East Timorese (ei- forum such as the UN bodies. international image by launching this ‘pro- ther inside or abroad). However, due to its No one doubts that the best way of solv- posal’ as a vehicle to achieve their goal. complexities, one may doubt of its thorough ing the ET question is through the UN aus- Being defeated in the United Nations Hu- outcome of any proposals in the near future pices (as it’s being done). However, relying man Rights Commission in Geneva last as we exp ected. on this international body is not enough! It March for example, was a remarkable Now, having read through postings re- needs an extra effort to discuss the matter ‘homework’ for Indonesian government to cently, it gives me a new clue of how the thoroughly despite the political differences. reconsider its handling over East Timor. The foreign observers analyze the matter com- Regarding this matter, I advocate the East Indonesians of course are fully aware how prehensively. I express many thanks to a Timor exile leaders comprising of UDT, important and significant are the ET exile number of foreign observers who have ex- Fretilin and CNRM, must join together first leaders, supporters, and other supportive pressed their views, concerns and etc.... to have a ‘joint say’ before responding to organizations in countering Indonesia all the Your views are worth to read (they carried this current proposal rather than time in every international fora (despite the an insightful and weightful) assessment of REJECTING in different manner. antagonism as claimed so far that there are all dimension that take part in the question It seems to me that the ‘disunity’ among no significant voice of East Timorese com- of East Timor. the East Timor old party lines is very dis- munity abroad) they acknowledge their My firm standpoint (as a young East gracing. In general, I respect the struggle of existence. Timorese) is advocating all parties con- those ET prominent figures abroad, but Therefore, I’m not surprised, when cerned, to be able to talk and seek a thor- struggling isolatedly without having extra Lopes da Cruz came up with this proposal ough solution in order to end the long suffer- efforts to understand the real macro-politics as he himself has expressed in a leading In- ing of East Timorese who are living inside inside Indonesia (the occupying force) is donesian newspaper, KOMPAS, on the eve ET. unlikely. As John MacDougall urged for of his promotion as ambassador, last April, Here the problem lies ahead of how to East Timorese abroad to begin verbal and that his main target was “ To save Portu- formulate the agenda of talk of the compe- written dialogues on a wide range issues gal’s face losing in the international arena tent parties and it depends upon the good- with the Indonesian authorities is one of the and how to avoid Indonesia being arrogant.” will and motive of each faction and how we new strategies that could be pursued. That statement sounds rhetoric and politi- respond to it. The East Timorese inside Indonesia have cally aimed to impress the Indonesian au- As far as I can discern the exclusion of no enough power (due to security reasons) thorities. the issue of “Indonesian sovereignty over at the moment to dialogue with the Indone- 2. In response to the ET/Indonesian Pro- ET” has caused reactions from CNRM at sian authorities, possibly the Timorese lead- posal, one may think a little bit why such first stage. On the one hand, CNRM ‘s re- ers abroad are more capable. I do urge my proposal being proposed just before the jection is reasonable and is consistent with compatriots who are living abroad (leaders next meeting between Portugal and Indone- its long standing policy of struggle to liber- of the concerned parties) to face this chal- sian foreign minister on September ‘93? ate East Timor from Indonesia. On the other lenge. Bearing in mind that the ‘Confidence Build- hand, the Indonesia’s position is also diffi- By doing this it doesn’t necessarily mean ing Measure’ adopted from the previous cult and dilemmatic in the international arena ‘recognizing’ the Indonesian rule over ET, meeting is now being elaborated heavily as it persists to ruled out any discussion of but indeed it creates a ‘public opinion’ to from the Indonesian point of view! Perhaps, sovereignty. I can’t imagine how difficult carry this struggle inside Indonesia. As I Indonesia should take into consideration as that would be to exclude that fundamental notice, Indonesia is now moving to degree of well to the peace plan proposed by Jose issue of sovereignty while in fact, this is the maturity and altering its political policies Ramos Horta (CNRM special representa- essential point of view of ET leaders living across the country. This could be a way of tive) last year before it come out with a abroad. influencing Indonesian intellectuals, Indone- bargaining position in creating its own pro- A number of views have been put for- sian mass media and prominent figures who posal. My impression is that Indonesia was ward recently and I have no intention at all are political dissidents inside Indonesia. I not able to give an enthusiasm response to to assess them, I would rather come up with have the strong opinion that the public Page 96 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. opinion has been set up such a manner since gests they sit down to talk as the weaker revise some of its policies (economy-Summa the trial of Xanana Gusmão. It’s just a mo- party with those who have raped their crisis, ethnic tension, issue of succession mentum for Indonesia themselves to prove mothers. It’s a little like Britain’s Lord and restructurization within ABRI) and their degree of maturity in reforming their Owen, who now is urging the Bosnians to other problems confronting the current In- own internal policies. I think Taylor has accept the victory of Serb guns. Is there donesia government have been the most pointed out in his book by visualizing the 5 another way? crucial phenomenon to Suharto. scenarios there. Understanding the macro- Therefore one might consider this move politics of Indonesia is one of the factor to ANOTHER EAST TIMORES E as, at least shows, the country’s willingness sustain the struggle. And I think this would ANALYSIS ON TALKS to revise and solve some of it burdens. be a credit point for the resistance leaders to A number of valuable views have been Other may disagree. But, given the whole think ways/ strategies this might entail. The put forward on the “talks proposal “ be- reforms in Indonesia’s internal political East Timorese younger generation (THE tween the East Timorese inside and abroad environment it is likely evident to uphold INTELLECTUALS) are desperately expect- over the last few days. It is not my aim to this notion. ing an opportunity to open dialogue with assess those weightful opinions instead a If so, the question is, whether the recent their compatriots living abroad as well. mere participation in expressing “thoughts” policy on the talk is only one of the addi- All in all, I advocate the leaders of all fac- on this unfinished business. tional indication of the whole change across tions, to put aside their political interest and As an East Timorese who grew up in the the country ? start to show their WILLINGNESS to open so-called period of war, dated back from the Such an East Timor policy was and is an dialogue through the available channels to civil war up to the tragedy of brutal occupa- inalienable part of the whole process in find out the solution. If each faction still tion and annexation, I am grateful with all Indonesia as the facto it is. However if we persists with its own principle, we the those non- Timorese who support my peo- think carefully all the reasons behind the Timorese who are living inside East Timor ple’s efforts to end this disgraceful situation scene, it is perfectly understandable that the are the ones who continue suffer under this and to seek a more appropriate solution that question of East Timor is not just an indica- long dispute. will extend peace and freedom to my terri- tion of the whole change realised recently by Regarding the CONTENT and tory, shortly my country. the regime. It is a mere continuation of a FORMULA of the dialogue I leave this to While different views have been ex- long diplomatic propaganda to restore its the competent leaders and politicians to pressed concerning “who owns the plan” damaged international image. Therefore, I am decide. without a precise answer, it is my stance to not surprised why the Indonesian is putting Thank you for reading this. start this piece of thought that, “the pro- its effort to create this piece of bluff. An East Timorese posal talk” is an Indonesian maneuver delib- Being stood in a narrow position where “Lenito” erately designed to fend off persistent pres- the international pressure on its poor Hu- sure on Jakarta. It is neither a recent Portu- man Rights records and its own people out- COMMENTS FROM GERRY VAN guese-Indonesia’s hero Nuno Rocha, Indo- cry of a more “openness and democracy” KLINKEN nesia’s top collaborator Lopes da Cruz, and the regime resumes to launch such move. To July 27 Petrus Suryadi nor Abilio Araujo’s pro- accomplish it, particularly in the case of A couple of comments in reply to the posal. Some will, certainly, argue such move East Timor, Indonesia develops a simply anonymous East Timorese poster about the as Da Cruz programme in his capacity as narrow “talk plan,” instead of using the talks proposal. roving ambassador and others will argue proposed plan offered previously by The strength of the Indonesian propa- such move as Nuno R or Araujo’ plans. Xanana and Jose Ramos Horta. This, cer- ganda assault is that the talks proposal fits Both sides could possibly true, however tainly coupled with a number of Jakarta’s perfectly into their long-standing depiction given place and time wherein the proposal vested interest as mentioned, which can be of ET in terms of an internal civil war, in was launched It is undoubtedly to argue seen from the two points stated by Suharto which Indonesia is acting with fatherly con- such move as part of Indonesia’s revision of on the status and substance of the talk, cern. The question is whether Indonesia will it’s whole policies being launched currently. namely INFORMAL and WILL NOT succeed in carrying off this piece of bluff in Bearing such given concept in mind it is TOUCH INDONESIA’S SOVEREIGNTY. talks of this nature. It seems to me that worthless to view such matter not as an Not surprisingly, it is understandable CNRM rejection of such talks plays into Indonesia’s vested interest. why CNRM (the non partisan umbrella the hands of the Indonesian bluff strategy. It is true, as John MacDougall says, a organisation most popular among the young The ETese can at least partially claim major departure from the long rigid standing East Timorese) took that stance. The most such talks for East Timor and combat the policy. Yet It is also true to take into ac- reasonable arguments for refusing the above Indonesian depiction of them (which are count the simultaneous move and the proposal talks broadly can be summarized surely a cruel deception). It appears to me slightly change in Indonesia current political as follows: that if ET exiles now accept this possibility, situation as a probable stimulus for this - Useless, if the talk is to be held between and then insist on conditions (i.e. start bar- recent policy. East Timorese pro and anti integrationist gaining) on things like the venue, the agenda, It has been a common secret, the current without “touching” Indonesia’s illegal con- etc., that some progress can be made. The political atmosphere in Indonesia as the trol. Despite the talk will only confine to an reason for my confidence is that I believe most “set back” comparing to the previous “informal stage” , if it is to be done, it im- the number of ET-se who have really de- years. Externally, the significant lose in plicitly implies a recognition of these parts serted their people, even those working Human Rights conference in Geneva, the over Indonesia sovereignty. within the Indon establishment, is very international pressure on the so called East - Without ignoring the past historical de- small. Timor policy plus the country’s present ficiencies ( the absence in Macau meeting I’m aware how easy it is to make com- status as NAM leader which would have to etc.) the current CNRM position is to adopt ments from the sideline, I’m aware also of stand perfectly (does not necessarily) as it the line in which Xanana has been presented the great pain the eternally wronged East has to be and the fluctuation of internal earlier. Regardless who will be the sponsor, Timorese must feel any time anyone sug- political tense which prompted Jakarta to CNRM must adhere to the peace plan deliv- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 97 ered by Xanana prior to and in his famous dom gain this understanding i.e. to consider diction that individual East Timorese par- defence plea that East Timor question is a Indonesia political system and how it works ticipate such talks as individuals, if they responsibility of Indonesia towards the is absolutely true. And this understanding wish. international community. Hence, all parts can only be gained through intensive interac- 2. It would be unbelievable that informal must be included in any talks concerning the tion with broad spectrum of Indonesia’s contacts between pro- and anti-integration problem, not between East Timorese exile individuals and group. Our leader Kay Rala East Timorese don’t already exist. And and inside Indonesia. Xanana has conceded the military defeat. these contacts do exist, for example between - On the one side, besides the two possi- Hence, all possibilities to reach peace and Abilio Araujo and Lopes da Cruz, as was ble advantages in the part of Indonesia (dip- freedom should be considered. publicly acknowledged. I am aware of others lomatic and internal advantages) argued by Such “thinking,” based on my own ob- and would not be surprised they happen at Bruno Kahn - regarding this proposal - other servation has been a module in the eyes of every opportunity. So, a natural question is: alternatives should be taken into account. us Youth East Timorese inside East Timor what advantages can “official informal talks” Keeping Xanana isolated from the talks over the years of struggle. We have won offer to the East Timorese as compared to implies Indonesia is willing to exclude the politically but defeated in a true resistance. unofficial ones? (this is a query, not a skep- true resistance and in turn, claim and ensure Military is absolutely impossible but there ticism). it control of the talks - while on the other are many ways towards Rome. There is a side, coupled with the country vested inter- real challenge coming up, not only to exam- TIMORESE est it can be certainly argued that the coun- ine how strong we are but also to see how ‘RECONCILIATION’ TO TAKE try is trying to avoid international pressure far we are united. Our long rigid position, and the further talks with Portugal as “the with blind eyes relying merely on guerrilla PLACE IN BRUSSELS jure” administrator power in East Timor. warfare and international pressure in all EXPRESSO 24 July 1993, unabridged To me, these are the basic premises (pre- diplomatic fronts need to be revised. It is sumably) underlying the broad opinion not inappropriate, as some underlined, but it The recently announced ‘reconciliation among East Timorese abroad and inside East needs to be developed. meeting’ between Timorese has been set to Timor. Thus, by sponsoring such talk Indo- Hence, I firstly advocate all my compa- take place in Brussels in September. The nesia will claim the anti integrationist are triots to consider this slightly change. Indo- initiative for the meeting came from Abilio those currently living abroad whilst- those nesia acceptance to the talk implicitly im- Araujo, head of the Fretilin external delega- inside East Timor are pro integrationist. The plies our victory. It also implies that Jakarta tion and as has been supported by Lopes da only problem remain is how to convince the concedes the travesty of justice of Xanana Cruz, Jakarta’s itinerant ambassador. anti integrationist remnants exile, as Jakarta and others, and its fatal illegal invasion. Sources close to da Cruz have told claims, to accept it negative attitude mas- Secondly, A “JOINT SAY” among us EXPRESSO that a representative of the querading as better future for East Timor. In (East Timorese exile) is indispensable and Indonesian military is expected to attend. this situation ABRI will play a crucial role we are still possible to say NO or YES to The meeting has been strongly criticized by in ruling out those “two heads” inside East Jakarta’s invitation. the four Fretilin representatives in the ext e- Timor. Above all, time has not run out yet. We rior as well as by the UDT, led by João Furthermore, the persistence of different still have time and right to persuade Indone- Carrascalão. views among exiled East Timorese it is a sia to reconsider our points, the genuine best start for Indonesia to extend such gap ideas initiated by our Leaders previously ‘NO’ TO TALKS WITH and perpetuate the long conflict among without any preconditions: To accept all PUPPETS Timorese factions. interest parts involvement in the question of Given these facts: -all talks and negotia- East Timor and: to include –"The illegal Green Left #108, July 28, 1993, By Mitchell tions will remain stagnant and worthless. occupation"– of East Timor. Eighteen years Hamilton The nightmare of 18 years will continue. of struggle aimed at ending Indonesia illegal The East Timorese resistance has rejected Torture, disappearances, extra judicial kill- sovereignty. Hence, every items concerning a proposal from Jakarta that it hold talks ings and travesty of justice will prevail for- East Timor is about “Indonesia illegal occu- with East Timorese collaborators with the ever. pation.” Indonesian occupation forces. A Timorese proverb said “ Coalia ma’c All the above ideas are related to the pre- Jose Ramos-Horta, an official of the Na- coalia resultado laiha.” (Talk over talks. No liminary position of the concerned parties tional Council of Maubere (Timorese) Re- result at all) which I argued for. Further comments on the sistance, said he was “prepared to meet So, what is to do with the proposal ? nature of the talk will follow later. with Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas I certainly and strongly agree that urgent Thank you for your time. at any time and any place he might nomi- steps taken by all Timorese factions abroad Another East Timorese. nate, but will never accept tactics which is necessary. Discharging all attributes and –SAMODOC– seek to divert attention from the problem,” discrepancies among these factions are nec- FROM BRUNO KAHN, JULY 27 in an interview reported by Reuters. essary as well. The precise thing to bear in “The problem is not between the people mind is to provide a better atmosphere for a A few more thoughts on the talks ques- of East Timor and their resistance leaders healthy dialogue and consider this proposal. tion: against a few puppets on Indonesia’s pay- This does not necessarily implies that we 1. Besides political considerations like roll ... It is between Indonesia and the shall accept the talk. The essence thing is, a the premises of the talks, it is only logical United Nations, whose resolutions it ig- pre-talk among East Timorese exile should that political organisations like CNRM, nores,” he said. be held, at least, to reach a mutual accep- Fretilin and UDT don’t accept participating On July 20 Indonesian President Suharto tance whether “YES or NO” towards the “informal” talks as organisations, simply agreed for the first time to a proposal for planning talk. because it would be in contradiction with talks between Timorese who accept Ja- As John MacDougall said, ET will never the definition of “informal.” On the other karta’s 1976 annexation and Timorese who be free unless those struggling for its free- hand, I suppose there would be no contra- Page 98 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. oppose Indonesian rule. The proposal was TAPOL COMMENT ON between the different Timorese political first made by Indonesians close to military entities, notably Fretilin, UDT and Apodeti. intelligence, BAIS. ‘TALKS’ EXCHANGES, Realizing the tragedies in the other former According to the British-based Indone- From Liem Soie Liong, July 28 Portuguese colonies like Angola (between sian Campaign for Human Rights - Tapol, MPLA and UNITA) and Mozambique the idea was first mooted in interviews by Email can really function as a democratic (Frelimo and Renamo), I very much favour Indonesian journalist Petrus Suryadi during multiway communication. I want to thank talks to reconcile and bury the past and look a visit to Lisbon. Suryadi, who writes for everybody for the interesting input so far. at the future. At the same time one should the Jakarta daily Suara Pembaruan, has close I’ve just come back from the Estoril con- also look at the 17 years of Indonesian rule links to BAIS, through the Indonesian mili- ference on East Timor and talked with many in a dynamic way. Much has changed, in- tary attaches in Brussels and The Hague. Timorese. The majority are angry and sad- cluding the positions of former UDT and His trip to Lisbon is known to have taken dened by the prospects of the talks. While Apodeti followers. The devastating Jakarta place at their instigation. I’ve noticed that many differences have colonial rule has only accelerated this proc- The regime’s “offer” is both a response emerged, even some sharp clashes, I feel the ess. to increased international criticism of Su- need also to take the plunge. Another process in going on, so vividly harto’s policy and a tactic to portray the While it can be said that ‘history has a described by Ben Anderson in his article in East Timorese as divided. Apart from the way of forgetting those who refuse to talk ARENA. This is about the younger genera- East Timorese working with the occupation and removing them slowly from the political tion of Timorese who, more often than not, forces, only a few East Timorese exile fig- process,’ in real politics, each case should be do not think along old party lines anymore. ures have supported the plan. considered on its merits. Chamberlain made They have become fierce Timorese national- Fretilin, UDT and CNRM - the three the mistake of talking to Nazi Germany, and ists because of Indonesian rule, Indonesian main forces in East Timor - have all rejected has made his mark on history as an appeaser education etc. etc. Reconciliation talks the proposal. The East Timorese puppet of the gravest sort. The Bosnians are first among the young generation is probably less figures, including Suharto’s special represen- ethnically cleansed and then dragged to the urgent: it seems they all detest Indonesian tative, Francisco Xavier Lopes da Cruz, negotiation table to accept defeat. The rule regardless of their parent’s background. have no real power or popular base. Khmer Rouge, the middle east peace talks Another, very important development In a statement on the anniversary of In- are all very complicated and John McD’s has been ignored by JMcD, Robert and donesia’s formal annexation of East Timor general remarks don’t really hold up. The IMcF. I regret this as it shows their lack of (July 17), Ramos-Horta emphasized that bottom line, with GvK and BK making understanding of the present stage of the the resistance was willing to participate in some valuable additions, is the conditions struggle for independence of The East discussions and even to approach the self- and criteria of the talks. Timorese. In 1987 Xanana Gusmão, (and he determination issue through stages. The We from Tapol have tried to describe repeated this call several times) called for CNRM presented a peace proposal to the that the whole process was initiated by the national unity among the Timorese and European Parliament in Brussels in April Indonesian military intelligence (later en- stressed the importance of support from the 1992, to the Council on Foreign Relations in dorsed by Ali Alatas and Suharto, there is Indonesian democrats. This is why New York in May 1992 and later to the no evidence that this is a move by Suharto Timorese students in Indonesia started to UN. against the military); this remains the main join Indonesian NGOs and involve them- The CNRM proposal involves three if not the only reason why we rejected it. It selves in Indonesian opposition politics. phases. Phase one, which would last for is far from dogmatic or misleading as I.McF This may be a bit overstated but I want to about two years, would involve all three puts it (in fact I find his contribution one of draw a comparison with the Vietnam war. parties working with the UN to implement a the least original, speculative and expressing Xanana has said repeatedly that the wide range of “confidence building meas- a shallow understanding of contemporary Timorese are coursing towards political ures,” including a drastic reduction of Indo- Indonesian inner-regime fighting). victory. The Vietnam war taught the world nesian troops and weaponry in East Timor, Let’s put the record straight: what do we one basic lesson, it wasn’t just the military and the introduction of a significant UN mean by informal talks? Informal talks be- strength of the Vietnamese that won the presence. Phase two, lasting between five tween Timorese have been going on all the war, it was also the demonstrations in the and 10 years, would be a period of genuine time, in Jakarta, in Yogya, in East Timor and streets of Washington, the fights in Senate political autonomy based on a local, democ- also abroad. It has been a deliberate policy and Congress and the whole international ratically elected People’s Assembly. Phase of the Indonesian government to send condemnation of the war. three would be a referendum to determine Timorese abroad to attend international It is just one tiny part of the truth to the final status of the territory. gatherings. In Geneva, at the UN lobby they state that the talks should be seen in the Meanwhile, on July 21 the official Indo- meet other Timorese, those who make sub- context of the conflict between Suharto and nesian Antara news agency said military missions against Indonesian rule. This in- ABRI. Everybody knows that increasingly authorities in East Timor will not tolerate cludes not only Francisco Lopes da Cruz Indonesian NGOs (look at their statement in any separatist aspirations. Antara quoted and other high-placed Timorese, which by Vienna about East Timor) have taken on Major General Theo Syafei as saying sepa- the way also have elaborate discussions board the East Timor issue as a question of ratism and opposition to Indonesia’s state with anti- integrationist Timorese. Informal principle, of the right to self-determination. ideology “do not need to be tolerated and talks (I mean informal in the true sense) are Please get off your desks and computers and we should not even hesitate to put them actually happening all the time between occasionally have a chat with people who into order.” Timorese from all different strands and po- represent the present day reality in Indone- litical thinking. They don’t need BAIS or sia and East Timor. Deplu or even the Portuguese government to I have noted in the new CNRM structure let this happen. that the clandestine front has been promoted About reconciliation, I would say the fol- to the top leadership. At the same time the lowing. It is true that deep rifts occurred Falintil (armed wing) has been put firmly East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 99 under the political command. These devel- “IT’S ABILIO’S WISH, NOT LISBON ON JAKARTA- opments were to be expected and follow JMcD thoughts but I find it very paternalis- INDONESIA’S” SAYS LOPEZ SPONSORED TALKS tic of JMcD to demand explicit abandon- DA CRUZ In response to a request to the Portuguese ment of armed struggle. It is part of interna- Bernas 27 July 1993 Slightly abridged embassy in London for a statement about the tionally accepted rights to defend yourself dialogue sponsored by the Indonesian au- against aggression and unlawful occupation. Comment: Lopes da Cruz can hardly expect thorities, the Portuguese government issued Why don’t you demand the withdrawal of anyone to believe that the letter from Abilio the following statement on 30 July 1993: Indonesian troops, the aggressor, instead of Araujo which he quotes proves that the idea taking a defeatist position and assuming that originated with Araujo. The idea of dialogue Position of the Portuguese Government East Timor will never win independence? was being reported long before the end of regarding eventual initiatives of dialogue We interviewed Reese Erlich and he said May which is apparently when Abilio Araujo among East Timorese or between East quite categorically that he met nobody in first wrote to Lopes da Cruz. Timorese and Indonesian personalities: 1. The Portuguese Government believes East Timor who supports the occupation. It Carmel, TAPOL is not for us to decide. If the East Timorese that the question of East Timor is of an decide to continue their active resistance, it The scheduled dialogue between pro and international nature since it centres on the is our internationalist duty to support their anti integration East Timorese has been decolonisation of that territory. A solution just struggle. Why don’t we stick firmly to rejected by a group of East Timorese rebels. for it must be found in accordance with the the main issues instead of engaging in But Roving Ambassador Lopez da Cruz UN Charter and International Law and will wishy-washy talk which only gives credibil- reiterates that the idea came originally from have to be ratified by the General Assembly ity to the Indonesian rulers? Abilio Araujo in Portugal, not from Indone- of the United Nations. sia. 2. In order to achieve this, and in accor- CABRAL E. ANSWER TO JOHN The rejection was made publicly by a dance with GA Resolution 37/30, Portugal MACD. Fretilin rebel now overseas, Alfredo Fereira as the Administering Power of East Timor in Darwin, on 23 July. He told AFP as continues to be committed to dialogue with July 30 quoted in The Straits Times on 24 July that Indonesia under the auspices of the UN I wish to comment on John’s argument Indonesia is trying to shift the problem of Secretary-General following the proposal that the CNRM rejection of the talks pro- East Timor onto the East Timorese them- presented by the Portuguese Government in posal was “weak and risks increasing selves. He said that the problem does not January 1992. For Portugal this remains the CNRM marginalisation as time passes.” exist among the East Timorese. proper form of the search for a negotiated What John is suggesting here is that if The heart-to-heart informal meeting is solution to the problem. CNRM accepts a meeting with the invading seen by this rebel group as a ...... (the word 3. Portugal stresses the need to involve in forces this means a ‘de facto’ acceptance of used, publikasi, is probably a mis- such a search representatives of the different the ruthless occupation. The fact is that Ali translation) because they are refusing to take political segments of the East Timorese Alatas has again come out with a proposal part. people, in accordance with Article 73 of the to gain more time. John’s point of view just Roving ambassador Lopez da Cruz said UN Charter and Operative 1 of GA Resolu- shows the true colours of the invader. He that the idea of having a dialogue came from tion 36/30. At present, it has been estab- also mentioned the peace proposal. The Abilio Araujo of Fretilin in Portugal, not lished that, in the framework of his mediat- peace proposal made by CNRM was to from Indonesia. ing efforts, the UN Secretary-General and discuss the future of East Timor leading to “As a matter of fact it’s not in Indone- his assistants have proceeded with consulta- eventual self-determination and not, as he sia’s interest to have such a dialogue, we are tions with East Timorese leaders. and Ali Alatas suggest, that talks which only complying with the wishes of Abilio. 4. The Portuguese Government does not would conducted with East Timor will not If Fereira doesn’t believe me, he can make a have to support or oppose any initiatives be part of the agenda. If people meet and do phone call to obtain the proper informa- aimed at establishing some form of dialogue not discuss the future of the territory which tion.” among different East Timorese segments or is at the centre of the conflict, what the hell The wish of Abilio Araujo, the Fretilin personalities. However, due attention are they going to do? There will be no nego- leader in Portugal, all of whose family are should be paid to the Portuguese under- tiation in the future of East Timor if it is not living in East Timor, was stated in a letter he standing about the nature and appropriate discussed. wrote to Lopez da Cruz. The first letter forum to solve the problem as stated above. Individuals who participate in this meet- from him was dated 31 May 1993 and was ing will represent themselves and not any written in Portuguese. Here is an extract political party. A number of East Timorese from Abilio’s letter: TIMORESE TO VISIT THE have fallen by the wayside and are now “I regret that because of unforeseen cir- POPE seeking to betray the principles of the origi- cumstances, I was unable to meet you in nal peace proposal presented by Xanana Europe. As I said when we spoke by phone. Kay Rala Gusmão. I also detect in this con- I am very keen indeed on having dialogue, MISSION TO THE VATICAN tribution from John the hand of the Indone- very resolute about it, for the sake of reach- sian government and its military and another ing mutual understanding so that we can ANNOUNCED classic attempt to engage in slander of the better serve our people, in whom we are From Task Force Indonesia, June 9 CNRM. deeply rooted. There are many things for us to discuss so that we can struggle for all East Timor governor Jose Abilio Soares East Timorese to be equal.” said a special team will be send to Pope John Paul II in an effort to speed up a set- tlement for the former Portuguese colony. The group will consist of public figures Page 100 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. from the 13 districts in East Timor, Soares Dearest Brothers and Sisters, I welcome Timor’s remoteness, its lack of infrastruc- said. “I have asked the team to invite the you affectionately, and with the unforgetta- ture and skilled workers. Pope to come to East Timor,” the governor ble memory of my visit to Dili, and I assure “We keep on hearing about plans for in- said. you, once again, that I will never cease to vestors to come from Jakarta, then thing follow, with deep concern, the events in happens.” said Mr. Fatmawati Sultan, man- PRO-RI TIMORESE TO VISIT your beloved land. Let us together fervently ager of a garment stitching venture employ- POPE raise our prayer to Almighty God so that all ing 40 workers. Mr. T.B.M. Sinaga, chair- those responsible for the future of East man of the Dili branch of BKPM, Indone- UPI, 9 June 1993 Abridged Timor may seek, through open and coura- sia’s investment coordinating board, believes geous dialogue, the well-being of the people, that East Timor is finally going to start at- Comment: This is in line with a suggestion respecting their rights and their cultural and tracting significant private investment. months ago from Theo Syafei that Indonesia religious traditions. Businessmen from Japan, Hong Kong should turn to the Vatican, not the UN, to and Singapore have visited East Timor to solve the East Timor question. talk about fisheries, mining, tourism and (Jakarta) In an interview in the 22 April ECONOMIC AID ISSUES other sectors. But the business potential issue of the weekly, Editor, Soares sug- could remain just that; Mr. Sinaga agrees gested that as a first step towards a ‘solu- that the visiting businessmen have come to tion’ to the question of East Timor, the INDONESIA REJECTS ‘collect information,’ but that they ‘haven’t Vatican should be persuaded by a mission of HUMAN RIGHTS LINK TO AID yet made investments.’ East Timorese to incorporate the East The Dili BKPM office produced a Timor church into the Indonesian Bishops’ Reuter, 10 June 1993. Dateline: Jakarta. smartly designed booklet talking up the Conference. Abridged “lucrative” opportunities, but the timing of ––––––––––– Indonesia, which expects to receive some its publication was hardly ideal; it appeared in December 1991, only weeks after Indone- EAST TIMOR TEAM TO APPROACH $5 billion in foreign aid later this month, warned on Thursday against trying to link sian soldiers shot dead at least 50 Timorese VATICAN the money to human rights issues. demonstrating for independence. East Timor governor Abilio Soares said a “What we don’t accept is to make the East Timor, a Portuguese colony for special team will be sent to Pope John Paul linkage... mainly (that) human rights be- more than 300 years, was annexed by Indo- II in an effort to speed up a settlement for comes a precondition for development aid. nesia in 1976. Jakarta’s rule has been re- the former Portuguese colony, the Jawa Pos This is what we think is going too far,” For- sisted by armed guerrillas and has yet to be newspaper reported Wednesday. eign Minister Ali Alatas told reporters. recognized by the UN. The group will consist of public figures Indonesia and Belgium are still arguing According to another BKPM hand-out, from 13 districts in East Timor, Soares said. over the wording of a memorandum of un- East Timor has been catching only 0.8 per The UN has never recognised Indonesia’s derstanding on fresh aid because it appears cent of the fish and other sea food that could sovereignty over East Timor, contending to connect aid with human rights. However, be caught in its waters. The few small in- that the population should be allowed to the major donors such as Japan and the vestments that have been committed in re- determine its own future. World Bank have effectively ignored the cent years include funds for a marble fac- Pope John Paul criticised Indonesia for issue of human rights in Indonesia in the tory, a slaughterhouse and a coffee process- its handling of the former Portuguese colony past. ing operation. when he visited East Timor in 1989 and Indonesia’s donors meet in Paris later Throughout the 1980s, coffee farmers got expressed the hope for a quick end to the this month and are expected to pledge about poor prices for their beans because there fighting. the same amount as last year’s $4.9 billion. was one monopoly buyer, a company linked Alatas said he hoped the agreement with to the Indonesian army. The monopoly was POPE ADDRESSES Belgium would be signed soon. ended several years ago but now prices are TIMORESE PILGRIMS IN Last Friday in an apparent bid to defuse dismal because of a world oversupply. If there were more tourists, the coffee surplus PORTUGUESE international criticism, the government an- nounced it would set up an independent might be less of a problem. But the Timor tourism picture is bleak. IN THE GENERAL AUDIENCE ON 21 human rights commission. However, mem- bers of the commission will be appointed by The few tourists who do come are APRIL 1993 President Suharto and it appears to have mostly backpackers, who don’t significantly Kaibauk, Timorese Info. Bulletin No.3, Page only a consultative role. buoy the local economy. And - in the wake 3. May/June 1993 of the Nov. 1991 killings only 936 tourists [Comments: “Kaibauk” is the UDT info FEW INVESTORS TAKE UP came last year, compared to 1,935 in 1991. bulletin - Regional Committee in Portugal] INVITE TO EAST TIMOR PRE-CGI MEETING Dear Brothers and Sisters, Australian Financial Review, June 10, 1993. PRESSURE ON WORLD Dear pilgrims of the Portuguese language, Reprinted from Asian Wall Street Journal. the Pope greets you all and sends his bless- BANK Prospective investors are welcome in ing to you and your families. I use this op- From TAPOL. June 15 portunity to send a cordial greeting to the East Timor, but few have been willing to group of Timorese pilgrims, coming from make a commitment because of the political In advance of the meeting of the Consul- Portugal, who wished to demonstrate their strife that has plagued the former Portu- tative Group on Indonesia (CGI) which will filial loyalty to St. Peter’s successor, with guese colony since Indonesia annexed it in take place in Paris on 29/30 June, TAPOL, their presence at this Audience. 1976. Investors are also skittish about East the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, has East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 101 sent the following letter to the president of Respect for Human Rights have created wealth and jobs, they are in the World Bank. Along with other human rights NGOs, fact an extension of state power. Most con- Other groups may wish to join in writing we accept the universality of human rights glomerates have close ties with people in similar letters to the World Bank, in good and uphold the indivisibility of civil and high office and give and receive favours. time before the CGI meets. It is essential to political, social, cultural and economic Deregulation measures remain cosmetic press at the very least for the Bank and rights. The Indonesian government does not while cartels and monopolies are emerging. other members of the CGI to make the con- accept this and is responsible for the sup- This creates a widening gap between the nection between aid and human rights and to pression of civil and political rights, justify- haves and the have-nots, which can lead to have human rights firmly on the agenda of ing it on the grounds of achieving faster an explosive situation. the meeting. economic growth. It frequently accuses Underdevelopment in East Timor The Belgian government is currently in people who raise demands about land or Jakarta consistently brags about their dispute with Indonesia over inclusion of a living conditions of ‘disrupting national achievements in occupied East Timor: road- human rights passage in a new agreement on stability’ and threatens to charge them with building, construction of houses and development aid. Pressure on the World subversion. schools. In fact, East Timor is the most Bank and other CGI members could help to Since the start of Indonesia’s ‘New Or- striking example of how development ensure that Belgium does not fight a lone der’ in 1965, violations of human rights have should not be implemented. East Timor is battle, and prevent Jakarta from being able been a constant feature. To name some of run by the military, the East Timorese are to pick off the countries one by one, as they the more blatant examples: the government regarded with suspicion and are not involved did last year with The Netherlands. stigmatizes 1.4 million ex political prisoners in planning or implementing development –––––––––– as fifth- rate citizens, the military intervene projects. 15 June 1993 in many aspects of public life and Indonesia Conclusions Mr. Lewis Preston has engaged in expansionism as most clearly President of the World Bank manifested in its invasion and unlawful an- * We appeal to the World Bank to make Washington, DC nexation of East Timor. Killings are still the above concerns part of the criteria for judging whether Indonesia deserves to be Dear Mr. Preston, occurring on a large scale in places like Aceh. Specifically regarding East Timor, the given aid amounting to $5 billion. We wish to convey our concern regarding World Bank should make it clear that, in * These specific concerns along with hu- World Bank policies towards Indonesia. We accordance with the position of the UN, it man rights violations in general should be on write as the UN World Human Rights Con- does not recognise Indonesia’s annexation of the CGI agenda. ference is taking place and the CGI (Consul- East Timor and should not allow any CGI * If the Indonesian government refuses to tative Group on Indonesia) is due to con- aid to be used for projects in East Timor. acknowledge the connection between human vene in a few weeks’ time. We believe that respect for civil, political rights and development aid, you should The World Bank will for the second time and democratic rights functions as a pre- make it clear that they have failed to go chair the CGI meeting which will decide on condition for the success of economic devel- along with your Bank’s principle of sustain- the amount of aid for Indonesia. CGI aid is a opment in the long run. In macro-economic able development. crucial component for the Indonesian econ- terms Indonesia is regarded as one of the Conditionality of aid has become an inte- omy; the state budget is heavily dependent few Third World success stories. We do not gral part of World Bank policy. In our view on CGI money. Your 1993 report mentions go along with this perception and would like the Indonesian government cannot be classi- the sum of nearly $5 billion to help Indone- to give a few examples: fied as a state which is struggling for a better sia meet its development targets in the com- and democratic society. Nor does it strive Starvation wages and military interve n- ing financial year. for the welfare for the entire population. tion There is no such thing as development Yours sincerely, aid without conditions. Over the years, your While Indonesia has developed a booming Carmel Budiardjo Bank has designed a number of criteria and manufacturing industry, the wages of the conditions which development aid must average worker are pitifully low. It is widely WORLD DONORS SHOWER meet. Some are the result of monitoring acknowledged that Indonesian workers are development projects in the Third World. the lowest paid in the Asia-Pacific region. MORE AID ON RI The absence of independent unions is an- We note that your 1993 report on Indonesia TAPOL Report, 2 July 1993 is entitled “Sustaining Development,” ac- other serious problem; military intervention knowledging the fact that development is in industrial disputes is now commonplace The members of the Consultative Group not just a matter of statistical objectives. and is sanctioned by a government decree. on Indonesia decided in Paris this week to While the Report places emphasis on the This leads to a high-cost economy because commit $5.1 billion to boost the Indonesian broad outlines of the Indonesian economy, the military demand hand-outs from compa- economy in 1993/94, an increase of $200 we believe that development must advance nies which seek military protection against million over last year’s allocation. human dignity which means that it must striking workers. As the World Bank itself Some countries cut their aid slightly, involve the willing and widespread partici- has recognised, this could in any case back- while others gave more, particularly Japan pation of the people, ensure just and equita- fire as investors will go elsewhere with their whose commitment went up from $1.32 ble distribution of the benefits and adhere to money. In the long run, freedom of associa- billion to $1.44 billion. Britain’s pledge the principle of the sustainability of the tion and a proper relationship between represented the largest increase proportion- environment. We seriously doubt whether workers and management can only be of ately, a threefold increase from $35 million the Indonesian government pursues these benefit to all. to $98 million. aims. Conglomerates and monopolies Six countries lowered their commitments, including Australia which nearly halved its The emergence of gigantic conglomerates amount from $73 million to $40 million, is a relatively new phenomenon. While they while the US cut its pledge by $4 million to Page 102 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

