acfoa EVELOMENT DOSSIER 1

AST TIMOR TODAY . . lished four times a year and provides •>:, "·. · Development Domer is pub . or theme per issue to make up an in-depth treatment of one topic ACFOA a document of ready reference value. . . a·d agencies Parliamentarians, The dossier is directed at v?lun~~Y ~hoots and members of . DEVELOPMENT people in government, un1vers1t1~, ~ development action and community groups. . . Opinions expressed in DD are not necessarily those ~f the Aust· DOSSIER 1 ral ian Council for Overseas Aid or its member agencies. , Editor this issue: Pat Walsh Layout and design: Gay Woods and Pat Walsh P.O. Box 1562 Original drawings: Chris Murphy Canberra City, ACT 2601 Typesetting: Alpha Typesetting & Art Service, Canberra Phone : (062) 47 4822 Printing and circulation: ACFOA Registered for posting as a Periodical - Category B Development Dossier incorporates Development News Digest which has now ceased publication. ISSN 0155-0489

Contents

Editorial ...... 3 East Timor at a glance 5 A brief chronological history of East Timor 6 ACFOA policy on East Timor 1975-1979 7 The NGO's and East Timor ...... 8 The United Nations and East Timor 15 The Politics of Aid to East Timor .. 16 East Timor: How many have died? ... 22 . , Timorese Family Reunions : Politics before people . . 26 Children without parents ...... 31 -, .. .· ...... · ·-:." Timorese Refugees in Portugal: A Community in Mourning. 32 .,. Australian Military Aid to Indonesia ...... 37 An Indonesian Perspective on East Timor. . . 41

Interview with Jim Dunn: The East Timor issue today . 43

East Timor: a multi-media survey 1975-1980 ...... 47

Notes on Contributors

Jim Dunn 1s Chairman of the Human Rights Council of Australia Helen Hill is doing research at the Centre for Continuil')~ :'~ .' .... Education in Canberra . .. Jill Jolliffe 1s the Lisbon correspondent for the London Guardian . .. Brendan O'Dwyer is E xtensic'li ~·,·~ --;f Officer for the Centre of Continuing Education in Canberra . . . II/lark Raper is the Director of the Asian Bureau Australia ;•;\ .. · · Melbourne .. . Richard Tanter is lecturing in Politics at the Swinburne College of Advanced Education in Melbourne .. , Bitl Tully is a librarian at the Australian National Library in Canberra .. . Pat Walsh works with Action for World Development in. . Melbourne.

Glossary of Terms ACFOA - Australian Council for Overseas Aid APODETI - Popular Democratic Association of Timorese CRS - Catholic Relief Services DRET - Democratic Republic of East Timor FRETILIN - Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor ICRC - International Committee of the Red Cross IDEC - International Disaster Emergencies Committee I RC - Indonesian Red Cross NGO - Non-Government Organisation RAFT - Campaign to Reunite in Australia the Families of Timorese UDT - Timorese Democratic Union Editorial LIBRARY by Pat Walsh

Because East Timo• is only rarely placement o t tht peoµ1 e. the destruc· T1morese d1gn1tY and 11 app1ness is a mentioned ,n t he Australian merna . t1on of the ~co11omy . abuses of properly supervised act of self­ many wrongly assume 1t 1s no longer human rights. se paration of families . determ inat1o n the pre-req u1 s1 te for an issue that requires attention a severely traumatised and demoral· which 1s Indonesia's withdrawal from Nothing could be turther from the 1sed people, and aid hand-outs. East Timar. But they will re ject the truth. It is 1nd1sputable that the cause of proposition as sheer idealism argu­ This first edition of Devetoprnenr this profound destabilisation of East ing that the Indonesian occupation Dossier aims to correct this talse 1rn · Timar has been the violence of lndo· makes 1t un realisable. Overlooking its pression by identifying and back· nes1a 's forced 1ntegrat1on. As the strenuous efforts to secure the release of the American hostages grounding some of •he problems International Red Cross put 1t after fr om Iran , the wi thdrawal of the affecting the East Timorese people their July 1979 survey : " military Soviets from Afghanistan and Viet· inside and outside East Timar. It is operations" are responsible tor the nam from Kampuchea . the Austral· particularly directed to all who sub· displacement of people and tne1r ian Government. for example , scribe to the sacredness of human Biafra like condition. Plainly the East considers - tor its own pragmatic rights. Even a cursory reading of this Timorese have not benefited from reasons - that.efforts to achi eve self· Dossier will show that the situation ·integration. It has meant oppres· determination tor East Timar are of the Timor-ese demands that action sion not liberation, misery not hope. "pointless (and) incapable tor for justice must be escalated not As a letter sent from Timar in April practical 1mplementat1on " wound down . this year put .1t : " A discontent which Such a stance subverts the widely is difficult to explain now re igns in This Dossier will be scrutinised, applied principle of diplomatic and Timar .. . we are oppressed to the and rightly so, for unhealthy bias. other non-violent activity as a means very tips of the hair on our heads" . er.ror and omission. The conspicuous o! realising change. It also flies in Indonesia 1s not only 1n breach of omission is the lack of an in-depth the face of history which clearly coverage of the key issue, namely. international law and morality and demonstrates. 1n the case of lndo· the military and political situation in­ the will of the Timorese ; it has also, nesia itself and elsewhere . that inter­ side Timar today. Indonesia's syste­ in plain language, made a t.:!rnble national pressure tor change does matic exclusion of independent ob­ mess of things in Timar. It follows work . servers from East Timor, which in logically and inescapably that it There can be little doubt that itself. suggests that an abnormal situ­ should withdraw from the Territory Indonesia would be forced to re­ ation prevails there which lndonesi~ tor the sake of the Timorese. consider its Position if serious prefers the world did not know , From this perspective it is simply political and other forms of pres­ about, is responsible for this. The not enough to reduce the East sure were brought to bear. Are the evidence that is available, however. Timor, internationally, to an aid pro­ 62 countries who voted against Indo­ strongly suggests that the situation is blem. Nor is it enough for the ICRC nesia at the UN doing more than far from resolved, that the Timorese inside Timar to dispense material aid putting their hands up for. a vote continue to offer significant military without justice. once a year7 What are the possibilit­ and attitudinal resistance to the For its part the Catholic Relief Services program is highly ambig­ ies of more assertive action on the Indonesian occupation. As a recent part of other Governments, the Church report expressed it: "The uous. The fact that CRS aid is coming through I ndones.ian channels world aid agencies. the international people are not co-operative, not Christian community - in particular reconciliatory", Overseas Timorese and is being used tor the mainte­ nance of structures of oppression the Vatican - not to mention the concur and continue to press the case many concerned individuals and for the right of self-determination of places the Timorese in a terrible dilemma. The aid is accepted with organisations in the West and within Timor where, unlike Zimbabwe, 1t lnc.Jo nes1a 1TselP has never been exercised. mixed feelings , for whilst survival The bias in this Dossier is readily dictates they must have 1t , at the The right of the East Timorese detectable. Its perspective is that of same time it comes to them , on the to se 1f-determ1nat1on must remain the East Timorese people. Their ground, from the Indonesians whom the basic quest for 1t holds the key to needs and aspirations are the princip­ they see as the murderers of thei r the many problems affecting the al reference point even though this families and the destroyers of their Timorese addressed in this Dossier. means the exclusion of other refer­ ways and legitimate aspirations. As In the meantime the struggle to re­ ence points based on less worthy has been said in another context: unite families and redress the other considerations. "The sour fact is that much of what sub-i ssues must be writ-large on the The needs of the East Timorese goes for aid is like a handshake with agenda of the world's conscience. are clearly peace, justice and econ­ death. The death of freedom , or To these ends, 1t is to be hoped that omic development. The reality is dignity. of self-respect and. ultimat· the contents of this Dossier will be one-sixth to one-third of the popul­ ely , of the right to ilve· ·. given the widest possible circul­ ation dead or missing, massive dis- Many will agree that the key to ation and popularisation. 3 Ataur~~/) EAST TIMOR Isl._)Maumeta CJ ,Jaao Is . Lur. o • 0 • . • v LOS PALOS Dl~ro Lacl o Laleia emasse 0 Quelicai. •Baguia Remexio. Venilale"

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-----~ TIS Map GEOGRAPHY

Timar is a rugged, crocodile-shaped island of great beauty situated 350 miles NW of Darwin across the Timar East Timor Sea. It is the largest of the Lesser Sunda islands. East Timar comprises the eastern half of Timar, plus the off­ shore islands of Atauro and Jaco and the enclave of at a glance Oecusse in West Timar. It is comparable in size and popul­ ation to Fiji. The 150 m'l length of East Timar is dominat­ ed by tumbled mountains rising in places to 10,000 ft. The drier north coast is lined by swamps and cliffs, while the southern coast consists of an undulating plain which extends inland. The vegetation varies between savannah and rainforest. The climate is tropical with the usual hot, dry season with temperatures constant at 80-90°F and the THE PEOPLE monsoon when the rivers flood and the roads are unus­ The population in 1974 before the civil war and able. Only one harvest is possible on the north coast, Indonesian invasion was approximately 680,000. A large where the dry season is the longest in South-East Asia, proportion of these were concentrated in a band from but the November-June wet season on the south makes either side of Dili, the capital, to the south coast, con- · two harvests possible there. Erosion and deforestation are trasting with the sparsely-populated eastern region. All significant problems. but 16,000 of these were indigenous Timorese, the latter group consisting mainly of Chinese (10,000) and P'lrtugu­ ese. Most of the people were animist but there wer~ also some 200,000 Roman Catholics and small groups of Protestants, Muslims and Confucianists. East Timor has been a racial meeting-point populated by successive waves of migrants, predominantly Malay and Melanesian. These migrations occurred many centuries ago so that a dis­ tinct Timorese culture existed well before European colonisation. Portuguese, Arab, Chinese and African elements, in varying proportions and with varying impacts, have been added since. Traditional Timor was divided into small kingdoms ruled by tribal chiefs or liurai . Of the 30 dialects spoken in Timor, Tetum is the most widely used. Viability is not necessarily dependent on size; some 30 UN member­ states have populations of less than one million.

THE ECONOMY ' East Timor, though potentially rich, has never been developed and consequently the country and the bulk of the people are poor. Pre-1975, most of the people surviv­ ed on subsistence agriculture supplemented by food­ gathering and hunting (deer, pig). Corn and rice were the staple crops, but tapioca, potatoes, peppers and pumpkins were also grown plus some citrus and tropical fruits. Slash and burn techniques were common and the soil was pre­ pared with digging sticks or by trampling with water buffalo. A small export and retail sector existed alongside this peasant economy. Coffee, and some rubber and tobacco were grown and exported. The Chinese and a small number of Portuguese dominated this sector. Only 200- 300 shops were in the hands of the Timorese. The Portuguese 'escudo' served as the unit of currency. To a large proportion of the population the yearly tax was a crippling burden and the many who could not pay were forced to work it off, generally on the roads. Generally speaking, agricultural production was extremely low despite its potential and industry virtually non~xistent, contributing to a chronic trade imbalance. 5 A Brief Chronological History of East Timar

1520 Portuguese traders arrive in Timor. 1976, Sept. 1400 refugees evacuated from West Timor to Po rtugal. 1702 Fifty years of rebellion against Portugu- ese rule. 1976, Nov. 17 UN General Assembly (61-18) rejects Indonesian takeover of Timor. 1904 Dutch and Portuguese Governments finalise boundaries between East and 1976, Nov. 19 Reports that widespread fighting con- West Timor. tinues in East Timor, that Fretilirt controls 85 per cent of the territory, 1912 Large-scale rebellion against Portuguese that 60,000 people have died. rule. US Congressional Hearings hear alleg- 1926 Salazar assumes power in Portugal. 1977, March ations of Indonesian atrocities in East 1941 Australian troops despatched to neutral Timor from Jim Dunn. Timor to fight the Japanese. 1977, April Timorese in Australia nominate 2668 1949 Indonesia (including West Timor) wins relatives for admission from East Timor. independence from the Netherlands. 1977, Sept. Xavier do Amaral replaced as President 1974, April Military coup in Lisbon against Caetano of DRET regime; decolonisation process com- menced; ASDT (later Fretilin), UDT 1977, Dec. 1 UN General Assembly (68-20) calls on and Apodeti parties form in East Timor. Indonesia to withdraw from East Timor. 1974, Sept. Whitlam tells Suharto independent East 1978, Jan. Australia extends de facto recognition Timor unviable and threat to regional to Indonesia's takeover of East Timor. security but should decide its own 1978, May Reports of intensified fighting. future. 1978, Sept. Foreign Ambassadors, shocked by visit 1975, Jan. UDT and Fretilin enter into a pro- to East Timor, call for urgent human- independence coalition. itarian aid. 197'5, August UDT coup and civil war resulting in 1978, Dec. 3 Fretilin radio link with outside world some 3000 deaths, the displacement of ceases. refugees to Australia and West Timor, 1978, Dec. 6 UN General Assembly asserts East and Fretilin victory. Timor's right to self-determination. 1975, Sept. International Red Cross and ACFOA 1978, Dec. 31 Death of Nicolau Lobato, President of work in Timor. DRET. 1975, October Five Australian newsmen killed at 1978, Xmas First and only visit of Australian im- Balibo during Indonesian incursions into migration team to Di!i. East Timar. 99 Timorese arrive in Australia from 1975, Nov. 28 Fretilin declares independence and pro· 1979, Jan. East Timor. claims the Democratic Republic of East T1mor. 1979, Sept. Conference of Non·Aligned Countries in 1975,Dec.6 Ford and Kissinger complete visit to Cuba supports right to independence of Jakarta. East Timor. 1979, Oct. ICRC says humanitarian situation in 1975, Dec. 7 Full-scale Indonesian invasion launched. East Tim or "as bad as Biafra". ICRC 1975, Dec. 12 UN General Assembly (69-11) calls on and CRS commence 6-month emer- Indonesia to withdraw from East Timor. gency programs. Australian journalist, Australia supports the resolution. US Peter Rodgers, smuggles out rare photos abstains. of suffering East Timorese. 1976, Jan. UN Special Representative, Winspeare 1979, Nov . UN General Assembly asserts East Guicciardi, is frustrated in his attempts Timor's right to self-determination. to visit Fretilin-controlled areas of East Australian aid agencies and Australian Timor. Red Cross launch separate appeals for 1976, April Australia presses for ICRC to be re- East Timar. admitted to Timar. 1980, Jan-April Diplomatic and some military resistance 1976, May-July lndonesian~onducted 'process of inte- to Indonesia continues. gration' of East Timor as 27th province Family reunion program stalls. of Indonesia is rejected by both Aust- ralia and US. ICRC and CRS programs extended. 6 ACFOA Policy On East Timor 1975 -1979

Aid to East Tim or until Indonesia withdraws from ET. Aug 1975 Council calls for Australian Government Oct 1976 Executive calls on AG to cease any military (AG) to provide aid to East Timor (ET). aid to Indonesia usable in ET. Oct 1975 ACFOA Timor Task Force visits ET. Oct 1975 Timor Relief Appeal begun. $160,000 raised IV Family Reunions Nov 1975 ACFOA barge arrives Dili. Indonesian in- Oct 1976 Executive calls on Indonesia to allow free vasion in December halts further ship­ reunion of ET families in p1lace of their ments. choice. Dec 1975 Executive calls for ICRC and other agencies Jun 1976 Executive supports Timorese Association for to be admitted to ET. Permanent Residence. Sends delegation Apr 1976 Executive calls for ICRC and other agencies to Foreign Affairs re family reunions. to be admitted to ET. Oct 1976 Counci I criticises AG for performance on Oct 1976 Executive cal Is for aid agencies to be admit­ family reunions. ted to ET. Oct 1979 Council calls for AG Immigration Team to Feb 1977 Executive calls for UN, ICRC and other aid visit Dili and for AG to allow rest of 2668 agencies to be admitted to ET. nominated in 1977 to come. Sep 1977 Counci I calls for aid agencies to be admitted to ET. V Refugees Jul 1979 Executive adopts AWD report Aid and East Dec 1975 Executive calls on AG to help establish .. Tim or. neutral zone in ET for refugees and relief Oct 1979 Council calls on AG to increase support to distribution, and to bring refugees to ICAC in ET, and to seek to broaden Australia. ICAC programme to include prisons, Feb 1977 Executive hears report from Jim Dunn of family reunion, tracing, and Geneva visit to camps in Portugal. conventions. Calls for international assess­ Oct 1978 Council calls on AG to grant "refugee status" ment of situation in ET. Refers crisis in to Timorese in Portugal and admit them ET to IDEC. to Australia. Calls on AG to relax criteria covering admission from ET because of II Independence and right to self-determination of war there. Calls on AG to pressurise East Timor Indonesia to permit free emigration from Aug 1975 Council calls on AG to uphold "principle of ET. independence of choice of people of Portuguese East Timar" and to oppose VI ~l!iscellaneous external interference. Aug 1975 Council calls on AG to re-open Consulate Dec 1975 Executive condemns Indonesian invasion; in Dili. calls on AG to do likewise and to support Oct 1976 Executive calls on AG to allow reasonable UN efforts to uphold principle of in­ communication between ET and outside dependence. world. Jul 1976 Executive calls on AG to reject Indonesian process of integration. States military aggression in defiance of UN charter and VII Commission of Enquiry into East Timor resolutions. Jun 1977 Executive establishes three-person enquiry Oct 1976 Executive deplores continued Indonesian into East Timar situation, especially aid military intervention and resulting suffer­ and refugees. ing. Calls on AG to support ET right to Sep 1977 Council advised Commission to comprise self-determination at UN. Calls on Port­ John Traill OC, Joyce Shewcroft, Major­ uguese Government to continue with­ General Paul Cullen (later replaced by holding recognition of integration. Prof. Ken Rivett. Oct 1978 Council supports UN resolution of Nov Feb 1978 Executive requests interim report. 1977. Calls on AG not to grant 'de iure' Aug 1978 Executive approval for Commission to visit recognition to takeover. Rejects military Darwin/Indonesia. invasion as way of claiming new terri­ Oct 1978 Council requests final report and recom­ tory. mendations by end of 1978. Oct 1979 Council directs Executive to publicise ET Mar 1979 Executive requires report within one month. situation in Australia Calls on AG to Jul 1979 Executive establishes July 31, 1979 as report cancel President Suharto's visit until deadline. human rights restored In ET. Oct 1979 Council requests Commission chairman to , return documents to ACFOA for it to Ill ~ilitary Aid to Indonesia produce report. Dec 1975 Executive commends AG for suspending Apr 1980 Final Commission report under discussion delivery of two Nomads to Indonesia. between ACFOA Timar sub-committee Calls for suspension of all military aid and Commissioners.

7 The NGO's and East Timor

by Helen Hill

Contrary to the expectations of some critics, Australian Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) - with only one or two exceptions - have not at any stage reduced East Timor to a simple aid problem. This article traces the unique, sometimes passionate, involvement of the NGOs in the broad struggle of the East Timorese for justice and proposes that the basis for this is not just geography but a 'correspondence of values'.