$90 million. Belgium which committed ment plans to continue to restrain public Material. A coffin with huge black and $16.4 million last year committed nothing at external borrowing. red sheets, flowers, big candles, posters all this time round, following the breakdown The delegates also considered ways to in- glued on the ground. in negotiations on this year’s aid agreement crease Indonesia’s competitiveness and Presence. Between 30 and 50 people over Belgium’s insistence that a human productivity. There was broad agreement were present. rights clause be included. that increased productivity would be critical Impact. The Trocadero is basically a to sustaining high growth. Indonesia faces touristic place. Lots of people go to and fro, INDONESIA RECEIVES PLEDGES OF growing competition from other developing but they are mostly foreign visitors not a $5.1 BILLION countries in expanding and diversifying its priori sensitive to political/human rights Official World Bank statement on CGI meet- exports and in attracting foreign investment. issues. In spite of this, many people ing, full text. Friday, July 2, 1993 Domestically, broad-based increases in pro- stopped to look at the coffin and the other ductivity are the key to supplying consum- material, and discussed with the demonstra- A World Bank-chaired meeting of donors ers with better quality, lower priced goods tors. We learned at this occasion that it will in Paris on June 30 pledged $5.1 billion of and to rapid employment growth with in- be useful to also make posters in English in development assistance for Indonesia for the creasing wages. the future. coming year. International experience shows that, in Media. The following media were pre- The funds aim to support sustained addition to macroeconomic stability, sus- sent: TVI and RTP (Portuguese television), growth, poverty reduction and environ- tained productivity growth depends on an Radio Alfa (a Portuguese-speaking local mental protection. The total is consistent incentive framework that encourages export- radio, which covered the whole evening), with the country’s estimated external oriented growth and domestic competition Frequence Paris Plurielle (another local ra- financing requirements and development through low protection and limited but ef- dio), IPS/Paris. A French television channel needs, and exceeds last year’s pledge of $4.9 fective regulation. Also, it depends on in- may have been there (unconfirmed). A Bra- billion. vestments in human and physical capital, zilian journalist, passing there by chance and The group of representatives from 18 na- including foreign direct investment, and on unaware of anything related to East Timor, tions and 13 international organizations strong institutions, including a public sector decided to follow up the issue after discuss- congratulated the Government of Indonesia that delivers high quality services at low ing with demonstrators. on the continuity of its sound macroeco- cost. We were interviewed by Radio Alfa, Fre- nomic management and the country’s excel- During 1992/93, Indonesia’s economic quence Paris Plurielle and the Portuguese lent economic performance. During the past performance was exceptional as the govern- television. The wake was shown on Portu- decade, Indonesia’s non-oil gross domestic ment’s restrained macroeconomic stance guese television (but not, of course, on product (GDP) has risen by an average of cooled an overheated economy. Overall French television). 6.7 percent per year. Non-oil exports, over GDP growth reached 5.8 percent. NGOs. Just as last year, few NGOs $24 billion in fiscal 1992/93, are more than supported this event. CIMADE, a Protes- six times higher than in 1982/83. Depend- tant NGO, was represented by a member of ence on oil has declined correspondingly. PARIS CANDLELIGHT WAKE its human rights section. MRAP was repre- The Consultative Group (CG) also con- AT CGI MEETING sented by Michel Robert (also president of gratulated the government for the substantial the Association de Solidarité avec Timor reduction in poverty in Indonesia–from 60 Report by Bruno Kahn, Agir Pour Timor, Oriental). Militants of Peuples Solidaires percent of the population in 1970 to 15 July 13 may also have been present, since their percent–one of the most rapid improve- Here is a report on the candle wake Agir monthly Peuples en Marche published a ments in the world. This was one of the pour Timor organised on June 29th, for the paragraph including details of the demon- major achievements of the 25-year plan. The CGI meeting, on the Parvis des Droits de stration. reduction in poverty was accompanied by a l’Homme, Place du Trocadero. This comes a Spying. Early Monday morning, the day significant slow-down in population growth, little late because I was not in France at the before the wake, one member of Agir pour a pronounced decline in infant mortality, time of this event. So this is (as last year) a Timor received a phone call from a and a substantial expansion of school en- report in absentia. Timorese. He first assumed it was Jose rollment and health care. Last year, for the first CGI meeting, we Antonio Amorim Dias and the correspon- The government continues to put high had organised two demonstrations grouping dent confirmed. However, after a few min- priority on macroeconomic stability. There 150 and 200 people, plus a wake at the utes, it became clear that something was was general agreement that without macro- same location as this time. Many support- wrong. The voice did not fit and the ques- economic stability, Indonesia could not ers, including East Timorese from Portugal tions were strange (How many Timorese achieve its other objects of reducing poverty and Indonesians from Holland, had come will participate? How many are you in your and sustaining growth. from various countries of Europe. This year group? Are there many Portuguese in Tight fiscal policy, together with im- we decided not to make such a big thing for France? etc.). The colleague asked for his provements in public savings and the qual- several reasons: phone number. “Amorim” answered that he ity of public spending, will help sustain - the organisation of the thing last year was in a hotel in Vienna, then hang up, then rapid growth, reduce the current account had been very heavy for us, materially as called back giving a phone number and say- deficit further, and ease the external debt financially. ing his code name was “Joseph.” After- burden. - the coverage by French media last year wards, he called the place where we were to The CG and the government agreed that had been minimal, in spite of the fact that meet on Monday night to prepare the wake, continued prudence in external borrowing CGI took place for the first time in Paris. but the people there were already warned and increasingly sophisticated external debt We could expect worse this year. and gave no information on Agir pour Timor management would be needed in the context Duration. From 9pm to 11pm. Actually or the demonstration. of the rapidly growing and increasingly we stayed until midnight. The same evening, “Amorim” called back complex Indonesian economy. The govern- during the meeting, asked for more informa- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 103 tion but received some “niceties” instead. paign is backed by such influential groups as conditions of Mugiyanti and the others who He called back a couple of times again, in- the AFL-CIO – and for very good reasons. produce 80 million pairs of shoes annually cluding to the same colleague’s home the You know those Nike shoes that can cost for the corporation. next morning! A car with 2 Asian-looking as much as $200 a pair, the kind basketball Knight and his fellow executives claim people stayed in front of the house, during superstar Michael Jordan gets $20 million a they’re proud of what the shoemaker has the preparatory meeting, for 4 hours, ma- year to endorse? The kind that brought Nike done in Asia. nipulating a radio (but maybe we are too a profit of $329 million last year? After all, they say, they’re providing suspicious). The shoes actually are made – every one jobs for Asians. But what they’re really During the wake, we enjoyed the pres- of them – in independent Asian factories doing is using desperately poor workers to ence of an Indonesian we had already seen that are under contract to Nike, by workers increase Nike profits. when we demonstrated against Suharto dur- who are among the world’s most exploited. Nike’s profits weren’t quite so huge be- ing his visit last November (presumably Few get much more than $1 a day, a pov- fore the mid-1980s, back before Nike joined security personnel from the embassy), but erty-level wage even in their Third World most other shoe companies in shifting there was no incident. economies and one that consigns them to manufacturing operations abroad. Back then, When later told this story, Amorim men- living conditions as abysmal as their work- profits actually had to be shared with those tioned Paulino Gama, a former commander ing conditions. whose work helped make them possible, of the Falintil who surrendered to the Indo- Consider, for instance, one of the six thanks to union contracts that guaranteed nesians after having had problems with plants in Indonesia that turn out Nikes – the U.S. shoe workers pay averaging about $7 Xanana, in 1983. He is a known informant Hasi factory in Tangerang, on the outskirts an hour. of Indonesia. He lives in Amsterdam and of the capital city, Jakarta: Nike turned first to South Korea. After moves around to get information. He does “Workers sit or stand elbow-to-elbow. workers there won the legal right to form not speak a very good Portuguese, and Many are barefoot. The humid air reeks of unions and conduct effective strikes that speaks it fast and in a sometimes slightly paints and glues. The temperature hovers could raise their pay and thus cut into confused manner. (This rather fits with our near 100 degrees. Breathing feels unnatural . Nike’s ever-soaring profits, the corporation colleague’s impressions.) In the Vienna con- . . Stay 10 minutes . . . and your head will turned elsewhere. Indonesia is notably lax in ference, he was present at a forum where he pound, your eyes and lips will burn. Amid protecting workers, but just in case the sat with the Indonesian delegation and sided the glue and paint fumes, workers without situation should also change there, Nike is with them in the debate. The same misad- protective clothing operate hot molds, now exploring the possibility of shifting venture as ours happened to the Belgian presses and cutting machines.” operations to even more accommodating group SOS Timor; he was looking for phone The description is that of Nena Baker, a Asian countries and possibly Mexico. numbers of pro-Timorese parliamentarians. reporter for the Portland Oregonian who set But if the boycotters have their way, All in all, it was a successful, if modest, out to explore what lay behind Nike’s hefty Nike won’t be going anywhere. They’re event, in spite of the incident related just profits. demanding that the corporation abandon its above which had no serious consequences. In what is typical of the 35 plants sprin- blatant exploitation of foreign workers. kled throughout Indonesia, China, Thailand, They’re demanding that Nike resume South Korea and Taiwan, most of the work- manufacturing in this country, where some LABOR RIGHTS IN ers in the Hasi plant are young women, their 65,000 workers have lost their jobs because INDONESIA; GSP supervisors men. Their pay is 14 cents an of the shift abroad by Nike and other shoe hour, 16 cents for the overtime they must firms lusting after profits without regard for THREATENED often work. the workers who make them possible. Yet Nike pays the factory, for example, Dick Meister, a San Francisco writer, has about $16 for one particularly popular shoe THE DOLLAR -A-DAY covered labor issues for three decades as a model, then sells it for about twice that to reporter, editor and columnist. WORKERS WHO PRODUCE retailers who in turn sell it to you and me MICHAEL JORDAN’S $200 for twice what they paid. REEBOKS, RAPPERS AND And how do they live, those 22,000 In- NIKE SHOES donesian workers, who make such profits LOSERS possible? San Francisco Examiner, June 16, 1993. New Internationalist (U.K.), June 1993. By Reporter Baker followed one home in Peter Hitchings By Dick Meister Tangerang: “JUST DO it,” say the ubiquitous TV “After a long day, Tri Mugiyanti, who Warning: your training shoes may have commercials for Nike shoes. But if you’re claims she is 18 but looks barely past pu- already damaged someone else’s health. truly concerned with health, fitness and the berty, stands outside her home and says she Peter Hitchings reports on the Indonesian other virtues touted by the ads, what you is very tired. But home is hardly a place to roots of the world’s favourite running shoes. might better do is to boycott rather than relax. She shares one room in a slum less The last time you slipped into a pair of buy. than a mile from the Hasi factory with three Nike or Reebok running shoes, you proba- And while refusing to buy any new Ni- other workers. Smoldering piles of garbage bly didn’t give a thought to who manufac- kes, you might send any “old dirty, smelly, line the dirt paths to her doorway. She tured them or where. But it’s worth worn-out” pairs in your closet to the bil- sleeps on a bamboo mat.” wondering... lionaire Philip Knight, who runs Nike out of There is no electricity or running water in Almost certainly they came from Indone- its corporate headquarters in Oregon. Try Mugiyanti’s shack or in those in which sia. The workers of ‘Jabotabek’ there make That’s just what you should do says the most of the other workers live. all sorts of luxury goods for Western mar- Made in the USA Foundation, a non-profit “Naive and absurd” said a Nike spokes- kets: Nike, Reebok and Adidas trainers, Levi organization of some 50,000 individuals, man of the notion that the corporation Strauss jeans and Calvin Klein Y-fronts. unions and manufacturers. Its boycott cam- should be concerned about the deplorable Page 104 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Jabotabek embraces the city of Jakarta Such contempt for humanity reflects the tors routinely beat people up; electric and the hinterland of Bogor, Tangerang and traditional Indonesian attitude to workers shocks are very common, and are used espe- Bekasi. It is Indonesia’s ‘showcase’ indus- who, according to an editorial in the “Jakarta cially on people belonging to political or- trial complex, where South Korean and Tai- Post” are ‘a docile people who respect their ganizations opposed by the Government.’ wanese companies use cheap Indonesian elders and leaders... easily trainable to do ‘Often,’ he adds, ‘the interrogators sim- labour to manufacture shoes, shirts and manual jobs. (The) puzzling question is... ply lay a revolver on the desk, or put it textiles under licence to the Western label- how the workers... could turn into a highly against the victim’s head, shouting, “you’re owners who buy back the semi-finished agitated and militant mob.’ nothing... just speak!"‘ products, slap on a massively marked up Astonishing though it may seem to this Security is so tight that factories produc- price, and hawk them to joggers, rappers leader-writer, inhuman conditions often ing Western goods look like military com- and GQ readers in European and North breed discontent and well-organized resis- pounds, constantly under surveillance by American markets. tance. But workers’ resistance is being met the Army. This may seem a happy image of incipi- with brutal suppression. Workers who The Suharto regime which came to power ent Third World capitalism but a closer look complain about their conditions are dis- in 1965 still appears to suspect reds under shows the underbelly of one of the world’s missed; those who dare to organize collec- the bed, drawing no comfort from the possi- nastiest regimes, whose industrial-relations tive action are rounded up and interrogated, bility that Indonesia’s military might have policy makes England’s during the Tolpud- often beaten and electrocuted by the mili- already rounded up, tortured and eliminated dle massacre seem almost benign. tary–and then dismissed. the last of the archipelago’s Communist And joggers through Central Park and The key precondition for business suc- bogeypeople. ‘All that remains of the Indo- rappers down the Champs Elysées might cess in Indonesia is having a chum in the nesian Communist Party are pockets of old reflect on the amount it actually costs to military, since Ministerial Decree 342 people who meet quietly in their twos and make $130 trainers: ‘a few cents,’ says a (1985) authorizes the military to intervene threes,’ says a human-rights workers in British industrial- relations specialist who in industrial disputes. ‘Employers in Indo- Indonesia (who prefers not to be named). recently toured Jabotabek. nesia who don’t have a relationship with the The only recognized ‘union’ in Indonesia In Indonesia, the ‘legal minimum wage’ is military are finished,’ explains Teten Mas- is the state-run SPSI (Serikat Pekerja Selu- $1.27 a day, the second lowest in Asia after duki, a prominent Indonesian labour repre- ruh Indonesia), whose representatives on Bangladesh. A survey of 12,000 factories in sentative who was himself interrogated by the factory floor genuinely try to voice Tangerang last year revealed that less than the military for striking. workers’ complaints, but find they are over- 40 percent of employers even bothered to When 14,000 workers from Gahaj Tung- ruled by their seniors. By an astonishing pay the minimum wage. gal, a truck-and-tire company, went on coincidence the chair of the SPSI, Imam ‘Shoe-factory workers run amok’ ran the strike in August 1992, not only the local Sudarwo, is a large textile industrialist, while headline in the Indonesian daily “Merdeka” police and the district military came to the the new Minister of Manpower, Abdul last September, referring to 8,000 workers factory, but also the army combat unit, Latief, owns one of the Indonesia’s biggest who went no strike actions in one district of cavalry, and Jakarta Metropolitan Com- supermarket chains. Between them they do Java during the last three months of 1992, mand. a nifty double (triple?) act of dancing be- involving nearly 50,000 factory workers and A year earlier 8,500 of the 9,250 female tween the military, employers and workers, bringing to 130 the number of major strikes staff employed by Great River, a Ko- urging employers on the one hand to pay, in Indonesia last year. rean/Indonesian textile company, went on and workers on the other to accept the At the centre of the workers’ complaint strike against pitiful wages, 13-hour days, minimum wage, the level at which they set. is decent wages. The $1.27 minimum is still and the practice of docking one-fifth of Despite Indonesia’s ratification of ILO well below that stipulated under Indonesia’s wages for going to the toilet without au- Convention 98– affirming workers’ right to 1945 Constitution, which states that every thorization. The women’s jobs involved collective action–the country’s leaders cock citizen has the right to demand the basic stitching Calvin Klein and Triumph jackets a snook at foreign governments who con- needs for survival. Low wages have brought and underwear; these may have made useful demn its practices. Indonesia, after all, is acute social deprivation: 80 per cent of In- surrender flags but little else in the face of cozily patronized by Western multination- donesian female workers, who make up the the massed military regiments. As it was, 10 als. vast majority of the textile labour, are mal- of the ringleaders were harassed, interro- This display of indifference is not sur- nourished, according to the International gated, and dismissed. One woman was heard prising in the light of what happened after Labour Office (ILO). to ask: ‘Why can’t we have decent wages Indonesia’s massacre of thousands of East But there’s more to it than wage levels: in when each jacket we produce costs $425 in Timorese at Dili in 1991. The Canadian and many factories wages are cut if employees European markets?’ Dutch governments stopped all aid to Indo- go to the toilet unauthorized, pregnancy Sacked workers’ names are entered on a nesia in protest, at which point the Inter- results in instant dismissal, and holidays are blacklist which is circulated among employ- governmental Group on Indonesia was re- allocated at the discretion of employers in ers, removing any chance of their getting formed (minus the Dutch) and actually in- whose ears the words ‘maternity leave’ and another job. The interrogation of ringleaders creased aid from about $4 billion in 1992 to ‘sick leave’ sound like the language of an- may last only six hours, but a lot can be $5.2 billion in 1993. The British were very other planet. done to a human being in six hours, exp lains keen not to offend, while Australia, the one Content to abuse basic human dignity for Amnesty International’s Indonesia re- country which has contradicted the UN by as long as they can get away with it, Indo- searcher. recognizing East Timor as part of Indonesia nesian employers usually deduct 20 per cent ‘They are put under extreme pressure to (helped by oil and natural gas discoveries in of a worker’s salary when she or he is ab- say whether they have links with political the Timor Sea), mouthed platitudes about it sent. A normal working week is more than organizations, to fill out questionnaires not being appropriate to condemn Indonesia 50 hours, with no overtime pay, and the about their families and relatives, to give in public... minimum international standards for health details of their background, their attitude to The Clinton Administration isn’t so and safety are ignored. the state and constitution... The interroga- chirpy about these developments. The US- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 105 based human-rights group Asia Watch asked free access to selected goods from develop- ward rectification of its labor laws. Mem- the US Trade Representative last June to ing countries. The GSP law requires that a bership in any but a government-dominated review labour rights and practices in Indone- beneficiary country be “taking steps” to labor federation is all but prevented by In- sia. Under US law the President could end provide its workers internationally recog- donesia’s laws, while military intervention preferential trade agreements with a country nized worker rights in order to be eligible for in labor affairs is constant. Indonesia is be- (like Indonesia) which is ‘not taking steps to the program’s benefits. ing given 8 months to change, before being afford internationally recognized worker Kantor noted that the Administration told its beneficiary status is suspended rights’–including the right to bargain collec- was giving new emphasis to the worker ILRERF will work closely with the Admini- tively and freedom from forced labour. rights criterion of the law, suspend the bene- stration to monitor progress, or its lack, In November 1992 the Indonesian Gov- fits of one country (Mauritania) and order- during this period. ernment submitted a 170- page response, ing that the status of six other countries (El “Today’s decision signals a new serious- drawn up by US law firm White and Case, Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Thailand, ness in the administration of the worker and sent a top-level delegation to Washing- Malawi, and Oman) be revisited in a short rights provisions of the GSP law, a welcome ton to protest against the petitions. time period. “We are developing specific change from the past two Administrations. President Clinton was to announce his action plans aimed at encouraging improve- ...” decision in April 1993 but still had not done ments in labor practices in these countries. so as the NI went to press. According to If countries fail to make substantial concrete INDONESIA RESPONDS ON Asia Watch, ‘if benefits are cut as a result, progress in addressing worker rights con- LABOR RIGHTS the annual cost to Indonesia of the rise in cerns during this time, their GSP benefits tariffs on Indonesian exports coming into will be in serious jeopardy,” Kantor said. Indonesia Publications, Indonesia News the US will be about $400 million.’ Kantor added, “We are committed to vigor- Service No. 377 - July 2, 1993. Excerpt Meanwhile worldwide demand for train- ously implementing the worker rights provi- ers is at an all-time high. The London-based sions of the GSP law, to ensure that coun- Indonesia, under sharp attack from the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign says tries which benefit from preferential U.S. United States over its poor labour record, on Nike has authorized four South Korean trade treatment are making serious efforts to Monday denied there were major problems joint-venture factories in Jakarta and West implement international labor norms. Short with the way its workforce was treated. Java. Workers in one, PT Astra Doo Yang, periods of review for these countries under- “Most voices in the International Labour receive wages below the national minimum score the Administration’s commitment to Organisation (ILO) support Indonesia. This of $1.27 a day. worker rights. We do not want to wait a full shows that we have handled this issue bet- But what on earth are we to make of year before seeing these countries make ter,” Manpower Minister Abdul Latief told Reebok, one of the world’s largest shoemak- progress in this important area.” reporters after meeting President Suharto. ers, which similarly contracts production With respect to Indonesia, the Admini- Last Friday, Washington threatened to from Indonesian factories? Fernando de stration is very seriously concerned about withdraw special trading privileges from a Araujo, the East Timorese human-rights the lack of conformity of labor laws and number of countries, including Indonesia, for campaigners, who was tried and sentenced practices with international norms, particu- failing to improve workers’ rights. U.S. to nine years imprisonment in Jakarta for larly in the area of right of association. As Trade Representative Mickey Kantor said ‘subversion,’ recently received an award... part of its action plan, the Administration the countries could lose their access to the from the Reebok Human Rights Programme. intends to work with Indonesia in the com- General System of Preferences (GSP) which ing months to examine what steps are being allows developing countries to ship goods to taken to meet international labor standards. the U.S. duty-free. Kantor said he was seri- US TELLS INDONESIA: ously concerned about labour laws in Indo- IMPROVE LABOR RIGHTS OR [Discussion of other countries and GSP- nesia and intended to examine in coming LOSE TRADE BENEFITS eligible products deleted. The release closes months what steps had been taken to meet by saying that the Administration proposed a international standards. “If countries fail to Report from East Timor Action Network/US, 15-month extension of the GSP program, make substantial concrete progress in ad- which has been encouraging its members to during which they will to develop a proposal dressing worker rights concerns during this communicate their view on this issue to the for long-term extension.] time, their GSP benefits will be in serious Administration and Congress, including how jeopardy,” Kantor said. Earlier this month, workers in East Timor and Indonesia are The International Labor Rights Education Indonesian human rights lawyers said they treated. and Research Fund (ILRERF), which, to- suspected a labour rights activist called gether with Asia Watch, requested that In- Marsinah was raped, tortured and murdered The following is most of a Press Release donesia’s GSP status to be reviewed, issued issued June 25, 1993 by the Office of the by government agents after she led a strike a press release June 25. Here are some ex- over pay in May. The government is look- United States Trade Representative, Wash- cerpts: ington, DC. The release is titled: ing into the case but has yet to announce ILRERF Welcomes Progress in Adminis- any arrests. President Suharto, who rose to Kantor Announces Results of 1992 GSP tering GSP Laws; Calls for More Rigor- power in 1965, has kept an iron grip on the Reviews; Emphasis on Worker Rights is ous Reviews labour movement and only allows one trade Underscored .”.. it is apparent that in most of these union to operate for a total workforce of U.S. Trade Representative Michael Kan- cases, there are serious enough violations of more than 70 million. Human rights groups tor today announced the results of the 1992 the rights of workers to justify immediate have expressed concern that Marsinah’s annual review of the Generalized System of suspension of concessionary trade privi- murder might herald the start of a fresh Preferences (GSP) which included reviews leges. crackdown to deter workers from joining the of worker rights and intellectual property .”.. Indonesia’s violations were singled growing number of strikes. Indonesia relies practices in several beneficiary countries. out because of an apparent unwillingness of heavily on its vast pool of cheap labour to Under GSP, the United States grants duty- the Government of Indonesia to move to- lure in much-needed foreign investment. Page 106 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Activists say that many workers are still INDONESIA BARS LABOR secretariat of the topics they would discuss paid below the minimum legal wage of a in their papers. In reply Mr. Wilfred De little over $1 a day. Manpower Minister CONGRESS Souza, Secretary to the UN Special Com- Latief said Indonesia planned to explain its July 29 story by Jeremy Wagstaff, substan- mittee, confirmed their participation, and labour policies to Washington. The United tially abridged: discussion papers were forwarded to New States has in the past raised the question of York. the government’s attitude to labour issues CISARUA, Indonesia, July 29 (Reuter) - The invitations to the Seminar in Port but has yet to take any action. Latief has Indonesia on Thursday barred the country’s Moresby were identical in wording and himself been in the news over labour issues largest independent trade union from holding format to an invitation Ms Whelan received when workers at a factory he owns marched its first congress. from the UN to attend an earlier Pacific to parliament to demand better wages. (RT, Plainclothes police and military officials Regional Seminar on Decolonisation held in Jakarta, Muklis Ali, June 28) barred some 150 members and guests of the Vanuatu in May 1990. On that occasion, Indonesia Welfare Labour Union (SBSI) and as is usual practice, the UN paid for the INDONESIAN WORKERS from starting the congress at a hotel in Cisa- plane fares, hotel accommodation and a per rua. GROUP CONDEMNS ACTU diem. “We have been told we cannot go ahead,” When Ms Whelan received no further chairman Mochtar Pakpahan told members Green Left #106, July 14, 1993 word about travel arrangements, she faxed and representatives from international Mr. De Souza. On 29th May, she received a The Jakarta-based worker support or- groups, including the International Labour letter signed by a Mr. O. Mustafa and is- ganisation Yayasan Maju Bersama (YMB - Organisation (ILO). sued on behalf of Mr. Renagi Lohia, Chair- Advance Together Foundation) has called Diplomats, some of whom attended the man of the UN Special Committee and PNG for Australian unions to boycott plans by abortive congress, said Indonesia had backed Permanent Representative at the UN, in- the ACTU and the Australian government itself into a corner. forming her that they had finalised the list of to assist the Suharto regime’s puppet trade More than 80 SBSI members have re- Seminar participants to be funded by the union, the All Indonesian Workers Union ported being harassed, arrested without UN and that her name was not on it. (SPSI - Serikat Pekerja Seluruh Indonesia). reason, having their benefits withheld or Four days later Mr. Senituli received a A report to the ACTU - first made pub- finding themselves sacked. similar letter. lic a fortnight ago by the journal Solidarity - Chanting, shouting and clapping delegates Mr. Senituli said, “There is something has recommended a scheme of massive as- defied the ban by unanimously passing a funny going on here. The original invitations sistance to the SPSI and the establishment motion calling for legal action against the were bone fide and so I submitted a discus- of an Australia- Indonesia Labour Institute. government. sion paper on the “Implications for the The YMB statement accuses the ACTU The SBSI claims it has 30,000 members Pacific Island territories of issues pertaining of participating in oppressing the working but labour analysts said the figure was likely to the environment and sustainable devel- class in Indonesia. According to YMB’s to be much lower. opment and Agenda 21.” information, ACTU assistance for 1992- “The invitation did specify that we 1993 to SPSI will be A$1 million. “This will should focus on Pacific island colonies that be siphoned off by SPSI officials with the U.N. DECOLONIZATION are on the UN Special Committee for De- excuse that it is being used for training for SEMINAR IN PORT colonisation’s list, which are New Caledo- workers. But the SPSI has never defended nia, Tokelau, East Timor, Pitcairn Island, workers in Indonesia. In fact every time MORESBY American Samoa, Guam and Palau; but in workers strike, SPSI officials accuse them of my paper I flagged other “colonial” situa- carrying out subversive activities.” OUTSIDE PRESSURE ON UN tions in the Pacific such as Bougainville, YMB also expressed concern that the Hawaii and Johnston Atoll, West Papua and ACTU’s help in expanding SPSI factory DECOLONISATION ‘French’ Polynesia which are bound to arise units, will increase SPSI’s ability to have so- COMMITTEE STAFF on the Special Committee’s list in the near called union dues cut from workers’ wages. future.” According to YMB, workers in the Jakarta, Press Release from the Pacific Concerns “I suspect that the mention of Bougain- Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasih areas are Resource Centre, June 8, 1993 ville in my paper prompted the withdrawal receiving Rp3100 per day, which are then The staff of the Pacific Concerns Re- of the invitation,” Mr. Senituli said. cut by Rp750. Ms Whelan said she thinks that because It is common knowledge in Jakarta that source Centre are concerned about what they see as outside pressure being brought the monthly Pacific News Bulletin has con- such “union dues” are mainly used to sup- sistently highlighted the Bougainville crisis port the lifestyles of SPSI officials, often to bear on the staff of the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation who are or- she was taken off the list. retired military officers. “The emergence of Mr. Senituli added, “If our suspicions genuine unionism in Indonesia is being im- ganising a Pacific Regional Seminar on De- colonisation to be held in Port Moresby, about why we have been bumped off the list peded. The ACTU is helping strengthen the are correct, then it is indeed a sad and tragic fascist New Order regime by helping the PNG, June 8-10, 1993. commentary on the UN, the Papua New SPSI, with its programs aimed at domesti- PCRC Director Lopeti Senituli in Auck- land and PCRC/Pacific News Bulletin Editor Guinea government and regional politics.” cating the working class.” Mr. Senituli also said that Mr. Renagi YMB has asked for its call to boycott the Ellen Whelan were each invited at the begin- ning of April by the Acting Chairman of the Lohia as PNG Permanent Rep to the UN ACTU’s plans to be circulated to all has done and excellent job in the Decolonisa- Australian and European trade unions. Special Committee Alexander Siaby to at- tend the Seminar and to prepare discussion tion Committee in relation to French and papers. American colonies on the Committee’s list, Mr. Senituli and Ms Whelan accepted the and that his negotiating skills are badly invitation separately and advised the UN needed to resolve the Bougainville crisis. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 107

Mr. Senituli also pointed to the new “In- “Instead of seeking an appropriate solu- Rights Advocacy Forum Inc., made up of ternal Security Act” to be gazetted by the tion, Indonesia has in recent months intensi- lawyers and educators. PNG government. It will override or restrict fied its brutal colonial oppression in East He presented a paper entitled ‘Decoloni- some of the basic human rights and free- Timor, exacerbating the situation of extreme sation in Melanesia’ to the seminar at the doms entrenched in the PNG Constitution. hardship and gross violation of human rights Port Moresby Travelodge hotel on Wednes- Under the Act, “non-citizens” can be which our people have been enduring for the day. banned from PNG. “This draconian law will last 17 years.” Mr. Brunton also urged the UN Decolo- allow the military open season in Bougain- ... nisation Committee to ‘wake up’ and ac- ville and takes PNG down a road where Gusmão said it was a painful paradox knowledge that the world order has changed many African, South American and South that the new colonial power was itself a and that the politics of the 1960’s were no East Asian countries have gone to despair.” victim of earlier forms of colonialism. longer relevant today. The international spokesperson for the “Yet, as a result of the excesses of its He said that while several interventions Maubere resistance in East Timor, Jose armed forces, it has violated the arguments on behalf of East Timor and West Papua Ramos Horta, was also removed from the which it itself advanced at the time it sought were made to the conference, there was no list of invited participants but after protest the support of the international community mention of these important self- determina- was relisted for the Port Moresby seminar. for its freedom struggle.” tion and human rights issues in the summary PCRC is the international secretariat for Hadi Wayarabi, former Indonesian am- of discussions. the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific bassador to the UN and now director of his Both the Portuguese ambassador and Mr. Movement. country’s International Organisation, at- Brunton raised the question of East Timor For further information contact: Ellen tacked the speakers supporting West Pap- and the UPNG law lecturer Powes Parkop Whelan at Tel: 61 2 550 9967; Fax: 61 2 560 uan and East Timorese self-determination. intervened on behalf of West Papua. 3241 Lopeti Senituli at Tel: 64 9 307 5882; He claimed Portugal had “bungled” its co- Mr. Brunton said: ‘The report does not Fax 64 9 377 7651 lonial rule in East Timor and had thus abro- mention anything of importance which hap- gated any rights over the territory. Wayarabi pened on Wednesday, such as the interven- CHALLENGE TO UN OVER also accused critics of Indonesian policy of tions of the Portuguese ambassador; the MELANESIAN “manipulating and distorting figures” over interventions of the Melanesian Solidarity the widely accepted claim of more than Group; the interventions of the Individual & RECOLONISATION 200,000 deaths in East Timor from famine Community Rights Advocacy Forum; and and the Indonesian occupation. the interventions of the representative of the By David Robie, June 11, 1993 (excerpts) On West Papua, he said that support for Maubere people of East Timor. Powes Parkop said the so-called act was self-determination amounted to “proposing ‘It does not mention any of these impor- void in international law and clearly violated that one part of a sovereign country might tant human rights issues and self- UN principles for self-determination. be separated from another part.” determination issues. From that perspective, “The West Papuans were the first vic- Among other speakers were president it could be considered a white-wash.’ tims of the Cold War,” he said. Paul Neaoutyine of the Kanak Socialist Committee Chairman and the PNG am- Parkop presented a legal, cultural and National Liberation Front (FLNKS) and bassador to the UN Renagi Lohia was re- ethnic case for why the case of West Papua Yann-Celène Uregei of the People’s Con- ported as saying that East Timor and West should be reexamined and restored to the list gress. Papua were not considered because they are of non self-governing territories. Uregei attacked the Matignon Accords as not on the UN list on Decolonisation. He also cited a list of atrocities commit- “strengthening white hegemony over every ‘East Timor is one of the dependencies ted by the Indonesians against the Melane- aspect of social life” in New Caledonia. that is listed on the agenda of the Decoloni- sians of West Papua, including the use of He gave a detailed account of social prob- sation Committee,’ Mr. Brunton told the napalm to kill about 37,000 people in the lems ranging from an explosion of squatter Post Courier. Baliem area in 1978 and the killing of about and shanty settlements in Noumea to “cha- ‘The representative of the East Timorese 1000 people killed in villages south-west of otic development” and “rumours of secret people (Jose Gusmão) was excluded from Jayapura in bombing raids by military air- pocket lining” by some independence lead- sitting as a member of a territorial depend- craft. ers. ency and instead given the status of a non- “These are not all of the specific ac- government organisation.’ Mr. Brunton said counts of the Indonesian colonizing govern- PACIFIC DECOLONIZATION this meant that he was only given 15 min- ment’s cruelty to the colonized Melanesians SEMINAR CRITICIZED utes. of West Papua,” he said. He said: ‘In fact what the secretariat did “Rather it is general accounts of what had PNG Post Courier, Friday June 11, 1993 was to review his paper before he spoke and been committed which also show the meth- he was told what he could say and what he ods of ongoing direct and indirect killing of By Neville Togarewa couldn’t say.’ Melanesians by Indonesian colonisers.” “A former law lecturer and judge of the He said Mr. Lohia, however, handled the Jose Gusmão, spokesperson for the East National Court and Supreme Courts of proceedings well and allowed those who Timor National Council of Maubere Resis- Papua New Guinea yesterday described the wanted to speak to have their say. tance (CNRM), told the seminar about the final report of the United Nations Pacific ‘The representative of East Timor should “tragic situation” in East Timor and pro- Regional Seminar on Decolonisation, held in have been given the status of a person from tested over the trial and life sentence im- Port Moresby this week, as a ‘white-wash’ a dependency which comes under the man- posed on resistance leader Xanana Gusmão. and ‘defective.’ date of the Committee. He reminded the decolonisation commit- Mr. Brian Brunton, who lectured in law ‘The report does not mention any of the tee of the peace proposal presented by at the University of PNG for 14 years and powerful interventions by the Portuguese Xanana which had been ignored by Indone- who served two years as a judge, is now ambassador when he substantially raised the sia. Director of the Individual & Community question of East Timor. Page 108 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

‘And to the extent that there was no India: Military/Paramilitary, Political and bore no resemblance to the situation in In- word about the intervention of the ambassa- Police Repression donesia,’ said Cecilia Jimenez, spokesper- dor and other NGO representatives, this is a Northern Ireland: Military and Paramilitary, son for the Asian NGOs. defective document.’ Political and Police Repression, ‘The international community should not On the question of West Papua, Mr. Japan: Political Repression of Minorities be duped by cleverly packaged speeches Brunton agreed that the Committee did not Kurdistan: Foreign Occupation by Turkey, from one of Asia’s most repressive re- have a mandate, however, he said circum- Syria, Iraq and Iran gimes,’ said Ms Jimenez. ‘If Indonesia stances required it to act. Kuwait: Political Repression of Minorities really believes in human rights, it should Mr. Brunton said: ‘The question for the Laos: Foreign Occupation by Vietnam, Po- announce practical measures to address the Committee to address is that where there is litical, Military and Police Repression many long-standing and well-documented a patent example of a colony where a people Pacific Islands: Military Repression, For- abuses it has perpetrated.’ are oppressed as to the validity of the com- eign Occupation by US, France and In- ‘Such measures should include ratifica- mittee’s own rules; that the world is chang- donesia, Political Repression tion of the major international covenants, ing and in the last three years we’ve seen Pakistan: Military, Paramilitary, Police and the outlawing of torture, withdrawal of its major shifts in the world community and the Political Repression occupation forces from East Timor, the UN, and in international law. Palestine: Foreign Occupation by Israel release of political prisoners, repeal of its ‘Basically, this Committee needs to wake Philippines: Military, Political and Political anti-subversion law, upholding the rights of up to itself; that it is no longer a cause of the Repression NGOs and trade unions to organise and an politics of 1960’s; and the Committee needs Puerto Rico: Foreign Occupation by United independent judiciary.’ to be aware that in this region, the Indone- States and Political Repression Noting the announcement by Mr. Alatas sian Government sets the agenda, and that’s South Korea: Foreign Occupation by United that Indonesia has recently established a not good enough.’ States, Police and Political Repression National Commission on Human Rights, Ms Sudan: Political Repression Jimenez said Asian NGOs were concerned Turkey: Military, Paramilitary, Police and at the proliferation of such bodies purport- U.N. CONFERENCE ON Political Repression ing to be mechanisms for the promotion and HUMAN RIGHTS IN United States: Political Repression protection of human rights. ‘We fear that governments like Indonesia will use such VIENNA It is understood that the above causes of institutions as image building exercises to violations of human rights and countries convince the international community of named as violators are the ones reported to their commitment to human rights.’ WORLD CONFERENCE ON the workshop, but are not exhaustive. Due ‘National institutions must be based on HUMAN RIGHTS to the above causes of violations, the people accession to international human rights in- REPRESSION REPORT in the countries mentioned above suffer struments and complement, not replace, from various types of violations; physical effective and independent legal structures. Working Group on Military/Paramilitary/ and psychological torture, including the use Indonesia fails to meet these basic condi- Police and Political Repression/ Missing/ of drugs, extrajudicial executions, refugees, tions,’ said Ms Jimenez. Disappearance/ Torture/ Foreign Occupa- missing persons, enslaved persons, enforced The Indonesian commission is to com- tion and Human Rights disappearances and displacement, arbitrary prise 25 members appointed by President detention, violations of due process of law, Suharto. It will be headed by Ali Said, a COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS the right to free movement and the enjoy- retired Lt. General. Mr. Said made his name The committee met on June 10 and 11, ment of property, economic blockade, free- as a chief judge of military tribunals estab- 1993 for two days and heard speakers as dom of development, education and health lished in Indonesia following an alleged well as representatives of organizations care, freedom of speech, thought and com- communist coup in 1965. from the following countries: Argentina, munication, right to conscientious objection Ms Jinemez dismissed claims by Foreign Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, to military conscription without alternative, Minister Alatas that the Commission would Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, East Timor, India, the right to be free of cruel and inhuman be independent. ‘How can it be independent Ireland, Japan, Kurdistan, Kuwait, Laos, treatment, right to self-determination. when it has been established by presidential Pacific Islands, Pakistan, Palestine, Philip- We condemn the above named violators decree and is thus not accountable to either pines, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Sudan, of human rights. the parliament or the community.?’ Switzerland, Turkey, US. ... Mr. Said was Attorney-General and According to the reports, we acknowl- Minister for Justice in Indonesia from 1973 edge that there are violations of human ASIAN NGO’S ATTACK to 1984. During those years, Indonesia has rights as follows: ALATAS seen gross human rights including the inva- Argentina: Impunity of Military, Paramili- sion of East Timor, several massacres of tary, Political and Police Repression Asia Pacific Media Unit 15 June 1993 unarmed civilians by the Indonesian mili- Bangladesh: Political Repression tary, widespread torture and extra-judicial Bhutan: Police Repression INDONESIAN STATEMENT EMPTY killings, and continued political imprison- Burma: Military/Political Repression RHETORIC ment. Few, if any, of those responsible for Cuba: Foreign Occupation and Political and Asian NGOs attending the World Con- these abuses have been prosecuted and pun- Military Repression by US ference on Human Rights have strongly ished and the abuses continue. Cyprus: Foreign Occupation by Turkey criticised Indonesia’s statement to the Con- [Listed spokespersons for the Asian Pa- East Timor: Foreign Occupation by Indone- ference. cific Media Unit are: Cecilia Jimenez of the sia, Military, Paramilitary, Police and Po- ‘Yesterday’s statement by Indonesian Philippines, Buyung Nasution of Indonesia litical Repression Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas, was empty and Chandra Muzzafar of Malaysia.] rhetoric and lacked credibility because it East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 109

–––––––––– good health and had been playing basketball. As of Tuesday, a total of 160 of the In a broadcast comment on the above The rebels said Xanana was taken to hospi- UN’s 183 member states were participating statement, Radio Netherlands in Hilversum tal on May 26, five days after being sen- in the conference scheduled to end June 25. pointed out that the inclusion of East Timor tenced to life on sedition and firearms Implicitly criticising the West for its in the communiqué was not at all surprising charges. “The International Committee of double standards in Bosnia, Nigerian Foreign because of the presence of East Timorese the Red Cross (ICRC) still have not seen Minister Chief N.T. Mbu said the Vienna such as Jose Ramos-Horta among the NGO him,” rebel official Jose Ramos Horta said in conference was not a tribunal for judging representatives. ‘This is the first time that a statement from Switzerland. countries. Indonesian NGOs have supported a public Were the forum used to pass judgment on statement calling for the armed forces to HUMAN RIGHTS: THIRD states and governments, all would plead withdraw from East Timor,’ the comment WORLD ACCUSES WEST OF guilty, he said. The Nigerian minister also said. wondered why nations and governments DOUBLE STANDARDS continue to remain silent in the face of “massive violations of human rights such as ASIAN NGO’S PROTEST UN By Thalif Deen genocide?.’ INTERFERENCE IN FORUM VIENNA June 15 (IPS) - Asian, African Quoting Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, and Latin American governments at the Indonesian Headlines - June 11 Mbu said that “the man dies who keeps World Conference on Human Rights accused silent in the face of tyranny.” Asian non-governmental organisations are Western nations Tuesday of preaching mo- Mexican Foreign Minister Fernando So- angry and disappointed with a forum in rality and practicing hypocrisy. lana said that a number of historical abuses, Vienna ahead of next week’s U.N.-organised Leading the attack on the West, Indone- such as those stemming from colonialism, World Conference on Human Rights. Rava sian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas told dele- had been justified as being intended to civi- Nair, who is on the Asia-Pacific NGOs gates that there should be no place for the lize the world. coordinating committee said delegates were practice of exchanging “unfounded accusa- Solana also argued the case for objectivity frustrated by U.N. interference. “We are tions or preaching self- righteous sermons to and non- selectivity in the implementation very disappointed with the U.N’s attempts one another.” of human rights. to control the meeting. The cancellation of Alatas said that in a world where inter- “Existing human rights mechanisms must the visit by the Dalai Lama is a clear indica- ference between states was still a painful be applied universally rather than being tion that the United Nations is more inter- reality, no country or group of countries invoked for partisan political purposes,” he ested in keeping human rights within an should arrogate to itself the role of judge, added. inter-government club than making it an jury and executioner. The Mexican minister also said his coun- issue that belongs to the global family that A country accused of continuous human try could not support “unreasonable inter- constitutes the U.N.,” he said. He said rights violations in East Timor, Indonesia ventions which were carried out in the name Asian delegates were also concerned about was one of several developing nations fight- of humanitarian principles.” the cancellation of NGOs who are uncom- ing back from after a mauling by such west- The United nations has intervened in fortable with their governments. “An East ern-based organisations as Amnesty Interna- Somalia, Iraq and former Yugoslavia in order Timor support group from Japan was re- tional and Human Rights Watch. to provide humanitarian assistance mostly fused an invitation. Chinese pro-democracy “Human rights questions are essentially to women and children caught up in the activists from Tiananmen square are not ethical and moral in nature. Hence, any ap- military conflicts there. here. Sikh human rights groups have also proach to human rights questions which is But member states who gave their bless- been kept out, and marsh Arabs from Iraq. not motivated by a sincere desire to protect ings for U.N. intervention have pointed out And these are only the ones we have spe- these rights but by disguised political pur- that all three cases were “exceptional” and cific information about.” “There should not poses, or worse, to serve as a pretext to warranted drastic measures. be a sarong or bamboo curtain now that the wage a political campaign against another They are adamant that under no other iron curtain is down,” he declared. country, cannot be justified,” Alatas said. circumstances should U.N. forces violate a Indonesia’s supreme court has rejected Outside the main hall where Alatas was country’s national sovereignty in the name the final appeal of East Timorese student speaking, the Dalai Lama of Tibet climaxed a of humanitarian assistance. leaders jailed for protesting against an army diplomatic row with a brief appearance at massacre in the former Portuguese colony. the conference site before addressing Non- THE ORGANIC GROWTH The court upheld the jail terms for Fernando Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in a de Araujo, Joao Freitas de Camara and Vir- tent set up by Amnesty International about Far Eastern Economic Review , 17 June gilio da Salva Guterres. A Jakarta court last one kilometre away. 1993, By Sidney Jones year sentenced De Araujo to nine years in His appearance came after Nobel Prize (New York)Across Asia and the Pacific, jail, De Camara to 10 and Guterres to two winners boycotted the opening-day ceremo- non-governmental organisations (NGO) and a half years for subversion. A small nies at the conference in protest against the have been chipping away at entrenched number of soldiers charged with involve- withdrawal of the Dalai Lama’s invitation to power structures for more than two dec- ment in the shooting were jailed for up to 18 attend the conference. China had success- ades. How effective they have been in months. Jakarta has never clearly explained fully insisted that he be barred from areas changing those structures is open to debate, the huge disparity in the jail terms. under United Nations control. but they have played a critical role in forcing Timorese rebels said on Friday that guer- Although the Austrian government later governments to listen to the demands of the rilla leader Xanana Gusmão is in hospital said the Tibetan spiritual head could address poor, the marginalized and the abused. In and his hunger strike has been halted by the NGOs at the centre, he visited it only the absence of any real checks on executive force-feeding. Indonesian Foreign Minister briefly before moving off to make his speech power in much of the region, it is the NGOs Ali Alatas told reporters on Thursday that at the Amnesty site Xanana was not on a hunger strike, was in Page 110 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. that hold governments accountable for hu- The 1990s have blurred the lines dividing the governments involved in committing man-rights violations. these groups. Civil- liberties organizations them. With fax machines and electronic mail, Today, Asian NGOs are more numerous, like the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute are they can get information from the most better organized and more outspoken than taking up class-action suits on behalf of remote corner of the region to the world ever before. However, they are also in a peasants whose land has been destroyed by media. Asian governments may wish to state of transition because of changes within pollution. Protests against the Narmada defend state sovereignty and keep human- and beyond the region. Dam project in India and the planned reset- rights issues a domestic affair, but they are For one thing, the definition of human tlement of thousands of “oustees” brought 20 years too late. rights has steadily widened to encompass development, civil-liberties and environ- the concerns of four broad groups of NGOs. mental advocacy groups together. Their PORTUGAL AND INDONESIA The first group consists of the civil-liberties combined efforts forced the Indian Govern- CLASH AT WCHR organizations, which include some of the ment in March 1993 to cancel its World oldest and best-known NGOs in Asia. They Bank loan for the project. Excerpted from UN Press Release, 17 June emerged either as a response to the erosion The increasing coordination of NGOs, of the rule of law, or out of a belief that domestically and internationally, has JOSE MANUEL DURÃO BARROSO, respect for civil rights was the best guaran- brought higher visibility and in some cases Minister for Foreign Affairs of Portugal, tor of social justice. vulnerability. NGOs which “tarnish the said that each State had to respect the rights The declaration of martial law in the Phil- good name” of their governments by getting and dignity of its citizens and could not, in ippines in 1972, for example, gave rise to abuses publicized abroad can find their fi- the name of any collective economic or secu- the Free Legal Assistance Group and Task nancial lifeline cut. Many of the Asian rity interest, cross the frontiers imposed by Force Detainees of the Philippines. The NGOs grew with the help of Western phi- the primacy of human rights. It could not do Union for Civil Liberty in Thailand was lanthropies and aid agencies, though Indian that for reasons of power, economic pros- born in the aftermath of the crackdown in human-rights NGOs for the most part have perity, religion, ideology or politics. Noth- 1973. In India, just prior to emergency rule refused foreign aid for fear of compromising ing could justify the violation of essential in 1975, activists formed the first nation- their independence – often at the expense of human rights and values. The principle of wide civil-rights organization which later hindering their growth. universality was compatible with cultural, split into the People’s Union for Civil Lib- Such ties to foreign donors have created religious and ideological diversity. That erties and the People’s Union for Democ- problems for some NGOs, as Asian gov- diversity could not be used as an argument ratic Rights. These organizations were ernments become more strident in their re- to limit rights. staffed largely by middle class professionals jection of aid conditionality that links devel- Given the new international situation, he – many of them lawyers – horrified by the opment assistance to human- rights im- said, no type of conflict or rivalry should be arrest and detention of their colleagues. provements. When Indonesia rejected aid allowed to disturb action taken on behalf of Those in Asia who say that political and from the Netherlands in 1992 in reaction to human rights. The international community civil liberties are a Western preoccupation criticism by The Hague of Jakarta’s actions should consider violations of human rights have short memories. in East Timor, the financial survival of some with objectivity and impartiality, without By the late 1970s, the efforts of the civil- of the most outspoken of the Indonesian ideological bias. East Timor was an instance liberties organizations only highlighted the NGOs – which were heavily dependent on of special relevance to Portugal. That Terri- absence of sustained advocacy on behalf of Dutch aid – was put in question. tory, which the United Nations considered less privileged sectors of society – peasants, But international contact can also be a non-autonomous with its decolonization tribal groups, the urban poor and women – form of protection. In December 1992, the process not yet concluded, was a clear ex- and a new, grassroots movement emerged. UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia ample of the ambiguity and ambivalence of Community-development groups have long held an international conference in Phnom criteria allowed by the cold war. The severe existed in Asia, but now they began more Penh to provide support for four nascent violations of human rights, beginning with consciously to challenge local authorities. human-rights NGOs in a country where no the denial of self-determination caused by Two other major NGO blocs that human-rights group existed before and the the Indonesian invasion, had been less no- emerged in the late 1970s and 1980s were risks of documenting abuses are high. Gov- ticed in the context of the former confronta- the environmental advocacy groups and ernments are less likely to jail – or kill – a tion between blocs, in spite of General As- women’s-rights organizations. Asian offi- person with an extensive network of inter- sembly and Security Council condemnation. cials who dismiss women’s-rights activism national support. One test of the human- He went on to say that the disrespect of as a Western concern could not be further rights commitment of the new, post-election the right of the inhabitants of East Timor to off the mark. In Pakistan, two Muslim Cambodian Government will be whether it self-determination had been perpetuated. women – both lawyers – have forced permits these NGOs to survive. Severe and systematic violations of individ- changes in the treatment of women in cus- Many Asian activists express a deep ual rights continued. In that, and in similar tody after documenting the impact on sense of frustration. Indian NGOs lament cases, the position of the international women of Islamic penal laws introduced in that they have not been able to stop the community would constitute a true test of 1979. killings and dispossession of low caste and its capacity to respect and impose objective criteria in the field of human rights. The Women in NGOs across Asia are uniting tribal groups. Indonesian human-rights law- to demand that violence against women, yers have not been able to acquit a single concept of universality in itself excluded the such as rape in situations of armed conflict, person accused of subversion. No human- application of double standards. be treated as a crime against humanity. They rights NGOs at all exist in China, Vietnam, HADI WAYARABI (Indonesia), speak- have also called for Japan to be called to North Korea, Burma or Singapore. ing in reply to the Foreign Minister of Por- account for its practice of “sexual slavery” – But the fact remains that such NGOs are tugal, said he had raised a non-issue and was the use of “comfort women” – during World a vital element of civil society, and if they flagrantly violating the principle that the War II. cannot stop abuses from taking place, they Conference should not address country- can at least ensure that there is some cost to specific matters. The East Timorese people East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 111 had not been denied the right to self- Evans actually came out against self- decision to give money via the UN to such determination. On the contrary, the majority determination as a principle. No doubt with bodies. In a statement issued by the Asia- had opted for integration within Indonesia, Australia’s alliance with Indonesia against Pacific NGOs, he said that Indonesia has which had occurred on 17 July 1976. They East Timor in mind, Evans stated in his not even acceded to most of the interna- possessed the same rights and obligations as speech that self-determination leads to tional instruments to protect human rights other Indonesian citizens. Religious freedom “fragmentation and a source of threats to and has been guilty of continuing human was guaranteed in East Timor, as it was in international peace and security.” rights violations, culminating in the recent the rest of Indonesia. Indonesia sought to “At a conference in which regional NGOs discredited trial of Xanana Gusmão. overcome the backwardness which had re- are focusing on issues such as East Timor, sulted from over 400 years of Portuguese Bougainville, Sri Lanka, Kanaky and Tibet, INDONESIAN ACTIVIST repression in East Timor. such a statement increases skepticism about COALITION CALLS FOR G. SANTA CLARA (Portugal) said his the extent of Australia’s commitment to Foreign Minister had not presented the case solving such conflicts,” said Joy Balazo, a ASYLUM FOR EAST of East Timor but had merely mentioned it representative of the Uniting Church in TIMORESE ACTIVISTS. as an example. It was the principles in- Australia, in a statement issued by the Asia- volved, rather than the specific instances, Pacific NGOs. Statement by Forum for International Soli- that were being raised in that statement. The Evans and Alatas were also in alliance darity in Indonesia (F.I.S.I.) sent to Vienna continuing denial of the right to self- over the need for public relations fakery on U.N. Human Rights Conference, June 23. determination to the East Timorese people human rights. Alatas trumpeted in his We have been informed about the pres- justified such a reference. His country speech the news that Indonesian President ence of East Timorese who have entered the would never recognize the annexation of Suharto had announced the establishment of Embassies of Finland and Sweden in Jakarta. East Timor. a National Human Rights Commission. These East Timorese, like thousands of Mr. WAYARABI (Indonesia) said the Alatas’ speech was blasted as “empty them who are fighting for the national libera- issues just raised were irrelevant to the Con- rhetoric and lack[ing] credibility because it tion of East Timor against the liberation of ference’s work. He stood by what he had bore no resemblance to the situation in In- East Timor against the intervention and said. donesia” by Asia-Pacific NGO spokesper- occupation of the Indonesian military regime son Cecilia Jimenez. have been persecuted for their activities and ILLS OF THE WORLD The new Indonesian commission is to be fear for their lives. We, Indonesians, repre- JOSTLE FOR ATTENTION AT headed by Ali Said, a retired general. Said senting the people’s movement towards made his name as a chief judge of military democracy prompt respective embassies to U.N. CONFERENCE tribunals after Suharto’s coup in 1965 and protect and assist these East Timorese to as minister for justice from 1973 to 1984. The Wall Street Journal (Europe), 18 June leave Indonesia. These were years of gross abuses of human 1993. By Roger Thurow. excerpts According to Article 14 of the UN Decla- rights, including the invasion of East Timor, ration of Human Rights, it is clear that they VIENNA- What with the dancing Az- several massacres of unarmed civilians by have a right in international law to seek and tecs’ of Montezuma and the meditating the military, widespread torture and extra- be granted refuge in another country. And as monks of Vietnam and the wandering Ko- judicial killings and political imprisonment. members of the UN, the government of rean woman wrapped in a sheet, the plight Nobody responsible for these abuses has Finland and Sweden, which both are pres- of the East Timor Liberation Front seemed ever been punished. ently represented Vienna at the World Con- doomed to obscurity. Jimenez dismissed claims by Alatas that ference on Human Rights, must respect this Until Jose Ramos Horta, a Timorese ex- the commission would be independent. right and grant them asylum. ile, began wall-papering bathrooms with “How can it be independent when it has Issued Jakarta 23 June, 1993 1,000 stickers proclaiming, “Free Xanana, been established by presidential decree and by Forum for International Solidarity in Free East Timor, Boycott Bali.” Soon, he thus is not accountable to either parliament Indonesia (F.I.S.I.) was juggling appointment with a host of or the community?” [F.I.S.I. is a coalition of activist groups curious dignitaries, not to mention three Gareth Evans, however, claimed to have a working on workers,’ farmers,’ women,’ foreign ministers. “I figure bathrooms are different view. He welcomed the establish- student and cultural issues based in a num- the best place to get people’s attention,” he ment of the commission. ber of Indonesian cities.] says. “For a few quiet moments, they can He also announced a grant of $300,000 to Released in Australia by AKSI - Indone- think and reflect on East Timor.” the UN Centre of Human Rights Voluntary sia Solidarity Action, P.O. Box 248, Broad- Fund for the purpose of supporting and way 2006, Australia. Fax: 61-2-3141508. EVANS-ALATAS AXIS IN promoting national institutions - thereby VIENNA possibly channeling money to the Indone- TIMORESE FEAR NEW sian state bureaucracy. By Max Lane, Greenleft, June 22. According to Jimenez, what is really WORLD ORDER WILL BURY THEIR CAUSE Among the 5000 delegates gathered in Vi- needed from Indonesia is measures such as “ratification of the major international cove- enna to discuss human rights are non- By Senthil Ratnasabapathy government organisations (NGOs) lobbying nants, the outlawing of torture, withdrawal governments to take more principled and of its occupation forces from East Timor, (IPS, June 24, Vienna) Two decades after concrete stands on human rights. Already the release of political prisoners, repeal of Indonesia took control of East Timor, crush- the Asia-Pacific NGOs have had to issue its anti-subversion law, upholding the right ing the native population in defiance of statements condemning the speeches of of NGOs and trade unions to organise and world opinion, the independence movement Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans an independent judiciary.” remains restricted but resilient, and the hu- and Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas. Andre Frankovits, of Amnesty Interna- man rights picture depressing. tional Australia, also questioned Evans’ Page 112 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Since 1975, says Jose Ramos-Horta the Unemployment in the public sector runs Timorese population at about 620,000 or ‘Special Representative of the National at 30 percent and in the private sector most 630,000, “which is more than that was in Council of Maubere Resistance’ (CNRM), of the jobs are held either by the Indone- 1981.” Indonesia has carried out a systematic cam- sians or ‘Chinese intermediaries,’ Ramos- Wiryono said the Portuguese were partly paign to destroy the native culture. Horta said. to blame for the impasse in East Timor. “In Maubere is the name used by the native “They (Indonesia) have completely colo- 1975, the Portuguese (who had colonized population to refer to East Timor. Ramos- nized us,” he said. “Before the Indonesians East Timor) left just like that leaving the Horta said one third of the Mauberean came, there were only Mauberans in East weapons with one faction, the FRETILIN ... population of 750,000 has been wiped out Timor, ... now there are 100,000 Indone- The FRETILIN is not like FRELIMO, the by Indonesian troops since 1975. sians.” Mozambican rebels. FRETILIN (the Na- The estimated population of less than The massacre of unarmed protestors by tional Front for the Liberation of East 600,000 natives is totally shut out from the soldiers at Dili November ‘91, in which at Timor) is the instrument of the colonists,” outside world, he said. least 100 people died, created adverse pub- Wiryono said. “In Burma, there are at least some foreign licity for Indonesia. Portugal and Indonesia were discussing a embassies, but in East Timor there is no The government appointed a commission proposal to place a multinational force in single foreign mission.” to examine the affair and 10 military per- East Timor when the rebel movement de- The only organisation of an international sonnel were convicted. But the highest pun- clared independence in November. “That is nature that was present, the International ishment was for an officer who admitted when the civil war started to break out,” he Committee for Red Cross (ICRC), sus- opening fire into the crowd. He was sen- said. pended its operations two weeks ago due to tenced to 18 months and two more officers Four of five political parties in East the severe restrictions imposed by Indone- were suspended from service. Timor supported the “integration” of Timor sian authorities, Ramos-Horta said. On the other hand, a youth accused of with Indonesia, he said. Wiryono also de- Now, with economic interests taking organising the November demonstration was nied that the Indonesian government was precedence over human rights, the East sentenced to life imprisonment. “The kill- carrying out a campaign to destroy the Timorese fear their cause could get down- ings are still continuing... so are the deten- Timorese culture. “If that is so, how could played in a new ‘World Order.’ tions,” said a senior CNRM official. Catholicism flourish?” Wiryano asked. Indonesia invaded East Timor after Por- “I was severely beaten and kicked and “In fact, the infrastructure that is being tuguese colonists withdrew. Both the each time it happened until I became uncon- established (in East Timor) helps the Timorese and Portuguese have struggled to scious,” he said. Church to penetrate deep into East Timor.” get the Indonesians committed to a political He was released in October 1991 and left He also denied that the native language of settlement; to no avail. Dili in May 1992 after being tipped off by a Timorese, Tetun, has been banned. “It is Ramos-Hart’s CNRM is an umbrella or- friend that he was to be re-arrested. used every day.” ganisation with two political parties and a The diplomat also denied that journalists military wing, the leader of which - Xanana WIRYONO: EAST TIMOR have been barred from visiting East Timor. Gusmão - was arrested last year and subse- “NOT ANNEXED” “Journalists are free to go there and report quently sentenced to life imprisonment. objectively ... and as long as they stick to Although the tide is seeming changing Senthil Ratnasabapathy their journalistic activities.” against them, the East Timorese are keeping Meanwhile, IPS reported from Lisbon their hopes of an independent nation alive. (IPS, June 24, Vienna) Indonesia, reacting yesterday that Jose Ramos-Horta, spokes- In a statement issued here, CNRM said to assertions contained in Tuesday’s edition person for the National Resistance Council when Maubere regains independence it of Terra Viva, yesterday rejected claims that (CNR) - quoted in Tuesday’s Terra Viva - would seek membership in ASEAN and the it had annexed East Timor. “It is not true,” will take over from Jose Alexandre Xanana South Pacific Forum. Wiryono, head of the Indonesian delegation Gusmão as leader of the East Timorese guer- An independent Maubere “will not have to the conference, said in an interview. rilla resistance movement. Gusmão was a standing army but will rely on a treaty of Wiryono claimed that the article, which captured by Indonesian occupation troops neutrality to be guaranteed by the perma- quoted the special representative of the last November. nent five of the Security Council.” National Council of Maubere Resistance The decision was announced in Portugal But whether the Timorese would succeed (CNRM), gave the “false impression” that in an 8-page statement by Konis Santana. in getting the Indonesian troops out of the Indonesia was trying to crush the Timorese In an 8-page statement published in Por- their country is questionable, given the fact people. tugal, Commander Konis Santana, an- that very few countries are in a position to What he called the “absorption” of the nounced the decision. influence Indonesia. territory by Indonesia in 1976 was done at East Timor was invaded by Indonesia Indonesia is regarded as an emerging eco- the request of the Timorese. one week after its declaration of independ- nomic power, its exports to the United Wiryono also disputed claims by inde- ence from Portugal on 1 December 1975. States in 1991 worth five billion dollars, and pendent human rights groups that one third A lawyer with degrees in international re- even more to Japan. of the Timorese population - 750,000 in lations and international public law, Ramos- 1975 -was wiped out following Indonesia’s Today, native Maubereans are forbidden Horta, 43, was Foreign Minister in the brief from speaking their mother tongue, Tetun, takeover in December of that year. The Republic of Timor. He now teaches at the and to study the official language of Indone- Indonesian delegate said there were no accu- Australian University of New South Wales. sia, Bahasa-Indonesian. rate population figures for the territory A single newspaper appears from Dili, because “the Portuguese never conducted the capital of Timor, but it is controlled by any census. There were just estimates (of the military - a 40,000 strong force. There 750,000).” are no native language radio services, Ra- Results of population surveys done in mos-Horta said. 1981 and again in 1992 estimated the East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 113

“NO HISTORICAL OR LEGAL Indonesian West Timor. The question of Indonesia to comply with United Nations East Timor is a matter of concern for the resolutions on East Timor and with the CLAIM FOR INDONESIA TO international community, because the self- principles of the United Nations Charter. OCCUPY EAST TIMOR” determination of the Timorese people has They also called for the holding of a referen- been thwarted. It also forms a burden on the dum in the Territory under the auspices of By Jan Willem Schilt, June 25, 1993. image of Indonesia. the Organization. (Vienna) Among the territories which will Speaking on his own behalf, a rapporteur One petitioner, a Member of the Portu- receive special attention of the Asian re- on human rights, emphasized that there are guese Parliament, said the crisis in East gional NGO’s is also East Timor, invaded five Portuguese speaking countries which Timor should not be seen as a conflict be- by Indonesia by 1975 and in 1976 by the support the Timorese claim for self- tween Portugal and Indonesia. Rather, it was occupying force unilaterally declared “Indo- determination. He also mentioned the work a conflict between Indonesia and the interna- nesia’s 27th province.” For that reason, the of international NGOs doing the same. As a tional community and a rebellion against the National Council for Maubere Resistance final remark, he criticized the CNRM for Charter. Indonesia had earlier reiterated its (CNRM) organised a workshop on the emphasizing the size of East Timor in its opposition to the Committee’s delibera- Timorese question. Participators in it were Aide Memoire. “don’t mention the size; tions, saying that they constituted an unac- Kathleen Scott (Catholic Institute for Inter- instead mention the economic possibilities ceptable interference in its internal affairs. national Relations); Pat Walsh (Australian of East Timor, such as the oil reserves, the In 1977, the General Assembly rejected Council for Overseas Aid), Constâncio mineral reserves and the agricultural possi- an Indonesian claim that East Timor had Pinto (CNRM-representative for the United bilities. You have to convince the interna- been integrated into Indonesia, as the people States), Jose Amorim Dias (CNRM- tional community!” of the territory had not freely exercised their representative for the European Commu- CNRM adheres a peace plan which com- right of self-determination. Portugal is the nity) and a representative from an Indone- prises of three stages. The first phase is administering Power of East Timor. sian NGO. meant for the implementation of “confi- The workshop started with a personal dence building measures” which have to PETITIONERS TO U.N. history of Constâncio Pinto, one of the result in a drastic reduction of Indonesian DECOLONIZATION HEARING initially more than 300 people missing after troops and weaponry in East Timor, in the Santa Cruz massacre of 12 November conjunction with the introduction of signifi- ON EAST TIMOR 1991. He had to leave his family and went cant UN presence in this territory. The following petitioners spoke before the into hiding until October 1992 when he The second stage will last from five to Special Committee on Decolonization on managed to escape to Portugal. All the time ten years and comprises a genuine political East Timor, July 13, 1993. his family had been intimidated and interro- autonomy based on a democratically elected gated on his hiding place. People’s Assembly. The third phase would East Timor Documents does not have the The second speaker, Jose Amorim Dias, have to result in a referendum to determine space to include all of their statements, and had been a student in Jakarta. “I was 11 the final status of the territory. Jose Amo- are only including the statements from the years old when Indonesia invaded East rim Dias adhered to this peace plan. The aim East Timorese groups, CNRM and Fretilin. Timor. All I knew, was that a foreign coun- of the CNRM is to achieve this peace plan We do have nearly all of them, however, try had come and killed my people.” As a through lobbying within the international both on paper and in computer. If you would student in East Timor, he became involved community. Walsh also called for the right like copies of any or all of them, and can pay in the Clandestine network, providing food of self-determination for the Timorese peo- copying and postage costs, contact and supplies for the resistance. After that he ple. Once more he emphasized that the In- ETAN/US. went to study in Jakarta. “One Indonesian donesian presence in East Timor was not This the order in which petitioners student urged me to study and to under- only a burden to their image in the interna- spoke. stand the language, culture and laws of In- tional community, but also an economic Jose Amorim Dias, National Council of donesia in order to create a dialogue between burden, because of the cost of weaponry, Maubere Resistance your people and my people. I want to make soldiers and not in the least because of the Dan Heap, Parliamentarians for East Timor, quite clear: we love the Indonesian people, lives already spilled. Canada but we hate the Indonesian government.” Charles Scheiner, East Timor Action Net- “When I was small, we were taught that work, U.S. Indonesia had 27 provinces, including Aceh, DECOLONIZATION Carmel Budiardjo, Indonesian Human Rights West-Papua and East Timor,” said an Indo- HEARINGS IN NEW YORK Campaign - Tapol nesian student. According to her, liberation John M. Miller, Agir pour Timor, France movements were being described as de- Curt Georing, Amnesty International stroyer movements. She emphasized that U.N. PRESS RELEASE ON Claudia D’Andrea, Asia Watch Indonesia is a dictatorial regime, therefore DECOL. HEARINGS Richard Koch, Komite Indonesia; East Timor the Indonesian people themselves were also Group Holland victimized by the militarization of their Daily Highlights, 14 July, 1993 (relevant Roger Clark, Int’l League for Human Rights society. excerpts) Pedro Pinto Leite, Int’l Platform of Jurists The last speaker, Pat Walsh, said there for East Timor The Special Committee on decolonization was no historical claims to legitimize the Sharon Scharfe, East Timor Alert Network, has heard several calls for the United Na- occupation of East Timor. It poses no eco- Canada tions to intervene directly to resolve the nomic or military threat to its neighbor. He Ana Correa da Silva, CDPM, Portugal human rights crisis in East Timor. Petition- also said there was no deep-seated conflict Jose Luis Guterres, Fretilin ers before the Committee yesterday urged between Indonesian and East Timorese Thomas S. Mahedy, Pax Christi International people, as the latter never tried to form the international community to use eco- allowances with their “extended family” in nomic, diplomatic and other means to force Page 114 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Miguel Urbano Tavares Rodrigues, member territories on General Assembly’s list of Last March the UN Human Rights Portuguese Parliament Non-Self-Governing Territories to which Commission passed a strong resolution Adriano Jose Alvaro Moreira, President, Sp e- Resolution 1514 and 1541 are fully applica- condemning Indonesian human rights viola- cial Committee of Portuguese Parliament ble. tions in East Timor and calling for greater for East Timor The right of the people of East Timor to UN involvement in the conflict existing Luis Manuel Costa Geraldes, MP, SDP, Portu- self-determination is beyond any question. there. gal The Indonesian invasion led the UN General Recently, the illegitimate mock trial of Antonio de Almeida Santos, MP, Socialist Assembly and Security Council to adopt Commander Xanana Gusmão produced Party, Portugal several resolutions, such as Res. 384 of 22 further international criticism. Our leader, Carmel Budiardjo, British Coalition for East December 1975, condemning the invasion who at all times has tried to seek a negoti- Timor and calling upon Indonesia to withdraw its ated solution with Indonesia to the East Kan Akatani, Free East Timor Japan Coali- forces without delay from East Timor, and Timor problem has been treated in a totally tion and Japanese Catholic Council for Jus- reaffirming the right to self-determination of unacceptable manner. At first crude at- tice and Peace the people of East Timor. Given the East- tempts were made by Indonesia to make Mark Salzer, Catholic Institute for Interna- West tensions prevailing at the time, this him appear as betraying the ideals he has so tional Relations, UK Resolution was outstanding in itself. courageously fought for during 18 years. Mr. Chairman, Then, a political show trial by a Court which had no jurisdiction to try him at all CNRM UN STATEMENT For 18 years Indonesia has contemptu- was orchestrated. The trial was denounced ously ignored its international obligations, Statement by Jose Antonio Amorim Dias, for violating even Indonesian legal proce- attempting to deceive the world as to the Representative to the European Community dures, such as the Judge’s refusal to allow situation in East Timor after its illegal inva- of the National Council of Maubere Resis- the defendant to read most of his defense sion and annexation of the territory. For 18 tance (CNRM) to the United Nations Special statement. The statement was however years the Maubere people of East Timor Committee on Decolonization, New York, 13 smuggled out of Indonesia, and I will refer to have suffered under Indonesia’s reign of July 1993 it below. terror, characterized by massive killings, Commander Xanana Gusmão has been intimidation, plunder of local wealth and Mr. Chairman, kept incommunicado since the Court passed resources, exclusion of the East Timorese Distinguished members of the Special its sentence of life imprisonment on 21 from meaningful participation in govern- Committee on Decolonization, Ladies and May, and no one, not even the International ment, physical and cultural genocide, influx Gentlemen, Committee of the Red Cross has been given of outside settlers who exacerbate the proc- Firstly, on behalf of the National Council proper access to him. Resistance sources ess of marginalization of the local popula- of Maubere Resistance, CNRM, allow me inside East Timor inform us that he is in bad tion and so on. Our people have continued to express our gratitude to the Secretary of health, is being kept in isolation in totally waging a resistance struggle for freedom and the Committee for this invitation to address sub-standard conditions, and is being tor- independence of our motherland, against the you today, as the Committee once again tured. barbarous brutality of the occupiers. The reviews the situation in East Timor. I also One month ago, the ICRC was finally cost in human suffering has been enormous. extend my congratulations to you Mr. forced to suspend its visits to prisoners Far from heeding international calls to Chairman on your election to preside over because of obstacles placed in its way by withdraw its forces, or allowing our people this Committee. the Indonesian military, despite assurances to exercise their right to self- determination, Allow me please to introduce myself. I from the Indonesian President Suharto that Indonesia has attempted to consolidate its am Jose Antonio Amorim Dias, from East its work in East Timor would not be im- military presence in East Timor, forcibly Timor. I was previously a student and hu- peded. incorporating the territory it calls its 27th man rights activist. I spent some time in a Two weeks ago the plight of East Province. prison in Jakarta, having committed the Timorese youth has made headlines all over The consistent and systematic violations crime of supporting the human rights of our the world as 7 persecuted students at- of human rights which have followed Indo- people, so grossly violated by the present tempted to seek the protection and assis- nesia’s interference in the process of de- Indonesian occupiers of our homeland. After tance to leave Indonesia of two foreign Em- colonization being carried out by Portugal in escaping Indonesia, I was appointed CNRM bassies in Jakarta. Last week, 43 United 1975, have been well documented. Organisa- Representative for the European Commu- States Senators wrote a letter to President tions such as Amnesty International, Asia nity Countries by Mr. Jose Ramos Horta, Clinton expressing concern over the continu- Watch and many others have published the Special Representative of CNRM. Mr. ing widespread human rights abuses in East detailed accounts on repeated occasions. Ramos Horta regrets not being able to be Timor, asking for greater access to East On 12 November 1991 the world was present to address you here today. Timor for international humanitarian organi- shocked by TV reports of a massacre of The National Council of Maubere Resis- sations and advocating serious negotiations over 200 unarmed East Timorese youth at tance (CNRM) is based inside East Timor. at the United Nations that might alter the the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili by the In- It is a non-partisan umbrella organisation, unacceptable status quo. These negotiations donesian military. This sad experience - encompassing all East Timorese parties, would be in pursuit of the right of self- which we know not to have been an isolated movements and associations, struggling for determination of the East Timorese people. incident as Indonesia attempted to claim self-determination and independence of the The Senators stress the long friendship ex- after being forced to acknowledge the mas- occupied territory of East Timor. isting between their country and Indonesia, sacre- , was but one of the many brutal acts East Timor, with nearly 19,000 square and express the belief that an acceptable of state-sanctioned murder against a kilometres of land area and a population of solution of the East Timor problem would defenseless civilian population which the some 700,000 people according to the last be in the long term interest of Indonesia. We East Timorese have been forced to endure figures prior to the Indonesian invasion of fully share that view. 1975, is the largest of the remaining colonial by Indonesia. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 115