newspaper National U on July 22 overseas aid field and within Aust­ First contact and support 1968. At that time scarcely anyone ralia. It caused some of them to see in Australia knew that the Portugu­ their work in Australia informing ese colony of Timar existed. Among public opinion as being as important Indonesian troops have now been those who did know of Timar were a as supporting projects overseas. It occupying the town of Dili for over group of former Australian com­ made them look more closely at the four years and the whole territory of mandos who had fought there during causes of poverty and not just its East Timar has been out of bounds the second world war, the survi.-ors effects and caused some members to for that time for all but a few special­ of the 2/2 and 2/4 independent com­ question who aid was being sent to ly selected journalists and inter­ panies. In 1971 they planned a re­ and for what. For example values national aid personnel. Most of the turn visit which eventuated in 1973. which began to be more strongly member agencies of ACFOA have They visited again the mountainous emphasised were self-reliance, local been frustrated in their attempts to country where in 1942-43 they had control, appropriate technology and get aid programmes going under fought a guerilla war against the peoples participation in development Indonesian rule; a stark contrast to Japanese for 18 months with the planning including the participation thieir high hopes during the period support of Timorese while the Port· of women. Capital iritensive projects immediately before the Indonesian uguese administration had officially heavily reliant on continued foreign invasion. Not surprisingly this inabil­ remained neutral. Many of those funding were criticised. Within Aust­ ity to get aid into East Timor has led former Australian commandos form­ ralia to some people it meant adopt­ member agencies to take an increas­ ed some firm friendships with Timor­ ing alternative lifestyles, for others ingly critical stand towards both the ese during that return visit and some change of the formal education sys­ Indonesian and Australian govern­ of them were later to become active tem, for most invo.ived in ACFOA ments. There are those who would in Australia in trying to ensure a it meant campaigning politically in argue that this critical stance is the better future for their wartime allies. support of people oppressed by reason for the Indonesian govern­ In the early 1970s Portugal's racism, colonialism, or sexism in ment not allowing any of the aid African colonies were somewhat addition to giving material assistance. agencies into the disputed territory. better known in Australia than the The time when many of these ideas Before explaining why I think this one on our doorstep. Both Liberal came together for the first time was view is wrong I shall spend some time and Labor governments had support­ the January 1973 ACFOA Develop­ looking at why so many of the volun­ ed UN resolutions calling on Portu­ ment Education Conference. tary aid agencies in Australia have gal to allow self-determination for its I well remember being present at taken a stand on East Timor which is colonies and the student and church that conference. During it we heard so strongly opposed to that of the wings of the anti-apartheid move­ the news of the death of Amilcar government and which has brought ment had given support to the World Cabral, leader of the PAIGC in them into such opposition to the Council of Churches' Programme to Guinea-Bissau. For rnany partici­ government of Indonesia. Combat Racism which included pants it was the first t ime they had It is not generally realised how far financial grants to the anti-colonial heard of him, yet with the assistance back the involvement of some of movements FRELIMO in Mozambi­ of a number of African students a ACFOA's member agencies in the que and RAIGC in Guinea-Bissau. good discussion of Portuguese Colon­ Timar question goes. For example in At this time also ACFOA was begin­ ialism took place. However I don't 1968 the National Union of Aust­ ning to place a great deal of empha­ recall any discussion of Portuguese ralian University Students (now the sis on 'Development Education', Timar; that had to wait a few Australian Union of Students) com­ which for many of the agencies months until May 15 when an article missioned a report on Portuguese meant a fundamental re-examination appeared on the front page of the Timar which was published in its of what t hey we1e doing both in the Australian Financial Review alleging 8 that Australian companies BHP and and to try to enlist further support TAA could be breaking UN resol­ for Tirnorese independence. Because utions, which the Australian gov­ of the way things were going in ernment had supported, by being Africa ASDT, which later became economically involved in a Portugu­ FRETILIN, envisaged trying to get ese colony, Timar. The same article support from Indonesia and Aust­ pointed out that TAA was flying ralia to help them gain independence Portuguese troops to Dili. Some days from Portugal, not, as has turned out later a number of ACFOA member to be the case, asking Portugal for agencies, in particular Action for assistance in gaining independence World Development and World from Indonesia. The model of the University Service, issued statements European groups in solidarity with calling for the cutting of all econo­ the liberation movements in the mic ties with the Portuguese colony Portuguese African colonies was very of East Timar. The issue of Portugu­ much in the minds of the FR ETI LIN ese colonialism came more promin­ that Indonesia had more political leaders in those early days. These ently to the fore later that year when prisoners than any other country in movements, particularly in Holland, the visit of a 40-member delegation the world and when former Indo­ Sweden, Denmark, Norway and from the Portuguese Export Promo­ nesian political prisoner Carmel Britain and often with financial tion Board was scheduled. Following Budiardjo visited Australia in early assistance from Social Democratic strong condemnation of the tour by 1974 some information was leaked governments and Churches, had pro­ some Catholic Bishops the Australian to her that the Australian army had vided extensive medical, educational, government forbade the Department been training Indonesian officers in and agricultural assistance to the of Overseas Trade to have any deal­ interrogation techniques at Woodside movements which were, by 1974 ings with the delegation but did not in South Australia. This became the administering large areas of terri­ cancel the tour_ subject of an ABC Four Corners tory which they had liberated mili­ Inside Timar the underground programme which the Minister did tarily from the Portuguese. When it group of Timorese opposed to Port­ not deny, saying it was 'for tactical was discovered that the left in Aust­ uguese rule heard news of all these purposes only' and sparking off a ralia had no such experience events on Radio Australia but did huge debate about Australian re­ FR ETI LIN turned to some of the not have any contacts in Australia as lations with Indonesia not only in voluntary aid agencies in ACFOA. they were too afraid of the power of the aid agencies but in polii:cal part­ Given 400 years of Portuguese the Portuguese secret police and of ies, churches, trade unions and the neglect the needs of East Timar for being deported to another colony media. This debate was still raging development aid were pressing. In which was the penalty for involve­ when the Armed Forces Movement early 1975 most people in FRETIL­ ment in politics. Thus before any of coup in Portugal overthrew the IN believed that independence could them had met a single Timorese and Caetano regime and brought the pro­ come about in a peaceful manner, before any political parties had been mise of change to East Timar. the main needs being to reform agri­ formed in East Timar, a number of culture, increase educational provis­ ion massively, decolonise the admin­ NGOs had a position in support of Fretilin expectations independence, or at least self-determ­ istrative structure, begin some small ination, for the East Timorese. Indo­ industries related to primary pro­ nesia's policy, enunciated in April The first political party to be ducts produced in Timar e.g. coffee 1972 by Adam Malik, was that if formed in Portuguese Timar follow­ processing, and take over from the there was a liberation movement in ing the coup was the Social Demo­ Portuguese the teases for oil explor­ Portuguese Timar Indonesia would cratic Association. A number t1f its ation which had been let to Aust­ support it, if the indigenous people members had been in the clandes­ ralian, US and French companies. wished this. tine anti-colonial movement includ­ They expected the Portuguese to ing Jose Ramos Horta, who made a complete some major capital works Another set of concerns which visit to Jakarta in mid-1974 with the e.g. road building and bridge repair arose out of the emphasis on intention of gaining support for the before finally leaving. The FRE­ Development Education was increas­ independence of East Timar from TI LIN leaders envisaged Tirnorese ed discussion of the development the Indonesian government. The students corning to Australia for strategy being pursued by the Suhar­ letter he received from Adam Malik higher and technical training, instead to government in Indonesia. This is promising that 'whoever will govern of studying in Portugal and on the strategy which Herb Feith, in an in Timar in the future after in­ Ramos Horta's first visit to Can ­ article in a special issue of Develop­ dependence, can be assured that the berra he sought advice on how to ment News Digest devoted to Indo­ Government of Indonesia will always lobby the Australian government for nesia in May 1973 referred to as the strive to maintain good relations, scholarships. 'World Bank style of development' friendship and co-operation for the FRETILIN was not the only party with its assumptions that wealth in benefit of both countries' is well in East Timar to send delegations to the cities would 'trickle-down' to the known. He hoped to obtain a similar Australia and Indonesia. The UDT, a rural areas. Particularly those who one from Australian authorities. party which initially wished to stay had worked in Indonesia seemed to On his first visit to the southern with Portugal but which later opted doubt that this strategy was approp­ states of Australia Ramos Horta went for independence also sent members riate and there were other worries first to the office of Action for to ' Australia where they made about Indonesia too. In 1973 World Development to thank them contact with the RSL and some of Amnesty International published for the statements AWD had made in the former commandos who had extensive documentation showing 1973 against Portuguese colonialism fought the Japanese in Timar during 9 the Second World War . ing for ways to practically give help courage self-reliance . APODETI , the party which was for to the process of decolonisation in I think what impressed members integration with Indonesia also had East Timar and to ensure that the of Action for World Development its contacts in Australia. Timorese could exercise the right to and CAA about FRETILIN was that self-determ in at ion which most of its members were not simply content them believed in. As time went by Enter Indonesia to put reliance in political power by the only way to do this was by work· campaigning for the elections which ing with FRETILIN. By late 1974 interest was mount· the Portuguese were organising, in ing in various circles in East Timar. addition they seemed to be making The meeting in Jogjakarta in Sept­ The Fretilin Programme a start on some of the tasks, e.g. ember 1974 at which President organising co-operatives, setting up Suharto and Prime Minister Whitlam John Birch, NSW Committee adult literacy classes which would agreed that 'an independent Timar member of Community Aid Abroad be required to transform the eco­ would be an unviable state and a who accompanied the Trade Union nomy from a colonial one. In many potential threat to the region' cer­ and Student delegation to East ways FRETILIN embodied those tainly galvanised a few people into Timar in March 1975, told an inter­ values which these particular agen­ action, in Australia as well as in viewer for the Sydney University cies strove for. Their requests were Timar. In Sydney a Campaign for an students newspaper Honi Soit in modest, their aspirations were for an Independent East Timar was formed April 1975: economy based on agriculture, use of with support coming mainly from "FR ETI LIN is the party that is appropriate technology, meeting the Trade Unions and the Peace extending its interests and its influ­ basic needs, 'conscientisation' type Movement. It planned to send a ence into the outer villages and into educational projects, preventive med­ delegation to East Timor in 1975. the mountains . The other parties icine and rural health care, a tourist In Melbourne Action for World are staying very much in the main industry based on local resources Development held meetings with like centres. FRETILIN is the party and opposition to domination of the minded organisations on East Timar which has gone out to spread itself economy by foreign multi-nationals. and the Australian Union of Stu· right out over the island and the As East Timar was a small country dents sent Grant Evans to Timor to party which, I think, is closest to with a population of only 650,000 write and take photos for a booklet the aspirations of the Timorese people, with a reasonable level of on the subject. people . . . They certainly see agri· foreign exchange from coffee and oil, One day in mid-February 1975 culture as their main problem - the many of the people in Australian the front pages of all the dailies in need to expand agricultural pro­ voluntary aid agencies saw a bright Australia had lead stories announc­ duction. They see education as future for it, so long as its indepen­ ing that Indonesia was about to being a problem and FRETILIN has dence and security could be guar­ launch an armed invasion of Portugu­ begun adult literacy programmes anteed. ese Timor. While the origin of these using Paulo Freire's methods ir the It would be wrong however to headlines is somewhat obscure they villages of Baucau. At present they suggest that most of the ACFOA changed the nature of the debate see their main problem as to obtain member agencies were pro-FRETIL­ about East Ti mar. Support for the their independence, their national IN; they were not. Most took no political stand at all in relation to East Timor until after August 6, Support for the independence of East Timar ceased to be just a 1975 when the UDT launched a coup question of supporting an independence movement struggling against the Portuguese administration sparking off a civil war in which against Portuguese colonialism; it became an issue in Australian­ FR ETI LIN was victorious. The 1975 Indonesian relations ... Australian policy was on the way to a ACFOA Annual Council, meeting major clash with Australian public opinion. just 1 7 days after the coup, when refugees were streaming into Darwin, carried a resolution calling on the independence of East Timar ceased sovereignty." Australian government to express its to be just a question of supporting I well remember some discussions support for the principle of 'indep­ an independence movement struggl­ in Timar between John and some of endence of choice' for the people of ing against Portuguese colonialism; it the members of FRETILIN 's agri­ East Timor, and opposition to ex­ became an issue in Australian-Indo­ cultural committee. They hoped to ternal influence on the territory. In nesian relations. The following day, import trdctors to pull ploughs and addition the government was request­ as I interviewed a representative of bring under cultivation some of the ed to offer facilities to mediate in the Australian Foreign Affairs De­ vast uncultivated lands. John Birch the conflict, to re-establish its con­ partment in Dili, I sensed that Aust­ pointed to the large number of sulate in Dili and, on the restoration ralian policy was on the wav. to a buffaloes which were wading around of normality, to provide develop­ major clash with Australian public in the paddy fields stirring up the ment assistance. This was the first opinion. The government's aim was wet soil, and suggested that if they public statement by ACFOA on the to help give legitimacy to anything were harnessed to ploughs this would question of self-determination for the Indonesians may wish to do in avoid the need to import tractors East Timar. It was supported by all Timar, while at the same time trying and save a great deal of fuel which those present with the exception of to deter them from doing it too would also need to be imported. the Australian Red Cross Society. violently. The NGOs, on the other They seemed quite impressed by this While falling short of FRETILIN's hand, including many ACFOA mem­ suggestion and tried to work out policy of independence it was not ber agencies, were increasingly look- other innovations which would en- welcomed by the Australian gov- 10 ernment and none of the requests appoint an investigating team to go to find a market for that year s crop were carried out. immediately to East Tima r to su rvey of coffee. Their report included a both the urgent and the long-term detailed assessment of the political Aid Agencies in Timor, 1975 needs of the territ ory and to make situation in East Timor and a study recommendations as to the possible of FRETILIN's policies in the areas role of Australian voluntary agencies. of agriculture, health, education and The first aid agency into East The team consisted of Mark Raper of the long-term economic development Timar after the civil war was not an the Jesuits' Asian Bureau Australia, of the territory. ACFOA member but a newly created John Mavor of the Australian Three members of the team pre­ organisation calling itself ASIAT, Council of Churches, Neill O'Sullivan sented their report at a second Australian Society for lnterCountry of CAA and Jim Dunn, a former ACFOA Timor consultation on Oct­ Aid - Timar. Sydney pediatrician Australian Consul in Portuguese ober 30. The fourth member, Jim John Whitehall, who founded ASIAT Timar. The four flew into Dili on Dunn, stayed in Timar monitoring together with Michael Darby, manag­ October 16 and travelled extensive­ the political situation there. A Timor ed to land on the beach in Dili by ly throughout East Timar over the Relief Appeal was launched that day means of a fishing boat chartered by next couple of weeks, meeting a by a number of agencies. However Channel 9 journalist Gerald Stone great variety of people including the the needs of the Timorese were being and press magnate Kerry Packer. FRETILIN central committee, the overshadowed at that time by an­ Gerald Stone has described in The Timorese Women's Organisation, the other disturbing event, the disappear­ Bulletin September 8 , 1975 some of Economic Commission headed by ance of two television teams from the difficulties they had avoiding the country's only trained eco no­ Australia somewhere near the border the transport blockade which the mist Dr Jose Gonzalves, the Cath­ with Indonesian Timor. At the Australian government was trying to olic Bishop Jose Ribe iro and the launching of the Timor Relief appeal impose in Darwin. Although some of Portuguese Governor Lemon Pires Mark Raper told an Age reporter tht the ACFOA member agencies were at (who by that t ime had retreated to he had heard Francisco Lopez da first a little wary of ASIAT, partly the offshore island of Atauro) . Cruz of the UDT speaking on Radio for its unorthodox methods and also Kupang from within Indonesian because its founder, Michael Darby, territory, telling the Timorese listen­ was best known for his right wing ers 'We killed the Australian com­ politics, FR ETI LIN was full of munist journalists and we'll kill any praise for its medical work and later others that come along'. A tape of some of its doctors co-operated with this broadcast was given to the Aust­ FRETI LIN in training health work­ ralian Department of Foreign Affairs ers. but so far they have never publicly The day after Dr Whitehall began acknowledged Indonesia's responsi­ work in the Dili hospital a dele­ bility for the deaths. Indeed this gation of the International Commit­ event has had a major effect on the tee of the Red Cross arrived to carry attitude of all journalists to the Indo­ out emergency treatment of war nesian and Australian governments. victims, set up a tracing service for Not only are journalists aggrieved people to find relatives lost in the that their colleagues were shot in war and to visit prisoners of war cold blood under Indonesian orders being held by FRETILIN troops. On but the fact that they could never September 26 at a consultation in The main conclusions reached by report this in daily newspapers due Melbourne convened by ACFOA on the team were that "the two greatest to the Australian government's D 'Timar and Australian NGO's' repre­ humanitarian needs at that time were notice system has angered them con­ sentatives of both ASIAT and ICRC the restoration of peace in the vicin­ siderably. For as Laurie Oakes wrote reported on their activities. In ad­ ity of the Indonesian border and the in the February 1978 issue of the dition the meeting heard a report urgent need to reduce the threat of Australian Journalists Association from a Parliamentary delegation widespread bloodshed that would paper, the Journalist: "Indonesian consisting of Ken Fry and Senators result from a full-scale attack on East messages were intercepted by the Arthur Gietzelt and Neville Bonner Timar." They recommended long­ Defence Signals Division (now the who had been into Timor since the term assistance to agriculture, health Defence Signals Directorate) within coup and civi I war. All reported that care and education and drew up a hours of the attack on Balibo. The there had been much less killing than 'shoppi ng list' for immediate dis­ messages reported that the newsmen was believed, that the territory was patch including goods such as grain, had been killed by Indonesian troops in a relatively peaceful state and that milk powder, medical supplies, and their bodies burnt." FR ETI LIN-held prisoners were being caustic soda (for soap manufacture), treated in a reasonable manner, pend­ textiles to be made into clothing ing the return of the Portuguese by members of the Womens Organ­ Timor Relief Appeal administration to bring them to trial. isation, seeds for immediate plant­ ASIA Twas carrying out some long­ ing and petrol to enable the distri­ The Timor Relief Appeal backed term pediatric health care work as bution of these goods to regional by the Australian Council of Church­ the emergency receded. centres. In addition they requested es, Australian Catholic Relief, Aust­ The consultation urged ACFOA three Australian technicians in the care, the Freedom from Hunger to set up a 'Task force' on East fields of general agriculture, animal Campaign and Community Aid Timor and this was done at the Oct­ husbandry and d iesel engineering to Abroad raised about $160,000. On ober 3 executive meeting. The first volunteer for two-year assign ments. N_~>Vember 12 a barge, the Alanna action of the Task Force was to The team also agreed to make efforts Fay, left Darwin loaded with the 11 goods which the invest igating team ed in an account 1n the Da rwin had requested. There was however branch of t he Commonwealth Bank Indonesia severs the links some problem with the fuel for dis­ to be used to import food and other tribution. The Australian govern­ necessities as required by the T1mor­ As is well known the Indonesian ment was arguing that to export pet· ese administration. army launched its military attack on rol to East Timar at t hat time could All visitors to East Timor at this Dili in the early hours of December be construed by the Indones1an time commented on the enthusias­ 7. In Darwin a number of journalists government as military support for tic, if inexperienced, way in which and aid people heard the voice of FR ETI LI N, so they d id not allow FRETILIN was tackling the develop­ Alarico Fernandes, secretary of the full amount to be taken. Mark ment problems of the territory. FRETILIN coming across the Red Raper and CAA member Bob how they d id not appear to be using Cross Radio: Richards accompanied the Alanna aid as a political weapon nor to be "The situation in Dili is worsen­ Fay and on arrival in Dili met up concerned only with feeding their ing. Indonesian forces are executing with the members of the indepen­ dent foundation which had been set up to oversee emergency relief. This consisted of a representative of the Unfortunately for the Timorese that request (for aid) has not to FRETILIN Economic Commission, a this day been able to be responded to. But the aid agencies have not representative of the Bishop of Dili stopped trying in their aim to do what they think will enable the together with a representative of Timorese people to achieve self-determination and development. ACFOA. Australian journalist Jill Jolliffe described in ONO No. 15 how she accompanied a consignment of rice to Maubisse in an ancient truck. own members. Neil O'Sullivan of people. all children and Chinese. "As the truck swung into the vil ­ CAA went as far as saying in an in ­ Request immediate aid. They took lage square our hearts sunk - we terview on his return from Timor civilian refugees from Churches and were greeted by about one thousand that he thought FR ETI LI N's de­ executed them. FR ETI LIN forces are whooping Maubisse people and our velopment policies in East Timor had still fighting and controlling two­ concern for an orderly distribution a greater chance of success than thirds of Dili. Enemy forces are still looked ill -fated. It was however, those of any other country in South supported by warships and war merely a typically passionate Timar East Asia. But general enthusiasm planes. An urgent evacuation of welcome and the machinery of local for the events in East Timar by some women and children is badly needed. government was swiftly activated. Australian voluntary agencies was We are running out of food and med­ Members of the regional sub-com­ tempered by fear for the worsening icine. Please give us assistance as mittee (mainly young school teach­ political situation. On 28 Novem­ quickly as possible. Our position will ers) set up desks at various points ber FRETILIN gave up waiting for be pointed as soon as we get your around the square and called names the Portuguese to return and negot­ reply." from revised census lists ... Villag­ iate and independence was declared Unfortunately for the Timorese ers came up to the scales bearing unilaterally. The International that request has not to this day been plastic bags, blankets, and even Committee of the Red Cross was still able to be responded to. But the aid battered straw hats to collect their trying to get a guarantee of respect agencies have not stopped trying in kilo of rice. Afterwards they per­ for their neutrality from the Indo­ their aim to do what they think will formed lovely spontaneous Maubisse nesian Government. When the ICRC enable the Timorese people to songs and dances in the square, team had arrived in August they had achieve self-determination and celebrating the coming of the rice." received such a guarantee from both development. the parties to the civil war, FRETIL­ In her book, East Timor: Nation­ IN and UDT. In November the ICRQ On the evening of December 7 in alism and Colonialism, Jill describes decided that guarantees were neces­ Melbourne 300 people packed a how also at Maubisse the ground had sary from four parties, FRETILIN, small hall and listened to David Scott already been dug to plant the seed UDT, APODETI and Indonesia. of CAA, one of the last Australians which arrived as part of the ACFOA FR ETI l 1N was the only party from in Timar, accuse the Australian Gov­ consignment and how the Womens which they could get such a guaran­ ernment of conniving with the Indo­ Organisation was running a creche tee. The UDT and APODETI repre­ nesian Government to make sure all and an aged intirmarian running a sentatives could not be contacted, foreign observers were out of Timor 'medical school' in the evenings at and Indonesia refused. Without a before the invasion. He also accused which he imparted his knowledge of recognised neutral zone from which them of criminal neglect for failing health care. This was a period in to operate in the case of a war they to try and negotiate a neutral zone which members of the ACFOA agen­ would have to evacuate. According for ICRC. An Australia-East Timor cies worked closely with the to Jill Jolliffe, who was in East Associatiol") was formed with Bill FRETI LIN administration and also Timor at the time, the absence of a Roberts of AWD as President. $1000 with Church leaders, nuns and priests neutral zone was the determining was raised that night to help send in East Timar, for the Catholic factor which made most Australians David Scott to the UN to lobby in Church was very strong in the terri­ in Timor, who were mainly journal­ support of Timorese independence. tory. When the Alanna Fay left Dili ists and aid workers, decide to leave At an ACFOA executive meeting it had on board a cargo of coffee on December 2. Only one Australian just one week after the full-scale which FR ETI LIN had managed to journalist, Roger East, stayed behind Indonesian invasion of East Timor process and sell to a Sydney buyer in order to report events to the the ACFOA executive called on the for $40,000. The money was deposit- outside world. Australian Government to help 12 establish a neutral zone for refugees where he interviewed Timorese port of the Timorese Committee for and relief distribution in East Timar, refugees in camps in Lisbon. Two Permanent Residence in Melbourne to call on all parties to observe the striking aspects of his findings were, by paying the salary of its organiser, Geneva conventions, to insist that firstly the extremely violent events Joao Gonclaves, ACFOA and some the International Committee of the of the invasion which he reconstruct­ of its agencies have become in­ Red Cross be allowed to return ed with the help of eye-witnesses, volved with helping Timorese circum­ to East Timar immediately and to and second the appalling conditions vent the legal and bureaucratic diffi­ offer facilities to enable refugees to in which Timorese were living in culties entailed in bringing out rela­ be brought to Australia. No reaction Portugal. Not officially refugees be­ tives from Portugal or Timar. It is to these requests was forthcoming cause of their Portuguese citizenship interesting to note that many of from the Australian Government. many of these people had applied to these Timorese were not FRETILIN The frustration of the aid agencies in be reunited with family members in supporters in Timar, but are none­ not being able to continue their work Australia. A number of ACFOA theless resolutely opposed to the in East Timar was expressed in the agencies have taken up this question Indonesian invasion. One of them, second resolution of the executive: of family reunions as a way of help­ Fr Francisco Fernandes from Perth "Recognising the obstruction of ing the Timorese community. has recently been to the United aid programmes to East Timar Others have taken up the inter­ Nations to take part in the debate national legal aspect e.g. the Inter­ before the general assembly. through Indonesian intransigence, ACFOA, along with other organ- the Executive of ACFOA commends national Commission of Jurists Aust­ ralian branch. John Dowd, of the isations such as the Campaign for an the Australian Government's action Independent East Tim or, Trade in suspending the delivery of two NSW branch has been raising the issue in a number of international Unions, the Labor Party and other Nomad aircraft to Indonesia. We call political bodies has consistently cam­ for the further suspension of all mili­ fora including the UN General Assembly . The events in Timar have paigned against the Australian recog­ tary aid to Indonesia until such time nition of Indonesian sovereignty over as Indonesia has ceased its present also caused ACFOA itself to look East Timar. This action, while some intervention in East Timar." more closely at Australia's military people may regard it as out of place This was the first time ACFOA aid. In its submission to the Harries for an aid agency is seen by all who had called for the suspension of mili­ Committee ACFOA included a large support it as a logical outcome of the tary aid to any country. The resol­ section on military aid and still has earlier work in East Timar of ution was supported by all but two the policy that military aid to Indo­ ACFOA and its member agencies. executive members and received con­ nesia should be withdrawn as long as For example it was during the siderable press coverage. military activities are going on in East Timar. ACFOA Summer School in Hobart in January 1978 that the government Support continued The voluntary agencies have con­ tinued to press for the return of the announced its de facto recognition of International Committee of the Red Indonesian sovereignty over East The period of close working to­ Cross to East Timar, to carry out all Timar. The conference was inter­ gether with FRETILIN and other aspects of its work as in August rupted while all but 10 of the 400 Timorese by the aid agencies meant 1975. The Australian Government participants took part in a protest a great ·deal of frustration, anger and effectively dropped this demand rally organised by the local East sorrow for those involved when they from its policy when it gave financial Timar committee in central Hobart. could no longer communicate with aid to the Indonesian Red Cross in The participants of the Summer their colleagues inside East Timar. October 1976. ACFOA's most sign­ School sent a telegram to Malcolm Work on behalf of the East Timorese ificant action in this campaign was Fraser, signed by almost all of them after the invasion took a number of the publication in July 1979 of the pointing out their disagreement with this policy. One of the arguments given by the government for recogn­ ising Indonesian control was always The period of close working together with FRETILIN and other .that it would facilitate the entry of Timorese by the aid agencies meant a great deal of frustration emergency relief aid. Aid agencies anger and sorrow for those involved when they could no longe; are dubious about this argument as communicate with their colleagues inside East Timor. they have see>ri no sign on the part of the Indonesian Government to co­ operate with even the International Red Cross and until the whole of the forms. For several months when report Aid and East Timar which territory is opened up to outside there was the possibility that the gave evidence of aid given through observers, journallsts as well as aid blockade might be lifted there were 1.ndonesian Red Cross of being mis­ workers, they will not be satisfied plans to send shiploads of aid to var­ used and which increased the pres­ that they can work properly in East ious ports of East Timar. Groups sure on the Indonesian Government Timar as voluntary agencies should, planning to send ships ranged from to allow ICRC to return. giving the people inside the territory the Catholic Bishops to a group of Another avenue of work in ultimate control over how aid is dis­ Trade Unions. Two boats attempt­ support of the Timorese which the tributed and which aid is to come in. ed to leave from Darwin but were voluntary agencies have taken up and As long as Indonesia maintains its prevented from doing so by the which is extensively documented in claims over East Timar it is most un­ Australian navy. Another area of act­ this dossier is the work with the likely to let the Timorese run their ivity was that of human rights lobby­ Timorese community in Australia. own aid programmes and to collabor­ ing. This arose from Jim Dunn's They see their most pressing need ate directly with the donors in Aust­ visit to Portugal in January 1977 as family reunions. Through its sup- ralia. There is some difference of 13 opinion among the agencies on t his, radical group and fo r a t ime publish­ that ACFOA has reached a whole some are content to try and work ed extremist propaganda, incl uding a new public and come to the notice through channels in Indonesi a e.g. good deal attacking the Suharto of a number of audiences it would with their counter part organisations regime" . If he was referring to the not have, had it not become involved in that country such as Churches. Timar issue it could hardly be said in the Timor issue. For example in­ Others see this as acceding to the that most of those supporting self­ creased co-operation between aid Indonesian Government's vi ew that determination for East Timar within agencies and journalists has resulted East Timor is part of Indonesia and ACFOA were on the left. For to a large degree from contacts made would prefer to work directly with example Major General Cullen, an at the time of the Indonesian invas­ the Timorese and therefore hope to executive member of ACFOA, put ion of East Timer or immediately send their own representatives to his views strongly in the October before. The death of the six journal­ Timor. But at the present moment all 1977 issue of the Pacific Defence ists and the fact that journalists as agencies, regardless of what they Reporter; well as aid agencies are excluded have said on East Timor, have been "Is it not an attribute of right from East Timer has given some excluded. wing patriots to wish for Indepen­ journalists a new sense of identity dence and Peace - just as much as with the aid agencies and more Support broadly-based and left wing patriots. After all the world working relationships have evolved in united recognises that the Act of Free relation to other parts of the world Choice was not in the past indepen­ as well. An interesting question on the dently supervised by the United Finally Nancy Viviani also makes political aspect is, to what extent do Nations, indeed no real test of the point that opposition in the case the statements of t he leaders of t he Timorese wishes appears to have of Timar is confined to the Indo­ aid agencies represent the views of taken place, and therefore the right nesian Government and does not the members and public opinion in of Indonesia to impose its rule on generally spill over into anti-Indo­ general in Australia? Community Aid East Timor is neither final nor nesian hostility. She points out that Abroad, which has a more developed recognised as such by the majority of a distinction between the govern­ structure of membership than most members of the United Nations." ment and people of Indonesia is agencies, commissioned a study of its While the most vocal support for often clearly drawn by these groups own working in 1977 by Louise the independence of East Timor has and that no-one has suggested cutting Arnold of the Melbourne University come from FRETILIN supporters, off aid to Indonesia (apart from military aid). She also points out that it is motivated predominantly by It could hardly be said that most of those supporting self-determin­ concern for the rights of the Timor­ ation for East Timor within ACFOA were on the left. ese people, not opposition to the Suharto regime. I think this is a much more accurate view than that Social Work Depart ment. She found and those on the left, some of these of Professor Arndt who sees Aust­ that 76 per cent of CAA members have occasionally been surprised to ralian opposition to the Indonesian and supporters agreed that "the East find themselves joined in calls for Government's actions as some sort of Timorese have an inalienable right to Timorese self-determination by men racist anti-lndonesianism. Many of self-determination and independence with impeccable Liberal Party cre­ the people in the Trade Union move­ and must be permitted to exercise dentials, such as Richard Alston, ment who are active in support of this right freely"; 74 per cent agreed (current ACFOA Chairman and Pre­ the East Timorese will point out that that "unless Australia protests sident of the Victorian Liberal Party), it was those same Unions and in against Indonesian atrocit ies in East John Dowd, (of the Australian some cases those same individuals Ti mor, it can be seen as a nation Section of the International Commis­ who supported the Indonesian strug­ without honour, principle, or cour­ sion of Jurists and NSW Liberal State gle for independence against the age." The percentages of national MP) and Michael Hodgman, (Tasman­ Dutch. committee members and staff agree­ ian Federal Liberal backbencher). It is as well to remember some of ing with these statements were even Even further from the label 'left' are these events now as members of higher. those advocates of Timorese in­ ACFOA agencies work out new Political scientist Nancy Viviani, dependence associated with ASIAT strategies for their involvement with in the 1976 study "Australians and and with the journal Free Market the Timorese people. For as Jim the Timor Issue" published in such as Michael Darby, John White­ Dunn wrote in The Bulletin in Australian Outlook, makes the hall and Bill Bancroft. January 1980: observation that the groups opposed Another important aspect of "Is it really enough that we to the Indonesian invasion of public opinion on the Timar issue, should confine ourselves to a Band­ East Timor " illustrated one of the which Nancy Viviani points to, is Aid operation and forget the events enduring features of Australian opin­ that it has been more united on this of the past. It seems to me that this ion on Indonesian issues. They could issue than on any other concerned approach to the Timar problem is not be charged with party bias or with Indonesia. The six groupings too negative and that, in the long­ support ... and indeed t he group which she identifies are being part of term it will not help our relations represented a powerful alliance of this opinion, the Churches, the aid with Indonesia. Obviously the Indo­ those of right, left and centre per­ organisations, university people, the nesian authorities would like us to suasion in Australian politics." Trade Unions, journalists, and sec­ stop talking about the situation in Professor H.W. Arndt has claimed in tions of the Labor Party she claims East Timar. An obliging silence an article in t he December 1979 have intensified their co-operation on would earn their gratitude, but issue of Quadrant that ACFOA was the Timar issue as the dispute pro­ would it earn their respect?" O at one t ime "captured by a left-wing gressed. I ag ree with this and I think 14 The United Nations and East Timor