Mr. Chairman, in fact signed in Bali, Indonesia at the Bali same time condemning the ones who were In his defense statement, which the Indo- Beach Hotel] expressed the genuine will of not able to do this, namely Portugal. Is it nesian Judge refused him to read in Court, the people of East Timor. The court omitted that because Portugal failed to develop East Commander Xanana Gusmão has made sev- the political element which would have Timor for four hundred years, we Timorese eral very pertinent points which I would given it the juridical validity on which eve- have had to pay for the errors of one colo- like to repeat to you today: ryone insists: representation of the will of nizer while also paying for the crimes of the 1. Firstly Xanana Gusmão stated: “The the majority of the people. This is the con- other colonizer?” question of East Timor is the responsibility dition sine qua non. ...[ on this point Xanana concluded that of the international community, a question “Until this very moment, the UN does since his capture]... of international law. It is a case in which not recognise Indonesian sovereignty over “I have been lectured a lot about the universal principles are at stake, a case East Timor, a sovereignty which was im- backwardness of Portuguese colonialism as where the decolonization norms of the UN posed by the means of force, by the practice if I did not lived under that colonialism. have been manipulated, a case where Indo- of violence and the systematic violation of They want to show me the development in nesia has disregarded the resolution of the the most fundamental human rights. East Timor as if this were just a matter of UN, a case therefore where of the flagrant “This court mentioned the date 17 De- statistics, to be compared with the Portu- violation of the principles of the Non- cember 1975 as the day of the formation of guese colonial period. I should ask whether Aligned movement, and of the universal a provisional government and a local assem- colonialism can be quantified as good or pattern of law, peace and justice.” bly. And since all the Indonesians have for- bad.” 2. Referring to the farcical trial he had gotten, it is my duty to recall here the tragic Mr. Chairman, day, 7 December of that same year. The 7 been subjected to, Xanana’s words are: Events of recent years in Eastern Europe, December 1975 which witnessed the cow- “This court claims that it is trying me for Africa and elsewhere are shaping a new ardly and shameful Indonesian invasion, the crimes committed against the Indonesian world order which upholds the human right day on which Indonesian troops indiscrimi- state and for the illegal possession of fire- of self- determination. Greenland, Slovenia, nately massacred the defenseless population arms.... [adding] The ones who should be Eritrea, Namibia, the Baltic States, the of Dili, causing thousands of deaths among standing before an international court are, in peaceful division of Czechoslovakia and the the elderly, women and children, including the first place, establishment of a federation in Belgium are an Australian journalist. * the Indonesian government for crimes examples of implementation of this right, “While the Balibo statement was signed committed in the past 17 years in East which have overcome potential and actual with the blood of four Australian journalists Timor; conflicts contributing to bring peace and who were murdered by Indonesian troops * the US administration which gave the stability to the world. during the attack on the village of Balibo, the green light to the invasion on 7 December Allow me to appeal to our Indonesian so-called Indonesian provisional government 1975 and have since given military aid brothers to seek inspiration in this reality. was formed over the corpses of the and political support for Indonesia’s Rather than persevering at their attempted Timorese massacred between the 7 and the genocide in East Timor; subjugation of our people resorting to elabo- 17 of December of that year.” * the governments of Australia and western rate forms of deceit, violence, tortures and ...[ he then continued ] Europe for their policy of complicity killings, they should give us the freedom and “A government which was established to towards Indonesia; peace our people love and justly aspire to. the accompaniment of the sound the sea and * and finally, the Portuguese government for In doing so, Indonesia will only gain. It will land shelling of the defenseless population, its grave responsibility in the decoloniza- regain the respect of the international com- to the sound of advancing tanks and canons, tion of East Timor. munity, and will benefit from peaceful and can such a government claim any juridical “The UN recognises as legitimate all cooperative relations in our region of the standing? In my opinion, it has the same means of opposition to the colonial pres- world. Indonesia s military leaders have standing as the advance of the Iraqi troops ence in any part of the world where people fallen prey to their own myths: if treated in Kuwait, the same dimension as the ad- are fighting for liberation. My struggle and justly we will never represent a factor of vance of Russian tanks into Kabul, the same the resistance of my people and of Falintil threat to Indonesian security. character as the Vietnamese invasion of [the armed forces of the East Timorese re- It is the unjust criminal policies of op- Cambodia.” sistance movement, the CNRM, the Na- pression and defiance of international norms ...[Our Commander Xanana then added in tional Council of Maubere Resistance] of behaviour of the Indonesian military rul- his defense plea]... should be placed in this context, standing ers which are the true threats to Indonesian “The court said that Fretilin was op- above Indonesian law.” security. 3. Referring to the battered Indonesian posed to the referendum, should the people argument that it intervened in East Timor in choose integration. However, quoting the Mr. Chairman, 1975 in response to a call by East Timorese so- called petition, the court mentioned that For several years Commander Xanana fearful of Fretilin domination, and that the Arnaldo de Araujo, Guilherme Gonçalves, Gusmão has been an advocate for the search subsequent annexation of the Territory was and the president, General Suharto, con- of a peaceful and just solution for the East in response to the will of the people, vinced Parliament to approve in haste inte- Timor problem. He has proposed direct Xanana Gusmão stated: gration without any referendum. talks with Indonesia under UN auspices, “This court must surely agree with me “After all, who was it who did not want without pre-conditions in order to explore that it went too far in saying that Fretilin a referendum, Fretilin or Indonesia? On all possible ideas to bring about an end to dared to impose its will on the people and behalf of which people was that so-called the conflict. This remains the basic stand of that the afore-mentioned Bali Beach procla- petition signed? the Resistance, and has been also formally mation [the Balibo Declaration, purportedly “Today, the Indonesian government can conveyed by Portugal, the Administering signed in Balibo, East Timor, by several show the world its de facto control of the Power of East Timor, to the UN Secretary East Timorese on 30 November 1975, was territory, and claims to be developing the General. territory which is occupying, while at the Page 116 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

In his defense statement Xanana said in ing with the UN to implement a wide range * I appeal to the government of Indonesia this respect: of confidence building measures. These to change its attitude and to realise that the “On the day of my capture, in the meet- measures will necessarily include a drastic moment has come to understand the essence ing I had with General Try Sutrisno, I men- scaling down of the presence of Indonesian of the struggle in East Timor. tioned the question of dialogue with repre- troops and weaponry in East Timor, to- In closing, Mr. Chairman, I would also sentatives of the people of East Timor. One gether with the introduction of a significant like to appeal to the distinguished members of the twenty generals who were present UN presence in the territory . of this committee to persuade Indonesia to and were congratulating each other for the * Phase Two, lasting between five and accept dialogue with Portugal and the East imminence of their easy victory, asked me, ten years, would be a period of genuine Timorese in the search for an internationally furiously: ‘Rakyat mana?’ [What people?] political autonomy under UN supervision acceptable solution, along the lines sug- and when I answered: ‘Let’s have a referen- and based on ample powers vested in a lo- gested by the CNRM Special Representa- dum,’ the Indonesian generals had to swal- cal, democratically elected People s Assem- tive. It is time for the Indonesian govern- low their own arrogance. On the next day, bly. ment to realize that it is not East Timor 21 November - I was already in Denpasar - * Phase Three, the final phase, would see which is a threat, but Indonesia’s past mis- when the wife of the local panglima [mili- a referendum to determine the final status of guided policies towards us which are the tary commander], surprised by the extent of the territory. greatest damage to its interests and need the support I had, said, Jose Ramos Horta said when presenting urgently to be changed. after all, many people support him, a this plan: I thank you Mr. Chairman. high-ranking officer said, ‘possibly all the “This is our policy and remains valid. We people of East Timor.’“ believe that this represents the best possible FRETILIN UN ...[he added]... prescription for a resolution of the conflict. DECOLONIZATION “The ambassador to the UN told me: It allows time for a cooling-off period in ‘The problem is that dialogue as it is con- which all sides should try to prove their STATEMENT ceived by us (and therefore by Jakarta) has good-faith; it will also allow Indonesia to its parameters. We do not accept a referen- save face. STATEMENT BEFORE THE UNITED dum.’“ “Indonesia should seize the olive branch NATIONS SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ...[and]... we are now offering. It has only to gain. It is DECOLONIZATION BY MR. JOSE “In 1983, during the ceasefire, the [two obvious now that the invasion of East LUIS GUTERRES ON BEHALF OF Indonesian Majors] told us clearly: ‘We don Timor was a colossal mistake: the occupa- FRETILIN t accept a referendum because we know that tion has sapped so much of Indonesia’s all the people belong to Fretilin!’“ energy and resources. If Indonesia with- Mr. Chairman ....[Xanana concluded]... draws from East Timor, it would be able to On behalf of FRETILIN, Front for an In- “In the UN, Jakarta cannot suppress the regain its international reputation as a peace- dependent East Timor, I welcome this op- fact that Portugal is an interested party in loving country and not be threatening to its portunity to address the decolonization the solution of the problem. And so, Jakarta smaller neighbours . Moreover, an inde- committee, on the question of East Timor. should also never forget that the Maubere pendent East Timor will be an asset for I should like to take this occasion to people [the people of East Timor] have Indonesia, for ASEAN and the whole region thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the initiatives already demonstrated that the idea, the ob- in many ways.” you have taken in the aftermath of the cap- jective for which they have fought and re- Mr. Chairman, ture of the Leader of Timorese resistance. sisted to this day can never die. People die As we have stated in our [letter] to you To conclude, I would like to express our but ideas stay alive.” in November, last year, Xanana remains the hope that the above recommendations may ....[adding later].... Leader of Timorese resistance. be of help to resolve the colonial status of “I continue to recall the need for dialogue, We extend our deepest appreciation to East Timor. with the participation of the East Timorese. the efficient and balanced manner with East Timor, among the last remnants of I have always said to all those who wanted which the Secretary General of the United colonialism in our region, has been a particu- to listen to me that the Maubere people don Nations, Dr. Boutros Ghali, is dealing with larly tragic case. It is a painful paradox, in so t like the word, pembangunan [develop- the question of East Timor. far that the new colonial power was itself a ment]. The problem is that it is not free. We should like to take this opportunity victim of earlier forms of colonialism. Yet, Freedom is what my people value, the aim to express our gratitude to the Governments as a result of the excesses of its armed of their struggle. Dom Ximenes Belo put it and NGOs, Political Parties, Church Lead- forces, it has violated the arguments which it very clearly when he wrote to the UN Sec- ers, Members of Parliaments, which have itself advanced at the time it sought the retary-General: We are dying as a people denounced the on-going occupation of my support of the international community for and as a nation.” country and the massive violations of Hu- its freedom struggle. man Rights. Mr. Chairman, Our leader Xanana Gusmão included the May I express our gratitude to the deco- Consistent with the above, CNRM’s following appeals in his defense statement: ration, recently, given by Portugal to the Special Representative Jose Ramos Horta, * I appeal to the international community national hero of East Timor, Mr. Xanana. presented a comprehensive Peace Proposal to understand that it is time to show that to the European Parliament in Brussels in the New World Order is about to begin. Mr. Chairman April 1992, to the Council on Foreign Rela- This requires acts that will bring to an end The approval by a large majority, of the tions in New York in May 1992 and later to the situation inherited from the past. resolution on East Timor, during the Febru- the UN. * I appeal to the Secretary-General of the ary meeting of the Commission on Human The Peace Proposal is in three phases: * UN to ensure that the solution he seeks for Rights was welcomed by the East Timorese. Phase One, which would last for about two East Timor is based on universal principles They saw it as red light to the Indonesia years, would involve all three parties work- and international law. Government. But the Indonesian Generals, East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 117 did not comply with this resolution, as they The life sentence that was given to our of the United Nations General Assembly did not comply with previous resolutions of leader Mr. Xanana is a matter of grave con- and Security Council. the United Nations system. cern to us. It is a disrespect, for so many Up to this day, we have never seen any The situation has not improved. The dignitaries who have made appeals to Presi- resolution from any UN body or from the country is still closed. The arrest, the tor- dent Suharto of Indonesia. We have in ap- Non-Aligned Movement that has accepted ture, the disappearances, the extra-judicial propriate time stated, the illegality of his Indonesia’s annexation of East Timor. killings of Timorese continue. They take arrest, and denounced the Travesty Tribu- We have not only our right for self de- place in East Timor and Indonesia. The nal; as the Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation fense but our rights are specifically recog- Timorese workers in Indonesia are in a very pointed out, it is the first time in history of nized by the International Community. precarious situation. Their cases have been Indonesia tribunals that a defendant was not Since the arrest of Mr. Xanana Gusmão, denounced by Asia Watch in its May re- allowed to read his defense plea. the armed resistance has intensified the level port. We urge Indonesia to comply with the We urge Indonesia to release all the po- of military activities against the occupation ILO conventions on that matter. litical prisoners, and to facilitate the work to forces. From December up to June this year, In a letter addressed to the International the International Red Cross, performing many attacks have taken place in the central community, Fathers of the deceased in the their work in East Timor. and east regions of East Timor. 85 Indone- Santa Cruz massacre, have appealed to With so many difficulties, why are we sian soldiers were confirmed killed in action. those “competent to demand from the Indo- the Timorese still struggling? To cover up the military activities by nesians to bury and provide the remains of The answer is stated by the wives of the FALINTIL, the National Timorese guerrilla our beloved children.” prisoners’ letter: “We also exist as human forces, Indonesian Generals launched a On 12 May, the wives of East Timorese beings, as a people with its own history, propaganda campaign, both domestically prisoners made a dramatic appeal and I culture, religion, and ethnicity. Throughout and internationally, announcing the surren- quote: “Unfortunately, we are not enjoying our history we have as a people different der of thousands of guerrillas. Far from the any progress. In fact we are now in worse characteristics from the Indonesian people. truth, after a small period of uncertainty, the situation than before. It so happens that There is no doubt that we are not and do not top Resistance structure is at work. With after the visit of Mr. Amos Wako, on the wish to be part of Indonesia. great determination, courage and experience, very next day, 8 April 1993, seven political From many stages of the struggle which we have been able to overcome these diffi- prisoners have been transferred/exiled to we have witnessed we see that the endeav- culties. Kupang (Indonesia territory). ors and the heroic actions of our husbands As Commander David Alex, of Eastern The Timorese civilians working for Indo- and of those heroes and martyrs who have Region, and today member of the collective nesia’s administration are now a military fallen along these 17 years have not been in leadership of the resistance, pointed out in target, since the beginning of the operations vain. Our struggle takes further shape day an article published by the Australian headed by General Theo Syafei code-named by day leading to a final solution even if the Magazine, “ We live side by side with the Tuntas and Lilin bessar. The aim is to arrest sacrifices have been hard, especially for our enemy, we rub shoulders with him. For us what the Indonesian security apparatus call husbands. Their suffering as political pris- this is normal.” Two-headed Timorese. oners have been immense. But we will bear But on the other hand we must recognize The announcement by the Indonesia these costs.” that the solution for Timorese question is Armed Forces headquarters, to disband the The East Timor resistance is a genuine not military, but political. Kolakops-Espesial command for East struggle. A small, defenseless third world As Xanana Gusmão admitted in his de- Timor, can not be seen as remedy for the country, defending against an invasion and fense plea: “The Indonesian Generals should systematic abuses in East Timor. military occupation from its powerful, rich be made to realize that they have been de- The interview to Editor on 22 May, the neighbor and one of the biggest countries in feated in East Timor. Here as the com- Governor of the outlaw “provincial Gov- the world. mander of FALINTIL, the glorious armed ernment” clarified any doubts: Answering It was not and it is not a conflict between forces of National Liberation of East Timor, the journalist’s question on the future of East or West or North or South. The records I acknowledge our military defeat on the East Timor, now that the Kolakops has in the United Nations General Assembly ground. I am not ashamed to say so. On the been dissolved, he said: and Human Rights Commission can easily contrary I am proud of the fact that a small “No problem, because only the structure demonstrate it. guerrilla army was able to resist a large na- has been dissolved. But its operational ac- Resolution 3485, approved by the Gen- tion like Indonesia, a Regional power which tivities still go on. Only its control is no eral Assembly, five days after the invasion, in a cowardly fashion invaded us and want longer in the hands of Kolakops Commander the majority of western nations voted to to dominate us by terror and crime, by the but rather in those of Korem. It will go on, abstain, while 8 Third World or south coun- law of violence, persecution, prison, torture especially since Kolakops Commander has tries voted against the resolution and the and murder. The moment has come for Ja- now become the Udayana Military area overwhelming majority of UN members karta to recognize its political defeat on the commander. There won’t be any changes.” voted in favor. ground.” Mr. Chairman, In its first meeting after the invasion of In March this year, some Indonesian East Timor by Indonesia, during the Non- newspapers published reports accusing The picture of the East Timor situation Aligned Summit Conference held in Co- guerrillas of killing two Indonesian students can be taken from the Apostolic Adminis- lombo, Sri Lanka, despite Indonesian efforts on work study in East Timor. trator of Timor Dioceses, Bishop Belo, in to prevent discussion of East Timor ques- Immediately after this incident the asso- his (May) recent interview to New York tion, only eleven (11) countries out of 85 ciation of Youth and Students of Timor Times journalist Mr. Philip Shenon, and I opposed the inclusion of the East Timor released a communiqué which stated the quote, “We lack the freedom to speak, to question in the final political declaration, following: “We in the name of East walk where we want, to have different opin- which stated support for self determination Timorese Youth ask forgiveness, and join in ions.” and independence of the people of East sadness at the deaths, shot by our own Timor, and recalled the previous resolutions forces, Falantil, brother Jokowitoyo from Page 118 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. the Peterkakan Karanganyr Academy, Sura- discuss the data given by Indonesian au- order to put a halt to any more soiling of karta, and brother Sukimanto from Saptata- thorities. As a country under military rule blood. runa Technical Civil Academy, Jakarta, on and occupied, I should like to share with In operative 9 it says: We are resolute in March 17 in Lospalos, while on a work- you the general feeling of our population on our determination to carry out actions in study program.” that. opposition to armed violence against the Mr. Chairman, A Timorese student in economics once People of East Timor, until these demands said to a foreigner that East Timor is like a have been met. My organization attaches great impor- ping pong table, the money hits in Timor tance to the Geneva conventions that pro- Finally, Mr. Chairman, with a big noise and goes back to Jakarta, tect civilians during armed conflicts. We are prepared to participate in the silently. The value of human life must be the process of negotiations under the auspices As Xanana said in his statement and I same. Whether Timorese or Indonesian. of the SG of UN. We are prepared to par- quote: “Today, the Indonesian Government Whether North or South, whether South ticipate in a referendum, organized by the can show the world its de facto control of African or Palestinian, whether Muslim or UN, in order to determine the future of East the territory, and claim to be developing the Christian, whether Buddhist or Hindu. My Timor. We are prepared to accept the popu- territory, which it is occupying, while at the organization is not interested in accusing lar verdict. same time condemning the ones who are not Indonesia of violations of Human Rights and Thank you Sir able to do this, namely Portugal. It is be- at the same time close our eyes to the viola- cause Portugal failed to develop East Timor tions committed by the resistance guerilla for four hundred years, we Timorese have AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL army - FALINTIL. had to pay for the error of one colonizer STATEMENT Therefore, if the UN Secretary General while also paying for crimes of the other feels necessary, my organization is fully colonizer? “I have been lectured a lot about EAST TIMOR: State of fear prepared to cooperate in order to get clarifi- the backwardness of Portuguese colonialism. cation on that matter. Paragraphs in [square brackets] were pre- They want to show to me the development As a suggestion, the work of the Special sented only in writing, and not orally. in East Timor as if this were just a matter of Rapporteurs and working groups as men- statistics, to be compared with the Portu- 1. INTRODUCTION tioned in operative 9th of this year resolu- guese colonial. period. I should ask whether Thank you Mr. Chairman for the oppor- tion of Human Rights Commission, L81, can colonialism can be quantified as good or bad. tunity to address this Committee and to be extended to operational areas controlled “I remember once, while in Jakarta, in order present to it Amnesty International’s con- by Timorese resistance. As we stated, we to make a change from recording all of my cerns about human rights in East Timor. are ready to facilitate the work including movements in jail, they took me handcuffed Amnesty International welcomes the setting meetings with the new leaders and for a tour of the city and showed me the passing of the resolution on East Timor at commanders of FALINTIL. gold of Monas, national monument of Indo- the 49th session of the United Nations Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, nesia. I felt like shouting to my warders that (UN) Commission on Human Rights in We do agree that in the past, we, the po- I would never sell my soul for the crest of March 1993. In expressing deep concern at litical parties of East Timor, have committed gold of Monas, still less would I ever sell Indonesia’s persistent violation of human mistakes. my People. “ rights in East Timor the international com- We, the FRETILIN and the UDT, as a Mr. Chairman. Distinguished Delegates. munity has taken a positive step in address- whole, accepted the responsibilities for the ing the issue of state violence in East Timor. The future of East Timor is in the hands 3000 to 4000 human loss during the period We hope that member states of the UN will of the Timorese and the Indonesian Democ- of civil war that lasted one month from Au- continue to press the Indonesian Govern- rats. We have shared the same prisons in gust 75 to September 75. Members of Aus- ment to halt the widespread and persistent Jakarta or in other islands. The same mili- tralia Parliament, who visited the territory in abuse of human rights in East Timor and to tary regime has oppressed us. But the winds September found the territory at peace, save carry out the recommendations contained in of change have arrived in Indonesia. minor border clashes with Indonesian forces. the resolution. For example, a leading Indonesia writer, In the worlds of Mr. Ken Fry, in his testi- The Indonesian Government has in recent with millions of his books sold worldwide, mony before the United Nations Security months taken a number of initiatives aimed Mr. Pramoedia, stated in his message that: I Council in April/76: “We found the at promoting and protecting human rights, quote: It is no longer the era to promote the FRETILIN administration to be responsible most recently the establishment of a na- idea that formation of a strong country can and moderate and it obviously enjoyed tional human rights commission in June. be achieved through cold-blooded contempt strong support from the East Timorese While welcoming these initiatives we remain for and the theft of the rights of its own people. The prisoners were being well cared concerned that the Indonesian Govern- people through an apparatus and system of for and it is worth noting that the prisoners ment’s stated commitment to human rights violence. A country is strong because its included some FRETILIN members who has not been matched by concrete measures citizens are strong and fearless... And we have been apprehended for breaches of dis- to remedy past abuses or to prevent future especially say that all forms of violence in cipline.” human rights violations from occurring. The East Timor should be stopped.” Our adherence to the rule of international Government of Indonesia has consistently And I should like to recall the declaration law and to Universal Declaration of Human failed to respond adequately to serious con- of the eleven university student Senates of Rights it is based upon our conviction that cerns about human rights in East Timor. Indonesia, which in operative number 8 - the best for our country, is freedom and Indeed, the government, and particularly the We call on the Indonesian government to democracy. That there is no real develop- military command, has made it clear that withdraw all elements of the armed forces ment without, a strict respect for Human basic human rights can and will be set aside from East Timor without delay and give the Rights. in the name of national security, stability people of East Timor absolute freedom to On the so called progress and develop- and order. Effectively unchallenged by the exercise their right to self determination, in ment propagated by Indonesia, I will not international community, and unchecked by East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 119 domestic legal or political mechanisms, the 1993 after being found guilty of rebellion and could not testify in person, so his inter- security forces have continued to commit and illegal possession of firearms. In Am- rogation report was read out.] violations with impunity. nesty International’s view his trial was a [In its statement to the Committee in Evidence that human rights violations are travesty of justice. Perhaps the most blatant 1992, Amnesty International expressed its being perpetrated in an institutionalized and contravention of fair trial standards was the serious concerns regarding the trials of 13 systematic manner in East Timor is not refusal of the trial judge to allow Xanana East Timorese, including Saturnino da Costa difficult to find and is borne out by the evi- Gusmão to read his final defence plea. After Belo, sentenced to long terms of imprison- dence we wish to present to the committee he had read two pages of a 29-page state- ment for having organized or participated in today. ment, the presiding judge ordered him to the procession which preceded the Santa Since we last addressed the committee in stop, claiming that his remarks were “irrele- Cruz massacre, or for having organized a August 1992 there has been no fundamental vant.” Government officials have since re- peaceful march in Jakarta one week later to change in the Indonesian Government’s peated the judge’s claim that Xanana Gus- protest against the killings by Indonesian repressive posture towards those suspected mão’s remarks were “irrelevant.” In fact far troops at Santa Cruz. Amnesty Interna- of being pro-independence supporters in from being irrelevant, the statement ad- tional considers all to be prisoners of con- East Timor. From the evidence gathered by dressed highly sensitive political issues science and is calling for their immediate, Amnesty International the military authori- related to the charges, such as the question unconditional release. The Supreme Court ties continue to be free to employ virtually of Indonesia’s sovereignty over East Timor, has now rejected the final appeal of three of any means - including extrajudicial execu- and it therefore appears that his statement the 13, Fernando de Araujo, João Freitas da tion, “disappearance,” arbitrary detention was suppressed in order to prevent Xanana Camara and Virgilio da Silva Guterres (sen- and torture - in the name of maintaining Gusmão from raising publicly such critical tenced to nine, 10 and two and a half years security and destroying pro- independence issues. respectively). All three have since stated groups. There has been a persistent failure [Since his arrest Amnesty International through their lawyer that they will not be to investigate human rights abuses and bring has been seriously concerned for Xanana applying for presidential clemency as they the perpetrators to justice. If the human Gusmão’s health and safety. In his sup- would consider this tantamount to a confes- rights situation in East Timor is to improve pressed defence statement, Xanana Gusmão sion of guilt. The life sentence of another of concrete measures are urgently needed to stated his intention to go on hunger strike, the 13, Gregorio da Cunha Saldanha, has remedy the problem. The Indonesian Gov- and there are fears that he may be in poor also been upheld by the Supreme Court. In ernment shows no signs, however, of taking health. There have also been disturbing re- all four cases the prisoners’ lawyer com- the requisite measures. ports that he has been beaten in custody in plained that, contrary to official procedure, Amnesty International welcomed the recent weeks. Despite assurances from the he had not been notified that the Supreme second fact-finding mission of the UN Sec- Indonesian Government that he is in good Court hearings were taking place. In June it retary-General’s Personal Envoy, Amos health and is not on hunger strike this has was reported that the families and friends of Wako, to Indonesia and East Timor in Feb- not been possible to verify. The fact that the four prisoners - who are all held in Cipi- ruary 1993. Some of the circumstances of neither his family nor the International nang prison in Jakarta - have not been per- the visit, however, are cause for serious Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have mitted to see them and that the four have concern. For example, the UN Secretary- seen him since he was removed from court not been permitted to receive letters sent to General was obliged to issue a statement on 21 May 1993 heightens concern for them in jail.] refuting allegations made by an Indonesian Gusmão’s safety in detention. Amnesty [At least three East Timorese political Government official that in a meeting with International urges that the ICRC and rela- prisoners, convicted after unfair trials, have the East Timorese resistance leader, Xanana tives be given immediate - and thereafter been in detention in Cipinang prison for the Gusmão, Amos Wako had influenced him to frequent and regular - access to him in past nine years since their trials in 1984 for make a strongly worded defence plea. Of prison.] conspiring to commit rebellion with a view additional concern were allegations that the [Amnesty International is also concerned to bringing about the secession of East 17 East Timorese with whom the UN dele- for the safety of prisoner of conscience Timor from the Indonesian state. Fifty-five- gates had meetings had been unable to speak Saturnino da Costa Belo, who was convicted year-old Albino Lourdes is serving a 17-year openly for fear of reprisals and that these of “publicly expressing hostility...toward sentence, as is Mario (Marito) Nicolau dos conversations may have been recorded by the government” in July 1992 and sentenced Reis, while Domingos Seixas received a 12- the authorities. These fears would appear to to 9 years’ imprisonment. While giving evi- year prison term. Being held so far from have been justified in view of credible re- dence at Xanana Gusmão’s trial in March their families in East Timor they rarely re- ports that some or all of those who were at 1993, Saturnino da Costa Belo shouted pro- ceive visits.] liberty at the time they met Amos Wako independence slogans, following which the [Two other East Timorese detained in were later detained for questioning about hearing was suspended and he was taken Cipinang prison who had also been tried in what had been discussed. away. Later that day an army doctor is re- 1984 and sentenced to long prison terms, 2. POLITICAL PRISONERS AND ported to have told the court that Saturnino Jose Roberto Jeronimo and Mariano Bona- UNFAIR TRIALS da Costa Belo was “mentally disturbed” and parte Soares, were released on 8 September not fit to appear in court. He was subse- 1992, while a third detainee David Dias Amnesty International has repeatedly quently taken to the military hospital in Ximenes had been freed a year earlier, on 17 criticized political trials in both Indonesia Lahane, and from there to Balide prison in September 1991.] and East Timor for consistently failing to Dili, where he was placed in solitary con- meet international standards of fairness, or 3. ARBITRARY DETENTION AND finement. He is reported to have been told TORTURE, INCLUDING RAPE even to conform with Indonesia’s own Code by his military captors that, should he try of Criminal Procedure (KUHAP). something of that kind again, he would be While some detainees are formally The recent trial of Xanana Gusmão pro- shot on the spot. A week later the presiding charged following their arrest and subse- vides a case in point. Xanana Gusmão was judge stated that Saturnino was “unwell” quently tried, the vast majority of people sentenced to life imprisonment on 21 May arrested in East Timor are held in arbitrary, Page 120 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. unacknowledged detention, frequently in- pendence group, they were beaten and year-old nephew was reportedly beaten, communicado. The period of detention burned with cigarettes.] kicked and given electric shocks; he was ranges from a few hours to several months. Torture of suspected political opponents stripped naked and lighted cigarettes were Most are subjected to physical and psycho- has in some cases been so severe that it has applied to his genitals and his pubic hair logical abuse before being released without resulted in hospitalization or even death. was set alight. For two of the six days that being charged. This pattern of arbitrary [Two youths, who were among 20 students he was detained he was denied food. When detention appears to represent a systematic arrested during a military operation in Bau- he cried out with hunger, he was thrown on strategy aimed at silencing real or suspected cau district on 24 December 1992, died re- the floor by soldiers who then trod on his political opponents of the government and portedly as a result of the torture inflicted neck. The 26-year-old unmarried woman at obtaining political intelligence through on them while in detention. Adelino Gomes was reportedly beaten, kicked, stripped coercion and intimidation. Fonseca, a 27-year-old student from Bau- naked and tortured with electric shocks, and Since July 1992 Amnesty International cau, was one of them. After being interro- repeatedly sexually abused by soldiers dur- has learned of the arrest of more than 400 gated, he was returned to a room where ing her five days in detention.] people who have been detained in East another of the students was being held. He [The three were released several days af- Timor either because of their alleged links to had been badly beaten, was bleeding and ter their arrest on condition that they try to pro- independence groups, or because they could barely open his eyes because they find two suspects - their relatives - whom are relatives or friends of individuals sus- were so swollen. He was also suffering from the military also wished to question. On 24 pected of having such links. The true figure, severe pains in his chest and was breathing September they went to report their efforts however, is probably much higher. with difficulty. Despite the efforts of his to the military. Because the information All those detained must be considered at companion to make him as comfortable as they provided was deemed “unsatisfactory” serious risk. The use of unacknowledged, possible, Adelino Gomes Fonseca died in the two women were again detained for arbitrary and often incommunicado deten- the early hours of 25 December 1992.] three days, during which they allege they tion for interrogation facilitates, even invites [At least one other youth arrested with were beaten and raped. On the third day the torture and other ill-treatment, as a mount- Adelino Gomes Fonseca, Fernando Boavida, 26- year-old woman was taken to a beach ing volume of evidence from former detain- also died apparently as a result of torture. by one of the military officers and told to ees makes clear. During his interrogation Fernando Boavida incriminate her sister-in-law as a condition [Victims of torture include men and is said to have been made to lie on a plank of being released. When she refused to do women, young and old. In an interview with covered with sharp nails. When he failed to so, she says she was threatened with death a journalist in April 1993 the head of the give what his interrogators regarded as a and raped again before being allowed to go Catholic church in East Timor, Bishop Belo, satisfactory reply, they put another plank home.] said that political prisoners are tortured by on top of him, and placed a tyre on top of [A number of other cases of rape have Indonesian troops “just like two plus two is the plank. When Fernando Boavida lost been reported to Amnesty International in four.” Methods used take many forms. A consciousness after a second tyre was the last year. One case involved a 16-year- former political prisoner described his ex- added, his captors are reported to have old schoolgirl from Laleia, Manatuto. In perience while held in Colmera prison in Dili poured water over his body to revive him. November 1992 she was accused by mem- as follows:] He died three days after his arrest, on 27 bers of the security forces of being a pro- (“The first thing they do to a prisoner is December 1992.] independence sympathizer. After being to beat him and give him blows to the stom- Torture and ill-treatment is not only con- interrogated about her activities she was ach and the chest; he is blindfolded and elec- fined to those suspected of political opposi- apparently raped and tortured by a member tric shocks are given; they hit him with iron tion. The relatives of real or suspected po- of the local military command.] rods on the back; they step on his feet with litical opponents - including young girls and [In Baucau a 25-year-old student of a their boots; they give electric shocks; they elderly men and women - have also been senior high school from Quelicai, living in burn his body with cigarettes including his subjected to torture and ill- treatment, in- Bahu, was apparently raped repeatedly by a genitals...”] cluding rape, in an effort to make them pro- military officer whose name is known to [Such treatment is not confined to pris- vide information about the whereabouts or Amnesty International following her arrest ons in Dili. A 24-year-old farmer living in activities of their relatives, or to force those on 20 December 1992. Subsequently re- Viqueque experienced similar treatment being sought to give themselves up. leased, the woman is understood to have while he was detained in military custody in [One woman and her family faced several become pregnant as a result of being raped.] Baucau during September and October 1992. days of torture by members of the military Internal banishment He was tortured repeatedly over a five day in Baucau who were looking for her 22-year- Amnesty International is deeply con- period during which time he was subjected old son whom they suspected of being an cerned about reports of individuals being to beatings and had his genitals and various active member of a pro-independence group. arrested and subsequently “banished” to parts of his body burned with cigarettes. The woman, a 50- year-old widow from various regions of East Timor. As of early One night he was blindfolded and his hands Baucau, was arrested on 8 September 1992 1993 at least 30 people who had previously were tied before he was taken into the jungle and interrogated about her son’s where- been detained in police custody in Dili were and made to climb into a deep pit. A large abouts. When she denied knowing where he reported to be detained at remote military rock was placed on him and he remained was, she was reportedly stripped naked, posts in Lospalos, Viqueque, Manatuto, there for over three hours.] beaten and kicked and given electric shocks. Aileu, Ainaro and Same. At least 24 of the [Victims of torture in East Timor are fre- Three days after her arrest, one of her neph- 30 were people arrested shortly after the quently women. A 40-year-old widow, and ews and her unmarried sister-in law were Santa Cruz massacre and Amnesty Interna- another woman who had recently given called in for questioning. They too were tional believes that they may be prisoners of birth, were both tortured by members of the interrogated about her son’s whereabouts conscience. [The military initially claimed military in September 1992 in Baucau. Sus- and about the pro- independence group to that they had been released. It was only on pected of giving assistance to a pro- inde- which the military believed he was linked. 9 March 1992 that the then military com- They were also tortured. The nineteen- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 121 mander of East Timor, Brigadier General The Indonesian Government has also members of the security forces in April Theo Syafei, admitted that they were still failed to resolve the fate of the more than 1993. Two different accounts of his death under military control, having been assigned 200 people who reportedly “disappeared” have emerged. According to a report in the to company commanders in order to be after the massacre. The official government 15 April edition of the Jakarta Post, Carlos “given guidance, to be educated to become figure of 66 “disappearances” falls far short died as a result of being beaten by a village sound Indonesians.”] of the more than 200 people who remain headman and two police officers after he [According to information received by unaccounted for. [Eyewitnesses and rela- was arrested following a family dispute. Amnesty International detainees undergoing tives of the “disappeared” believe that many Another report, however, alleges that Carlos such “guidance” are obliged to act as labour- were killed and their corpses buried outside was arrested by members of 507 Battalion ers and servants of the military and are sub- Dili or thrown into the sea. Despite the at 10am on 10 April, and that they killed jected to various forms of abuse. Visits by government’s repeated claim that it wants to him in the early hours of the following family members are apparently allowed and establish the facts, its failure to do so indi- morning and dumped his body in front of those held at military posts in Aileu and cates otherwise.] Amnesty International the Chinese cemetery in Dili. In early May, Ainaro were permitted to return home for a believes that the Indonesian Government Amnesty International sought clarification visit towards the end of 1992 to spend has a responsibility to provide a full account from the police authorities in East Timor Christmas with their families. At the begin- of the truth to the relatives of victims of concerning the exact circumstances of the ning of 1993 it was reported that six people “disappearance” and to ensure that the re- killing of Carlos, but has to date received no being held at a military post in Lospalos sults of any investigations are made public. reply.] were being subjected to particularly harsh Amnesty International has received re- We have also been disturbed by reports treatment. ports of dozens of new “disappearances” in that a vigilante group, closely linked to In- [These are not the only cases that Am- East Timor since the massacre. [Some of the donesian Government forces, has been oper- nesty International is aware of. Seven de- victims were later discovered to have been in ating in East Timor as recently as March tainees who were “released” on 27 October incommunicado military or police detention. 1993. The members of the group are known 1992 are said to have been banished to Bau- Others are feared to have been killed and as Ninjas. [In mid-March 1993 three stu- cau four days later. A number of people their bodies disposed of in secret. The “dis- dents from Dili, 21-year-olds Paulo who were arrested in Dili following Xanana appeared” included Marcos dos Santos and Jeronimo and Roberto Belo and 22- year-old Gusmão’s arrest in November 1992 are also Ercolano Soares, both residents of Dili, who Jose Antonio, are reported to have been reported to have been banished to various “disappeared” after being detained by the killed on their way home by Ninjas.] parts of East Timor including Laga, Baucau, police on 14 July 1992. According to re- 5. A CLIMATE OF FEAR Manatuto, Suai, Ainaro, Lospalos and ports, they were beaten by their captors, Regular forms of harassment and intimi- Viqueque. In Ainaro an allegiance swearing then taken to the military hospital in La- dation meted out by the military on the ceremony for a number of people detained hane, after which their whereabouts are civilian population have contributed to the in the wake of Xanana Gusmão’s arrest is unknown. Another victim was Gaspar Xa- creation of a climate of fear in East Timor. similarly said to have been followed by their vier Carlos, who was arrested in early Sep- Bishop Belo has described the situation in banishment to Natarbora.] tember together with several friends. He is East Timor thus: In Amnesty International’s view, the believed to have been held incommunicado (“There is always fear. We lack the free- widespread use of arbitrary, unacknow- in Colmera Prison in Dili for some time, but dom to speak, to walk where we want, to ledged detention, both in official detention subsequently “disappeared.” Relatives have different opinions. If people talk, they centres and at military posts, makes it vital feared that he has been killed.] know they will be interrogated. They will be that the ICRC be granted regular access to Amnesty International has also received tortured.”] all places of detention. It is therefore of very reports of at least 45 extrajudicial executions [The families and close associates of po- serious concern that the ICRC was obliged in the eighteen months since the Santa Cruz litical detainees may be particularly affected, to suspend visits to political prisoners in massacre. These reports, though difficult to often being kept under surveillance and sub- East Timor last month for the third time this confirm, suggest that unlawful killing by jected to various other forms of harass- year. The reason for this was that the mili- Indonesian forces persists in East Timor. ment.] tary were placing unacceptable restrictions Amnesty International considers that, in [Relatives of prisoner of conscience Sat- on the visits, thus making it impossible to view of past practice, such reports warrant urnino Belo are reported to have faced con- monitor the safety and well-being of politi- immediate investigation. siderable harassment since his arrest in No- cal detainees in the territory. These restric- [At least two extrajudicial killings are re- vember 1991. They have also become vic- tions had been imposed despite assurances ported to have been carried out by Indone- tims of more severe human rights violations. by the President and the Minister of Foreign sian forces in the Lospalos region during a The most serious to date was the extrajudi- Affairs that unrestricted access to prisoners period of heightened counter- insurgency cial execution of Alcino Freitas Belo, Saturn- would be granted. activity in the area in mid-1992. A man ino’s brother, in October 1992. Claiming 4. “DISAPPEARANCES” AND called Humberto was said to have been shot that Alcino was a guerrilla, soldiers in Bau- EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS by Indonesian soldiers of Battalion 745 cau are reported to have seized him from a while working in his field in August. Ac- The identity of at least 100 civilians, and hospital where he had sought treatment for a cording to reports, the soldiers cut off his possibly as many as 250, killed by govern- bullet wound and then beat him to death. head and arms and hung them in a tree be- Several days later, on 17 October 1992, 60- ment forces in the Santa Cruz massacre and side the road to frighten passers by. One its immediate aftermath remains unresolved. year-old Afonso Freitas, Saturnino and Al- month previously Jose Valente, a pro- inde- cino’s father, was arrested in Ossaluga and [More than eighteen months after the gov- pendence activist, was also reported to have ernment-appointed Commission of Inquiry detained for several days. Also arrested with been killed by soldiers of Battalion 511 him and briefly detained were his daughter was set up, the government has yet to iden- while collecting wood from a village.] tify the vast majority of those killed.] and daughter-in- law. These examples of [More recently Carlos, a 30-year-old violations perpetrated against the family farmer from Dili, was reportedly killed by Page 122 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. makes Amnesty International particularly and other members of the clandestine net- cials are subjected to close surveillance, concerned for their safety following Saturn- work....”] including the tapping of phones and inter- ino Belo’s actions during Xanana Gusmão’s [Young people are frequently the target ception of letters, and members of the clergy trial (see page 3, above).] of arbitrary arrest in East Timor. Shortly face intermittent harassment by the security [Relatives of other prisoners of con- before the meeting of the Non-Aligned forces. For example, nuns at the Cannossian science arrested and tried in connection with Movement which was held in Jakarta in dormitory in Baucau district are reported to the Santa Cruz massacre and its aftermath September 1992 at least 50 students were have faced intimidation by Indonesian have also faced harassment, intimidation and arrested in Dili on the pretext of “preserving troops who had periodically visited them arrest. Close relatives of prisoner of con- security” for the summit. They are said to since the Santa Cruz massacre.] science João Freitas da Camara were sub- have been interrogated and, in at least some In the face of continuous military threats jected to interrogation and detention follow- cases, tortured. Young people were again the and intimidation, seven young East ing his arrest, as were members of Fernando target of arrests that took place in Dili, Timorese activists sought protection in the de Araujo’s family. While the majority were Bibileo and Viqueque two months later, Embassies of Finland and Sweden in Jakarta subsequently released, one of Fernando’s apparently in order to prevent any demon- on 23 June. Of the seven, most are known relatives, Lucas da Silva, was reported to strations from taking place to mark the an- to have been tortured in the years between remain in a military jail in Aileu district as of niversary of the Santa Cruz massacre.] 1989 and 1991 and three of them were actu- early 1993. Meanwhile the whereabouts of [Daily life in East Timor is regularly dis- ally shot by Indonesian troops during the another family member, Arnaldo de Araujo, rupted by military operations which can Santa Cruz massacre. All were forced to live remained unknown two months after his cause hardship for the civilian population. in hiding for more than a year after the arrest from his home in Lahane, Dili, in Sep- Following guerrilla activity in the Lospalos events of November 1991. tember 1992.] region which had resulted in casualties 6. CONCLUSION [At least 20 close associates or relatives among the security forces, some military Mr. Chairman, in this statement we have of Xanana Gusmão were detained and held personnel are reported to have fired on a presented examples of the range of human incommunicado shortly after his arrest on group of people working in their fields as a rights violations carried out in East Timor 20 November 1992. There were fears that reprisal. Villagers were also prevented from since we addressed the committee last year, they may have been tortured or ill-treated working on their land. In a document re- and which continue to this day. They repre- while under interrogation or that they were ceived by Amnesty International in October sent only a selection of the cases Amnesty being held as “hostages” in order to make 1992 the military is reported to have told International has documented over the past Xanana Gusmão comply with the demands them:] year. Yet the difficulties inherent in informa- of the authorities.] (“We are asking you to force your broth- tion gathering in East Timor - the control of The threat of torture, including rape, and ers and sisters who have taken up arms access to the territory by the Indonesian other forms of ill-treatment is often used by against us and all those who are still in the authorities, monitoring of postal and tele- the security forces as a method of intimida- bush to surrender. If you don’t obey this phone communications, and the close sur- tion. [An elderly woman, the wife of a long- request of ours, the consequences for you veillance of those suspected of disseminat- term East Timorese political prisoner, who will be grave. We have introduced certain ing human rights information - indicate that has been called for questioning on several measures and you are going hungry; if you the information we have gathered represents occasions, described her treatment after she enter your gardens there will be further only a fraction of the picture and that the was detained for 24 hours in September deaths. This is your fault, but mainly that of scale of human rights abuse in East Timor 1992:] Fretilin.”] may in reality be far greater. (“I was subjected to rigorous interroga- With members of the Indonesian military In order to demonstrate its stated com- tions and whilst I was not beaten I was present in even small villages, often living in mitment to the promotion and protection of threatened with a gun if I didn’t speak the the houses of civilians, and the encourage- human rights, Amnesty International urges truth, and the pistol was always on the ment given to East Timorese to report the the Government of Indonesia to adopt the table. They accused me of being an organizer activities of their friends and neighbours, the recommendations of the Commission of of the youth, and particularly of my chil- population faces constant surveillance. The Human Rights and to invite the Special dren, who according to them I had sent to widespread use of arbitrary arrest adds to an Rapporteur on Torture, the Special Rappor- Kupang, Jakarta and Lisbon with the aim of atmosphere of tension and unease. [During teur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary informing the world of the Indonesian mili- periods deemed particularly politically sen- executions, the Working Group on Arbitrary tary’s activities in East Timor. I responded sitive the military presence becomes even Detention and the Working Group on En- that I knew nothing about this. They told more apparent. For example, when the forced or Involuntary Disappearances to me that they had proof of the people in- “Lusitania Expresso” was on its way to visit East Timor and to facilitate the dis- volved in the clandestine network in Dili and East Timor in March 1992, many strategic charge of their mandates. Jakarta, that I should confess to everything, bridges in the country were occupied by International human rights organizations, and I was asked about people I didn’t know. Indonesian armed forces. Educational insti- including Amnesty International, should They threatened me, telling me that it was tutions often become a focus of military also be permitted to visit East Timor on a just as well I was an elderly woman. If I attention at times of increased tension. For regular basis, in order to monitor human were a man or a younger woman I would be example, military encampments were set up rights developments. We regret the Indone- subjected to torture and raped. After each near colleges, as well as along main routes sian Government’s repeated refusal to per- interrogation session they requested that I leading from the Dili to the interior, at the mit such access which, we fear, reflects a work together with them, and I accepted time of Xanana Gusmão’s trial.] wish on the part of the authorities to con- although my conscience rebelled against this. [The Catholic church hierarchy in East ceal the full nature and extent of the viola- Prior to Xanana’s capture, my home was Timor, whom the authorities suspect of tions being perpetrated by Indonesian Gov- often closely watched by the military since being an important source of support for ernment forces in East Timor. they suspected that I was harbouring him pro-independence groups, is also a particu- lar target of suspicion. Senior church offi- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 123

Mr. Chairman, we believe that unless the collaboration to a level which until recently moved: Didge McDonald international community takes firm action to would have been unthinkable. seconded: Mark Crossin ensure that genuine human rights guarantees are implemented, and institutes effective NORTHERN TERRITORY VICTORIA LABOR PARTY RESOLUTION mechanisms to monitor their implementa- LABOR PARTY RESOLUTION tion, the people of East Timor will continue RESOLUTION ON EAST TIMOR to face the daily threat and reality of serious The following resolution was passed unani- CARRIED AT VICTORIAN BRANCH human rights violations. mously at the Annual Conference of the OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY Thank you Mr. Chairman. Northern Territory Australian Labour Party on 13 June 1993. STATE CONFERENCE 20 June 1993 EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA The NT ALP is the opposition party in the Territory Legislative Assembly. The CLP Recognizing that: ruling party has held a strongly subservient The people of East Timor gave indispen- CRACK INDONESIAN attitude to the Jakarta government for al- sable support to Australian troops stationed most 15 years. in the territory during the second world war, TROOPS (KOPASSUS) IN for which many of them paid with their AUSTRALIA EAST TIMOR / INDONES IA lives The NT ALP will seek to develop close Seventeen years of occupation of the NT News (Australia), early June 1993 and friendly relations with our near inter former Portuguese Timor by Indonesian Some of Indonesia’s toughest soldiers - national neighbours, in particular Indonesia. armed forces and settlers have done nothing the equivalent of Australia’s SAS - are exer- Such relations should be to the mutual bene- to reconcile the majority of East Timorese cising in Australia. fit of both parties, and will be based on with the idea of being part of Indonesia. This is the first time Indonesian ground accepted international standards of relations. Indeed the continued resistance indicates troops have been deployed here other than A mutual respect for the accepted norms that the reverse appears to be the case, and for low-key visits by senior Indonesian of international human rights will be ex- political stability in Indonesia could well be officers and occasional observer groups at pected, particularly as applicable to the threatened by events in East Timor. events like the ‘Kangaroo’ exercises in difficult situation regarding East Timor. The people of East Timor have yet to ex- northern Australia. We note that East Timor remains on the ercise their rights to self- determination Their arrival underscores a remarkable United Nation General Assembly’s list of under the UN Charter, Chapter XI sections rapprochement between Jakarta and Can- Non-Self-Governing Territories to which 73 and 74. berra in recent years. Resolutions 1415(XV) and 1541(XV) are The 28 page defence plea which Xanana The armed forces of the two countries fully applicable, and that 2 Security Council Gusmão was prevented from reading at his have provided much of the impetus for the and 8 General Assembly resolutions on East trial, which was later smuggled out, shows improved co-operation: the first official visit Timor remain applicable without Indonesia him to be a highly thoughtful person, deeply overseas by the new chief of the Australian complying. committed to his people, who desires peace Defence force, Admiral Alan Beaumont, was The NT ALP believes that as a matter of and respects the Indonesian people as to Indonesia. And Australian troops have urgency Indonesia must allow the entry to neighbours but not the policies of their been training there. East Timor of international non-government army. An Indonesian special forces detachment and UN agencies and not inhibit their work. Friendly relations between the peoples of is exercising with the Australian Special Air This should be the first step to urgent action Australia and the peoples of Indonesia, Service Regiment at its bases at Bindoon and taken to peacefully resolve the unconscion- while highly desirable, must be based on Swanbourne in Western Australia. Mean- able situation in East Timor where it ap- mutual respect and cannot grow out of the while an Australian SAS troop is engaged in pears that around 250.000 people have died extinguishing of the rights of our common reciprocal maneuvers with its Indonesian since the Indonesian military invasion of neighbours, the East Timorese. counterparts at jungle training facilities in 7/12/75. In the post-cold war period, where ten- Indonesia in an exercise called ‘Night Ko- We note that the Australian government sions should be lessening, an independent modo.’ voted at the UN Human Rights Commission East Timor should not prove a threat to The Australian SAS also sent a 26-man in Geneva in March for the resolution which either of its large neighbours, Indonesia or team to take part in water operations with a expressed deep concern at the continuing Australia. unit from the Singapore navy. human rights abuses in East Timor. We urge Conference therefore full respect by Australia and Indonesia for The military of the two countries have Reaffirms the inalienable right of the East been officially encouraged to collaborate the principles of the UN Charter, the Uni- versal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Timorese to self-determination, and points more. to the urgency part of the Indonesian nation, There has also been political support for UN Covenant for Civil and Political Rights. In particular at the time of this confer- and have never asked to be part of it the idea of joint air exercises and an Indone- Vote in international fora for resolutions sian contingent to take part in the next major ence we express grave concern for the health and well being of East Timorese leader in support of self-determination for the East ‘Kangaroo’ exercise. Timorese and urge the Indonesian Govern- There is a political push for greater Xanana Gusmão, who has not been seen since being sentenced to life imprisonment 3 ment not to block the possibility of talks ‘transparency’ in military capabilities and without preconditions between themselves operations with neighbouring countries, so weeks ago, and of the other East Timorese political prisoners: urge that immediate ac- and the Timorese resistance they understand Australia’s aims and diffi- Suspend the Defence Co-operation pro- culties rather than suspecting them. cess be provided to ICRC: and suggest that ways be sought to bring such people into gramme with the Indonesian Army and halt Jakarta is prepared to take part in joint all arms sales to Indonesia until its govern- maneuvers, such as those underway, taking the peace process. Page 124 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. ment agrees to talks with genuine represen- Overseas Development Assistance to hu- representative for the Uniting Church in tatives of the Timorese people man rights projects by announcing the types Australia. Recognize that the waters of the Timor of projects that would be funded,’ said Mr. Further information: Pat Walsh Tel. 43 1 Gap Zone are internationally disputed terri- Walsh. 534 98915 tory, and that International Law still recog- “These should include support for hu- Andre Frankovits 43 1 504 5196 nizes Portugal as the sovereign power over man rights NGOs and human rights educa- John Scott-Murphy 43 1 504 5196 such waters. The Australian-Indonesian tion and training for local communities,” said Joy Balazo 43 1 534 98900 joint venture thus appears to be in violation Mr. John Scott-Murphy from the Diplo- of international law (as well as expropriating macy Training Program at the University of TV AD ON EAST TIMOR resources rightfully belonging to the East New South Wales. Timorese people). The statement makes no reference to ABC TV, 16 June 1993 Calls on the Victorian ALP to join and NGOs or to an NGO proposal that UN The following is a transcript of a program support the East Timor Talks Campaign human rights bodies should meet outside broadcast on prime time TV at 6.30pm (124 Napier Street, Fitzroy 3065, 417 Geneva in the Asia-Pacific and other re- which reviews TV commercials. 7505), as a way of raising within the inter- gions. national community the call for dialogue In a friendly gesture to the Indonesian Presenter: TV commercials in a political between the Indonesian Government and the government, Senator Evans welcomed Indo- content tend to be seen only in Australia Timorese, and resolves that the Victorian nesia’s establishment of a human rights screens around election time. Overseas is Branch join this campaign. commission headed by a former Minister in relatively common for interest groups to the Suharto government. He also announced buy space to push their message. The fol- a grant of $300,000 to the UN Centre of lowing commercial has never been seen in AUSTRALIAN NGO’S Australia and attempts have been made in DISAPPOINTED BY EVAN S’ Human Rights Voluntary Fund for the pur- pose of supporting and promoting national other countries to suppress it. It was made ADDRESS TO HUMAN institutions. by the Portuguese Journalist Union and RIGHTS CONFERENCE While Australia has been promoting the deals with events very close to our home. formation of human rights commissions, the Image - it shows an orange cut into half ASIA PACIFIC NGO MEDIA UNIT, 16 record of such bodies as the Philippines and squeezed in a glass orange juicer) June 1993 Human Rights Commission and the Mexico “There is an island in South East Asia split into two. Half belongs to Indonesia, Foreign Minister Evans has missed a Human Rights Commission does not bode the other is East Timor which Indonesia golden opportunity to ensure Australia’s well for genuine protection of human rights forcibly seized 16 years ago. Since then, place as a leading country in the human in countries like Indonesia which continue to more than 200,000 Timorese been massa- rights movement, according to representa- abuse them. cred, exterminated, and nothing is done. But tives of Australian human rights organisa- ‘The statement by Senator Evans does now that you know the other of Indonesia, tions at the UN World Conference on Hu- not make clear the principles which should if you still plan plant to visit Java or Bali do man Rights in Vienna. guide such institutions,’ said Andre Frank- something about the situation. Even if it’s In a low-key speech marked by a con- ovits from the Human Rights Council of only to raise glass to the thousands died ciliatory approach to the concerns of the Australia. ‘Australian NGOs insist that while you enjoy your trip in Indonesia.” plenary, Senator Evans avoided committing such Commissions can only be effective if “Don’t spend your holidays in Indone- Australia to its own national plan to pro- they go hand in hand with an effective and sia” mote and protect human rights while at the impartial and independent justice system. Presenter: More Australians visit Indo- same time proposing that the countries at- They also say that countries must accede to nesia than any other nationality. 185,000 tending the Conference set up their own the international treaties such as the Con- Australians holidayed there last year alone. plans. vention against Torture before such Com- Considering that this commercial is aimed at Australian NGOs welcomed the clear as- missions can hope to be successful.’ the holidaymaker and bearing in mind the sertion that human rights are universal and Indonesia, for example, has not acceded Australian Government’s conciliatory ap- indivisible but are disappointed there was to most of the international instruments to proach to Indonesia over East Timor. It’s no clear call for the urgent ratification and protect human rights and has been guilty of ironic that we have not seen nor heard of implementation of the principal human continuing human rights violations culminat- that commercial until now. rights instruments particularly by govern- ing in the recent discredited trial of Xanana ments in the Asia-Pacific region. Gusmão. Australia’s support for increased funding Australia has been playing an important PICKETS AT GARUDA, for the UN Centre for Human Rights and role in the debate over self-determination at MELBOURNE the creation of a Special Commissioner for the UN Commission on Human Rights. Yet, Human Rights were also welcomed. ‘We Senator Evans chose to echo the views of a June 21, 1993 also appreciate the real cooperation ex- number of Asian governments by referring For the past two weeks vigils have been tended to Australian NGOs by the govern- to self-determination as leading to ‘fragmen- held outside the Melbourne office of Indo- ment,’ said Mr. Pat Walsh from the Austra- tation and a source of threats to interna- nesia’s government-owned airline Garuda lian Council For Overseas Aid. tional peace and security.’ (45 Bourke St) from 1 am to 2 pm each However, the speech was long on sugges- ‘At a Conference in which regional Friday. The pickets are aimed at calling for tions for international action and short on NGOs are focusing on issues such as East the release of East Timorese resistance specific commitment by Australia. Timor, Bougainville, Sri Lanka, Kanaky and leader, Xanana Gusmão. “Senator Evans could have declared Aus- Tibet, such a statement increases skepticism The pickets, organised by Australia-East tralia’s plans to address the implications of about the extent of Australia’s commitment Timor Association in conjunction with Fre- the Mabo Decision or it could have followed to solving such conflicts,’ said Joy Balazo, tilin and UDT, will continue indefinitely. up on its commitment to allocate 0.5% of East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 125

We are calling on members of the Austra- at all major international forums this year, Copies of the statement of claim are lian public to think twice about taking their including UN Human Rights Commission available from Chris Caleo, Phillips Fox holidays in Bali while Indonesia remains in Geneva in March, and now in Vienna. Fur- solicitors. Melbourne (03) 274 5000 East Timor and especially while Xanana ther Japan has stated that protecting human For more information, call: remains in prison. We remind Australians to rights enhances development. Thus again Margherita Tracanelli remember that it was a long but effective putting to roost the opposite nonsense of Media & Communication Director, campaign of sanctions against the apartheid the SE Asian authoritarian regimes. CNRM regime in South Africa which led to the re- East Timor is again proving to be the Phone: 61-2-369 2676; Fax: 61-2-389 2488 lease of Nelson Mandela. Bali is the head- “sharp stone in the shoe” for Alatas and quarters for the sub regional military com- Indonesia internationally, while not forget- ––––––––––– mand responsible for military activities in ting West Papua too. For Alatas and Evans Following are the opening remarks from East Timor. to be taken seriously, they need to deliver Jose Ramos Horta at the Press Conference, For more information contact John Sin- good deeds not just empty words. 25th June 1993, Canberra. nott on 4897661 ROB WESLEY-SMITH, a spokesperson Today after much deliberation we have for AFFET instructed our solicitors, to file proceedings “STILL A ‘GLITCH IN THE in the High Court of Australia to challenge SYSTEM’ MR. EVANS?” HIGH COURT CHALLENGE the Timor Gap legislation. TO TIMOR GAP Australia is a fortunate country which AUSTRALIANS FOR A FREE EAST TIMOR LEGISLATION has never been invaded by a foreign power. Press Release, Mon 21 June 93 East Timor is only 600 kms north of Box 2155 Darwin NT Australia 0801 ph/fx MEDIA RELEASE BY CNRM, 25 June Darwin, but the East Timorese are not so +61 89 832113 fortunate. Colonized by European powers Jose Ramos Horta, Jose Gusmão and for almost 500 years, invaded and occupied Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ga- Abel Guterres vs. The Commonwealth of by the Japanese Imperial Army for most of reth Evans said last Wednesday 16/6 that he Australia. the duration of WW2 and now for 18 years had been assured by his mate Ali Alatas, his A press conference will be held in the by Indonesia, East Timor has known only counterpart in Indonesia, that jailed East Parliamentary Press Gallery, Canberra deprivation, poverty, torture, persecution Timor leader Xanana Gusmão “will be vis- Room 2S1 on Friday 25th June 1993 at and the systematic massacre of it’s people. ited within a couple of days by the Interna- 10.30am EST to announce the filing of the Australians do not fear persecution for tional Red Cross.” Timor Gap Legal Challenge in the High their beliefs, they do not go to bed in fear of That the military in East Timor has de- Court of Australia. being woken up in the middle of the night nied access by visitors to Xanana is only a The plaintiffs, Ramos-Horta, Gusmão and being “disappeared,” they are not sub- ‘glitch in the system.’ Evans claimed. and Guterres challenge the validity of the jected to arbitrary arrest, interrogation and Well, by Friday 18th the ICRC delega- Acts of the Commonwealth Parliament es- torture. Australians are not shot in cold tion was back in Jakarta complaining that tablishing the Australia-Indonesia Zone of blood when they protest against Govern- once again their agreed program of prisoner Co-operation. the acts purport to imple- ment policies. visits had been thwarted by the military. ment the treaty signed in midair over the For the past 18 years I have been fortu- “Another ‘glitch in the system,’ Mr. Ev- Timor Gap by Australian Foreign Minister nate enough to live in exile in relatively com- ans?” Mr. Gareth Evans and Indonesian Foreign fort and security. The same goes for the my What now Mr. Evans, or is it true that Minister and Mr. Ali Alatas in 1989. country-fellows Abel Guterres and Jose Xanana has been on hunger strike and/or has The validity of the treaty between Aus- Gusmão. been tortured again, as is rumored, and as is tralia and Indonesia is the central issue in the We are East Timorese, we are part of a likely, Mr. Evans?” (The UN. and Bishop proceeding in exercising it’s executive power people’s movement which seeks to redress Belo, say that torture of prisoners is routine to enter into treaties the Commonwealth of the wrongs done to us. We do not seek con- by Indonesian captors). Australia is bound by International law. frontation. We are in fact grateful to the We need access to political prisoners by Neither the international community or Australian people for their generosity in doctors especially experts in detecting tor- international law have recognised the an- welcoming thousands of East Timorese into ture, lawyers, family, etc. in accordance nexation of East Timor by Indonesia in this country which gave us shelter, food, with the International Law, and who can tell 1975. education, peace and security. of their observations and not be limited by The Australia Democrats support the le- WE have not been indifferent to Foreign the specific conventions applying to ICRC. gal challenge to the Timor Gap legislation by Minister Gareth Evans’ efforts to compel Further, of course, since the Indonesian Jose Ramos Horta and his colleagues in the the Indonesia authorities to take serious regime is illegal in East Timor, it should National Council of Maubere Resistance steps towards improving the human rights release unconditionally all its political pris- “said Victorian Senator and Law and Justice situation in East Timor. We thank him for oners and get out of East Timor as the UN Spokesperson Senator Spindler: “We have these efforts. We also understand that Aus- demands. consistently condemned the legislation and tralia is compelled by the overwhelming The real message of the latest debacle is were the only party in the Parliament to reality of geography to co-exist with the the impotence of Ali Alatas and that slightly vote against it. We also oppose Indonesia’s Republic of Indonesia and that it is ex- more human face of the Indonesian military annexation of East Timor and have contrib- tremely difficult to reconcile two conflicting government that he ineffectively represents. uted to generating the international condem- interests and beliefs. The Military rules Indonesia, and the Su- nation of Indonesia’s aggression which the We have trust in the Australian system harto regime is shaky. Australia has no for- Democrats have always seen as sell out of of government and the highest regard for its eign policy to deal with this. human rights for material gain. judiciary which has proven that it is capable Indonesia has suffered major foreign set of standing above political pressure to up- policy setbacks and human rights criticism Page 126 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. hold its independence, integrity and the rule “It could be argued that it is the East continental shelf between East Timor and of law. Timorese who have the right to enjoy sea- Australia’s northwest coast. We owe loyalty to our people and are bed resources, and not the Indonesians,” Plaintiffs in the challenge include the compelled by a profound moral responsibil- Islam told Reuters. CNRM’s international envoy Jose Ramos- ity to seek redress through the Australian Eleven contracts have been awarded un- Horta and its southeast Asian representative system of justice to which our people as- der the treaty, requiring the seven compa- Jose Gusmão, the cousin of jailed of Fretilin pire. Thank you nies to shoot 52,000 km (32,000 miles) of leader Xanana Gusmão. seismic surveys over the next six years. It is understood the challenge is being TIMORESE CHALLENGE The plaintiffs are Horta and Jose Gus- made on the grounds that no agreements AUSTRALIA-INDONESIA OIL mão, and Abel Guterres, an Australian na- were reached with Portugal on exploration TREATY tional who is an organiser for Fretilin, the prior to Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor By Wilson da Silva, Reuters leftist party which was toppled by Ja- in 1975. karta’s invasion. The argument is that because neither the (Reuters, Sydney, June 25) Exile The court action was backed by the Aus- international community nor international Timorese on Friday launched a challenge in tralian Democrats, a small leftist party law recognise Indonesia’s annexation of East Australia’s highest court to the 1989 oil which (holds) the balance of power in the Timor, the treaty is void under Australian exploration treaty for the potentially rich Senate (Upper House). and international law and therefore the fed- Timor Gap seabed between Australia and Australia is currently defending the eral legislation implementing the treaty is Indonesia, a move legal experts said could treaty against Portugal in the World Court, also void. jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars where Lisbon is also seeking to void the Under the agreement the Timor gap is di- worth of investment. treaty and demanding compensation. The vided into three exploration areas, one under Under the treaty, seven of the worlds UN court is likely to begin hearing the case control of each country and a third under biggest oil firms are to plough Australian in late 1994 at the earliest. joint control. $500 million (US$345 million) into drilling International law specialists say the case The CNRM’s challenge has the backing 45 exploration wells in the area. Analysts is a complex one that breaks new ground and of the Australian democrats. estimate potential output at 200,000 barrels is unpredictable. Australian legal experts say The party’s law and justice spokesman, of oil a day by 1995. Australia probably has the upper hand, Sid Spindle said today the democrats The writ argues that since Indonesian an- while many Americans believe Portugal wanted to assist the CNRM in using inter- nexed East Timor in 1976, after invading it stands a good chance of winning. national law to bring attention to the situa- previous year, and the action is not recog- USX-Marathon Oil Co of the United tion in East Timor. nised by the United Nations, Indonesia does States was the first to begin drilling in De- “We have consistently condemned the not represent the Timorese and can not sign cember last year, and is to be joined by the treaty and we were the only party in the a treaty on their behalf. Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd., Phillips Petroleum parliament to vote against it,” senator Spin- International treaties such as the Timor Co, Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Petroz NL, dler said today. Gap agreement must be signed between Enterprise Oil Plc and the Royal He said the democrats has always seen sovereign states. Dutch/Shell Group. Indonesia’s aggression in East Timor as a “We have no special objections to Aus- The treaty zone is split into three areas - “sell-out of human rights for material gain.” tralian mining interests in the Timor Sea Zone A is jointly managed by Australia and The challenge by the CNRM is the sec- region” Timorese resistance official Jose Indonesia and once oil production begins, ond to the validity of the treaty following Ramos-Horta told a news conference in tax and revenue will be split between Aus- international legal action against Australia Canberra. tralia, Indonesia and the oil companies. by Portugal. “(But) we believe the policies of the past Zone B is controlled by Australia and Portugal’s challenge, lodged with the in- 18 years pursued by Australia to appease Zone C by Indonesia. But Zone A is where ternational court of justice (ICJ) in the Indonesia have produced nothing of benefit the bonanza is expected, being surrounded Hague about 18 months ago, applies for to the people of East Timor,” he said. as it is by the existing fields of Challis, unspecified damages against Australia over Legal experts said the action could poten- Jabiru and Skua. the Timor gap agreement following Portu- tially void the treaty and leave the Austra- gal’s exclusion from the agreement. lian government open to compensating oil It argues the agreement does not support companies which have signed contracts to HIGH COURT CHALLENGE TO BE LODGED AGAINST the sovereign rights of the people of East explore the region, lying between, north- Timor to self-determination, in territorial western Australia, the Indonesian archipel- TIMOR GAP TREATY integrity and unity and to permanent sover- ago. eignty over their wealth and natural re- (AAP, Canberra, June 25) The major Indonesia’s annexation of the former Por- sources. East Timorese resistance group is to lodge a tuguese colony of East Timor is not recog- It argues the agreement breaches United high court challenge to the validity of the nised by the United Nations which still Nations security council resolutions on East Timor gap treaty exploration agreement considers Portugal the administering power. Timor whose annexation by Indonesian is signed by Australian and Indonesia in 1989. The UN has called for a vote on self- still not recognized by the UN. Details of the challenge by the National determination by the Timorese. The ICJ’s consideration of the case is ex- Council Maubere Resistance groups - will “If it could be established that the East pected to resume later this year after Aus- be announced at a news conference in Can- Timorese are entitled to self-determination, tralia submits written reply to Portugal’s berra later today. then obviously the Timor Gap treaty would arguments, which it must do by July 1. The challenge will dispute the validity of be a flagrant violation of international law,” Negotiations are scheduled between In- federal legislation introduced to implement a said Rafiqul Islam, law lecturer at Sydney’s donesia and Portugal in September under 1989 agreement to explore and exploit the Macquairie University. UN auspices. resources of the gas and oil-rich Timor gap East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 127

So far East Timorese leaders have been claims sovereignty over the Timor Gap - has The protesters are calling on people not excluded from plans for the negotiations lodged against Australia on the Timor Gap to holiday in Bali, which is the headquarters despite a UN resolution calling for all inter- issue in the International Court of Justice in for the Indonesian army in East Timor. The ested parties to find a peaceful solution to the Hague. vigils are to be held every Friday from 11 the issue. AT a press conference in Canberra yes- a.m. to 2 p.m. Resistance groups have called for the re- terday, Mr. Ramos Horta said the East lease of East Timorese leaders like Mr. Timorese community was not trying to BASIC FLAW IN AUSTRAL IAN Gusmão, sentenced to life imprisonment last upset or harm Australian economic inter- DEFENCE TIES WITH month, to allow their participation in the ests. negotiations. He said an independent East Timor INDONESIA would continue to maintain a beneficial rela- Canberra Times, 5 July 1993. By Harold tionship with Australia. SELF-DETERMINATION Crouch BASIS OF COURT MOVE “Our decision to challenge the legislation is based solely on our right to self- Last month 30 troops from Indonesia’s The Canberra Times, 26 June 1993, By Ian determination which is recognised by the elite Kopassus (Special Forces Command) McPhedran, Foreign Affairs reporter United Nations and is enshrined in the completed two weeks of exercises with covenants which Australia is bound by.” Australian troops in Western Australia (Canberra) The East Timorese resistance Mr. Ramos Horta would not be drawn on while a similar group of Australian forces movement has lodged a High Court challenge the subject of who was underwriting the carried out joint exercises in Indonesia. to the validity of Australian legislation on High Court challenge but he was confident These were the first major joint exercises the Timor Gap Treaty exploration agree- that the East Timorese would win and avoid involving army units. Until now joint exer- ment between Australia and Indonesia. what would be an estimated $300,000 in cises with Indonesia have been limited to The challenge was launched yesterday by costs. naval and air-transport exercises. Australia’s the leader of the National Council Maubere defence planners, however, want to increase Resistance (CNRM), Jose Ramos Horta, TIGHT SECURITY AS DARWIN co-operation between the two armies and it and East Timorese representatives Jose is envisaged that battalion-level land exer- Gusmão and Abel Guterres. INDONESIAN CONSULATE cises might be held in five years’ time. The 26-page challenge claims that the OPENED The Australian policy is based, in the Treaty, signed in 1989 by the Minister for words of Senator Ray, on the belief that Foreign Affairs, Gareth Evans, and his In- TIMOR PROTEST ‘both countries have a common interest in donesian counterpart, Ali Alatas, is and at Darwin, 25 June AAP - Police outnum- the maintenance of security and stability in all material times has been, void in accor- bered pro-independence East Timor pro- Southeast Asia.’ While there is much to be dance with the rules of international law. testers today as a central Darwin street was said for increasing defence co-operation They cited the breach of international law sealed off for the opening by Indonesian between Indonesia and Australia in some as the major grounds for issuing the chal- ambassador Saban Siagin of Darwin’s Indo- areas, the policy of training Indonesian lenge and claimed that at the time of entering nesian consulate. ground troops suffers from a fundamental into the Treaty the Commonwealth was Protesters opposing the Indonesian rule flaw. bound by international law to recognise the in East Timor shouted slogans as a large Australia’s conception of defence and se- illegality of the acquisition of East Timor by delegation of Indonesian dignitaries and curity is very different to Indonesia’s. When Indonesia by use of force in 1975. business people arrived at the consulate. Australians think of security we are thinking The challenge also claimed that Australia A delegation of some 400 Indonesians is about defence against external enemies. We was bound by international law to recognise in Darwin for a trade expo highlighting trade are not concerned with putting down a the illegality of Indonesia’s presence in East possibilities between eastern Indonesia and rebellion in Queensland, dealing with separa- Timor and to accept the sovereign rights the northern territory. tists in Western Australia or suppressing associated with East Timor over the conti- About twenty northern territory police strikes in Victoria. But when Indonesians nental shelf between East Timor and officers patrolled barricades keeping out the think of security they are thinking over- Australia were not vested in Indonesia. placard-waving protesters, who had also whelmingly of internal security. The Indo- It also claimed that Australia had no right planted about a dozen white crosses oppo- nesian ministry concerned with defence is to negotiate with Indonesia on the delimita- site the consulate. not called simply the Department of De- tion of the continental shelf between East The Indonesian consulate moved to the fence but the Department of Defence and Timor and Australia. new premises earlier this year from subur- Security, and in this context security means The High Court challenge also focuses on ban Stuart park. internal security. the right of the Commonwealth to pay taxa- Indonesian troops entered East Timor in In recent years Indonesian military lead- tion revenue to Indonesia - a rate of 10% is 1975 and Jakarta declared the territory its ers have regularly stated that they do not payable from revenues earned in the Austra- province the following year. envisage Indonesia being faced with an ex- lian sector of the Timor Gap to Indonesia - ternal threat in the foreseeable future. This without appropriation in accordance with TIMOR VIGIL IN MELBOURNE perception is supported by their current section 81 of the Constitution. Section 81 capabilities. The air force has only one limits the Commonwealth to spending the From Green Left Weekly, June 27 squadron of modern fighter aircraft (consist- proceeds of taxation on matters it si consti- MELBOURNE - Supporters of East ing of 12 F-16s) while the navy’s main func- tutionally authorised to spend it on and Timor are holding weekly vigils outside the tion is to patrol Indonesia’s territorial wa- paying taxation revenue to Indonesia pursu- Garuda Airlines office to protest against the ters and its EEZ. ant to an invalid treaty is not one of them. imprisonment of Xanana Gusmão and other The main focus of Indonesia’s military The CNRM case is being made on similar leaders of the East Timorese struggle for preparedness lies with the army. Indone- ground to those which Portugal - which independence. sia’s army is not deployed at its borders Page 128 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. ready to meet an external aggressor but is As part of our military co-operation with Timor. All we want is a peaceful solution to overwhelmingly concentrated on the politi- Indonesia, Australia has provided training to the conflict in East Timor according to the cally crucial island of Java, especially in the small groups of Indonesian combat instruc- UN resolution, which includes holding a environs of Jakarta, as well as in provinces tors at the Land Warfare Centre in Canun- referendum to give the East Timorese a say experiencing rebellion, particularly East gra, Queensland. It is obvious that the in their future.” Timor and Aceh. Of the army’s 102 battal- graduates of such courses and the troops ions, 67 are engaged in ‘territorial’ duties that they in turn instruct are not likely to go INDONESIA IN NAVAL GAMES spread throughout the entire country. ‘Ter- into action to defend Indonesia against an IN DARWIN ritorial’ units are placed in all provincial external enemy but will continue to use capitals and small towns where their prime skills acquired in Australia for military op- The Australian, 13th July 1993 function in to ensure that political challenges erations against their fellow-countrymen and to the regime do not eventuate. They have women. It is sometimes argued in defence of Indonesian and Australian naval forces extensive powers to arrest people consid- such training that the experience of training will participate in a significant maritime ered to be threats to ‘security.’ in Australia brings Indonesian military offi- exercise off Darwin next month. Apart from the ‘territorial’ battalions, the cers into contact with a democratic society Exercise New Horizon 7 will be the first army has six infantry brigades (18 battal- and that some of our democratic values ‘rub joint exercise with Indonesia since 1991 and ions) under its Strategic Reserve Command off’ onto them. There is, however, no evi- is the latest in the New Horizon series of (Kostrad) and another five Kopassus battal- dence to support this extraordinary propo- maneuvers that began in 1977. ions. It is these forces which can be mobi- sition. Defence officials in Darwin confirmed the lized to meet emergencies, whether external I am not suggesting that Australia should plans yesterday but declined to specify or internal. In practice their main purpose discontinue military co-operation with In- what forces would be involved. has been to suppress internal challenges to donesia. That co-operation, however, should They also refused to comment on reports the regime. In recent years they have been in not be ‘comprehensive.’ It should be limited suggesting Indonesia’s component would be action in East Timor, Irian Jaya and Aceh. to those areas where it enhances Indonesia’s its entire eastern fleet of nine warships. The difference between Australia’s and capacity to defend itself against external “You’re a bit early for that kind of detail” Indonesia’s perceptions of ‘security’ raises aggression but should not strengthen the a defence spokesman said yesterday. fundamental questions about the nature of military’s capacity to make war on Indone- “All we are saying at the moment is that ‘security co-operation’ between the two sia’s own people. News Horizon 7 is part of Australia’s con- countries. tinuing commitment to joint exercises with It could be argued that military co- nations in our region.” DEMONSTRATION AT The spokesman also denied suggestions operation designed to enhance Indonesia’s OPENING OF CONSULATE IN capacity to defend itself against external details were being kept secret because of aggression also enhances Australian secu- DARWIN fears about protests from supporters of rity. Australia also has an interest in pro- East Timorese independence. Green Left #106, July 14, 1993. By Bernie moting greater transparency to avoid misun- Brian derstandings about each others’ intentions. RELATIONS WITH ASIAN Thus, for example, the training of Indone- DARWIN - Members of Darwin’s East ARMIES sian officers in defence strategies and tactics Timor Independence Support Group organ- etc. at Australian staff colleges can benefit ised a peaceful but angry picket on June 25 Sydney Morning Herald - Editorial, 16 July both sides. Joint naval exercises which to protest at the opening of an Indonesian 93 strengthen the capacity of the Indonesian consulate in the city. The Prime Minister likes to say it is time navy to deal with incursions into its territo- During the picket one protester had his for Australia to get closer to Asia. That is, rial waters can also benefit Australia. On the bag confiscated, and the entire proceedings of course, a laudable objective. But it seems other hand, some types of joint air exercises were photographed and filmed by both po- that Canberra is discriminating about how which enhance the capacity of the Indone- lice and consulate staff. Protest organisers this is done, and in a way that leaves many sian air force are more dubious because of could not get a confirmation or denial from Australians uneasy. Not long ago, the Gov- the air force’s potential role in counter- police of a sighting of a police marksman on ernment placed an entry visa ban on Thai insurgency operations in Indonesia. an adjacent office block. Attempts to pho- army officers associated with the 1992 But the main concern of the Indonesian tograph this police officer as he departed via Bangkok massacre. At about the same time military is internal security. Given the fun- a waiting fire engine ladder were blocked by it revealed that 30 members of Kopassus, damentally different perceptions of the police. the Indonesian Army special forces unit, proper role of the army in the two coun- This increased level of intimidation of the had completed a two-week course at the tries, it is hard to see what Australian pur- East Timorese and their supporters here Australian SAS base near Perth. Is there any pose can be served by training programs and corresponds with attempts by the territory reason for treating Thailand and Indonesia joint exercises with the Indonesian army. government to increase trade with Indonesia. differently? Does Australia have an interest in strengt h- At the time, Darwin was also host to a 400- In May last year, Thai soldiers opened ening the capacity of the Indonesian army to strong Indonesian trade delegation. fire on pro-democracy forces in the streets carry out its internal security operations? Jose Gusmão, cousin of jailed East of Bangkok. The official death toll was 52 What quarrel do Australians have with the Timorese independence leader Xanana dead, with hundreds injured. Another 200 peoples of East Timor, Irian Jaya, or Aceh? Gusmão, told Green Left that such activities people were listed as missing. Six months What business is it of Australia to enhance were designed to “intimidate us and our earlier, Indonesian soldiers opened fire on the capacity of the Indonesian military to families back home. My own brother was Timorese demonstrators in Dili. An official suppress dissident Muslims, demonstrating poisoned by Indonesian intelligence because enquiry put the death toll at about 50, with students and striking trade unionists? I have always spoken out about the con- another 90 missing. News agencies said that tinuous violation of human rights in East as many as 180 dead. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 129