ON 21 NOVEMBER 1979, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION (34/40) ON EAST TIMOR:

'The General Assembly Recognising the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination and independence in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960. Bearing in mind the part of the Political Declaration adopted by the Sixth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana from 3 to 9 September 1979, relating to East Timor. Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the Territory. Having heard the statements by the representatives of Portugal, as the administering Power, and of Indonesia. Having also heard the statements by the petitioners, including the representative of the Frente Revolucionaria de Timor Leste Independent. 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of East Timor to self-determination and independence in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV). 2. Declares that the people of East Timor must be enabled freely to determine their own future, under the auspices of the United Nations; 3. Expresses its deepest concern at the suffering of the people of East Timor as a result of the situation now prevailing in the Territory; 4. Calls upon all parties concerned to facilitate the entry into the Territory of international relief aid in order to alleviate the suffering of tile people of East Timor; 5. Requests the United Nations Children's Fund and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to render, within their respective fields of competence, all possible assistance to the people of East Timor, particularly the children and those seeking to leave for another country for purposes of family reunion; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to follow the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-fifth session; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-fifth session, the item entitled 'Question of East Timor'.' Voting on the resolution was as follows; For 62; Against 31; Abstentions 45. In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Byelorussia Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Corigo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Demo­ cratic Yemen, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Sweden, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda. Ukraine, USSR, United Republic of Tanzania, Upper Volta, Vietnam, Zambia. Against: Australia, Bangladesh, Chile, Columbia, Egypt, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Oman, f>apua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Oatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Yemen, Zaire. Abstaining: Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burma, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Federal Republic of Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxem­ bourg, Mauritania, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Romania, Samoa, Spain, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Cameroon, Venezuela, Yugoslavia. Absent: Bulgaria, Comoros, Democratic Kampuchea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, German Democra­ tic Republic, Libya, Malta, Mauritius, Poland, Solomon Islands, Somalia.

15 The Politics Of Aid To East Timor

by Pat Walsh

The queue of aid organisations waiting to help m stricken East Timor is a long one. But only two have been allowed in - the International Red Cross and Catholic Relief Services of the United States. This article offers an account and evaluation of their programmes. It concludes that ICRC has been severely compromised in its East Timor programme and that CRS is playing a 'sub­ servient role' to the US and Indonesian governments.

ACFOA reported in July 1979 governments complied with these absence of any medical service". that East Timar was in the grip of a conditions. For example, two barge­ Abandoning the low-keyed language crisis of devastating proportions. loads of materials were sent from normally employed in ICRC reports, Drawing on information originating Darwin to Dili late 1978-early 1979 officials declared the situation facing inside East Timar, but unable to visit by the Australian government on them was "as bad as Biafra and the territory to make its own assess­ these terms, but World Vision potentially as serious as Kampuchea". ment, ACFOA alleged a mounting who contributed to one of these con· Photographs of hungry children death-toll due to continuing war. signments was forbidden even to taken in October at Laga by the malnutrition and disease, and a mas­ hand over its goods in Dili. No Australian reporter Peter Rodgers sive displacement of people into foreign agencies were to be admitted, and smuggled out of Indonesia for problem-ridden, Indonesian controll­ whatever the cost in lives and health publication in Australia and abroad ed camps. The Indonesian Red Cross, to the Timorese. graphically confirmed these analogies. the only permissible channel for over­ Late in 1979, however, the Indo­ In conjunction with Indonesian seas aid, was clearly not coping - nesian government moderated its Red Cross, ICRC began a relief oper­ despite Indonesian government asser­ hard-line and costly policy and two ation on October 19, 1979 directed tions to the contrary - and aid in­ international aid agencies, the Inter­ at the 60,000 "most destitute" in tended to relieve the suffering was national Committee of the Red eight centres. The programme did being misappropriated. Clearly a new Cross (ICRC) and Catholic Relief not, however, begin simultaneously, and large-scale aid programme was Services of the United States (CRS) in these places. Natorbora, for exam­ required to avert further disaster. were permitted to begin work in ple, did not begin receiving assistance The ACFOA report was not the East Tim or. Now that these agencies until November 15 and two months first time such a statement of con­ have been in Timar over six months elapsed before the programme got cern had been issued. Fretilin, the and will continue their programmes under way in Lura. The eight moun· United Nations, International Red for a further period - in the case of tain villages were Hatolia, Uatulari, Cross, the Australian and American ICRC another six months, and for Dilor, Fatubessi, Laclubar, Matar· governments, and ACFOA itself had CRS much longer - it is time some bura, lliomar and Luro most of made repeated calls since 1976 for account and evaluation of their work which "contain people who have aid agencies to be admitted to East was attempted. been chased from their homes in Timar. In September 1978 a number other parts of the islanct ~ '. The food of foreign ambassadors, ;ncluding and medical conditions of these those of Australia and the USA, visit­ The International Red Cross in East Timar people was "extremely alarming" ed East Timar and, appalled at what and the condition of some 20,000 of they saw, called for immediate inter­ these, some of whom were suffering national assistance. The ICRC was finally re-admitted from marasmus and would probably Indonesia, still not in firm enough to East Timar in 1979, over three die, was "calamitous". The ICRC military control of the situation and years after the Indonesian invasion in medical co-ordinator, Dr Pascal wishing to convey the impression December 1975 had forced it to Grelletty, stated that "he had rarely that all was 'normal' in Timar, re­ abandon the full range of works it been so distressed by what he had jected these appeals and insisted that had established there after the civil seen". it would accept aid only from sourc­ war earlier that year. ICRC surveys es which recognised its sovereignty in April and July 1979 confirmed the over East Timar and which agreed to worst tears carried in earlier reports. Logistics of ICRC Programme channel funds through the Indones­ ICRC officials found that "tens of ian Red Cross, the sole implementer thousands of people displaced by The ICRC estimated its six­ of aid in the territory (with the ex­ military operations were facing starv­ month rescue operation would re· ception of the sman programme ru n ation unless aid was brought to them quire some 4200 tons of basic food­ by the local Catholic Church). Some rapidly, a situation aggravated by the stuffs, 60,000 blankets, and quantit· 16 for the exclusion of foreigners 1s ies of soap and medicine. At the Leon Stubbings, reported that the closely tied up with its wish to con­ insistence of the Indonesian govern­ people were being kept "just above trol the flow of information to the ment, however, aid donated in kind starvation" by the Red Cross and outside world and to be seen by the to this programme had to go via that many thousands would fall vic­ East Timorese as their prime bene­ Jakarta, not direct to Dili. This in­ tim to starvation and disease if the factor and source of humanitarian credible co ndition was later partially Red Cross was to end its relief pro­ modified when it became known that gramme in the area. The recent aid. Of much greater importance, how­ emergency aid for Timar donated by announcement that the ICRC will ever, are the limitations 1n the scope Australia had been left sitting on the stay in Timar for a further six of the Red Cross programme. The docks in Jakarta for some six weeks months after April 15, the expiry agreement between ICRC and IRC due to a bureaucratic tangle. Once in date of its first programme, is further signed in Jakarta on June 19, 1979 Dili, aid was moved to three stor­ acknowledgment of the continuing speaks only of food and medical care age centres at Baucau, Ainaro and gravity of the situation. for newly displaced persons in a Maubisse. Transport to the inacces­ small number of centres. Why the sible interior was mainly by heli­ Serious limitations of !CRC Red Cross have been restricted to copter and accounted for 49 per cent Programme only eight centres is not clear. of the $7 million programme. Three ICRC personnel (a doctor, nurse and The Red Cross programme leaves relief specialist) worked with some much to be desired for it is seriously !CRC compromise 34 Indonesian Red Cross people who limited in a number of ways. On the ground the operation is mainly an included, by late January 1980, What is clear, however, is that Indonesian Red Cross (IR C) exer­ nine Indonesian doctors and 11 Indo­ other traditional ICRC works such as cise. Consistent with its earlier policy nesian male nurses all of whom resid­ prison visitation, tracing of missing of excluding foreigners from East ed in the villages. persons, monitoring of Geneva con­ To keep track of food distribu­ Timar, the Indonesian Government has allowed ICRC personnel only ventions and family reunions have tions and medical treatment a system been conspicuously excluded from of coloured cards was introduced. minimum involvement. The program­ me clearly depends on the quality this particular operation. By contrast About a third of the 60,000 receiving all these services were included in the weekly rations (yellow card). were and autonomy of the now 190 I RC · personnel in the various centres. ICRC programme some four years issued with a blue card entitling them earlier in 1975 when under the to extra food because of their ex­ It is too much to expect that Dr Pascal Grellety and Yvonne, his Fretilin administration ICRC carried tremely under-nourished condition nurse-wife, the only two ICRC out the full range of its activities. while some 500 who were seriously officials full-time in Timar and both Indeed it seems that during the ill and needed daily medical atten­ based in Dili, could personally super­ years 1976-79 the ICRC refused to tion held a red card. vise the day-to-day relief operation re-enter Timar unless the Indonesian The budget for the six-month across a number of relatively inacces­ Government agreed to allow it to operation has been completely sible centres. Allowance has been meet all its obligations. For example, covered and was provided mainly by made for this and a number of agree­ an ICRC telex to Chris Santos, Western governments and Red Cross ments have been struck covering the Fretilin's representative in Australia, societies. The Australian government independent auditing of accounts reported in August 1977: "ICRC allocated some $3 million and ex­ still negotiating with Indonesian Gov­ tended tax deductibility to a public and access by the ICRC relief dele­ ernment, and lndocross for return to appeal launched by the Australian gate (Jakarta-based Mr Cedric Timar. As ICRC conditions are not Red Cross on November 7, 1979. Neukomm) to local I RC records. yet approved we have to postpone The same privilege was denied a Nevertheless reports continue to this project". The following year The separate Australian joint agency ap­ circulate that some aid, chiefly rice - Age reported on May 8, 1978: peal which was launched three weeks according to refugees arriving in Lis- later.