Canberra argues that there is a difference. INDONESIAN TROOPS not seen the Amnesty report and could not It says that the killings in Dili were not comment further. Indonesian Foreign Minis- authorised by Jakarta and notes that the TRAINING DEFENDED ter Mr. Ali Alatas, also said he could com- Indonesian Army moved to discipline itself THE AGE, 29 JULY 1993 By Lindsay Mur- ment on the report because he had not seen after the affair, sacking two generals. That is doch it. A 30-man team from Kopassus recently true enough. Canberra has also regretted that spent two weeks at a base near Perth. there was a profound discrepancy in the (Singapore) The Foreign Minister, Sena- sentencing of those involved in the Dili af- tors Evans, today defended Australia’s SOME ADVICE TO A training of elite Indonesian troops that Am- fair. The sentences of unarmed Timorese PRESIDENT ON FREEING demonstrators ranged from 6 months to life nesty International claims have been re- imprisonment. Indonesian soldiers who did sponsible for systematic human rights viola- TIMOR the killing got off with 18 months’ jail or tion in East Timor and the staunchly Islamic less. northern province of Aceh. AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT The US Congress responded to the Dili Speaking in Singapore, Senators Evans SUHARTO OF INDONESIA FROM massacre and aftermath by canceling a 40 said the purpose of training Indonesian SHIRLEY SHACKLETON troops in Perth was not to improve they year old military education program for Letter to the Editor of the Melbourne Age Indonesian officers. The Keating govern- capability to deal with internal trouble spot ment has not cut military aid to Indonesia. like East Timor or Aceh, but to improve Printed 22 July 1993 their skills to “an environment for more Quite the reverse. It has stepped up the Dear President Suharto, training military personnel. We all already effective cooperation in external defence policy.” Your statement regarding East Timor have a program of naval and air force exer- (‘The Age,’ 10/7) surprises me, however I cises with Indonesia. Now, Canberra has In a report issued today, Amnesty, the London-based human rights group, called on believe you are a truthful person so when extended that co-operation, with the first you say that you “Never had any ambition exchange of army units. This development, Australia to suspend all contact between Australia’s defence forces and the Indone- to annex East Timor,” one must conclude which comes only 20 months after the Dili that you were unaware of the establishment shooting, must raised concern. The choice of sian army’s special commander forces(Kopassus) regiment until it could be of the huge subversive organisation, ’Op- the first Indonesian army unit to train here erasi Komodo,’ which was created in 1974 is even more troubling. Kopassus is the established the training would not contribute to “further human rights violations by this for the express purpose of destabilizing East glamour unit in the 458,000 member Indone- Timor as part of General Murdani’s 1975 sian armed forces. It serves as a quick reac- regiment.” The report said “2000 innocent civilians invasion plans. tion force which can deal with unrest in any When you state:” the task of developing part of the archipelago. It operates clandes- have been killed By Indonesian troops in Aceh, more than 10 times the number East Timor has added to our burdens,” I tinely in other countries as the need arises. sympathize not only with you but with all Inevitably, it has got its hands dirty, both at gummed down by the same army in Dili, East Timor, in 91.” It said other violations Indonesian families mourning the lost of home and abroad. sons in this unwanted and undeclared war. The red beret unit played a leading role in included the disappearance of suspected opponents , the widespread use of torture, The solution is obvious. Order all mili- the massacre of communists in Central Java tary personnel and Indonesian civilians to in 1965-66 during a bloodbath that might unfair trails and the imprisonment of people for their peacefully held beliefs. leave the territory of East Timor. Instruct have cost as many as 400,000 lives. It went your generals to close down an intelligence out of its way to create instability in Portu- The Indonesian military has been fighting for decades to quash a separatist rebel operations and forbid the arming of guese Timor ahead of an Indonesian invasion Timorese collaborators; in fact, give them which was claimed, disingenuously, to be movement in Aceh. Amnesty Australia’s campaigns director, permanent resident in Indonesia. there are aimed at “restoring stability.” It led the only a few, so they will not make a differ- attack on Balibo, where 5 Australian Mr. Andre Frankovits, said in Sydney to- day that Amnesty was simple asking that ence to 180,000,000 subjects. I do not sug- journalists were killed, some in highly suspi- gest this plan of action lightly, I commend it cious circumstances. It hunted down and the Australia government” be able to dem- onstrate that any Australian contact with to you because of the immense advantages killed the Fretilin president Nicolau Lobato. to yourself and your people. Such action It killed Arnold Ap, a Papuan academic and the Kopassus regiment will not lead to fur- ther violations of human rights.” would allow restoration of admiration for activist in Irian Jaya. In the early 1980’s it the heroic struggle Dutch colonialism before played a key role in the garroting, stabbing He said: “If it is unable to do this, then Amnesty International believes the Austra- your military moguls took things to their and shooting of up to 4000 suspected crimi- own hands and forced war and colonialism nals. lian government should suspend all such contact.” upon the East Timorese. Australia needs to establish the best pos- In purely materials terms, the money sible relations with Indonesia, not least in The report alleges that Kopassus is con- sistently associated with human rights viola- spent in East Timor has been given to you the military field. But the defence depart- many times over in the form of aid, so the ment, with narrow objectives seems to have tions in Aceh and elsewhere in Indonesia and Timor. structures that you leave behind have not got the bit between its teeth. A broader been paid for by your own money and have approach is required. The government It said there had been no inquiry into any of an estimated 2000 mysterious killings. not disadvantaged any Indonesians. In fact, should stand back and reconsider the sort of many Indonesian army personnel have be- relations Australia establishes with Asian senators Evans, attending annual talks with the Association of South East Asian come immensely rich as a result of their armies, some of which turn their guns on activities in East Timor! Your army has their own people, not on foreign enemies. Nations, said Australia was helping to train Indonesian military personnel to foster a received quite enough experience fighting climate a confidence between the defence against armed resistance and since you con- forces of the two countries. He said he had tinue to lose soldiers each day there really Page 130 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. isn’t an excuse for your people to continue letin today and will be interviewed on Irish UK WINS INDONESIAN ARMS DEAL to sustain such severe losses. TV this evening. The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 June 1993 East Timor can support itself. Gold, Four Senators have tabled an emergency By The Independent and Reuter marble and minerals are being mined; the motion in the Irish Senate, on the occasion excellent Arabica coffee crop amounts to a of the credentials ceremony, strongly criti- London, Friday: British Aerospace fortune and now that oil and natural gas- cising Indonesia’s annexation of East Timor. (BAe) was at the centre of an arms contro- fields have been revealed to exist in the Ara- We hope to post the text of the motion versy last night after announcing that it had fura Sea, it is obvious that the Timorese can shortly. won a $UK500 million ($A1.36 billion) look after themselves in the same way as the order to supply Hawk military aircraft to people of Brunei. Once your armies quit the BRITISH AEROSPACE GETS Indonesia. The sale involves 24 aircraft with weap- country it will be a wonderful place for a HAWK ORDER holiday so tourism will flourish. ons, spares and training. It is likely to be Regarding your comments on human Indonesian Headlines - June 10 controversial because Indonesia’s human rights violations, the occupation of East rights record in the former Portuguese terri- Timor is in itself a massive violation of hu- British Aerospace Plc said on Thursday tory of East Timor. man rights! Add to that detention without it had won an order for 24 Hawk Although the Hawk is design as a trainer, trial, trial by a foreign power, torture, rape, trainer/fighters for the Indonesian Air Force BAe’s promotional literature makes it clear seizure of property and the sad history of that would give a year’s work to two of its that it is also suited to ground attack. massacres and you will have an idea of how factories. Industry sources said the order A BAe spokesman would say when the this record weighs against Indonesia, was worth 500 million pounds ($756 mil- planes will be supplied or which version of Once you free the Timorese, countries lion). the Hawk they were. The Hawk is a basic will be free to present you with aid on a BAe Chairman and Managing Director trainer aircraft but can be equipped as a scale hitherto undreamed of. Perhaps 18 John Weston said the contract, “builds on fighter. years ago there were Timorese who dreamed the strong business relationship which has However, another company spokesman of becoming part of Indonesia, but unfortu- evolved over a number of years between said, BAe had sought and obtained assur- nately, your armies have been cruel and the BAe and Indonesia and its aerospace IPTN, ances from the Indonesian Government that devastation so complete that the majority through collaboration on both military and the aircraft would not be used in an offen- do not want anything to do with you. The civil projects.” The jets will be used for sive role against rebels. resistance is so widespread that there is no advanced flying training and tactical training. Indonesia has already had 20 hawk train- way for you to gain acceptance by staying Prime Minister John Major congratulated ers in service since the early 1980s. British Aerospace Plc on winning a 500 on in East Timor. BRITISH HAWKS FOR INDONESIA Think of the respect you would gain with million stg order for Hawk trainer aircraft to Indonesian colonialism a thing of the past. Indonesia. “I am delighted to confirm that,” Peace News, June 17, 1993 Major told parliament. He said the order Imagine the relief and the honor. The whole British Aerospace (BAe) is to supply world would salute you, President Suharto. was good news for the British defence in- dustry which had won orders worth more Indonesia with 24 Hawk aircraft, following a SHIRLEY SHACKLETON, mid-May visit to Indonesia by defence sec- South Melbourne. than five billion stg so far this year, equal to sales for the whole of 1992. retary Malcolm Rifkind to iron out last- Rolls-Royce Plc said it had won an en- minute difficulties that were delaying the signing of the deal. EVENTS IN BRITAIN gine contract worth about 50 million sterling ($76 million) for the Hawks ordered by There were cheers from the otherwise be- Indonesia. It said it will begin delivering the leaguered Conservative benches in parlia- ment as the sale was announced. MPs who WELCOME THE INDONESIAN engines from its Bristol facility in southwest England in 1995. spoke out against the sale were jeered at for AM BASSADOR TO LONDON Indonesia on Thursday denied reports “talking Britain down” – the latest thought- crime according to defenders of the Major TAPOL Report, 8 June 1993 that East Timor rebel leader Xanana Gus- mão was on hunger strike. Timorese exiles, government. The new Indonesian ambassador to Lon- quoting a defence plea Gusmão was stopped “Although the British government has re- don, J.E Habibie, who is also Indonesia’s from reading at his trial, have said the Fre- frained from giving formal recognition to ambassador to Dublin, is in Dublin today tilin leader had carried out a promise to be- Indonesia’s illegal annexation of East Timor and will present his credentials to the Irish gin a hunger strike as an appeal for interna- and has occasionally expressed concern at president, Mary Robinson tomorrow. As a tional support. “He (Xanana) is not on hun- the grave human rights violations and atroci- welcoming salvo, the Irish Times, Ireland’s ger strike. I can categorically say so and add ties perpetrated by the Indonesian armed leading paper, which yesterday published a that he is in good health,” Foreign Minister forces against the people of East Timor, it hard- hitting article about East Timor by Ali Alatas said. sees nothing wrong in allowing, even pro- Hugh O’Shaughnessy, has today published Portuguese President Mario Soares moting, the sale of warplanes that bolster an editorial strongly criticising Indonesia, awarded jailed East Timor rebel leader Indonesia’s armed capability” the Indonesia entitled, ‘Indonesia’s Shame.’ The editorial Xanana Gusmão one of his country’s top human rights watchdog group TAPOL is posted separately. honours on Thursday and hailed him as a noted. This evening the East Timor Irish hero to his people. Soares awarded him the Chris Cole, who smashed the nosecones Solidarity Group is holding a vigil outside Order of Liberty during ceremonies to com- of some of the Indonesia-bound Hawks at the Conrad Hotel where ambassador Habibie memorate Portugal’s national day. Xanana’s the BAe plant in Stevenage (Herts) in Janu- is staying. award was due to be presented to Xanana’s ary this year, is still in Bedford prison Tom Hyland of the ETISC was inter- son, Paulo Gusmão, in the Portuguese em- awaiting trial. BAe Ploughshares, c/o 155 viewed today on the prime- time news bul- bassy in Sydney, Australia. Adnitt Rd, Northampton NN1 4NH, Eng- land An international rotating hunger strike East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 131 in solidarity with the imprisoned East be pressing Jakarta to allow the Red Cross June, states: “In the case of serious and Timorese leader Xanana Gusmão is now in to resume the visits, to insist on immediate continuous human rights violations, or the its third week. Strikers have held 48-120 access to Xanana Gusmão and all East interruption of the democratic process,” the hour fasts in London, Lisbon, Toronto, and Timorese prisoners and to end without de- EC will take measures “proportional to the Amsterdam as we went to press. lay the worsening human rights situation in gravity of each case, which could result in East Timor. suspension of cooperation with said State.” TAPOL CONDEMNS Carmel Budiardjo of TAPOL said today: This is the first time, according to the WARPLANE SALE TO “Indonesia’s criminal invasion of East Secretary of State for Cooperation, that the Timor was a precedent which encouraged EC assumes, as a whole and towards the AGGRESSOR REGIME Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait. While exterior, such a decisive position on sus- western powers including Britain went to pending cooperation with countries violating TAPOL, the Indonesian Human Rights cam- war to punish that aggressor, Indonesia is human rights. Up until now, this possibility paign, issued the following Press Release not being punished. Its military forces are was only considered by member states today, 10 June 1993: on the contrary being cheered on and within the Community itself, but never British Aerospace has today announced a equipped with their most basic war needs.” stated by the Twelve at other international deal to supply Indonesia with twenty-four TAPOL most vehemently condemns the arenas. Hawk aircraft. The deal has been signed Government for allowing this sale to go despite the fact that Indonesia is unlawfully ahead and calls on British people of good- SHIPS OCCUPIED IN FEAST occupying East Timor which it invaded in will to condemn this outrage. FOR EAST TIMOR December 1975, despite the fact that the DEMONSTRATION UN Security Council and General Assembly From War Resisters International, June 17. have adopted ten resolutions condemning Members of TAPOL, the Campaign the occupation and calling for self- determi- Against Arms Trade and the British Coali- In a protest against the sale of 39 former nation in East Timor. tion for East Timor, will be loudly East German warships to the Indonesian The British government has not only en- condemning the sale outside the Ministry of government (Peace News June 1993) about dorsed the deal. It was Defence Secretary Defence on Whitehall between 5pm and 70 nonviolent activists held a “feast for Malcolm Rifkind himself who three weeks 6.30pm tomorrow, Friday 11 June. peace” in Peenemünde harbour on board ago made a special trip to Indonesia to iron Liberal Democrat MP Nick Harvey, who some of the mothballed ships. Seven pro- out last-minute difficulties that were delay- today said he was “outraged at such an im- testers stayed on board one ship and locked ing the signing of the deal. moral deal which the British government has themselves in, declaring that they would Although the British government has re- actively encouraged,” will be handing in a stay on board until the sale had been can- frained from giving formal recognition to letter to the Ministry on behalf of these celled and the scrapping of the ships agreed. Indonesia’s illegal annexation of East Timor organisations. The occupation ended after a show of and has occasionally expressed concern at force by state police, with the on-board the grave human rights violations and atroci- squatters surrendering so as not to provoke ties perpetrated by the Indonesian armed EVENTS IN EUROPE violence. “The results of this demonstration forces against the people of East Timor, it are both encouraging and dismaying” protest organisers Timor und Kein Trupp said. sees nothing wrong in allowing, even pro- IN THE EC PORTUGAL moting, the sale of warplanes that bolster “Once again it showed that the government the armed forces of an aggressor state which “ISOLATES” INDONESIA in Bonn is under no circumstances prepared has been in open defiance of the United to take responsibility for the implementa- Expresso, 29 May 1993. Lisbon Nations for nearly eighteen years. tion of human rights, but carries on supply- TAPOL would like to remind the Gov- By F.M. Translated from Portuguese ing dictatorships with arms and does not hesitate to infringe its own laws. On the ernment that the human rights situation in For the first time at an international fo- other hand, we succeeded in denouncing this East Timor is graver today than ever. Hun- rum, the European Community is going to disgrace of German politics. We developed dreds if not thousands of East Timorese are formally acknowledge the possibility of effective resistance – with nonviolent means in detention. Torture is commonplace. ceasing all cooperation with States that vio- – that informed the public and disturbed the Timorese convicted for taking part in a late human rights. This position, approved arrogant complacency of the political pow- peaceful demonstration in November 1993 at a meeting last Tuesday, was proposed by ers in Germany. Our feast of peace was an have been forcibly removed from East Portugal, with Indonesia in view as a target. initiation to intervention. We shall continue Timor and are now in Indonesian prisons. However, Secretary of State for Coopera- with it.” The East Timorese resistance leader, tion, Briosa e Gala, who was present at the Meanwhile, Portuguese WRI associate Xanana Gusmão, sentenced last month to meeting, refused to admit it in so many ALOOC has issued an appeal calling for life, is incommunicado and is known to be words: “There are no pre-determined tar- international action against the sale. on hunger strike. Neither his family nor the gets,” he told Expresso, “but there is con- ALOOC and two East Timor human rights International Red Cross have been given cern that the heaviest sanctions are not just groups, plus the National Youth Council, access. Still worse, the International Red applied to small countries and to the African the main trade union federation, and five Cross which has for years been allowed to continent, as has been the rather cynical maritime unions, are calling on governments visit political detainees in East Timor has practice, closing our eyes to the big trans- to refuse the former East German ships now been compelled to abandon these visits, gressors, such as the case of Indonesia” passage through their territorial waters, and in protest against the restrictions imposed The declaration, passed by the last meet- call upon port workers and maritime work- by military forces of occupation on the ing of the Council of Ministers for Coopera- ers not to cooperate with the movement of proper conduct of its mandate. tion & Development, and destined to inter- the ships (or any other war cargo) to Indo- Instead of supplying warplanes to an ag- pret the position of the Twelve at the next nesia. gressor state, the British government should Vienna Conference on Human Rights in Page 132 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Friedenskreis Halle, Grosse Klansstr 11, 2. Requests all member States of UWE to dressed by such a rude person,” but was D-O-4020 Halle, Germany (fax +49 345 decide: determined to continue to answer the doz- 25525; email b.rieche@mp- (a) to consider an immediate embargo on ens of journalists attending the press confer- halle.comlink.apc.org). weapons bound for Indonesia; ence. Associacao livre dos objectores e ob- (b) to suspend immediately military as- Commenting on the Portuguese Foreign jectoras de consciencia, rua Rainha D sistance to Indonesia; Minister’s intervention at the Human Rights Leonor 4, r/c dto, 2675 Odivelas, Portu- (c) to encourage Portugal and Indonesia Conference in Vienna, Alatas thought it was gal (+351 1 931 3738). to approach their dialogue on East Timor “regrettable” that Durão Barroso had taken with the purpose to reach a solution of this advantage of the occasion to speak about the problem that is acceptable internationally. specific case of East Timor, “when what UNION OF WESTERN was being discussed was the subject of hu- EUROPE PARLIAMENTARY APPEALS IN THE ITALIAN man rights in general.” ASSEMBLY’S RESOLUTION “I am used to hearing the Portuguese talk SENATE about Timor at every opportunity, even June 18, 1993 (?), Translation from French Publico, 25 June 1993. Translated from when the occasion is not appropriate,” said Portuguese the Indonesian Minister, adding that Durão RESOLUTION NO. 91 ON THE Barroso’s speech would not, however, jeop- SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR Yesterday, in the Senate, various Italian ardize the next meeting the two Foreign deputies condemned human rights violations The Assembly, Ministers are to have on the subject of in Timor, and requested Foreign Minister Timor. (I) Recalling its Resolution no 84 on the Beniamino Andreatta to support the de- Referring to reports about the transfer of situation in East Timor, adopted in Decem- mands and independence of the people of Xanana Gusmão from Dili to a prison in ber 1991, East Timor. Members for the Christian Indonesia, Alatas said they were “just (ii) Considering the condemnation to life Democrats and Liberal Party, the govern- speculation, because there has been no judi- imprisonment of “Xanana” Gusmão for mental alliance, and from the Liga Nord, in cial decision in this regard.” “rebellion,” “secessionism” and “illegal de- opposition, intervened on the subject. In a The Indonesian diplomatic chief con- tention of weapons” by an Indonesian tri- motion addressed to the Minister, the three firmed that Xanana’s lawyer had delivered bunal, and the arbitrary arrests of many MPs affirm that Indonesia “acts without the an appeal to President Suharto for a pardon more East Timorese; slightest respect for the most basic human to be granted for Xanana, and that the sec- (iii) Recalling that the annexation of East rights,” adding that the former guerrilla ond resistance leader arrested, Ma’Huno, Timor by Indonesia is still not recognised leader, Xanana Gusmão, was sentenced to would be tried, although the date of that trial by the United Nations; life imprisonment following a trial which had not yet been announced. (iv) Considering that the policy of forced violated human rights. They even quoted annexation of the Indonesian government Portuguese President Mario Soares’ view IRELAND MAY SEND GROUP still comes together with the non-respect of that the whole judicial proceeding was a human rights and the right of peoples to farce. The MPs reported that, in spite of TO EAST TIMOR self-determination and independence; Xanana Gusmão not being an Indonesian (v) Considering that the international Irish Times, 2 July 1993. By Colm Boland, citizen, but Portuguese according to interna- Abridged community has the duty to take new meas- tional law, he was forced to face trial in a ures in order to create the conditions allow- language which was not his own, without (Dublin) The first overseas delegation of ing the people of East Timor to exercise its any interpreter. They went on to strongly the new Joint (Parliamentary) Committee on right to self-determination and independ- condemn the behaviour of Suharto’s coun- Foreign Affairs may go to East Timor fol- ence, a right that is recognised to it by the try. In the motion, the MPs also ask Andre- lowing a detailed examination of Irish and Charter of the United Nations and by reso- atta to request the organisation of a referen- EC policy on reports of summary execu- lutions of the Security Council and the Gen- dum on the territory’s self-determination. tions, torture and other violations of human eral Assembly of this organisation, by the rights there by the occupying Indonesian Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of GO BACK TO YOUR authorities. Europe and by the European Parliament, While the committee heard on Wednes- COUNTRY AND TORTURE 1. Demands that the Indonesian government: day of mounting international pressure on (a) ceases all violence and all violations of TIMORESE Jakarta, the suspicion was expressed by the international norms safe-guarding the many that lucrative trading interests, includ- Publico, 24 June 1993. Translated from ing arms sales to Indonesia by Britain, respect of human rights and the right of Portuguese peoples to self-determination and independ- France and Germany, had compromised EC ence, and frees the political prisoners; Yesterday in Strasbourg, a member of the statements on what were seen as atrocities (b) proceeds to the withdrawal of [its] European Parliament’s Inter-Group on East of genocidal proportions. armed forces from the territory of East Timor interrupted a press conference with Fine Gael deputy leader said the (Prime Minister) and Foreign minister Dick Spring Timor and creates the political conditions the Indonesian Foreign Minister, calling him necessary for the free exercise of self- a “torturer” and saying that his presence should be more active. There was an oppor- determination; there was “an insult.” tunity “as one small nation on behalf of (c) lets humanitarian and human rights “Go back to your country, and carry on another” for Ireland to take the lead. organisations, as well as the missions of the torturing the Timorese. Your presence here The committee heard an oral submission United Nations, practice their humanitarian is an insult to me and to this Parliament,” from Mr. Tom Hyland of the East Timor activities on the territory of East Timor and shouted Niall Andrews. Ireland Solidarity Campaign. The leader of evaluate the situation, concerning human Indonesia’s diplomatic chief, Ali Alatas, Democratic Left, Proinsias de Rossa pro- rights violations; said he was “embarrassed to have been ad- posed that the committee act on Mr. Hy- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 133

Hyland’s suggestion of sending a delegation A VERY QUIET GREEN LIGHT (Similar articles by 24 Heures and Le Nou- to East Timor. The committee chair, Brian veau Quotidien.) Lenihan, said they might also invite the ON A (SWISS) ARMS SALE TO Indonesian ambassador, based in London, to INDONESIA ARMS EXPORTS: SWISS address them. SOCIALIST PARTY CRITICIZES THE Forwarded by Pierre-Alain Tissot, Groupe de Travail sur Timor Oriental, CH-1304 FEDERAL COUNCIL EUROPEAN DELEGATION Allens, Switzerland, via Bruno Kahn. Le Nouveau Quotidien, 13 July 1993 MIGHT VISIT TIMOR Le Courrier, 12 July 1993. After ATS. The Socialist Party criticizes the decision Diario de Noticias, 4 July 1993 Translated from French of the Federal Council to allow the export to Indonesian of spare parts and Swiss ammu- According to the Irish Times, the EC Oerlikon-Contraves will be able to sell equipment to a country that little respects nition for anti-aircraft cannons. According to Foreign Affairs Joint Committee might be it, the Federal Council’s commitment to sending a delegation to Timor, following a human rights. The silence kept on this mat- ter creates disturbances. human rights is “selective and determined report elaborated and presented by Ireland. by the interests of foreign trade.” The report considered that the sale of mili- Parts for anti-aircraft cannons and am- tary equipment by England, Germany and munition, the whole for a value of SF 10 SWISS ARMS EXPORTS TOWARDS France to Jakarta, is not compatible with million [US $ 15 million]. This is what the INDONESIA DENOUNCED BY AI commitments undertaken by the EC. group Oerlikon-Contraves was authorised to deliver Indonesia, according to a green light Le Nouveau Quotidien, 29 July 1993 IRISH PARLIAMENT’S granted on June 23rd by the Federal Council The Swiss section of Amnesty Interna- [the Swiss government]. The information, tional exhorted the Helvetian authorities not RESOLUTION published in several dailies, had up to now to allow any arms exports to Indonesia, At its meeting of 14 July 1993 the Joint been passed over in silence by the Federal because of the systematic human rights Committee on Foreign Affairs having heard authorities. On Saturday, Daniel Eckmann, violations committed by the military in the oral presentations on 30 June 1993 on the spokesman of the Federal Military Depart- province of Aceh. subject of East Timor from the Ambassador ment, confirmed it. of Portugal and from the Director of the Why this silence then? According to the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign: FMD spokesman, the matter was submitted EVENTS IN CANADA * condemned the reports of continuing to the Federal Council because of its possi- human rights abuses in East Timor; ble political implications. That this decision * recalled the resolutions of the United had not been the object of a communication CANADIAN LIBERAL PAR TY Nations on East Timor which recognised, can be explained, according to Mr. Eckmann, POSITION ON EAST TIMOR inter alia, the right of all peoples to self- by the fact that in this case only a change in determination in accordance with the princi- the current practice is subject to an informa- Letter received June 9 from the Honourable ples of the UN Charter; tion. Arms sales without political or human Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal Party External * considered that the Government should rights problems are dealt with directly by Affairs critic. the administration. As a rule there is no use all means open to it at the United Na- Dear Ms. Scharfe: tions and through the European Community information on these matters, and the data Thank you for sending me a copy of to seek to assist in the achievement of a concerning them should be searched for in your letter to the Secretary of State for Ex- comprehensive political settlement of the the monthly statistic of the Customs Gen- ternal Affairs on Mr. Gusmão’s arrest and issue of East Timor on the basis of self- eral Direction. the situation in East Timor. I fully support determination for the people of East Timor; Defensive arms your strong condemnation of the Canadian * considered that the Government should Indonesia had not, up to now, been a cus- government’s policy towards Indonesia. continue to raise Ireland’s concerns about tomer of Swiss arms producers. Voices have The Liberal Opposition has vigorously chal- the human rights situation in East Timor risen against arms sales to this country. lenged the Secretary of State for External both bilaterally with Indonesia and multilat- They denounce in particular the human Affairs on numerous occasions on this mat- erally through the European Community rights situation, described by various circles ter. and at the UN; as unsatisfactory and problematic. But anti- We denounced her endorsement of the * considered that the Indonesian Ambas- aircraft weapons are considered as purely Indonesian government’s flawed investiga- sador might be invited to meet the Commit- defensive and cannot be used against civilian tion of the November 1991 massacre in tee; populations, according to Mr. Eckmann. On Timor and requested an independent inter- * considered that a delegation from the the other hand, the law on arms exports national inquiry. We opposed the dispatch- Joint Committee should visit East Timor at forbids deliverance to countries or regions ing of Canadian trade officials to Jakarta an early date; where there are tensions, or where human only a few months after the tragedy. We are * decided that this resolution be transmit- rights conditions don’t satisfy the rules shocked by the increase in military exports ted to Foreign Affairs Committees in all EC followed by Switzerland. to Indonesia for the year 1992-93 and the countries and other countries as appropriate Concerning export rights, it will now be continuation of $46 million aid projects. with a view to getting Community-wide the administration’s responsibility to rule As you well pointed out, these initiatives support for international action. when the contracts between the firm and are occurring in the context of a deteriorating The resolution was adopted unanimously Indonesia are signed. Without a true change human rights situation in East Timor, where in the Irish Parliament. of the present situation, permission should extra-judicial executions, arbitrary arrests, be granted, Mr. Eckmann said. ill-treatment, disappearances and political imprisonment are common place. Page 134 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

It is clear the government’s declared pol- Xanana’s court-appointed lawyer has made Timor. It refers to “the steadfast leadership icy of linking human rights to foreign aid and an appeal for in his client’s name to Indone- of President Suharto” and his government’s arms sales is being ignored in the case of sian president Suharto, an apparent viola- “prudent economic policies,” and describes Indonesia as in many others. The Secretary tion of Xanana’s wishes, as expressed in his the invasion of East Timor as “Indonesia of State should be registering Canada’s pro- defence plea. fill(ing) the vacuum created by the departure test of the treatment of Mr. Gusmão and The government of Canada was one of of the European administration.” Most Ca- halt military exports and foreign aid. Please the few to announce support for the life nadian aid to East Timor is funneled through be assured, we will continue to press for sentence against Xanana. “We are of the the Canada Fund, which is exempted from change and accountability in government impression that the trial has been run fairly sanctions on bilateral aid to Indonesia. In policy. Sincerely, and openly,” an External Affairs spokesper- 1992- 93, the Canada Fund spent $500,000 Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, M.P. son told Southam News. After severe criti- to fund 26 small projects in East Timor. Winnipeg South Centre cism by New Democrat MP Svend Robin- Future projects, the report says, will “con- son, External Affairs Minister Barbara tinue to focus on development at the com- ETAN/CANADA EAST TIMOR McDougall has agreed to “review” Amnesty munity level” – a noble-sounding goal, but UPDATE International’s report on the trial, which one which has the net effect of strengthening describes it as “a travesty of justice.” Indonesian control over a territory they June 8. 1993 Red Cross can’t see Timorese prisoners occupy in violation of international law. The Timorese resistance movement CNRM has Citing obstruction by Indonesian gov- East Timor’s resistance leader, Kay Rala called for a suspension of all aid until Eats ernment officials, the International Commit- Xanana Gusmão, has been sentenced to life Timor is allowed a referendum on self- tee of the Red Cross has suspended its pro- imprisonment after an Indonesian court determination. found him guilty of rebellion and illegal pos- gram of visits to East Timorese political session of firearms. The May 21 sentence prisoners. ICRC visits are the only thing CLC backs Timor drew immediate condemnation from around ensuring the safety of some prisoners, so The 2.5 million-member Canadian Labour the world and comparisons between Xanana their suspension puts several prisoners in a Congress has blasted the Canadian govern- and African National Congress leader Nel- serious situation. ment for supporting Indonesia’s occupation son Mandela. “Unfortunately, we had to suspend this of East Timor. In a statement issued in May “Like all political trials in East Timor and programme (of visits) because all the condi- after meetings with ETAN/Windsor mem- Indonesia, this one failed to meet interna- tions of the ICRC were not met,” said bers, the CLC called on the government of tional standards of fairness, or even to com- spokesperson Pierre Pont. “It is also dis- Canada to take a leading role in international ply with Indonesia’s own Code of Criminal tressing and upsetting that we cannot carry efforts to secure East Timor’s right to self- Procedure,” noted Amnesty International. out our humanitarian task.” Pont said the determination. “There are an estimated 300 “This was a trial organised by a dictator- conditions set by the ICRC for access to companies present in Indonesia and, with ship and therefore it was a travesty which political prisoners were the same in East Canadian acquiescence, the international showed that there is no justice in Indonesia, Timor as everywhere else in the world: ac- financial institutions continue to ignore the “ Portuguese President Mario Soares told cess to all prisoners and all places of deten- tragic plight of the people of East Timor,” reporters. The Indonesian court, which un- tion, interviews with prisoners without the statement said. The CLC also demanded der international law has no jurisdiction in witnesses present, and follow-up visits. that aid to Indonesia be tied to respect for East Timor, even abused its own process. President Suharto committed the Indonesian human rights, and pledged to work with the Most notably, Xanana was prevented from government to respect these terms early in International Confederation of Free Trade reading a statement in his own defence, May. Unions to help free East Timor. which the court called “irrelevant.” ETAN is urging the Canadian government East Germans protest warship sale to pressure its Indonesian counterparts to Xanana had initially seemed to co- A coalition of peace groups in Germany live up to their obligations and allow the operate with the Indonesian government’s has launched a direct action campaign to halt ICRC to go about its humanitarian work, case against him. However, his final defence the sale of 39 warships from the former East with particular regard to the situation of plea declared defiantly: “I am resistance German navy to Indonesia, a sale made in long-term prisoners like Xanana Gusmão. In commander Xanana Gusmão, leader of the violation of the German government’s own the long run, Canada should also be working Maubere resistance against the cowardly guidelines on arms exports and European for the release of these prisoners. Letters in and shameful invasion of the 7 December Community policies supporting East Timor. support of these goals should be sent to 1975 and the criminal and illegal occupation Seventy protesters from the East German External Affairs Minister Barbara McDou- of East Timor for the last 17 years.... ac- Peace Movement and Berlin- based Indone- gall, House of Commons, Ottawa Ont., cording to international law, I continue to sia Watch shut down Peenumunde harbour, K1A 0A6, with a copy to Ray Funk MP of be, like all Timorese, a Portuguese citizen where the ships are docked, on May 28, Parliamentarians for East Timor at the same and before my own conscience I am a citizen occupying four corvettes and a landing-ship. address. Both letters are postage free. of East Timor. It is in these terms that I “The situation in Indonesia is comparable to reject the competence of any Indonesian CIDA whitewashes Timor record the situation in East Germany under the court to try me, and particularly the juris- On April 30, the Canadian International communist regime,” said the East German diction of this court which has been im- Development Agency released its first com- Peace Movement. The plan is to continue posed by force of arms and crimes against prehensive report on Canada’s aid programs the occupation until the German government my homeland, East Timor.” in East Timor. the report contradicts past calls off the sale. According to police, the Following the verdict, Xanana began a statements by CIDA officials that no Cana- demonstrators have inflicted damage worth hunger strike to focus international attention dian money goes to back the Indonesian half a million German marks ($400,000) on on East Timor. He has not been visited by administration of East Timor, and includes a electronic equipment on the ships. the Red Cross, and supporters are gravely whitewash of Indonesia’s military- concerned for his health while in prison. dominated regime and its record in East East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 135

HUNGER STRIKE BEGINS IN Publico learned from the Foreign Office Gusmão to alter his strategy during the trial. that the government initiatives commenced It may be recalled that Amos Wako was in VANCOUVER “on the very same day,” and are mainly Timor as personal envoy of the UN Secre- ETAN/Canada events in support of Xanana directed towards the “EC partners and the tary to report on the human rights situation Gusmão UN.” in the territory and, in that capacity, met The action, which had already been or- with Xanana Gusmão. On Wednesday June 23 at noon, 3 mem- ganised, aims to increase the awareness and bers of the East Timor Alert Network began gain support among the two organisations SOARES WANTS SOLIDARITY a hunger strike in Vancouver, Canada. Sa- and, by extension, among the international FROM EUROPE brina Hong, Eric Thorgeirson and Bob Bur- community in general, in order to lead to a gel kicked off a 50-hour hunger strike out- “position being taken” which forces Indone- Publico. 2 June 1993. Lisbon. Portuguese, side Prime Minister-designate Kim Camp- sia to put in practice a solution for Timor, in Abridged bell’s office (Ms Campbell replaces Brian accordance with international law. Mulroney as PM and leader of the Conser- The specific ways in which the action is The European Community’s need for ex- vative Party on Friday, June 25, and is ex- developing remains a government secret. terior relations and the “inescapable reality” pected to announce her new cabinet at the From what we could find out, however, the of the “internationalization of problems,” same time). Portuguese position has hardened and is led Soares to bring up the matter of Timor. The fast began with a rally outside Ms based on the same arguments used in the Referring to the “determination” of the Irish Campbell’s Vancouver Centre constituency elaboration of the communiqué issued by President, the Government, and of the Irish office, with readings from Xanana’s defence the Foreign Office following the passing of people in general, in the fight for respect for statement, poems, and a statement which Xanana’s sentence. Thus, Portugal is insist- human rights and “against discrimination will be presented to staff at the new PM’s ing, as mentioned by the Foreign Office in and violations of fundamental rights,” Soares office. its communiqué, on the “urgent need to recalled the “sacrificed people of Timor, For details, contact ETAN/Vancouver’s reach a settlement” for Timor. Such a set- who continue hope that the international voice-mail at (604) 739-4947. tlement “must be based on respect for inter- community will ensure fulfillment of the The Vancouver hunger strikes follow 2 5- national law, and the rights of peoples and UN resolutions (...), with a view to satisfy- day fasts in Toronto by ETAN members individuals, namely the right to self- ing their legitimate aspirations to freedom Maggie Helwig and Rev. Brian Burch. [See determination.” and to exercise their essential right to self- the Reactions to Xanana’s imprisonment Portuguese diplomacy also intends to determination.” section above.] highlight the “enormous contradiction” be- ETAN/Toronto will be holding a rally on tween, on the one hand, Indonesia’s “exas- XANANA GETS TOP LISBON Saturday at Toronto City Hall, with speak- perating” behaviour and its “contempt” for AWARD ers Abé Soares from East Timor, Dan Heap international condemnation, such as the last MP, City Councillor Martinhu Silva, and UN Human Rights Commission’s resolu- The Sydney Morning Herald 11 June 1993 others. Protesters will then march to a Bata tion, and on the other hand, Jakarta’s “pro- (Lisbon, Reuter) Portuguese President Shoes store (Bata is a major Canadian inves- claimed desire” to reach, by way of dialogue, Mario Soares awarded the jailed East Timor tor in Indonesia) and leave a mound of a “fair, comprehensive and internationally rebel leader Xanana Gusmão the Order of bloodstained shoes. acceptable” solution Liberty, one of Portugal’s top honors, yes- The government is emphasizing, yet terday and hailed him as a hero to his peo- again, in its offensive, that in Timor Indone- ple. In Jakarta, the Indonesian foreign Min- EVENTS IN PORTUGAL sia wields “illegitimate power,” since it ister, Mr. Ali Alatas, said yesterday Xanana seized by force a non- autonomous terri- was in good health and not in hunger strike. tory, whose decolonization process was PORTUGAL PUTS Xanana, 46, was last month jailed for life for underway. It underlines the fact that Jakarta rebellion, secessionism and the illegal pos- PRESSURE ON EC AND UN occupies Timor, with “disrespect for the session of firearms. Since then, there have most elementary principles of the UN Char- been widespread calls for the international Diplomatic action for Timor underway ter and International Law,” as well as con- community to intervene to verify the state Publico, 26 May 1993. Translated. tinues to refuse to abide by resolutions on of his health. By Sao Jose Almeida Timor, which were passed by the UN Gen- PORTUGAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO (Lisbon) Cavaco made the announcement eral Assembly and Security Council. as soon as Xanana was sentenced, but the It is not only the independence slant of GUERRILLA LEADER Foreign Office had already prepared it. It is the Timor case that is being used in the Por- Lisbon, Jun. 10 (ips) Portugal’s socialist a diplomatic offensive aimed to get the EC tuguese diplomatic offensive. Also promi- president, Mario Soares, has paid tribute to and UN to condemn Indonesia once again. nent are the human rights abuses carried out the jailed leader of the East Timorese inde- The Jakarta Government is accused of being by Indonesia in Timor. Special focus is on pendence movement, José Alexandre “irresponsible” and of contradictory behav- Xanana Gusmão’s trial and the irregularities Xanana Gusmão, by awarding him the order iour. associated with the refusal to allow Xanana of freedom, the country’s second highest The Portuguese diplomatic action - “the to read out his testimony in court, as well as honour. greatest pressure possible on the Indonesian the restrictions imposed on diplomats, in- for 17 years, the rebel commander led the regime” - announced Friday by the PM ternational observers, and journalists who struggle against the Indonesian army of oc- Cavaco Silva, when he condemned the life wanted to be present. cupation, which invaded the former Portu- sentence passed on Xanana Gusmão by the Portugal has also stressed the “irrespon- guese colony of East Timor in 1975. Dili court, is already underway. sible way in which the Indonesian authori- according to the human rights organisa- ties accused the Kenyan Justice Minister, tion amnesty international (AI), Indonesian Amos Wako, of having influenced Xanana Page 136 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. occupation forces have been responsible for dating unity within the Timorese commu- sia Day, 17 August. The invitation came the deaths some 210,000 East Timorese, out nity in Portugal. from President Suharto in response to the of a total population of 600,000, since they The theme of repression in East Timor setting up this month of the Luso-Indonesia seized control of the territory nearly two carried through to an impressive music and Friendship Association early this month by decades ago. dance drama, entitled “A Timorese Story,” the north Portugal-based industrialist. Gusmão was captured by the authorities performed by the refugee theatre group Claiming that neither on the part of the last November and last month was sen- “Hamutuk Nafatin” (meaning Always To- Indonesian or the Portuguese government tenced to life imprisonment by an Indone- gether in Tetum). Formed less than a year had there been “political courage to arrive at sian court which is not recognised interna- ago, when it performed to mark the 1st an- a positive consensus” Manuel Macedo guar- tionally. niversary of the Santa Cruz cemetery mas- anteed that the organization would “make the united nations regards Portugal as the sacre on 12 November 1991, this group of strenuous efforts to bring about solutions to administrator of East Timorese territory young Timorese has continued to attract the conflict” which divides Lisbon and Ja- until a referendum on its autonomy is held. public interest to the situation in East Timor karta. Nevertheless, apart from contacts the Indonesian tribunal that sentenced through its song and dance, performing most with Nuno Rocha, he has not revealed who Gusmão was widely criticised by interna- recently at the International Festival of Ibe- might be the public figures or political tional jurists and humanitarian organisations rian Theater held in Oporto. groups willing to support this campaign, for not allowing Gusmão to prepare his final Solemn-faced, in traditional woven dress, Macedo was one of the principal defendants defence in Portuguese, his mother tongue, the casts’ plaintiff songs in Tetum, warrior in the trial in the 5th military court of mem- and insisting instead that he answer charges dance, swords, and depiction of the ceme- bers of a group accused of responsibility for in Indonesian, a language which he does not tery massacre, vividly expressed their tragic the bombings during the ‘Hot Summer’ speak. message, and well deserved their audience’s campaign; he was however, absolved. president Soares explained that he had standing ovation. Encore Hamutuk Nafatin! bestowed his country’s second highest hon- 83 PORTUGUESE FIRMS our on Gusmão as part of his country’s “OLHO VIVO” IN OPORTO STILL TRADE WITH national celebrations on June 10th, a day on which Portugal “should remember Timor Publico, 28 June 1993. Translated from INDONESIA and its national hero, Xanana Gusmão.” Portuguese EXPRESSO 17 July 1993, abridged Meanwhile, the Portuguese foreign minis- There was no answer from the fifth floor try confirmed that the subjects of Angola at number 517 Sa da Bandeira street - where Although the volume of trade between and East Timor will be included on the the Swedish Consulate in Oporto is located. Portugal and Indonesia has dropped signifi- agenda of Thursday’s talks in Athens be- This did not stop over a dozen young peo- cantly since the government called for a tween foreign minister José Manuel Durão ple from gathering in front of its closed trade boycott in the wake of the Santa Cruz Barroso and the secretary of state of the doors to ask that safe-conducts be given to massacre in November 1991, figures from united states, warren Christopher. the three Timorese who have taken refuge the Portuguese National Institute of Statis- inside the Swedish Embassy in Jakarta. “A tics show that, during 1992, the number of HAMUTUK NAFATIN: “A democratic country does not support dicta- firms with trade links with that country almost doubled, reaching a total of 83. TIMORESE STORY” torships,” said one of the placards at the gathering, which was organised by the youth A number of the firms, such as the Por- 20 June 1993. By Joan Oliveira group “Olho Vivo. A young man, who had tuguese branch of Reebok, maintain that the recently returned from Timor, “after nearly goods arrive through parent companies in (Lisbon) On 20 June, the 47th birthday other countries such as the US and the UK. of former Resistance leader Xanana Gus- ten years waiting for authorization” to leave, expressed his innocent incredulity: “Why is Expresso lists 46 firms which imported mão, the “Freedom for Xanana, Freedom for directly from Jakarta in 1992. These include Timor” Commission organised a solidarity it that Indonesia can do what it likes? It seems that everyone is afraid of them....” the semi-state tobacco company Tabaqueira. gathering in the Lisbon suburb of Alfragide. A representative of the latter firm, Adolfo The mainly Timorese refugee partici- Cruz, told the paper that the last consign- pants heard speakers from the Commission, PORTUGAL TO MAINTAIN ment of tobacco leaves bought was in June UDT (Timorese Democratic Union), VETO ON EC / ASEAN 1991 and claimed that the receipts signed CNRM (Maubere Resistance National AGREEMENT monthly throughout 1992 were all for stock Commission) and Timorese community which had been stored from the previous recall the plight not only of Xanana, whose EXPRESSO 17 July 1993, abridged year. current whereabouts and condition are un- Sources in the Portuguese Foreign Affairs Figures released by Eurostat show that known, but of all political prisoners, victims the largest EEC trader with Indonesia is of torture and other human rights violations Ministry have said that Lisbon will again exercise its veto on the signing of the Germany (1008 million ecus in imports and in East Timor. They referred to the brutal 1544 ecus in exports) followed by the UK activities of Indonesian troops in East EC/ASEAN agreement when the groups meet next October. (778,420), Holland (675, 332) and France Timor, which offer a cruel contrast to the (553, 1041). Ireland (42,15) and Greece Indonesian Foreign Minister’s “rhetorical” PRO-JAKARTA LOBBY IN (29,5) are the smallest traders along with statements on human rights (strongly criti- Portugal itself (12,0.05). cised by Asian NGOs) made recently at the PORTUGAL UN Conference on Human Rights in Vienna. Both the new CNRM representative in EXPRESSO 17 July 1993, unabridged trans- Portugal and the UDT leader appealed, es- lation pecially to the younger generation, for A Portuguese businessman, Manuel Ma- greater efforts and collaboration in consoli- cedo, will be present at the National Indone- East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 137

GALVÃO DE MELO WANTS CLINTON CONCERNED harto grabbed the territory just as it was breaking out of a disappearing Portuguese TO GO TO JAKARTA OVER TIMOR empire in 1975 and has been repressing a EXPRESSO 24 July 1993, abridged Publico, 11 June 1993. Lisbon. Translated popular nationalist movement since. Most from Portuguese recently Indonesia gave a life sentence to the General Galvão de Melo, a member of the captured leader of the Timorese resistance ‘Junta de Salvacao Nacional’ formed in reac- Portuguese Foreign Minister, Durão Bar- after a trial that Lisbon denounced as farcical tion to the overthrow of the fascist regime roso, said yesterday that the US is con- and illegitimate. “The Jakarta government on 25 April 1974 has told EXPRESSO that cerned about the situation in East Timor and should be the one to be tried for what it has he would be available to go to Jakarta along that both President Clinton and Secretary of done in East Timor,” an official statement with Manuel Macedo on 17 August. State Warren Christopher are going to per- said. Macedo told the paper that he would sonally question Jakarta’s highest leaders The Indonesian authorities are not ‘ask the authorities to be allowed to visit “at the first opportunity.” Barroso accused pleased to be rebuked for a colonial policy East Timor’ . Macedo, a former leader of the Indonesia of not “implementing the confi- in East Timor, As a market of 185 million now-defunct [right-wing] MDLP hopes to dence building measures” between the two people, as the largest Muslim state and as a meet President Suharto and Ali Alatas and countries, agreed during the 21 April round “moderate” leader in development, Third has not ruled out the possibility of an en- of negotiations in Rome, under the auspices World politics and regional affairs, Indonesia counter with Xanana Gusmão. of the UN Secretary General, to whom the ordinarily evades the heavy criticism this Minister will be making a protest. The Por- part of its policy deserves. President Su- tuguese diplomatic leader - who met for half harto has profited substantially from West- EVENTS IN THE UNITED an hour with his US counterpart, while at ern favor, including American favor, since STATES the Spring Meeting of NATO in Athens - his accession in 1965 in the wake of a mas- revealed that the two countries might create sive slaughter of local Communists. a permanent commission on cooperation A raw colonial impulse is usually given ETAN NORTH AMERICAN relations between both countries, namely in as the source of Indonesia’s intent to keep the scientific and technological areas, and CONFERENCE East Timor down. It may also matter that not just in connection with the Lajes Base this archipelago of ethnically diverse islands The East Timor Action Network (United (as was the case until now), which would is wary of setting a precedent for other States) and the East Timor Alert Network bring about greater benefits for Portugal. separatist movements. But neither Indone- (Canada) will hold the first Continental sia’s imperial pride nor its political conven- ETAN Conference in New York, Friday- SUHARTO AND CLINTON TO ience requires the 600,000 remaining East Sunday, July 9-11, 1993 CONFER Timorese to forfeit their U.N.-endorsed East Timor activists from across the US right of self-determination. No doubt Indo- and Canada, many of whom have never met From Free East Timor Japan Coalition, July nesia can carry the international costs of in this rapidly-growing movement, will 2, 1993 holding on to East Timor, even if the Clin- come together to share experiences, assess The NHK 9 PM news on July 2 reported ton administration adds to them. But why strengths, and plan strategy. that U.S. president Clinton would meet with would a nation aspiring to modernization Although we will not have extensive President Suharto of Indonesia, who is chair and a major Pacific role want to burden itself presentations on the history, background, of the Non-Aligned Movement, on the so? President Suharto could leave his coun- and current situation in East Timor, many morning of July 7 at the American Embassy try a rich legacy by accepting the process knowledgeable resource people will be pre- in Tokyo. The news announcer commented for Timorese self-determination that the sent. that attention was focused on whether the U.N. stands ready to arrange. Friday evening and Saturday will be issue of repression of human rights in East spent on global issues, while Sunday will be Timor would be raised. AGIO PEREIRA TO VISIT separate US and Canadian discussions on Further details of this meeting are in the NORTHWEST US country-specific issues. Japan section of this issue of East Timor Advance registration is required. The documents. Cultural Evening at UW (Seattle) conference fee is $75, which includes food and housing. EAST TIMOR CULTURAL EVENING, If you would like a paper or email copy INDONESIA AND HUMAN JULY 26 of the full conference brochure, or additional RIGHTS Photo Exhibit by Award-Winning Canadian information, contact: photo-journalist Elaine Brière East Timor Action Network/US PO Box Editorial, Washington Post. July 9, 1993 Full text. Concert by East Timorese folk singer- 1182, White Plains, NY 10602 USA Phone songwriter Agio Pereira (914)428-7299 fax (914)428-7383 email: First Bill Clinton, reversing Reagan-Bush [email protected] policy, joined a tough resolution in the Panel Exhibit on the traditional culture And the History of East Timor This is a working conference, and is only United Nations criticizing Indonesia on for people committed to East Timorese self- human rights. Then, at the G-7 summit this Discussion of the Present Situation in East determination. We reserve the right to refuse week, President Clinton used a meeting that Timor registrations (and return fees) from people Indonesian President Suharto had requested Auditorium of the Hub Building, Univer- who are not part of this movement. to talk about development to talk about sity of Washington, Seattle rights violations in East Timor as well. Exhibits open At 6:00 Pm, Concert Starts These are modest but necessary steps to t 7:00 Pm hold Indonesia to account for its theft of Sponsored By: Seattle Coalition for Hu- East Timor’s independence. President Su- man Rights in East Timor and Southeast Page 138 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Asia Studies Program, Univ. of Washington NANCY PELOSI ruler, Portugal. Such talks could also be a in Coordination with Amnesty Interna- Member of Congress forum for discussion between Indonesia and tional. the East Timorese people. The Committee –––––––– urges the Administration to give strong U.S. CONGRESSIONAL support to these talks and urges the Secre- EVENING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE ACTION tary-General to take a more personal and PEOPLE OF EAST TIMOR direct role in the talks. Wednesday, July 28, 7:00 to 9:00 pm The Committee strongly believes that the with East Timorese Folk Singer/Songwriter US HOUSE United States, Europe and Japan must unite Agio Pereira behind a human rights policy that evolves APPROPRIATIONS from the more narrow human rights policy Clinton Street Theater, 2252 SE Clinton COMMITTEE REPORT of the past and focuses on demilitarization St., Portland, Oregon. for more information and local self-rule in East Timor in the short contact: William Seaman, (503) 241-8289 June 1993 Draft report of the House of term with a final settlement in the medium Representatives Appropriations Commit- or long term based on a genuine act of self- JORDAN’S F5 SALE tee, which may be revised as the legisla- determination in the form of a United Na- BLOCKED tive process continues, on H.R. 2295, the tions supervised referendum. FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT Letter received by a constituent from Repre- FINANCING, AND RELATED PENTAGON WANTS TO sentative Nancy Pelosi (8th Dist., CA) PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS BILL, RESUME TRAINING THE July 26, 1993 1994 INDONESIAN MILITARY Dear _____: (excerpt; full text relating to Indonesia and Thank you for contacting me to express East Timor) Action Alert from the East Timor Action your opposition to the government of Jor- INDONESIA AND EAST TIMOR Network/US, June 28,1993 dan’s proposed sale of F-5 fighters to Indo- The Committee has commented on the CALL CONGRESS NOW! nesia. situation in East Timor on a number of oc- After consulting with Congress, the U.S. In 1992 Congress terminated military casions in the past and continues to be con- training assistance for Indonesia under the Department of State, on July 23rd, decided cerned with the flagrant abuses of human that the proposed sale of U.S.-made F-5 International Military Education and Train- rights to which the Timorese people are ing (IMET) program. They took this action, fighters by Jordan to Indonesia could not routinely subjected by the Indonesian mili- take place. This decision reflects Congres- which ended all U.S. military aid to Indone- tary. sia, despite opposition from the Bush ad- sional and Administration concerns about The human rights of the East Timorese Indonesia’s human rights abuses against the ministration and corporate lobbyists work- continue to be routinely violated and the ing for Jakarta. people of East Timor. Indonesians have made no concessions at all I agree with you that the United States This victory for human rights and self- to the principle of meaningful participation determination over realpolitik may soon be should act to end the brutal occupation of by the East Timorese population. East Timor. You may be interested to know undermined. The Pentagon wants Indonesia Secretary of State Warren Christopher in to purchase military training under the For- that the House Foreign Operations Appro- his confirmation hearings responded in writ- priations Subcommittee, on which I serve, eign Military Sales (FMS) program. The ing to the Senate Foreign Relations Commit- Fiscal Year 1994 Congressional presentation included a prohibition in the fiscal year 1994 tee that “the situation in East Timor de- bill on the use of International Military document, jointly prepared by the Depart- serves a fresh look by the Clinton admini- ments of State and Defense includes the Education and Training (IMET) military stration.” This was followed by United assistance for Indonesia. The provision of following: States support for a very strong resolution “Although the Administration is not re- any other form of assistance to Indonesia is on the human rights situation in East Timor subject to Congressional notification proce- questing IMET for Indonesia in FY 94, during the proceedings of the United Na- Indonesia plans to purchase professional dures, providing an opportunity for Con- tions Human Rights Commission in March. gress to object to any proposals. Enclosed, military education, resource management The Committee welcomes these measures and Naval Post Graduate School courses for your information, is a copy of the FY’94 but believes now that a first step that could report language on East Timor and Indonesia through FMS. Other current and projected bring real change to the human rights situa- FMS sales would support previously ac- expressing the Subcommittee’s concerns tion is to convince the Indonesian govern- about the continuing human rights abuses quired U.S.-origin aircraft.” ment to commit itself to carry out a phased Please call, fax or write Senators and and our recommendations for diplomatic demilitarization of the island. A second and action. Representatives to ask them to oppose parallel step would be for the Indonesians to resuming military training under the FMS Congressional awareness of the tragic permit participation by the Timorese in situation in East Timor is growing. Please be program. Although there needs to be a spe- government by the holding of local elections cial emphasis on military training, also ask assured that I will continue to work to edu- in which all parties, including the guerrillas, cate my colleagues and to encourage the that all other assistance under FMS and could take part. licenses for commercial arms sales be termi- Administration to reflect our concern in our Since demilitarization also requires action relations with Indonesia. nated. by the guerrillas and since East Timorese On May 21, Senator Leahy told Lynn Thank you again for taking the time to would rightfully be wary of any elections express your views on this important sub- Davis (Undersecretary of State for Interna- unilaterally announced by the Indonesians, tional Security Affairs) that “It is inconsis- ject. I hope you will continue to communi- both steps should be negotiated through cate with me on matters of concern to you. tent for the U.S. to license sales of weapons talks sponsored by the United Nations be- to governments that, because of human Sincerely, tween Indonesia and the former colonial East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 139 rights problems, are deemed unsuitable for House of Representatives, key Members the United Nations that might alter the un- military aid. Indonesia is a case in point.” who support East Timor acceptable status quo. These negotiations On June 2, Senators Pell, Kennedy, Feingold Democrats: Ronald Dellums (CA 225- would be in pursuit of the right of self- de- and Harkin made the same argument to Sec- 9817), David Obey (WI), Tony Hall (OH), termination of the East Timorese people, a retary of State Warren Christopher, calling Barney Frank (MA 225-0182), Nita Lowey course of action which the Senate supported Indonesia’s human rights record in East (NY 225-0546), Gary Ackerman (NY 225- in a resolution passed on November 21, Timor “abysmal.” This reasoning also ap- 2029). 1991. These negotiations would also include plies to military training. Republicans: Ronald Machtley (RI 225- East Timorese representatives as well as Supporters of East Timor in both the 8291), Frank Wolf (VA 225-0437). Indonesia and Portugal, the other diplomatic House and Senate should be asked to find a parties to the conflict. We believe that the legislative means to prevent any training of SENATORS WRITE CLINTON United States should work with its allies in Indonesian soldiers by the United States. Asia and elsewhere to convince Indonesia Senators are crucial, especially members ON TIMOR by diplomatic means that it is not in Indo- of the Appropriations Subcommittee on The attached letter signed by 43 United nesia’s long-term interest to pursue the Foreign Operations, the Foreign Relations States Senators regarding East Timor was policies it has followed in East Timor since Committee, and the Armed Services Com- transmitted to President Clinton late Friday, 1975. mittee. All Congressional offices can be July 2, 1993. We believe that resolutions to these reached through the Congressional problems would benefit Jakarta over time. switchboard at (202)224-3121. When avail- United States Senate We recognize the long-term friendship be- able, fax numbers (all area code 202) are Washington, DC 20510 tween the United States and the Republic of listed below. June 30, 1993 Indonesia. We note that bipartisan action The Honorable William J. Clinton Senate Appropriations Foreign Opera- taken by the United States Senate in 1949 is The President tions Subcommittee generally recognized to have hastened Indo- The White House nesia’s independence from the Netherlands. Democrats: Patrick Leahy (VT, Chair Washington, D.C. It is in the spirit of this long friendship and 224- 3595), Daniel Inouye (HI 224-6747), J. historical link that we make these sugges- Bennett Johnston (LA 224-9735), Dennis Dear President Clinton: tions on the East Timor situation. DeConcini (AZ 224-2302), Frank Lauten- For many years, many members of the Sincerely, berg (NJ 224-9707), Tom Harkin (IA 224- United States Senate have been greatly con- Malcolm Wallop 9369), Barbara Mikulski (MD 224-8858). cerned over the tragic situation in the former Claiborne Pell Republicans: Mark Hatfield (OR 224- Portuguese colony of East Timor, which John McCain 0276), Alfonse D’Amato (NY 224-5871), was invaded by Indonesia in 1975 and con- Russ Feingold Arlen Specter (PA 224- 9029), Don Nickles tinues to be the scene of widespread human Alfonse D’Amato (OK 224-6008) rights abuses. We hope that you will use the occasion of your meeting with Indonesian Dave Durenberger Senate Foreign Relations Committee President Suharto at the time of the G-7 Edward M. Kennedy Democrats: Claiborne Pell (RI, Chair meeting in Tokyo on July 6, and other high David L. Boren 224-4680), Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (DE), Paul level diplomatic exchanges, to stress Ameri- Paul Simon S. Sarbanes (MD), Christopher J. Dodd can concern over these abuses and the press- Byron L. Dorgan (CT), John Kerry (MA 224-8525), Paul ing need to have greater access to East Jeff Bingaman Simon (IL), Daniel Patrick Moynihan (NY Timor for international humanitarian organi- John D. Rockefeller, IV 228-3815), Charles S. Robb (VA 224-8689), zations. Additionally, we would urge you to Herb Kohl Harris Wofford (PA), Russell Feingold seek the support of our G-7 allies for a last- Daniel P. Moynihan (WI), Harlan Mathews (TN). ing settlement under United Nations aus- Barbara Boxer Republicans: Jesse Helms (NC), Richard pices of the East Timor conflict. William V. Roth, Jr. G. Lugar (IN), Nancy Landon Kassebaum We appreciate the action taken by your John J. Chafee (KS), Larry Pressler (SD), Frank H. Murk- Administration at the United Nations Hu- Frank R. Lautenberg owski (AK 224-5301), Hank Brown (CO), man Rights Commission in Geneva in Howard M. Metzenbaum James M. Jeffords (VT), Paul Coverdell March, when the United States co- Carl Levin (GA). sponsored a resolution which strongly con- Charles E. Grassley Senate Armed Services Committee demned the human rights abuses in East Charles S. Robb Harris Wofford Democrats: Sam Nunn (GA, chair), J. Timor and called for greater U.N. involve- Dennis DeConcini James Exon (NE), Carl Levin (MI), Edward ment. The resolution sent an appropriate Paul Wellstone Kennedy (MA), Jeff Bingaman (NM), John signal to the Government of Indonesia re- Tom Harkin Glenn (OH), Richard Shelby (AL), Robert garding America’s interest in this matter, John F. Kerry Byrd (WV), Robert Graham (FL), Charles which has received increased attention since Joseph Lieberman Robb (VA 224-8689), Joseph Lieberman Indonesian troops killed more than 100 Bill Bradley (CT). unarmed people at Santa Cruz cemetery in Barbara A. Mikulski Republicans: Strom Thurmond (SC), East Timor in November 1991. The Indone- Patrick J. Leahy John Warner (R), William Cohen (ME), sian action was condemned by the Bush Thomas A. Daschle John McCain (AZ), Trent Lott (MS), Dan- Administration and other democratic nations Christopher J. Dodd iel Coats (IN), Robert Smith (NH), Dirk throughout the world. Larry E. Craig Kempthorne (ID), Lauch Faircloth (NC). We believe that the United States should review its policy on East Timor with an eye Richard H. Bryan toward facilitating serious negotiations at Donald W. Riegle, Jr. Mark O. Hatfield Page 140 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

Paul S. Sarbanes Patrick Leahy Chairman, Foreign Opera- would go a long way toward convincing Harlan Mathews tions Subcommittee Indonesia to alter its course in East Timor. Daniel K. Akaka Claiborne Pell Chairman, Foreign Rela- The Arms Export Control Act prohibits Joseph R. Biden, Jr. tions Committee the US government from selling weapons or Jim Sasser granting licenses for commercial arms sales Bob Graham TELL CONGRESS TO END to countries with a consistent pattern of US ARMS SALES TO gross violations of human rights. Many SENATORS: DON’T LET groups, including Amnesty International, INDONESIA INDONESIA PURCHASE have documented such a pattern in East Timor. Action Alert from the East Timor Action MILITARY TRAINING International Economic Policy Subcom- Network/US PO Box 1182, White Plains, NY mittee members should be urged to support United States Senate 10602. (914)428-7299 fax:(914)428-7383 the Feingold amendment. All can be phoned email:[email protected] WASHINGTON, DC 20510 at (202)224-3121. If your Senators are not June 30, 1993 July 31, 1993 on the Subcommittee, call Chairman Sar- The Honorable Warren Christopher HELP STOP KILLING AND banes and people you know who live in the Secretary of State REPRESSION IN EAST TIMOR states represented on the subcommittee. Washington, D.C. 20520 The members of the Subcommittee are: Dear Mr. Secretary: SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE VOTES Democrats: Paul S. Sarbanes (MD), chair; THIS TUESDAY – CALL TODAY Last year, in response to the massacre by Joseph R. Biden Jr. (DE); Christopher J. Indonesian troops of an estimated one hun- On Tuesday, August 3, Senator Russell Dodd (CT); John Kerry (MA); Harris Wof- dred unarmed civilians in a cemetery in Dili, Feingold (D-WI) will introduce an amend- ford (PA); Russell D. Feingold (WI) East Timor, the Congress cut off IMET ment to the Foreign Aid Authorization Bill Republicans: Jesse Helms (NC), ranking assistance to the Indonesian armed forces. to ban government and commercial arms member; Nancy Landon Kassebaum (KS); Since then, little has changed in East sales to Indonesia. He plans to do this in the Frank H. Murkowski (AK); Hank Brown Timor. Thousands of Indonesian troops Subcommittee on International Economic (CO); James M. Jeffords (VT) continue to occupy the island. Freedom of Policy of the Senate Foreign Relations expression and association are restricted. Committee, which will vote the same day. Dozens of people believed to have been Please contact members of the Subcommit- EVENTS IN JAPAN killed in the massacre are still unaccounted tee immediately. for. While several soldiers received light jail The amendment prohibits arms sales un- terms, the civilian demonstrators received til the President certifies that Indonesia has SUHARTO WILL GO TO sentences ranging from several years to life. allowed international human rights groups to JAPAN Recently, at the World Conference on Hu- visit East Timor, that they report that there man Rights in Vienna, Indonesia was among are no forms of inhumane treatment (includ- Report from ETAN/US, June 29, 1993 the most vocal opponents of the US posi- ing torture), and that Indonesia has complied According to the noon News in Japan tion in support of the universality of human with Security Council resolutions that call Tuesday, Suharto is indeed going to Japan rights. for withdrawal of its troops from the terri- next week. He is scheduled to meet with We were encouraged by your comments tory and an act of self-determination by the Miyazawa July 6, and probably also with earlier this year that the situation in East East Timorese. It would also prevent Indo- Clinton. Although Suharto and Indonesia are Timor deserves a “fresh look.” We also nesia from purchasing US military training not part of the G-7 economic summit, he commend the administration for supporting to replace the IMET military training aid cut hopes to take advantage of the summit to the March 1993 resolution in the UN Hu- off by Congress last year. meet with world leaders. man Rights Commission which urged the All of the Democrats on the subcommit- So pressure on Senators to sign the letter Indonesian Government to address the con- tee signed a June 30 letter to President Clin- to Clinton posted last week in reg.easttimor tinuing human rights problems. ton calling for a review of US policy on East is even more urgent! It will be open for sig- We are therefore disturbed to learn that Timor “with an eye toward facilitating seri- natures until the end of this week. the Indonesian government is planning to ous negotiations at the United Nations that purchase military education courses through might alter the unacceptable status quo. TOKYO SUMMIT PREVIEW the FMS program. When the Congress took These negotiations would be in pursuit of the extraordinary step of cutting off IMET the right of self-determination of the East TFI’s Indonesian Headlines - July 2 Timorese people. ... We believe that the assistance last year it was not only to deny President Clinton goes to Tokyo next the Indonesian armed forces access to US United States should work with its allies in Asia and elsewhere to convince Indonesia week to talk world economics with leaders taxpayer aid. It was to send a strong mes- of other industrial nations, but the trip has a sage that the Indonesian Government should by diplomatic means that it is not in Indo- nesia’s long-term interest to pursue the second goal: to focus on a region that hasn’t take decisive steps to deter further human gotten much attention during his presidency. rights abuses. The need for that message has policies it has followed in East Timor since 1975.” “We consider it very fortunate that the not diminished. Any decision by the ad- president’s first overseas trip is a trip to ministration to license sales of military edu- US arms sales to Indonesia vary from year to year, and were over $100 million in Asia,” Secretary of State Warren Christo- cation would be directly contrary to the pher said Friday, announcing that Clinton intent of Congress. 1991. They include high-technology aircraft as well as the M-16 automatic weapons would give three major speeches outlining Thank you for your consideration. U.S. Asian policy. Clinton is to make Sincerely, such as were used to massacre over 271 unarmed Timorese protesters at Santa Cruz speeches on Asian policy in San Francisco cemetery on November 12, 1991. A cutoff on Monday, in Tokyo on Wednesday and in East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 141