Evaluation of /CRC Programme Othe~ ~raditional ICRC works such as prison visitation, tracing of ~1ssmg persons, moni.toring of Geneva conventions and family reunions have been conspicuously excluded from this operation. All reports indicate the people are slowly responding to the I RC­ ICRC programme. Officials estimated in late January that 5-10 people a bon, is being diverted for sale by the "Indonesia has refused to allow the month die in each village where they Indonesian military who, as the ICRC to resume the humanitarian work, compared with 30-40 before. administrators of East Timor, control work it was doing in East Timor be­ New sites are being considered for the Indonesian Red Cross. In this fore the Indonesian occupation . . . Red Cross attention once it is satis­ light calls by US Congressmen (in­ informed sources who have followed fied the standard of health and cluding Lester Wolff of New York ·closely the negotiations between the nutrition in the original centres who led a Congressional Team on a ICRC and the Indonesian authorities has reached a suitable level. brief visit to Timor in January this on this sensitive subject say Jakarta Nevertheless progress remains year), for more foreign aid personnel has made it clear that resumption by painfully slow. On his return from a to be admitted to Timor make good the ICRC of its traditional works of three-day visit to Timar in Decem­ sense from the point of view of both visiting prisoners and extending ber, two months after the program­ the donors and the recipients of aid. assistance to the civilian population me's commencement, the Secretary­ It is doubtful, however, whether the is out of the question". As there is General of Australian Red Cross, Mr Indonesian Government will agree every evidence that the full range of 17 ICR C se rv ices is required in Ti mar recently written to Presi dent Suharto today, one is forced to conclude t hat call ing on him to help in allowing the The American Catholic Relief the IC RC was left with little choice International Red Cross to investi· Services (CRS) in East Timor but to fin ally capitulate to Indones­ gate these matters. The ICRC is well ian demands and resume its aper· aware of these reports and its direct The CRS programme is by far the ation in East Timar on a strictly assistance has been sought in these bigger of the two operations in terms limited compromise basis . areas on a number of occasions in of money, outreach, numbers of The ICRC is being kept out of a recent years. Its current policy is not people assisted and duration. number of areas of desperate need . to get involved and to recommend The CRS programme has three Letters and reports from Timar have that action be taken through other stages: Sept-Dec 1979; Jan-April ·channels. As the ICRC wrote on constantly referred to political 1980; and May-Oct and beyond. October 5, 1979: " It is our impres­ prisons there, though t heir precise sion that diplomatic pressure exerted number and details about the numb­ Stage I: Sept-Dec 1979 on the Indonesian authorities, or a ers of detainees and their condition campaign to alert the international The CRS programme started as a are not avail able. One report has community may be of help to the six-month emergency exercise in spoken of three prisons in each of concerned Timorese, but it is equally September 1979 and focussed on the 12 administration centres out­ possible that these efforts may back­ reaching 240,000 of the most needy, side Dili and four in Dili , in all some fire on them". malnourished people in the 150 re· 40 prisons. Many allegations of tor­ The issues of free emigration from settlement sites and people in some tue have been made. Henry Kamm of Timor and the enforced separation of other villages. The CRS Director in the New Yo rk Times was told of four Timorese families have been treated Jakarta at the time, Frank Carlin, an elsewhere in this issue ot Uevelop- "concentration camps" or political ex-US marine, said the general con­ ment Dossier. Less than half of the prisons - two in Dili , one in Baucau dition and degree of malnutrition and one near Maliana small number of family members (28. 1 .80) . was the worse he had encountered in He was told the prisoners were kept agreed on for reunion in Australia 14 years experience. incommunicado. Amnesty Inter· have been allowed leave East Timar. CRS concentrated on emergency food aid, distributing five million kgs of CSM (high-protein corn-soya mix - because the people are mainly corn As there is every evidence that the full range of IC RC services is eaters) and 2 million kgs of rice. required in Timor today, one is forced to conclude that the ICRC Average rations were 5.5 kgs per per· was left with little choice but to finally capitulate to Indonesian son a month, but in more critical demands and resume its operation in East Timor on a strictly limited areas 10-12 kgs per person were dis­ compromise basis. tributed with special emphasis on children under 10. Seeds, medical aid, clothing, soap and transport were also provided. 450 metric tons of corn and rice seed were distribut­ national, which along with the Inter­ The Jakarta-based ICRC relief dele­ ed in time for planting. national Commission of Jurists has gate, Cedric Neukomm, is fully Two mobile medical teams made been refused permission to visit aware of this scandalous situation up of Indonesian doctors (recruited Timar, recently claimed "several and acknowledges ICRC's traditional from Diponegoro University in hundred prisoners . .. were underfed responsibilities in the matter. How· Semarang by Dr Suroyo a former and held in dangerous conditions. It ever, according to the Secretary­ Brigadier-General) and Indonesian had received persistent reports of pri­ General of Australian Red Cross, Mr nurses who were former army order· soners being beaten or tortured" Leon Stul;>bings, who has discussed lies, worked in a numb~r of villages (The Australian May 5, 1980). But the matter with the ICRC, the ICRC until January. Doctors arriving at when the ICRC was told of the exis­ is not involved "as the issue is con­ Laga in December (where Peter tence of these prisons in October sidered to9 political". Mr Stubbings Rodgers took his photographs in 1979, it could only reply , "Unfor­ has pointep out to his colleagues, October) found a medical post tunately the agreement which was however, t hat "the ICRC is needed devoid of staff, furniture and med· negotiated by the ICRC does not for the fan1ily reunion programme" . icine. They had to begin from provide for pri-son visits. We had met He might have added that the scratch and organise everything with considerable reluctance on this ICRC is also needed in the other themselves. Using a one-time medic­ point". human rights areas mentioned above. ation regime devised by the Red There are also frequent reports of The appalling condition of the des­ Cross, they treated 6231 patients in executions wit hout trial and missing titute the ICRC went into Timar to three weeks averaging 293 a day. persons. Those executed without work for six months ago may well 1035 patients were seen for a second trial range from Fretilin leaders to have justified a compromise at that time averaging 52 a day. The main civilian families, including it seems point. But given that the ICRC has diseases treated were malaria, intest· resistance fighters who surrendered now established an effective modus inal worms, enteritis, upper and under the Presidential Amnesty in operandi in Timar and is to stay lower respiratory tract diseases, mal­ 1977. Many have simply 'disappear­ another six months, it is time its pro­ nutrition, and skin and eye diseases. ed'. There are still many Timorese gramme was expanded to embrace People there were completely depen­ in Australia who do not know the others in Timor whose suffering is of dent on CRS food and, the doctors whereabouts of close relatives or a different kind but whose claims on noted, there was a tendency for them indeed whether t hey are dead or its resources are no less compelling to have diarrohea after eating it. Two alive. Amnesty International has and real . battalions of Indonesian troops quar· 18 tered sume distance from the town districts - where 50 per cent of the Indonesia - a strategically locat­ were supplied with their own water, average 10,000 fam ii ies will have at ed, Muslim, anti-communist, oil­ food and medicine in their own least one family member enrolled on producing OPEC nation with the camps. a project. A ration of 50 kgs will be fifth largest population in the world About half of the CRS budget was provided to each worker - based on - has assumed new importance for spent on transportation. CRS oper­ a family of five members. An agri­ US foreign policy following the US ates a fleet of 32 trucks in East cultural development programme is defeat in Vietnam in 1975. It is not Timar, has chartered two large heli­ also planned in one area of each of surprising then, that the US, from copters (from NUH, an Indonesian the seven districts. Eight medical the time of Ford and Kissinger's firm) and five ships. As Dili has an teams will operate during this period. visit to Jakarta only days before the off-loading capacity of only 250 tons The expected total cost is $US1 .5 invasion in 1975, has consistently a day, CRS has used two 1000-ton million. This overall project will form provided key diplomatic and mili­ capacity barges with tugs to take the first stage of an anticipated three­ tary support for the Indonesian take­ food and supplies directly from the year rehabilitation programme worth over of Timar, despite its declared ships before they reach port. Major some $US10 million. commitment to human rights. distribution points for relief supplies The governmental character of the are established outside Dili at Laga CRS operation has been clear from the outset when Adam Malik, the (north-east coast), Beaco (south-east Evaluation of CRS Programme coast) and Betaro (southwest coast). former Indonesian Foreign Minister, Pack horses were also used to distri­ announced the programme after dis­ bute materials in mountainous areas. No on the spot, independent as­ cussions in Jakarta early in 1979 sessment of the CRS programme is with the CRS Executive Director, Stage II: Jan-April 1980 possible as, unlike Kampuchea, Bishop Edwin Broderick of New trained observers are not allowed York. Later that year in September, In late December 1979, Patrick into Timar for such a purpose. senior CRS officials, including Fr Hopkin, the acting-Director of CRS Reports indicate, however, that tech­ Robert Charlebois, the CRS-US Gov­ in Indonesia, wrote: "I can reaffirm nically the programme has been vig­ ernment liaison officer, accompanied that tremendous unmet needs for orously and efficiently conducted US Ambassador Masters and US AID assistance still remain in many parts (with one or two notable exceptions officials on a survey of the resettle­ of East Timar". More food and in­ in the medical aid area) and that, ment sites where CRS was to concen­ creased medical care were singled out though the revival of the people is trate its relief efforts. It is not CRS as the two most critical and immed­ slow and much remains to be done, itself (that is the Catholic Church) or iate needs of the population. Some many lives have been saved . proceeds from an appeal to the improvements had occurred but CRS identified these months preceding the harvest as critical for food and distributed another five million kgs. The CRS programme is not a church operation, nor is it essentially of food aid concentrating on the operation of a voluntary, independent agency. CRS is working 134 ,000 people "in very critical need as a sub-contractor to the US Government implementing a govern­ of assistance". This group compris­ ment-to-government programme on governmental terms. ed 120,000 fron stage one and "14,000 newly identified people not yet reached by CRS and ICRC". Medical care was also critical. Malaria In other respects, however, the American people which are financing is rampant in many areas and a large CRS programme is highly ambig­ the programme. The bulk of the aid portion of the population suffered uous. At first glance it would appear is coming from the US Government from upper respiratory and skin to be a "Catholic effort" as one one of the Indonesian Government's diseases, vitamin deficiencies, intes­ journalist has described it, an a­ strongest supporters and its principal tinal parasites etc. An additional 6-8 political Church contribution based supplier of arms. Of the $US7 .2 Indonesian-staffed, mobile medical on Christian principles. million spent by CRS in Timar up to teams were put into the field. Water December 1979, $US6,969,662 was buffalo (virtually all of which have CRS: Instrument of US Foreign a direct contribution (in funds and been killed during the war), simple Policy commodities) from the US Govern­ agricultural equipment and seeds ment. And US AID has already an­ were also identified as immediate All the available evidence sug­ nounced it intends to support any needs. gests, however, that this is not so. further requests it receives from The CRS programme in East Timar CRS in the future. Stage 111: May-Oct 1980 and is not a church operation, nor is it This strong link with the US beyond essentially the operation of a volun­ Government is a standard feature of From May to October CRS plans tary, independent agency. CRS is CRS' general operation. CRS is to undertake a Food for Work pro­ working as a sub-contractor to the financially dependent on the US gramme to develop the local infra­ US Government implementing a gov­ Government for survival and others structure such as roads and irrigation ernment-to-government programme of its overseas programmes have and help in reforestation efforts, on governmental terms. The mirrored US foreign policy in the while at the same time meeting con­ programme is essentially an exer­ past. In 1962 it drew 82 per cent of tinuing food needs. cise in American foreign policy the its budget from the US Government The FFW programme will operate purpose of which is to secure and and its Executive Director, at the in seven (out of the total of 13) complete the Indonesian takeover of time, Bishop Edward Swanstrom, needy kabupatens - administrative an unwilling East Timar. was well -known for his enthusiasm 19 fo r promL: · g US national interests old Catholic priest Fr Leoneto do come of East Timorese environment, abroad . In 1978, $179 million of its Rego who lived in the mountains of economy or demography. War is $257 m il li o n budget came from the Timar until late 1978 it was Indo­ clearly the catalyst". Govern ment. And t he US Episcopal nesian military activity which caused Neither are people free to move Conference whose executives are ulti· a major decrease in food supplies about or work as they would choose. mately responsible for CRS privately and consequent widespread starv­ They are confined to these centres. admit it is a 'runaway agency' which ation and disease and forced people A February 1980 Indonesian church has failed to consult on important down from the hills in search of report states: "The bigger part of the issues such as foreign politics. relief; East Timar, as Indonesia it· people are still concentrated in POP' self, is a poor country because it has ulation centres. They are not free to The governmental character of tha been economically mismanaged in go far from the centres. Farming programme is also apparent from the the past. To make no mention of the opportunities are restricted to the Indonesian end. Though US Congress­ Indonesian invasion and its attendant immediate neighbourhood of the men have called for an increase in horrors, to blame the tragic con­ population centres . . . the central foreign personnel, none of the 92 dition of hundreds of thousands of districts provide good farming oppor­ people working on the programme in people on their own in-fighting, and tunities that, unfortunately, are not East Timar are foreigners. The finally to suggest that the Indonesian fully exploited". The Jakarta-based American CRS director is only per­ Government's role has been a bene­ correspondent for the London mitted to visit from Jakarta at inter­ volent one, is nothing less than a Observer, Brian Eads, has also report­ vals. Furthermore, CRS is working sycophantic mockery of the truth ed : "They are now confined to 're­ through the Indonesian Government and deserves the strongest possible settlement villages', each with its in East Timar, not the local church condemnation. squad of Indonesian troops" (23 or any other agency. As the Secre· March 1980). tary-General of Australian Red Cross This re-structuring of East Timor­ observed after his visit to Timar in The resettlement sites ese society is to be permanent. The December 1979: "The Services US Embassy in Jakarta reported in (CRS) are working through govern­ However it is the nature of the September 1979: "It is difficult to ment channels, therefore they did resettlement sites, which are the distinguish how many people have not have to set up a separate struc­ focus of the CRS relief efforts, that been moved into the resettlement ture as did the Red Cross". reveals most clearly the ambiguity villages by the Government of Indo­ CRS co-operation with the US of this exercise. nesia and how many of them have and Indonesian governments has ex­ CRS is concentrating i~s efforts on come into them on their own. The tended even to the point of adopting 150 'resettlement sites'. As the US point is the people are now in these without question their distorted Assistant Secretary of State, Rich­ villages and the Government of analysis of the stituation in East ard Holbrooke, reported in Dec­ Indonesia plans for them to remain Timar. The version of events in East ember 1979: "We understand that there". This permanence is under­ Timar which CRS is circulating to CRS has reached over 75 per cent of lined by the special budgetary allow­ other agencies around the world is the resettlement areas and that it is ance the Indonesian Government has as follows: "The withdrawal of the anticipated that 100 per cent will be made for them. The opening of Portuguese in 1975 from East Timar reached by the end of December". schools in these sites and the 'trans­ and the subsequent incorporation of These sites accommodate over migrasi' of Indonesian peasants from the area into Indonesia led to a civil war which displaced much of the population. Population is now esti· mated at 660 ,000. In 1977, due to To involve one's organisation in this way is, at least objectively the Government's general amnesty, speaking, to make a direct contribution to the Indonesian subjug­ the people began to return from the ation of the East Timorese. hills to seek assistance . . . Poor crops in 1978 and even drier 1978/79 growing season caused a major de­ 300,000 people, that is, well over other parts of the archipelago (East crease in local food supplies". The half the population. They are new Timar has now been officially desig­ account goes on to imply that the constructs and they represent the nated a transmigration centre) will suffering CRS has responded to is the first stages of an Indonesian re ­ further advance the Indonesianis­ result of the general poverty of the structuring of East Timorese society. ation process the centres are designed Lesser Sundas. Many have been forced into these to promote. This account of the reasons for centres by war-induced starvation These centres, then, are both the the crisis in East Timar is a trans­ and the need to survive or by mili­ products of Indonesia's military sub· parent falsification of the facts. They tary command. People have not jugation of Timar and the means of are well enough known to need only by and large returned to their own furthering that process. If people summary repetition here: the civil villages or life-style. For Elizabeth have been forced into them by one war preceded the 'incorporation'; Traube, a Harvard-trained anthro­ means or another, if they are not Indonesia forcibly annexed East pologist who lived in East Timar free to resume their traditional life­ Timar by military invasion, it did not for over two years until late 1974, style and means of support, and if simply 'incorporate' it; this invasion these sites "clearly represent a their confinement in them means - not the civil war - displaced break with long:term, traditional they are short of food, it is clear they 'much of the population'; the pop­ resettlement patterns, which were have been established for reasons ulation now is at least 100,000, adapted to traditional means of sub­ other than the good of the people. perhaps in excess of 200,000 short of sistence''. She stresses that today's Their real purpose is twofold : it is 660,000; according to the 63-year· conditions "are not the natural out- to control the people and, in the 20 words of an lr:i donesian parliamentar· foreign policy by helping the US gency aid has cut death rates. ian, ''to separate the people from the military effort in South Vietnam. A Perhaps the most tel Iing observation terrorists" (that is, Fretilin). As number of specific charges were came from an official who had a specialist in Timorese agriculture made and included the allegation recently visited Cambodia. By the told the New York Times journalist that the US mil itary "built CRS into criteria of distended bellies, intest­ Henry Kamm during his visit to its refugee programme" which in ­ inal disease and brachial parameter - Timar in January this year: "the plan volved forcing large numbers of civ­ the measurement of the supper arm had been drawn largely for strategic ilians out of their villages and farms - the East Timorese are in a worse reasons, placing the population into refugee camps for reasons of state than the Khmers". where the Indonesian army can con­ military strategy. These camps were Church sources confirm this gen- trol it". He went on to say that he then supplied by CRS. The CRS eral picture. They reported in Febru­ approved "of the political objective Vietnam operation at the time was ary that though "general conditions of keeping the people out of the directed by Father Robert Charlebois. are improving the process is extrem­ reach of Fretilin remnants". Charlebois now handles negotiations ely slow and that as long as military By curbing Fretilin access to the between CRS and the US Govern­ operations continue the rehabilit­ people and vice-versa, this well­ ment for government funding of CRS ation process will be badly hamper· known and widely used counter­ projects and accompanied senior US ed". In the opinion of these sources insurgency strategy is intended, on government officials on a tour of re­ big food supplies imported by CRS the one hand, to curtail the nation­ settlement sites in East Timar late and ICRC have been insufficient and alists' sphere of influence and deny last year. a full-scale food programme will be them the intelligence, morale, required about June once the limited returns from the corn harvest have material support and recruits which Exclusion of other agencies . are their life-blood, and, on the been consumed. A number of starv­ other, to permit the Indonesian mili­ ation areas have been identified tary free access to the hearts and Only two foreign aid agencies mainly in the eastern districts: minds of the people. As the Jakarta­ have been admitted to East Timor Lospalos, Laga, Ouel1cai, Venilale, based correspondent for the London and both are currently conducting Uatolari, Uatocarbau, Hatolia, Observer expressed it: "teachers (are their programmes there on object­ Maubara. Elsewhere for various rea­ being) shipped in from Indonesia, ionable Indonesian Government sons individual families are not gett· with the officially stated aim of terms. All other agencies have been ing enough food. The number of 'washing their brains' of Fretilin's excluded despite the fact that some people involved may run into the nationalist ideology" (March 1980). have money specifically earmarked thousands. The Church assessment To make a long-term commitment for East Timar and acknowledge adds that shortage of food and in­ to such sites and to work uncritical­ their responsibilities to the territory. adequate diet have caused physical ly within them through Indonesian In recent months many have made weakness and have lessened resis­ Government channels and with the requests to visit and/or work in tance. As a result malaria, TB, cold/ full support of the US Government, Timor, only to be turned oown by flu, typhoid, fever, diarrhoea, in­ as CRS is doing, has clear political the Indonesian Government. These fections, rheumatism are taking a big and strategic consequences. There include UNICEF, the Indonesian toll. Though there is an acute and can be no doubt that to involve one's Council of Churches and Indonesian urgent need for housing, priority organisation in this way is, at least Bishops Conference, the Australian must still be given to food and agri­ objectively speaking, to make a Council of Churches, Austcare, Aust­ cultural equipment. Orphans and un­ direct contribution to the Indonesian ralian Catholic Relief, the Freedom accompanied children, it concludes, subjugation of the East Timorese. It from Hunger Campaign (Australia), remain a serious problem. is to ignore the just aspirations for and Oxfam London. independence of a determined and ICRC and CRS have both said Appeal to the agencies courageous people and to take the there are tremendous unmet needs in side of the more powerful protagon­ East Timar and no danger of duplic­ The Indonesian Government has ist in an on-going struggle. ation were other agencies to come. rejected out of hand offers of help The exercise is also suspect as an The United Nations and several US from a broad range of aid agencies aid and development programme. Congressmen have called for inter­ concerned about the situation in East The sites are inherently contradic­ national agencies to be allowed in. Timor. Is this to be the last word? tory for they cannot serve as centres More importantly the situation The first responsibility of aid of development and self-sufficiency itself seems to require the expertise agencies around the world is to the when their main purpose is to and resources of additional agencies. people of East Timor. At the very control the population and thereby On May 1, 1980 The Age carried an least these agencies must seek to visit deny them freedom of movement earlier report from the London East Timar and undertake a fresh and work. In fact as the agricultural Observer based on interviews con­ assessment of the people's needs and specialist interviewed by Kamm com­ ducted in Jakarta which said in part: the suitability of existing program­ mented: "the resettlement project "Progress has been made, 'They are mes . They must know, however, that will make East Timar permanently not dying like they were when we only a vigorous and united effort will dependent on food imports". arrived five months ago', said one achieve this. Finally, it should be noted that relief worker. The observation is rela­ But their responsibilities go fur­ CRS is no stranger to the counter­ tive. People continue to die from ther. At the same time they must insurgency, population control acute malnutrition and vitamin raise with their colleagues - ICRC function of the 'strategic centre'. deficiency. But neither the CRS nor and CRS - the nature of their cur­ In 1967 and again in 1976 sections the ICRC teams are allowed suf­ rent programmes in East Timar and of the US press accused CRS of ficient access to make meaningful question the propriety of giving aid working as an instrument of US assessments of how far their emer- without justice. O 21 East Timor : how many people have died?