Seoul on July 10. “In each of these speeches asylum seekers appeared in good shape after weapons, and when Indonesia invaded East he will touch different aspects of the Asian their ordeal. Timor in 1975, none of them raised objec- relationship,” Christopher said. Clinton “They agreed to leave and I have signed a tions. plans to meet with President Suharto of statement guaranteeing that they would not Arms and military/police training pro- Indonesia soon after he arrives in Tokyo. He be arrested and intimidated,” said Jakarta vided by countries attending the G 7 summit also plans bilateral meetings with Japanese Military Commander Major General Hendro contributed to some 200,000 deaths in East Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, who is Priyono. Hendro said he had also promised Timor, creation of tens of thousands of not expected to survive in office after a July not to “bring up their past deeds,” referring West Papuan refugees, and terrorization of 18 election, and Russian President Boris to their claim that they were involved in the Aceh district in Indonesia. The weapons Yeltsin. In Seoul, Clinton is to meet with several anti-Indonesian demonstrations in sales and training programs continue to this Korean President Kim Young-Sam. East Timor. But he added: “I do not guaran- day. Indonesia and the United States have tee, if it is found out later that they have Summiteer Helmut Kohl concluded a deal agreed to a meeting between their heads of been involved in crimes.” Hendro did not with Indonesia in February to sell 39 naval state in Tokyo prior to the July 7-9 summit elaborate. Princen hoped they could be in- vessels of the defunct East German naval of the Group of Seven (G-7) major powers, cluded in the ICRC programme to reunite fleet. Summiteer John Major’s government State Secretary Murdiono said Friday. East Timorese with their families abroad. is now negotiating a deal for 100 British Murdiono told reporters the date for the But such a request would have to await the Aerospace Hawk fighter planes. Summiteer meeting between President Suharto and arrival of the new ICRC representative in Bill Clinton, whom President Suharto is said President Bill Clinton is being discussed by Jakarta, expected by the middle of this to be particularly anxious to meet in Tokyo, Jakarta, Tokyo and Washington. Suara month. The tour of the previous ICRC head must decide whether or not to approve a Pembaruan, quoting an unnamed source, delegate ended Thursday. Should the ICRC sale by Jordan of four U.S.-made F53 su- reported that Suharto will talk with Clinton help them under its family reunion pro- personic fighters.... Meanwhile, summit at a breakfast meeting Wednesday, just be- gramme, their destination was expected to host Miyazawa’s government, legally pro- fore the summit officially kicks off. Suharto be either Australia or Portugal, two coun- hibited from exporting weapons per se, will also possibly meet separately with tries with large East Timorese communities. provides roughly half of the worldwide total other leaders of the G-7, which includes The ICRC has dealt with the cases of 1,500 of ODA to the Suharto regime. East Britain, Canada, Italy, France and Germany. Timorese under the family reunion pro- Timorese victims of the regime assert that Murdiono said Tuesday the summit is a gramme since 1979. this ODA is contributing to their extermina- good opportunity for Suharto to convey tion as a people. new initiatives on a constructive North- MERCHANTS OF DEATH, NO PRESIDENT SUHARTO DOES NOT South dialogue. Foreign analysts suggested MORE GUNS FOR SUHARTO! REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE that Suharto’s trip to Tokyo will be a major THIRD WORLD! attraction of the summit. Statement by Free East Timor Japan Coali- STOP ARMS SALES TO SUHARTO! Asylum seekers update tion on the G 7 Summit in Tokyo INDONESIA OUT OF EAST TIMOR! Three East Timorese students finally quit July 4, 1993 TIMORESE, SUHARTO IN on Friday the Swedish Embassy. Human PRESIDENT SUHARTO... rights activists said they still hoped the TOKYO SPOKESMAN FOR THE THIRD students could leave the country. “It’s over. They’re free. They can go anywhere,” Ja- WORLD? By Jean Inglis, FETJC, July 6, 1993 karta military commander Major-General The leaders of the seven main industrial- Constâncio Pinto, 30, will be the main Hendro said as the three left the embassy ized nations meet in Tokyo July 7 to iron speaker at a public meeting in Tokyo on premises in a motor cavalcade. H.J.C. Prin- out a common strategy for their “leader- Tuesday evening sponsored by the Tokyo cen, a human rights activist who has medi- ship” of the rest of the world. The Third East Timor Association and the Japan sec- ated on their behalf, said he hoped to per- World, comprising most of the rest of the tion of Amnesty International. Mr. Pinto, a suade the International Committee of the world, will have no voice in the discussions leader of the Timorese students’ resistance Red Cross (ICRC) to help the students in Tokyo, although the strategies that movement, fled Indonesia in 1992 after be- leave under its family reunion programme. emerge will have profound repercussions on ing hunted by Indonesian security forces The students will for the time being stay at their lives. President Suharto of Indonesia, after the bloody Santa Cruz massacre. his home in east Jakarta. It remained unclear current chair of the Non-Aligned Move- On July 3 and 4, Mr. Pinto attended a whether Indonesia would allow the students ment, will be present on the fringe of the G “People’s Tribunal” in Tokyo at which to leave the country. Major-General Hendro 7 summit to strike a pose as the “represen- scholars and activists in the field of Third said only that the three would not be tative of the Third World.” World development issues “tried” the G 7 charged unless they had committed criminal Thanks for the guns! structure of economic domination of the acts. Asked if they had, he said: “As far as I It is recalled that General Suharto came to South by the North. know, they have not done anything crimi- power after unleashing a bloodbath that Mr. Pinto’s visit coincided with the visit nal.” The students, who said earlier in a claimed between 500,000 and 1 million in- to Tokyo of Indonesian President Suharto. letter smuggled out of the embassy that they nocent Indonesians’ lives. The regime which Suharto met with lame duck prime minister did not trust such assurances by Indonesian he established and has run for a quarter cen- Miyazawa at the state guest house Monday officials, said they now trusted their prom- tury was enthusiastically embraced by the night and is scheduled to meet with Presi- ises. “Yes, I believe the general,” said one of countries which form the G 7 because it dent Clinton at the American Embassy be- the students, Florencio Anunciacão Fernan- promised a green light to foreign investment fore the Summit begins on July 7. des, as he left the embassy. Despite their and guaranteed “stability” enforced by a Summit host country Japan is in the earlier claims of mistreatment, the three tight security apparatus. These countries midst of an election campaign for the Lower also kept Indonesia’s military supplied with House of the Diet, a campaign necessitated Page 142 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. by the abrupt dissolution of the Lower Late last month, a bipartisan group of 43 Details of the talks were not immediately House last month. Miyazawa is going U.S. senators sent a letter to Clinton urging available. President Suharto, accompanied through the motions of the “good host” after him to express American concern about the by Indonesian Foreign Minister Mr. Ali his guest ignored urging over the past East Timor situation when he met Suharto Alatas, later left from Tokyo’s Haneda air- months to “stay home.” Mass media cover- in Tokyo. port and flew home to Jakarta. age of the visit has been largely perfunctory, The U.S. senators said in the letter that Mr. Alatas said on Tuesday that he but at least two national TV news programs ‘the U.S. should work with its allies in Asia “would not think it strange” if Mr. Clinton mentioned the East Timor issue in connec- and elsewhere to convince Jakarta by dip- raised the issue of human rights with presi- tion with Suharto’s meeting with Clinton. lomatic means that it is not in Indonesia’s dent Suharto. One of them ran brief footage of the Santa long-term interest to pursue the polices it “All countries have their shortcomings,” Cruz massacre. has followed in East Timor since 1975.’ he said. Mr. Alatas also revealed that Indo- Meanwhile, according to a July 5 Kyodo Suharto asked summit host Miyazawa on nesia had invited the US Trade Representa- report, a British man was arrested Monday Monday to convey to the other G-7 leaders tive, Mr. Mickey Kantor, to sent a mission after splashing tomato juice on the wall of a message urging the industrialized nations to review the country’s labour laws after the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo in pro- to help developing nations solve economic Washington recent threat to withdraw spe- test against Indonesia’s occupation of East problems that have hindered their develop- cial trade advantages for Indonesia under its Timor. Police identified him as John McLis- ment. generalized system of preferences. ter, 35, a teacher. “President Suharto is re- The message included a request to indus- “There is a lot that needs to be clarified sponsible for the blood of thousands of East trialized nations ‘not to link economic aid to with Mr. Kantor. There seem to be some Timorese people killed by the Indonesian the human rights issues of recipient coun- lingering misconceptions,” Mr. Alatas said. Army,” shouted McLister. Before being tries,’ Japanese Foreign Ministry officials President Suharto was in Tokyo to ex- taken away by police, McLister told report- said. press developing nations’ views to the G-7 ers, “People die every day in East Timor Suharto originally campaigned to address leaders. Third World nations says their in- and Clinton and Suharto are going to have a the G-7 leaders collectively in a meeting terests are often ignored at the industrial cup of tea together.” modeled after the ‘G-7 plus 1’ session that summits. will bring Russian President Boris Yeltsin to East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, CLINTON BROACHES EAS T the gathering for the second year in a row. was annexed by Indonesia in 1975. however, TIMOR PROBLEM WITH The G-7 nations opposed the request, the UN continues to consider Portugal its however, fearing it could set a precedent administrator. SUHARTO with other parties making similar requests. Indonesia has been trying to suppress an Japan and the U.S. offered instead to hold East Timor independence movement. in Japan Economic Newswire, Tokyo, July 7 separate meetings with Suharto. November 1991, Indonesian soldiers shot Kyodo and killed dozen of East Timorese during a U.S. President Bill Clinton expressed CLINTON, SUHARTO IN TALKS ON pro-independence protest. concern over human rights problems in In- EAST TIMOR President Suharto had asked to attend the donesia, including East Timor, in a meeting SOURCE: THE AUSTRALIAN summit itself but was turned down. Earlier Wednesday with Indonesian President Su- this week he met the Japanese Prime minis- (AP, AFP, Tokyo) Under pressure from harto, a senior White House official said. ter and summits host, Mr. Miyazawa. almost half the United State Senate, Presi- Clinton referred to the human rights issue The senators asked Mr. Clinton to work dent Clinton met Indonesia’s President Su- when he met Suharto Wednesday morning at with US allies” to convince Indonesia by harto yesterday to discuss human rights the U.S. Embassy before attending the diplomatic means that it is not in Indone- violations in East Timor and other issues. Group of Seven (G-7) summit of leading sia’s long-term interest to pursue the poli- The US presidential adviser, Mr. George industrial nations later in the day. cies it has followed in East Timor since Stephanopoulos, in a briefing before the During the 40-minute meeting, in which 1975. close-door meeting, said MR. Clinton the two leaders discussed ‘a range of issues’ Many countries, including Australia, rec- planned to talk about trade and human from trade to human rights, they spent ognise Indonesia rule but UN continues to rights, including the situation in East Timor. about 10 minutes on human rights issues, uphold Portugal’s interests because many A bipartisan group of 43 of 100 senators the official said. residents of East Timor have resisted Ja- had sent a letter to Mr. Clinton asking to The official declined to comment, how- karta. express US concern about East Timor during ever, on how Suharto reacted to Clinton’s “We believe that the United States his meeting with President Suharto. remarks on human rights problems. should review its policy on East Timor with “We have a lot to talk about. President is Suharto, as the leader of the 108-nation an eye toward facilitating serious negotia- the leader of the Non-Aligned movement Non-Aligned Movement, appeared to have tions at the United Nations that might alter this year, “Mr. Clinton as the talks got un- told Clinton that a ‘constructive’ dialogue the unacceptable status quo,” the Senators der way, only hours before the Three-day between developing and developed nations said in a letter to President Clinton. summit of the Group of Seven industrialised should be promoted. “ Similar patterns of repression have nations began. Suharto was in Tokyo for four days until been documented in other regions of the “ We have many things in common. we Wednesday for talks with Japanese Prime Indonesian archipelago... torture, detention often work together at the UN.” Minister Kiichi Miyazawa and Clinton in a of prisoners of conscience and political Mr. Clinton, who was accompanied by bid to revitalize the North-South dialogue. prisoners as well as unfair trials are routine the US secretary of State, Mr. warren Chris- Indonesia invaded East Timor shortly af- throughout Indonesia,” they said. ter the Portuguese left in 1975 and annexed topher, the National Security Adviser, Mr. the territory in 1976. The United Nations Tony Lake and his Deputy, Mr. Sandy does not recognize Indonesian sovereignty Berger, said “we will” discuss human rights over East Timor. but did not elaborate. East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 143

CLINTON ANNOUNCES AP EC have been subjected to gross violations of Last week, 43 United States Senators human rights at the hands of the Indonesian wrote a letter to President Clinton express- CONFERENCE Armed Forces. A broad spectrum of interna- ing concern over the continuing widespread The Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, July tional organizations such as the Asian Stu- human rights abuses in East Timor, advocat- 19, 1993. Excerpts dents’ Association (ASA), the International ing “serious negotiations at the United Na- Red Cross, and Amnesty International have tions that might alter the unacceptable “Clinton in a speech at Tokyo’s Waseda endlessly denounced the reported abuses of status quo.” These negotiations would be in University this month appeared to take human rights, and the isolation of East pursuit of the right of self-determination of many governments in the region by surprise Timor from international scrutiny. the East Timorese people. The Senators (...) [when he] said he is consulting with the On 12 November 1991 the world was expressed their belief that an acceptable 15 members of the Asian-Pacific Economic shocked by TV reports of a massacre of solution of the East Timor conflict would be Cooperation forum or APEC, about conven- over 200 unarmed East Timorese youth at in the long term interest of Indonesia. ing “an informal leadership conference” after the hands of the Indonesian military at the While we denounce the acquiescence of the group holds its annual ministerial meet- Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili. Among those the United States and its Western allies ing in Seattle in November. The summit massacred was a Malaysian student, Kamal during Indonesia’s 1975 invasion of East meeting would be the first to bring together Bamadhaj, whose concerns for the East Timor, we endorse this recent change- of- such a large number of Asian-Pacific lead- Timorese people cost him his life. heart, and urge President Suharto to ac- ers.” In March this year, the UN Human knowledge fully the call by the international “U.S. diplomats in the region...[stress] Rights Commission passed a strong resolu- community to come to a peaceful resolution that the idea is still under discussion.” tion condemning Indonesian human rights with the East Timorese people. “As the largest of the 6 ASEAN coun- violations in East Timor, and called for a We further urge the United Nations to be tries, Indonesia often is viewed as the most greater UN involvement in resolving the directly involved in resolving the East Timor influential member. Officials in Jakarta say conflict there. The United Nations has never conflict. Mr. Clinton told Indonesian President Su- recognized Indonesia’s jurisdiction over East A mutually acceptable resolution of the harto about the proposed summit when the Timor. East Timor maintains its representa- East Timor conflict will prove our respect two met in Tokyo this month, but that Mr. tive to the UN as a territory administered for human rights in the third World, as well Suharto made no commitment to attend. by its Portuguese colonizers. However, as strengthen our international standing. Indonesia “in principle will support the many positive plans to resolve the conflict With what authority can our leaders de- leaders meeting, but needs to consult other have been compromised by the US and its nounce the present situation in Palestine, members,” says an ASEAN diplomat.” client-state Indonesia. South Africa, or Bosnia if they keep silent “Even before taking office, [Clinton] sig- Recently, the illegitimate mock trial of about the East Timor tragedy on the door- naled that APEC would be the vehicle the Commander Xanana Gusmão, captured late steps of our own region? administration would use to emphasize last year, produced further international As concerned neighbours, we appeal to economics in America’s Asia policy, after criticism. Xanana, who has tried to seek a President Suharto to work towards an hon- years of giving primacy to military con- negotiated solution of the East Timor con- ourable resolution of the conflict in East cerns.” flict with Indonesia has been treated in a Timor, not only as a matter of principle, but totally unacceptable manner. A political for the direct benefit of all peoples of our show-trial by a Court which had no jurisdic- region. EVENTS IN ASIA tion to try him at all has been orchestrated. In solidarity with the people of East The trial has been denounced for violating Timor, even Indonesian legal procedures by interna- Aliran, Penang MALAYSIAN NGO’S tionally known groups like Amnesty Inter- AWAM (All Women’s Action Society), CHALLENGE SUHARTO VISIT national and the International Commission CCM (Council of Churches of Malaysia), of Jurists in Australia. Xanana Gusmão has COAC (Centre for Orang Asli Concerns), Malaysian NGOs/Opposition Parties been kept incommunicado since the Court DAP (Democratic Action Party) Call for Immediate Resolution on East passed its sentence of life imprisonment on IPK (Institute for Community Education), Timor during President Suharto’s Offi- 21 May; and no one, not even the Interna- JUST, cial Visit to Malaysia. tional Committee of Red Cross has been National Civil Rights Committee, Media Release, July 19 given proper access to him. Similarly, Resis- PACOS (Partners of Community Organisa- tance Leader Mau Hunu has been kept in tions) The effects of the current situation in isolation since his capture last April. PAN (Pesticide Action Network, Asia Pa- East Timor has spread beyond merely the One month ago, the International Com- cific) East Timorese and the Indonesians; and has mission for Red Cross (ICRC) was finally Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor also had a strongly negative bearing on all of forced to suspend its visits to prisoners PRM (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) us in ASEAN. On the occasion of President because of obstacles placed in its way by Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Suharto’s visit to Malaysia starting 16th the Indonesian military, despite “assur- Selangor graduates Society July 1993, we the NGOs and Opposition ances” from President Suharto that its work SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia) Parties in Malaysia wish to express our in East Timor would not be impeded. WDC (Women’s Development Collective) gravest concern about the continuing viola- Two weeks ago the plight of East tion of fundamental human rights of the East Timorese youth made headlines all over the Timorese. We call for the immediate resolu- world again as 7 persecuted students at- tion of this tragic and protracted regional tempted to seek the protection and assis- problem. tance of two foreign Embassies in Jakarta to For 18 years since the 1975 invasion by leave Indonesia. They still have not been the Indonesians, the people of East Timor able to leave. Page 144 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

EAST TIMOR HIGH ON despite the conflict over human rights, or institution who might be able to provide the EC and the six ASEAN countries have funding or technical assistance, and who AGENDA IN EC-ASEAN TALKS still developed close trade relations. accord- might also have ideas for publishing some of by bob mantiri ing to EC statistics, trade between the two them. They suggest possibilities might in- regions amounts to more than 50 billion clude a pictorial history or illustrations for a Brussels, July 23 (ips) - human rights dollars, about twice the level of five years series of native language primers, possibly will be high on the agenda when top Euro- ago and about three times the level in 1980 many other uses. They have sent a video to pean community (EC) officials meet south- when an EC-ASEAN cooperation agreement Dr. Roxana Waterson of the Sociology De- east Asian foreign ministers for talks due to was signed. partment at the National University of Sin- begin in Singapore on Sunday, EC officials more recent figures show that ASEAN gapore showing about a quarter of the slides. said here on Friday. enjoys a remarkable trade surplus. in 1992, They are clearly a valuable record. If anyone the talks are to be attended by foreign it reached some 3.72 billion dollars, three can help, please contact Steve and Lee ministers from all six association of south times the 1987 surplus. Snow, 38 Roslyn Terrace, Devonport, east Asian nations (ASEAN) countries – the EC ranks third among ASEAN’s Auckland 9, New Zealand. Tel: (09) 445 Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Sin- trade partners, after japan and the united 0174 or 445 1655. gapore and the Philippines. states. a total 15.4 percent of ASEAN ex- the EC is to be represented by its current ports go to the EC and 17.2 percent of ART WITH TIMOR president Belgian foreign minister Willy ASEAN imports are from the EC. Claes, external affairs commissioner Hans EC investments in ASEAN continued to Green Left #106, July 14, 1993 van den Broek and the commissioner in grow during the 1980s, but, as investments Reviewed by Deb Sorensen charge of development cooperation, Manuel from other sources grew rapidly, the EC’s Marin. share then declined, except in Singapore. PAINTINGS BY SEBASTIAN SILVA one of the main reasons delaying the for- most of the EC’s investments in ASEAN Beaufort Hotel Complex, Darwin, June malisation of a new economic and trade countries are in oil- related activities, chemi- 25-27. agreement between the ASEAN countries cals, pharmaceuticals, processed food, elec- Calm rural scenes of East Timor and local and the EC is because Portugal continues to trical and electronic products, car manufac- vistas were the subject matter for Sebastian protest against Indonesia’s violation of hu- ture and banking and finance. Silva’s debut Darwin exhibition. Dili peas- man rights in the former Portuguese colony development cooperation is also an im- ants are beautifully painted with a rich yet of East Timor. portant feature of the EC- ASEAN relation- sombre use of color and characteristic short Indonesia invaded East Timor shortly af- ship. however, the largest part of EC aid brush strokes. ter its independence from Portugal in 1975. will continue to finance bilateral projects, These paintings depicting people were, in human rights group amnesty international specifically designed to meet the needs of my opinion, the best works in this exhibi- estimates 210,000 out of an original popula- individual countries. tion. Painted from memories of a childhood tion of 650,000 have died under brutal Indo- in 1992 alone, the EC committed 216 mil- in Dili, they were more engrossing than his nesian rule since then. lion dollars in grants to ASEAN and its paintings of the Darwin area. forced colonization of the territory and member countries. While I did like these, they bordered on continued repression have kept East Timor Marin said ASEAN countries benefited being clichéed. However, Silva manages to in continued crisis and led to worldwide greatly from low tariffs in trade with capture a quality of light in his seascapes condemnation. Europe. “but it is two-way street. ASEAN which is a great skill in any artist. but while the EC has made the granting of has to reciprocate.” According to the exhibition’s program, development aid conditional on respect for before going to Singapore, Marin is due Silva aims to focus attention on the lives of human rights, such a condition has been to visit Bangladesh. his talks with the Ben- his native country people through his paint- challenged by the ASEAN countries in a 30- gali government will focus particularly on a ings. His belief in the right of the East point declaration issued at their meeting in recent agreement between the EC and Bang- Timorese to self- determination and a peace- Bangkok, Thailand, in march. ladesh on a cooperation strategy for 1993- ful co-existence comes through in his work. the declaration said the ASEAN countries 96. the democratization process in Bangla- The exhibition as a whole was quite impres- would “discourage any attempt to use hu- desh since the country’s first democratic sive and I feel that Silva has a promising man rights” as a condition for providing elections in 1991 will also be discussed. future. development aid and reiterated the “interde- Bangladesh is the second largest benefici- Some of the work exhibited is for sale. pendence and indivisibility of economic, ary of EC aid in Asia after India. an agree- For more information contact Sebastian social, cultural, civil and political rights.” ment on a development project which would Silva on (089) 278 586. it also said there was an “inherent inter- relationship” between development, democ- racy, universal enjoyment of human rights RESOURCES AVAILABLE MISCELLANEOUS and social justice, which needed to be ad- dressed in “an integrated and balanced man- ARTICLES ner.” SLIDES ON EAST TIMOR a spokesperson for the Belgian foreign AVAILABLE ministry said that, in talks with Indonesian IMAGINING EAST TIMOR officials, Claes would raise the issue of East Steve and Lee Snow have a collection of By Benedict Anderson. Timor. nearly 1000 color slides taken by Steve in Arena Magazine No.4, April - May 1993 Belgium, which has categorically con- 1972 which document many aspects of East demned the violations of human rights in Timorese culture at that time. They seek Why has Indonesia’s attempt to absorb East Timor, has already frozen its develop- help to preserve and archive this collection, East Timor failed? And how does one ex- ment aid to Indonesia. and would like to contact any person, group plain the very rapid development of East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 145

Timorese nationalism since 1975? Benedict lot of the latter in Eastern Europe and I was talking recently with a very intelligent Anderson, author of Imagined Communities, suspect that more is going to occur in the East Timorese about his conversations with argues that Indonesia cannot imagine the future in other regions, in a kind of general East Timorese students in Indonesian uni- East Timorese as Indonesians. Their rela- scaling back of the national imagination - an versities. There are at least a couple of thou- tions with them are those of colonizer and inability to move towards inclusiveness and sand such students. Many of them drop colonized, producing East Timorese nation- genuine incorporation. In the specific case of out, partly as a result of language problems, alism as Dutch colonialism once produced Indonesia, one needs to ask how the military but mainly because of what they experience Indonesian nationalism. leadership in Jakarta thinks about territory as an intolerable social climate. He told me and peoples which they have determined to that what really enrages East Timorese stu- I want to ask two quite concrete ques- be ‘Indonesian.’ Clearly, the great difficulty dents is that they are always being told how tions which nevertheless involve a certain has been to persuade themselves that the ungrateful they are. ‘Look at all we have common theoretical problematic. The first East Timorese ‘really’ are Indonesians. If done for you! Where is your gratitude?’ is question is: Why has Indonesia’s attempt to they were, there would be only the simple what they hear day in day out from deans, absorb East Timor failed? Was the failure task of scraping away a kind of superficial professors, fellow students, and so forth. Is inevitable or did something happen between strangeness attributable to Portuguese colo- it likely that in the heyday of Indonesian 1975 and 1990 which could have been nization, revealing a ‘natural Indonesian- nationalism people ran around the country avoided? What is the nature of the mistakes ness’ underneath. telling fellow Indonesians whom they were that were made, if there were indeed mis- Indonesian nationalism self-consciously enlisting to the nationalist cause that they takes made? The second question is in some sees itself as incorporating or covering many should be ‘grateful.’ Even in the 1950s when ways the reverse: How does one explain the different ethnic-linguistic groups and many Indonesia was shaken by many regionalist very rapid spread and development of different religious cultures, precisely those revolts, the accusation of ingratitude never Timorese nationalism? For me this second agglomerated over centuries into the Nether- emerged. The accusation then on all sides question is very serious. My theoretical lands East Indies. The commonality of ‘In- was typically that of ‘betrayal’ of a com- writings on nationalism have focused on the donesia’ is fundamentally one of historical mon historical project. By contrast, ‘ingrati- importance of the spread of print and its experience and mythology. On the one hand, tude’ was a typical accusation by Dutch relationship to capitalism, yet in East Timor there is the conception of centuries of strug- colonial officials against ‘native’ national- there has been very little capitalism, and gle against Dutch colonialism. On the other, ism: ‘Look at all we have done for you, illiteracy was widespread. Moreover, East there is the myth, powerful but also poten- down there, in terms of security, education, Timor is ethnically very complicated, with tially divisive, of grand pre-colonial states, economic development, civilization.’ The many different language groups. What was it most notably that of Majapatit in the four- language is that of the superior and civilized then that made it possible to ‘think East teenth and fifteenth centuries. The Majapa- towards the inferior and barbarous. It is not Timor’? tit ‘empire’ has the advantage that its ill- very far from racism, and reveals a profound The first question came to me while I defined extent can be read to include the incapacity to ‘incorporate’ the East was in Portugal in May 1992. Among my whole of Timor, as well as regions today Timorese, an unacknowledged feeling that Portuguese colleagues a discussion was go- solidly part of Malaysia and Singapore. Yet they are really, basically, foreign. ing on about the memoir of General Costa it has the great disadvantage that it is closely One could argue this stance is evidenced Gomez. He was one of the key players in identified with just one of Indonesia’s ethnic by the extremist methods of rule that were the Portuguese governments of 1974-76, at groups, the Javanese. Hence state leaders used in East Timor after the invasion of the time of the collapse of the Portuguese have been very cautious about using it as a 1975. The vast scale of the violence de- empire, and one of those most responsible prime basis for the historical identity of ployed, the use of aerial bombardments, the for decision making with regard to East modern Indonesia. napalming of villages, the systematic herding Timor. In his memoir, he said that he and his For Jakarta, therefore, the question is of people into resettlement centres leading friends thought East Timor would be like how to recompose the national people nar- to the terrible starvation famines of 1977- Goa - that it would be peacefully and easily rative so as to incorporate the East 80, have no real counterparts in Indonesian absorbed into big Indonesia, just as little Timorese. It cannot be done in terms of government policy towards, as it were, ‘real Goa was absorbed into big India. He argued resistance to Dutch imperialism. Nor can it Indonesians.’ They seem more like policies that if only Jakarta hadn’t been so brutal, if be done in terms of the solid historical con- for enemies than for national siblings. It is the Indonesian Army hadn’t been so op- nections and contacts with the rest of the true that there was massive violence in the pressive and exploitative, there would be no archipelago, for one of the peculiar charac- anti-communist campaign of 1965-66. Yet East Timor problem today. Hence, the trag- teristics of Portuguese colonialism was that the bulk of that violence was local in charac- edy of East Timor was neither his fault nor it kept East Timor extremely isolated, ex- ter, fueled by the panic of millions of people that of the Portuguese Government. East cept for links between Portugal, Macau, about what was going to happen to them- Timor could easily have been a happy, vi- Mozambique, Angola and Goa. The obvious selves, their families, and so forth, ‘if Com- brant, participating part of Indonesia. Yet alternative to a historicized nationalism is of munism prevailed.’ It had its cold, planned Costa Gomez’s account in the end doesn’t course, a biological-ethnic essentialism. In elements certainly, but nothing comparable help us very much, since it does not explain principle Jakarta could say: ‘After all, we to the coldness and the plannedness of the the brutality and the exploitativeness of the have the same physical features, our lan- ravaging of East Timor, which reminds me Indonesian occupation. guages are connected, our original cultures very much of the horrific depredation of Here we are faced with a question which were identical.’ But this line of argument is Leopold’s ‘spectral agents’ in Conrad’s relates not only to Indonesia, but engages tricky, for it leads to claims, unacceptable Heart of Darkness. Conrad made the point the whole problematic of how nations imag- today, to the Philippines and Malaysia. that for these agents all civilized rules were ine themselves in the late twentieth century I think the result has been a deep inabil- abandoned in ‘Africa.’ There atrocities they and what the real possibilities are for na- ity to imagine East Timor as Indonesian. would never get away with back home in tions growing in size rather than breaking up And if you can’t imagine the East Timorese Belgium were permissible. into smaller pieces. We have been seeing a as really and truly ‘brothers,’ what then? I Page 146 East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993.

It is true, of course, that East Timor movement did not appear until the very end leaders of the 1970s one did find, quite of- posed very special problems for Jakarta. A of the nineteenth century or the beginning of ten, a kind of unsureness of identity, and a substantial part of the population had long the twentieth. Its rise was clearly tied to the resentful attachment to things Portuguese. been Catholicized. Furthermore, because of decisions of the Dutch colonialists to start East Timor was as real a place, but was Portugal’s membership of NATO, the East educating people, particularly in Dutch, to there then a real ‘Easttimorese’ community Timorese resistance had better weapons and the spread of the modern mass media, to for which they were the natural leaders? My military training, at the start, than any pre- massive ‘development’ projects, and to the sense is that in 1974-75 true East Timor vious local opposition to Jakarta. It put up growth of a professionalized secret police nationalism was still quite thin on the a very stiff fight, and many thousands of and intelligence apparatus. For the first ground; perhaps only a small percentage of Indonesian troops were wounded or killed in time, after 1900, natives were aware of the population could then really imagine the the struggle, stimulating a strong battle-zone themselves. People were targets of a sys- future nation-state of East Timor. atmosphere in the territory. On the other tematic and centralized security apparatus. Since 1975 this situation has changed hand, the war has gone on now for seven- They were now conscious of being sub- dramatically. The question is why, given the teen years - longer than any war Jakarta has jected to a single developmental project, and virtual absence of print- capitalism, and the conducted. This has meant that East Timor of having in common, in the minds of their still substantial illiteracy? In a recent inter- has been crucial in the careers of Indonesian rulers, their ineradicable ‘nativeness.’ They view with Editor, a major Jakarta magazine, military officers in a unique way. Most of came to understand, through the Dutch lan- General Syafei, the East Timor military the most successful and ambitious officers guage imposed on them in new schools, the commander, said something very revealing. have fought in East Timor, and their promo- very idea of colonialism as a system, and the Describing the intensive measures that were tions have depended in part on their success modern means to emancipate themselves taken to head off the Lusitania, the ship that in conducting merciless repression and con- from it. Why did the Indonesian Govern- tried to go to Dili from Darwin with a group trol. ment not see that Education-Repression- of students and reporters aboard, he noted The Indonesian Government has been Development in East Timor followed ex- that the ship itself was not dangerous, but unable to incorporate East Timor imagina- actly the logic of earlier Dutch policies, and said that if it managed to anchor in Dili har- tively, in the broader, popular sense. I have that their failure was ‘foretold’ by Indone- bour, ‘it could be that I would be facing been very struck over the years by the ex- sia’s own modern birth? 120,000 inhabitants of the city of Dili,’ and traordinary degree to which East Timor has I now want to turn to the question of ‘under the circumstances I could not guaran- been shut off, not merely from the outside why East Timor has become so nationalist tee that there would not be an explosion of world, but also from the rest of Indonesia. so quickly. The answers here are much less the masses.’ This language is completely Until fairly recently, ordinary Indonesians clear. Begin with the name itself: ‘East new. Never before has the Army talked could not go to this official part of their own Timor.’ It is an expression which comes about ‘explosions of the masses’ in East country without special permission. News- from the Mercatorian map, on which a pen- Timor or that it faced ‘120,000 people in paper coverage of East Timor was excep- ciled administrative line divides Timor in Dili.’ For years it has claimed that only a tionally meagre, and even less truthful than half. How did this ‘aerial’ demarcation be- few dozen diehard opponents existed deep the media coverage of other parts of Indone- come so real a reality that it is possible for in the mountainous interior. Syafei’s state- sia. It was thus possible for many Indone- young people in Dili to think it is perfectly ment is precisely that of a colonial power sians not to think about East Timor very normal to call themselves ‘Easttimorese,’ as suddenly aware of its impending demise. It much at all, let alone know about it. Hence it if these two words were one, no longer im- is just like the Dutch recognition in 1946 has never been successfully attached to mediately pointing to ‘West Timor.’ In the that Indonesia had changed completely since popular nationalist feeling. This ‘void’ is video of the Dili massacre the kids’ placards 1940 when their power had seemed impreg- very striking if you compare it to the trou- show slogans like ‘Viva Timorleste’ - all one nable. bled province of Irian, where Jakarta has for word. The origins of this new consciousness We here return to the ironical logic of co- years been battling quasi-nationalist resis- certainly derive in part from a bureaucratic lonialism. If you look at the official tance. I now have staying with me the son imagining which long pre-dates the invention speeches about East Timor, you will never of a friend of mine, a nineteen-year-old boy, of nationalism. It parallels the way in which find Suharto or the generals talking about its who has just finished high school in West (as I have argued in chapter nine of the new people as anything but ‘East Timorese,’ Java. He can barely recall the name of a edition of my Imagined Communities) the even though there are at least thirty ethnic single East Timorese, but he knows those of Irianese were imagined or came into being, or tribal groups in the region. In the same Irianese football players and journalists, and only perhaps in the last thirty years. Yet way, the Jakarta regime never talks about is a great fan of Ade, the popular transves- ‘mapped imagination’ is not a sufficient Asmat or Dhani, but always about Irianese. tite Irianese TV comedian. Irian has an explanation. This exactly parallels the late colonial Neth- imaginative presence in Indonesia. No mat- What about social formation? If one erlands East Indies, where the colonized ter how badly treated Irianese may actually looks at the situation up to 1974-75, one knew they were all ‘natives’ together in be in Irian itself, for Indonesians as a whole finds a typically Iberian colonial social or- their rulers’ eyes, no matter what island, they are part of ‘us.’ der. Underneath the Portuguese ruling stra- ethnicity or religion they belonged to. A One last question to raise before turning tum were, by rank, wealthy, apolitical Chi- profound sense of commonality emerged to East Timorese nationalism itself again nese, the then mestizos of mixed African, from the gaze of the colonial state. Indone- relates to the problem of imagination. Did Arab, Portuguese and local ancestries, and a sian power is infinitely more penetrating, the Indonesian military leaders ever consider plethora of ‘native’ ethnolinguist communi- infinitely more widespread, than Portuguese the possibility that they were replaying, in ties. One might expect to emerge from such colonial power ever was. It is there in the reverse, the final trajectory of the colonial a social order something like what one finds smallest villages, and is represented by hun- relationship between themselves and the in the Philippines: leaders with an ambigu- dreds of military posts and a huge intelli- Dutch? The Dutch have been in the archi- ous political consciousness, very much gence apparatus. Thus the consciousness of pelago since the start of the seventeenth aware of their mixed ancestries and external being East Timorese has spread rapidly century, but a recognizable nationalist ties. Indeed, among the older East Timorese since 1975 precisely because of the state’s East Timor Documents, Volume 23. June 8 - July 31, 1993. Page 147 expansion, new schools and development the East Timorese young but it is one of the preservation of their distinct identities in projects also being part of this. important languages of access to modern some form of independence involves funda- One of the main projects of the Suharto life. Indonesian/Tetun corresponds in 1990 mental human rights. The Bosnian Muslims state has been to ‘develop’ Indonesia. This to Dutch/Indonesian in 1920. may derive a little comfort from the fact that necessarily involves a certain kind of defini- Thinking about nationalism at the end of they are assured of some semblance of inde- tion of what it means to be a real Indone- this century, we may have to think more pendence, enabling them to shape their own sian. Part of this definition has emerged about situations like East Timor, where lives free of foreign dominance. from the anti-Communist massacres of nationalist projects can turn into ‘colonial’ For the Timorese, however, the future is 1965-66, which were understood in part as a projects, thereby contributing to the frag- much more bleak. Thanks to the support fight against atheism. Hence today every mentation of the post Second World War Indonesia has long received in the UN from Indonesian has to have a proper book- new states that were inherited from Euro- countries like Australia, and those very religion. Here the Indonesian state finds pean dominion in the late nineteenth and Islamic states who have condemned the itself caught in a strange bind. In 1975, a early twentieth centuries. latest Bosnia agreement, the East Timorese majority of East Timorese were still ani- Benedict Anderson teaches Indonesian poli- cannot even hope for such a settlement en- mists. Making them ‘Indonesian’ meant tics at Cornell University. He is author of visaging independent status. ‘raising’ them from animism to having a Imagined Communities: Reflections on the The treatment of Gusmão, who had for proper religion, which given existing realities Origins of Nationalism. This article is based many years tried to negotiation a settlement meant Catholicism. At the same time the on a lecture at Monash University in 1992. with the Indonesian leadership, was a re- state was perfectly aware of the dangers of minder to the Timorese that to contemplate the spread of Catholicism, particularly since Arena Magazine is published six times a the kind of separate existence accorded to Rome insisted on dealing directly with East year by: Arena Printing and Publishing Pty virtually all other former colonies as a mat- Timor, bypassing the conformist Indonesian Ltd 35 Argyle Street, Fitzroy, 3065, Austra- ter of right is, in Indonesian eyes, a crime Catholic hierarchy. So the Indonesian regime lia. Email: [email protected]. against the state. And the weak response found itself both wanting and distrusting The material in Arena Magazine is copy- from Senator Gareth Evans to the sentence Catholicism’s spread. In the last seventeen right. Permission is given to republish arti- was yet another shameful example of this years, the Catholic population of the terri- cles, in either electronic or paper form, so country’s indifference to the stubborn re- tory has more than doubled in size. In East long as: (1) it is for non-profit purposes; (2) fusal of the majority of the Timorese people Timor, everyone is aware that if you are a that the text of all work remains intact (in- to accept colonial bondage - a stand pas- member of the Catholic Church, you enjoy cluding this copyright notice); and (3) notifi- sionately and defiantly expressed by Gus- protection according to the state’s own cation is sent to Arena Publishing, either by mão in his statement to the Indonesian logic; at the same time a popular Catholi- snail or email. Applications from commer- court. cism has emerged as an expression of a cial publishers will be considered. Such deals as the Bosnians and the common suffering, just as it did in nine- Timorese have had imposed on them could teenth-century Ireland. This Catholic com- THE FAULTLINE IN JUSTICE ultimately be counter-productive . Solutions monality in some sense substitutes for the LINKING TIMOR TO BOSNIA based on narrow self-interest rather then kind of nationalism I have talked about social justice arouse the kind of bitterness elsewhere, which comes from print- The Age, 27th May 1993 By James Dunn and frustration that will ensure the continua- capitalism. Moreover, the decision of the Edited by: John Messer tion of ethnic disharmony, violence and Catholic hierarchy in East Timor to use The angry reaction of the Muslim world oppression. Tetun, not Indonesian, as the language of the to the latest proposed Bosnian settlement is James Dunn, Moruya, NSW Church, has had profoundly nationalizing understandable and serves our sympathy. The writer is a foreign affairs columnist who effects. It has raised Tetun from being a Despite the good intentions of the negotia- has written for The Bulletin and is currently local language or lingua franca in parts of tors, the latest accord is yet another dubious writing for the Illawarra Mercury (Fairfax). East Timor to becoming, for the first time, deal favoring those with the numbers and He served as a diplomat and has been in the language of ‘East Timorese’ religion and the guns. In effect, it will legitimize Serbian both Bosnia and Timor. For more than 10 identity. “ethnic cleansing” and illegal territorial gains, years he was foreign affairs adviser to the But there is a further colonial irony at dispossessing thousands of Bosnian Mus- Federal Parliament. He is currently a mem- work. For young Indonesian intellectuals at lims of their homes and their livelihood. ber of the international preparatory commit- the turn of the century, the language of the However, before Islamic governments tee for the Fourth World Congress on Hu- colonizer, Dutch, was the language through embark on a furious campaign against the man Rights, which is to be held in Sweden in which it became possible to communicate West, they might well ponder over another June 1994. He is author of Timor: A People across the colony, and to understand the real situation, over very near to Australia, where Betrayed. condition of the country. It was also the their support helped achieve an even worse language of access to modernity and the result for a people with a legitimate claim to world beyond the colony. For one genera- self-determination and independence. I refer tion at least, Dutch performed the abso- to the seizure of East Timor, which is again lutely essential function of getting natives in the news, thanks to the harsh sentence out of the prisons of local ethnic languages. imposed last Friday on Xanana Gusmão, the In the same way, the spread of Indonesian resistance leader. in the Jakarta-sponsored school system has Bosnia and Timor are very different created a new generation of young Timorese countries, but there are some interesting who are quite fluent in Indonesian, and who, similarities. The cultural characters of both through Indonesian, have found access to communities were fashioned by shifts in the the world beyond Indonesia. Indonesian is fortunes of past imperial powers, and the not the language of internal solidarity among