East Timorese believe between 100,000 and 300,000 people have died in East Timor in the last four years. Recent official Indonesian population figures for the territory appear to support these claims. This article is a summary of the February 1980 issue of Timar Information Service, which concluded that between 133,000 and 217,000 people (that is, between one fifth and one third of the population) are unaccounted for in East Timor. Detailed sourcing is provided in the original material. This summary was produced by T.l.S.

Since the first days of the Indo­ controlled Provincial government in totalled, put the population at nesian invasion of East Timar in Dili. In fact, Rodgers appears to have 523,000, almost the same as that December 1975, there has been,a underestimated the number of deaths given to Rodgers in October. The steady flow of information indicat­ these figures may indicate. June figures, provided on a dist· ing a large and increasing death toll rict by district basis were almost in the territory. Less than one year How many people are missing? all "rounded-off" to the nearest after the invasion, church sources in thousand and, more questionably, Dili estimated that the number of eight of the districts were shown people killed ma"y have reached The official Indonesian figures to have a population of exactly 100,000. By the latter half of 1979, supplied to Rodgers in October 1979 30,000 (see map). If the figures Timorese church sources were saying put East Timer's population at supplied to Rodgers were these 522,433. The exact population of in private conversation that at least same June figures, there must be East Timar before the invasion is not 100,000 and perhaps as many as some doubt about their accuracy. 200,000-300,000 East Timorese known but according to official • A population census by Indones­ have died since the invasion began. Portuguese and East Timar church ian authorities would include only These estimates are not based on figures, it was in the range of those East Timorese directly ac­ population counts. They arise from 663,000-700,000 in 1975. The cessible to the Indonesian gov­ observations of people who have short civil war in East Timar during ernment. When Rodgers was lived in East Timar during four years August/September 1975 effectively provided with the population of war. The estimates are supported caused a 7,000 decrease in popul­ figures, he was also told by by the mariy reports from other ation (4,000 refugees who never Indonesian military officials that Timorese (both Fretilin and non­ returned and up to 3,000 deaths - there were 300-600 "Fretilin Fretilin) of widespread killing in the see discussion below). If we subtract members" in the Eastern part of early period of the invasion. The this number from the 1975 popul­ the territory. Given the Indones­ findings of an International Red ation figures, we are left with a ian government's record over the Cross (ICRC) survey in July 1979 population in East Timar, after the last four years of drastically and Australian journalist Peter civil war but before the invasion, of understating the number of Rodgers in October, back up the 656,000-693,000. Timorese outside their control, 1979 ACFOA report "Aid and East Cor:riparing those figures with the there would certainly be many Timar" which showed that a large 523,000 figure supplied to Peter more than 300-600 people not proportion of East Timer's popul­ Rodgers, the population in 1979 included in the population count. ation was in an emergency situation appears to be about 133,000- Until it is known how many East and many had died of disease and 170,000 less than it was in 197 5 Timorese were not counted, it is starvation in the countryside and in before the invasion. However, there impossible to determine from Indonesian controlled 'refugee' or are three obvious reasons why we these official figures how many 'resettlement' camps. cannot conclude that this is the num­ people have died. Reports by East Timorese on the ber of people who have died since number of deaths in their country the invasion: • Subtracting the 1979 figure from were given credence in October 1979 the 1975 population figure to when Peter Rodgers calculated that • It is not clear how accurate the determine the number of missing the population had declined by Indonesian population estimate East Timorese takes no account of about 100,000. Rodger's estimates actually is. In June 1979, a Timor­ births since 1975. In the 1950s were based on official population ese source was provided with and 60s, East Timer's population figures released by the Indonesian- some official figures which, when grew at a rate of 1.7 per cent per 22 . year. If life 1n East Timar duri ng alone, how many East Timorese have and, f~r this reason, we have exclud­ t he period 1975-7 9 had been close actually died since the invasion . ed them from our estimates. to normal, the population should The third reason why Rodgers' calculations are probably an under­ have increased to about 700,000- Why are Peter Rodgers ' 740,000. Against this fi gure, the estimate is that he does not, as we calculations an underestimate? 1979 Indonesian populatio n have done here, take into account figures would indicate that any 'population growth' after 1975. 177 ,000- 21 7 ,000 people were How is it possible to conclude miss ing . However, t here is no that the number of people missing More recent Indonesian doubt that conditions in East may be twice that calculated by population figures. Timar during 1975-79 were far Rodgers, given that we have used the Are they credible? from 'normal ' but information on same Indonesian population figure? the effects of kill ings, starvation The reasons are simple: and disease on birth rates etc. is Firstly, Rodgers relies exclusively Even though Rodgers estimate of not available. Therefore, while it on Portuguese government figures for 100,000 deaths may be an under­ is currently impossible to quan­ his 1975 population level. However, estimate, it is a shocking figure in tify, 'population growth' after there is evidence that these figures any language. Not surprisingly, the 1975 has to be taken into con­ underestimate the actual population Indonesian government has sought to sideration. because some Timorese avoided the prove Rodgers' calculations wrong, Portuguese census counts in order to and has subsequently issued three new sets of population figures in as What then, do the evade colonial taxes. For this reason, many months. 1979 population figures show? we have given the 1975 population as a range between the Portuguese In November 1979, an Indonesian figure (663,000) and Catholic armed forces newspaper disputed We have seen that there may be Church estimates (700,000). Rodgers' report and claimed that some doubt about the accuracy of Secondly, Rodgers appears to give East Timor's population was really the Indonesian government's 1979 credence to reports that there may 612,017. A month later, the East population figure for East Timar be as many as 25,000 East Timorese Timar military commander stated (approx. 523,000) . Whether or not it in West Timor, where they fled dur­ that the population was 592,603. is accurate, if it is compared with the ing the 1975 civil war. Rodgers Then, in January 1980, US Congress­ pre-invasion 1975 population level, it has not seen these refugees, nor have men visiting East Timar were presen­ leaves 133,000-170,000 East Timor­ there been any consistent first-hand ted with a set of figures allegedly ese unaccounted for. Although we accounts of their presence in West showing the population to be are not able to quantify 'population Timar since 1976. According to well­ 598,603 (in fact, the figures provided growth' after 1975, it is not unrea­ placed East Timorese, West Timorese totalled 589,782). sonable to suggest that the actual and Jakarta church sources, most if Why these three sets of figures are number of 'missing' East Timorese is not all refugees who went to West different from one another and so at least 133,000-170.000 and could Timar in 1975 have returned to East different from the figure of be as high as 177,000-217,000. Timar (with the exception of 1400 523,000 supplied to Rodgers in late However, until we know how many who went to Portugal in late 1976). October 1979 as "the results of a East Timorese remain outside Indo­ Until the presence of East Timorese survey that has just been carried nesian control (and hence not count­ in West Timar is confirmed, Rodgers' out", remains unexplained. These ed in Indonesian population surveys), use of them in calculations about recent figures are even more suspect we cannot deduce from these figures population must remain doubtful when reports from East Timar in-

E A S T T 1 ~ 0 R ADMINI STRAT I VE ARE AS & POPULATION {} This map compares three s ets of popu lation figur es for each administrative district: -

J~· , 00{) - ._Jun•.: 1979 officJ.al Indonesian figures. LAlJTEM ( 42 , 600) - 1975 estim(!te (from Portuguese figures. J Di ll ?", 000 \ 1 I 30 , 000 (41,,0QO) - 1979 'projection ' ( " (9 1 , 200) BAUCAU ' , I ( 35 , 500) ~TITTO (97 ,500) ZC:,17t." I ~~ -- 0~( -- - " ' ' I (38 , 000) (51,-300) L ... "'J._,. , .., --l 1 ..... __ ..... ' 171 2 ( 55 600) /7 • 00) I J• 100 - --- ,,; _ - ., \ (76 , 200) / {~~ ' ·,4 00) , .... VI QL£QUE _ _ ~ ,, ER/'E RA ' AILEU , ,: !42 , 100) ( , .; J,OOO ', ,-_,' r- ' 1 I 50, ooc ; 72 , 000 1 ; \ l (66 ,600 1 I BO~RO ', ~(77,000),' I (71 ,300 : \ ,JO 000 \ I I _, r>W'JUFAHI .. , ...... _ ! I \ I ,,~, ( 79 , 000) - ~ 30,000 1 J0 , 000 , __ ,' , la4,sooit - <4s ,sool' .... _ (40 , 4ooJ I , (48, 700) l (43 ,200 ) I ) { ,- ..... _,~.... ,. - ... ~ I ( \. ' \ , I JO, J<-1 ~- ,,- .5J, ) J(J ' ~DTE, These figures snow o nly the 'order of ma.qni tude ' ot / !27 , 700) I ' ( 42 ,600) the difference between the 1-:•79 :ndones1an figures , ,,45 ,600). / (29, 7001 , and the pre- invasJ.on 1975 and ''· ' X'!'" - ·-~t·~··J ' 1Q"'~ :•oi _ \ .l~ation. Ch anqes in the district oounda!'u·... ~ .~:ua.i, : ~~ USS E ( I ..,,,,, ', I A.inaro .J.nd Man ufahi , doubt J.bouL th(.: ..ic..::ur,_'!....;v of tf\t..· ..... JW1e 1979 fi,..iure and lack of knowledae a.bout . 'i•Ol ' ul. 1-r- 100 ':l"rowth ' since 1975 all rendPr a..·,.:uratr: comr:arison ~:n:·o~sLbl

23 dicate that t he flow of East Timorese and naval and ae rial bombardment If the 1975 civil war can account into Indonesian controlled areas has of, East Timorese territory. The for only a relatively small number "slowed to a trickle" since April actual number of casualties sustained of deaths, what is the reason for such 1979. There have been no reports by both East Timorese military and a big number of deaths since then? indicating the movement of 60,000- civilians at that t ime was relatively People who have lived in East Timar 80,000 Timorese into Indonesian low. for the past four years are in no controlled areas since April '79, It has also been argued that t he doubt: let alone since October 1979. widespread starvation and disease Since December 7, 1975, a wide While these new sets of Indones­ seen in East Timar was a direct resu lt spectrum of East Timorese have ian population figure's appear to be of the civil war. It is true that the reported systematic killings, the contrived, they still of course, leave civil war did cause disruption of food 'wiping of villages off the map' and enormous numbers of East Timorese supplies in some areas of East Timor, destruction of crops during Indo­ unaccounted for. but according to the ACFOA team nesian military operations in East which visited the terr itory in October Timar. Their reports have been pub­ How many deaths caused by 1975 (after the civil war) , the situ­ licised, but not widely or consistent­ the 1975 civil war? ation had not reached famine propor­ ly in Australian and international tions and, in most areas, the 'sub­ media for East Timor has been, and Since Rodgers' October report, sistence economy' had proved war essentially remains, closed to in ­ even the Australian government ap­ resistant. dependent observers. pears to accept the fact that large By late November 1975, after The Indonesian government numbers of Timorese have died. almost three months of humanitarian refused to allow international relief However, at least one of its mem­ aid programmes conducted by the organisations into East Timor for the bers, Michael MacKellar, has attempt­ ICRC, ASIAT and later, eight mem­ first 3% years of its occupation of ed to lay a significant part of the ber agencies of ACFOA, the ICRC the territory. The destitute con­ blame on the 1975 civil war. There is ch ief delegate, Andre Pasquier repor­ dition of East Timorese in Indones­ no reliable evidence to support such ted that there had been no cases of ian 'refugee' or 'resettlement' camps a claim. serious illness through starvation and was known to Western governments The civil war began in mid­ "nobody in East Timar (was) starv­ almost one year before the ICRC and August 1975 and had all but ended ing to death". Catholic Relief Services were permit­ within three weeks with occasional ted to begin a rel ief operation. There clashes occurring until the end of Indonesian invasion responsible seems little doubt that the starv­ September 1975. According to for many deaths ation and disease seen in East Timor ACFOA and ICRC estimates at the by the ICRC and CRS in 1979, was time, the number of deaths caused There seems little doubt that an not caused by the civil war. It occur­ by fighting in the 1975 civil war was enormous number of East Timorese red after the Indonesian invasion 1,500-3,000. Approximately 2,600 have died since 1975. As we have and would have been exacerbated by people fled to Australia at the height seen, East Timorese living in tre the conscious exclusion of an inter­ of the civil war. Of the thousands of territory believe between 100,000 to national relief operation. people who crossed the border into 300,000 may have died in the last There is little point in arguing West Timor at the same time, all but four years. Their claims appear to be whether or not the Indonesian gov­ 1,400 who went to Portugal in 1976, supported by official Indonesian ernment intended to cause the death appear to have returned to East population figures released in Dili in of a large number of Timorese to Timor. So, the actual known de­ late October 1979. These latter effect the integration of East Timor crease in East Timer's population, figures, while they cannot tell us into Indonesia. There seems little directly attributable to the 1975 exactly how many people have act­ doubt that the actions of the Indo­ civil war is only 7,000. ually died, do indicate that at least nesian military, as an invading and The only military activity in East 133,000-170,000 and perhaps as occupying force, has caused a large Timor between late September and many as 177,000-217,000 remain number of deaths and it is for this December 7, 1975 occurred in the unaccounted for. This represents be ~ reason that East Timorese still do not border areas. These events involved tween one fifth and one third of East accept the Indonesian presence in incursions by Indonesian troops into, Timer's population. East Timor. 0 The Human Toi I of a World at War In November, just before the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Center for Defense Information, a nonprofit research organization with headquarters on Capitol Hill, published a survey of the world's current armed conflicts. It counted 37 such major and minor wars, involving more than 8 million soldiers and paramilitary fighters. "The total loss of lives in these conflicts is unknown," the center reported, "but rough estimates run between 1 and 5 million killed." The following were rated as the eight most violent wars: Conflict Number of Deaths Year Started 1. Cambodia 500,000 to 4 million 1970 2. Afghanistan 100 ,000 to 250 ,000 1978 3. East Timor 100 ,000 or more 1975 4, Lebanon 50 ,000 or more 1975 5. Sino-Vietnamese war 30 ,000 or more 1979 6. Philippine guerrilla wars 30.,000 or more 1972 7. Guatemala 22,000 or more 1967 8. Rhodesia 20 ,000 or more 1972 Washington Post, Jan 1980

24 Maria is a refugee from East Timar and now lives in Australia with her children. Her husband is not allowed to leave East Timar to join her. He has never seen their youngest child. Many other Timorese in Australia are separated from their families in this way.

A NEW NATION-WIDE COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN TO RE-UNITE IN AUST· R.A.F.T. RALIA THE FAMILIES OF TIMORESE.

The continuing failure to reunite Timorese families after five years of separation is scandalous and intoler­ able. RAFT desperately needs the help of concerned Australian families, individuals, churches, schools and community organisations to work together out of simple humanity for these unfo'rtunate people. The immediate aims of this campaign are: • to bring from East Timar for family reunion in Australia 1. the rest of the 625 on the agreed list, 2. the parents of unattached children already in Australia, 3. cases deserving special consideration such as the widowed parents of adult children already in Australia, and • to bring from Portugal those Timorese refugees who wish to immigrate to Australia. ONLY SOME 2000 PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED, A TINY FRACTION OF THE 80,000 MIGRANTS WHO WILL SETTLE IN AUSTRALIA THIS YEAR. How RAFT will work. On receipt of your enrolment, RAFT will supply you with three items: a background booklet, a dossier on one case, and suggestions for action . You will be asked to adopt the case of just one family and to follow it through until reunion or resettlement is achieved. For further information write to: Christine Dix, RAFT, 183 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia.

25 Timorese Family Reunions POLITICS BEFORE PEOPLE

by Pat Walsh

This article surveys attempts made smce 1975 to reunite Timorese families split up between Australia and East Timor. Of the 625 agreed on for reunion in Australia, only 295 - less than half, have come. The article looks at the political reasons for this and suggests that, after nearly five years of delays and heartbreak, it is time for the Australian Govern­ ment (which is awarded 4/10 for its performance to date) to assert itself and for the International Red Cross and UN to look to their acknowledged responsibil· ities in the matter.

They had no choice but to stay . Fraser and President Suharto agreed Separations They were granted permanent resi­ that officials of both countries dence in Australia from May 1976 should meet to resolve the problem. Australia became the first country and are now concentrated in At least 11 meetings were to occur of asylum for the first time in its his­ Darwin, Sydney, Melbourne, Adel­ before an 'in principle' agreement on tory in 1975 when 2581 Timorese aide and Perth. reunions was announced. five months were evacuated to Darwin from East Reports of the war coupled with later in March 1977. This agreement Timar between August and Novem­ the loneliness and insecurity of exile stated that arrangements were pro­ ber of .that year. The majority of heightened the refugees' fears for ceeding for a visit to Dili by Aust­ these people left East Timar in their families and the matter of ralian officials "to take place as early August and September when the civil family reunions was quickly broach­ as circumstances permit". Timorese war between UDT and Fretilin was at ed. in Australia were invited to nominate its height, and were ferried to Darwin relatives for reunion and were in ­ by boat and plane. The hi-jack by 37 First attempts at reunion formed that the acceptable categor­ Timorese of an RAAF Caribou from ies for reunion were: "spouses, minor Baucau on Timor's north-east coast dependent children and parents of indicates the atmosphere of panic The first attempt at family re­ Australian citizensj and relatives who which prevailed at the time. Many unification was made in late 1975/ have employment $kills and exper­ were elderly people, women (some of early 1976. According to the Timor­ ience recognised aJ'ld in demand in whom were pregnant) and children ese welfare officer in Melbourne, Mr Australia". (some without their parents). Of this Joao Goncalves, some Timorese in They were givef1 three weeks to whole group many were Chinese­ Australia were issued at this time lodge their nomin~tions "so that the Timorese and some were indigenous with authority forms from the Aust­ operation can proceed as quickly as Timorese who had worked as ser­ ralian Immigration Department possible". By the c;losing date on 22 vants in Timar. Some (mostly Port­ which would permit family mem­ April 1977, 2668 r.elatives had been uguese nationals) went on to Port­ bers in West Timar and East Timar nominated for adrnission to Aust· ugal. But most chose to stay. 1850 to come to Australia without bejng ralia. At the same rime, the Timorese were distributed between Darwin and subject to the normal migration asked the Australian Government to migrant hostels around Australia and requirements. These forms, which take two precautions against possible given temporary resident visas until were valid until June 1976, were abuse of information on relatives December 31, 1975 by which time it ignored by the Indonesian authorit­ supplied to the Indonesian author­ was hoped the situation in Timar ies. Hearing of the failures at the ities in Timar. They requested that would be clearer and long-term Timar end, Timorese in Australia an international welfare agency such decisions about the future could be attempted to have the June 30 dead­ as the International Red Cross made. Some were under the impres­ line extended. They were not able to (ICRC) be inviteq to supervise the sion they wou Id soon return to achieve this. reunion program, and secondly that a Timar for reunion with their families By this time, however, the issue member of the Timorese community once the civil war was over. Such of Timorese family reunion was the in Australia be permitted to accom­ hopes were quickly dashed by the subject of frequent comment in the pany the Australian Immigration Indonesian invasion and sealing-off Federal Parliament. In October 1976, team-to Timar to act as an inter­ of their country in December 1975. during discussions in Jakarta, Mr preter. Both proposals were rejected 26 by t he Australian Government on the ively discouraged relatives from 1978 - 14 months aher the nomin· grounds that they would ieopardise returning. One parent wrote in late ations had been call ed for in a hurry the Austral ian· Indonesian agreement 1977 : the previous April. After that meet­ on reunions. " Tell my son that for nothing on ing the Australian Government this earth should he return to Timor. announced " that the procedures ac· Disappointments As soon as I possibly can, I shall cepted by both sides will enable the leave here; but I would rather die processing and movement of the without seeing him again than to people involved by Christmas" and know that he had returned to this that "Indonesian and Australian of­ The note of optimism about a hell". ficials will visit Indonesia (Dili) ... speedy resolution of the problem It should be noted, however, that at about the end of October" for struck by the Government at this the Australian Government did give selection interviews. Well-founded time proved to be a hollow one in­ some indication on June 2, 1977 Timorese scepticism about which deed. Despite the urgency of the after receipt of the 2668 nomin­ Christmas was meant appeared to be matter and frequent reports that ations that not all would satisfy the confirmed when October passed the Team's visit to Timer was admission criteria. It was also clear without the team's departure fol · 'imminent', nothing of significance that ~he Australian Government in lowed by another Christmas spent in was to happen for a further 14 deference to Indonesian sensitivities lonely separation from loved ones. months. No team went to Dili, and though in complete disregard of the A visit to Australia in December no families were reunited. Even the reality inside Timor, was treating 1978 by the Indonesian Foreign extension of de facto recognition by the reunion of families as a Minister, Dr Mochtar, indicated, the Australian Government of Indo­ 'migration exercise ' not as the intake however, that at last some action nesia's takeover of Timor announc­ of refugees from a war situation. could soon be expected. Following ed on January 20, 1978 failed to their discussions, Mr Peacock an­ achieve Indonesian co-operation, de­ nounced on December 15 that spite the fact that it was advanced by "agreement had been reached for an Mr Peacock as one reason for recog- . First reunwns early visit by an Australian immigr­ nit ion. ation team to East Timar to inter­ A further blow to the hopes of Following a visit to Jakarta early view an initial group for reunion the waiting Timorese was the even­ in July 1978 by the then Immigr­ with other relatives in Australia. It tual disclosure that less than a ation Minister, Mr Michael was also agreed" according to a letter quarter of the relatives nominated in April 1977 would be accepted for MacKellar, a high level meeting be­ from the Acting Foreign Minister at admission to Australia. A figure of tween Indonesian and Australian of­ the time, Mr Ian Sinclair, "that the 625 was apparently arrived at by ficials was decided on for July 25-26, remaining eligible nominees would be both Governments in July 1978 "after protracted negotiations." Press reports, however, were making refer­ ence to an agreed list of 'about 600' names some time before this date. Department of Immigration TlUGRAMS ·1MMIC.RATION" CANBlAAA. Though at least 625 out of 2668 )f; l~h(>Nf 1l Ol11 and Ethnic Affairs are eligible to come, frequent media OU" lllU CANBCRAA. A C T 2~11(, mention has now fixed this number of 600 in the public mind as the liter­ YOUtlll fll:f : '2 5 OCT 1978 al figure both distorting public ex­ pectations in regard to this group and eliminating from consideration the claims of the remaining 2000 Dear nominees. Presumably Indonesian reluctance I am pleased to be able to in1'o:i:-m you that at talks held in Jakarta vith the Indonesian to allow all the 2668 to leave Timor authorities recently, the following persons you was a factor in the reduction for it have nominated vere included on the list 01' people has been reported on a number of jn the categories agreed between the two governments: occasions that they do not wish to be The Indonesian Go'l.·ernment has a«reed embarrassed by the exodus of large to try to locate your nominees in Timor and, should numbers of people from Timor. they wish to migrato to Australia, to invite them to Indeed in its own press statements attond an interview with an Australian Immigration until the end of 1978 the Indo­ Of1'icer and for a medical examination in Dili later 1.his yoar. nesian Government continuaUy refer­ red to the family reunion program as a repatriation exercise and avoided reference to reunions outside Timor in Australia. The Timorese them­ ;-~~~rrc::·,l~~, selves, both in Australia and Timor, did not see it that way. Ornly a hand­ ful of Timorese have actually return­ . N \ ··' L>FMANN for . Sec rl"I t.ary ed to East Timar and, with one or two exceptions, these were re1ligious sisters. Timorese in Timar have act- Without this letter, no family reunion. Even with it, the odds are very poor. 27 processed under normal immigration procedures as quickly as possible". PEHERINTAH PkOPINf::I DAERAH TIHGKAT I A three-man Immigration team, TrnOR TIMUR led by Mr Norman Hoffmann, arriv­ ed in Dili on Christmas Day 1978. There was no matching visit of an SURAT rzp~ BEPERGIAN Indonesian immigration team to Australia at the same time, though an Nomor: /SIB/ 978 exchange of teams had previously ------been agreed to in principle. The ------visit would not have been warrant­ DIBERIKAN IZIN BEPERGIAN KEPADA ed as no Timorese in Australia wished to return to an Indonesian­ controlled Timar. Following the 1 • N a m a Hoffmann-team visit to Dili, 99 Tempat dan tanggal lahir Timorese arrived in Australia in mid­ January 1979 for tearful reunions Jenis kelamin with their families. They were the first Timorese to 4. Nikah I belum BEL UM have come from East Timar since the P e k e r j a a n TURUT ORANG TIJA last half of 1975. They were also the 5. last to come in this official, public 6. Tempat tinggal DILI / TIK>R TIMUR manner, direct from Dili with their fares wholly paid by the Australian 7• Haksud bepergian MENENGOK FAMILI Government. Since January 1979, a further 196 8. Tempat berangkat DILI / TIK>R TIHIJR people on the agreed list have come to Australia for reunion with their 9. Tempat tujuan JAKARTA families. That is, three years after the 10. K e n d a r a a n PESAWAT UDARA official lodging of nominations and five years after their separation, less 11. Tanggal berangkat KESEHPATAN PERTAMA than half of the agreed family re­ 12. Tanggal kembali SETELAH 14 HAR! DITEMPAT unions, i.e. 295 out of 625, have occurred. It is to be noted, however, 13. Biaya perjalanan DITANGGUNG SENDIRI that an estimated 100 other Timor­ ese not on the agreed list have been admitted to Australia from Timar C a t a t a n over these years either on the basis of special consideration or because they have met the occupational and other criteria governing normal admittance.

Discrimination and corruption DI LI With few exceptions, all those who have come from Timar, whether on the agreed list or not, have been Chinese-Timorese, a fact the Aust­ ralian Government acknowledges. Only one or two mixed or indigen­ ous Timorese have been allowed to leave. And with few exceptions, all have had to pay substantial bribes to Indonesian officials or private citi· zens in both Dili and Jakarta to ob­ •/ tain the necessary exit permits. -- ~ - Money for these payments, which This exit permit cost $500. Its signatories are the semor Indonesian Intelligence Officers in East Timar. vary between $A 1 500 and 3000 per head, has been sent from Australia her husband and three of the child­ back to Timar to process all eligible by relatives or raised by the sale of ren. She will need at least another nominees on the spot and bring them property in Timar. For example, $5,000 to bring the other three child­ direct to Australia. In response the one woman who arrived in Australia ren who are still in East Timar. Australian Government has been con­ in 1975 with two of her children, To obviate these twin injustices of tent to make cautious represent­ leaving behind her husband and six discrimination and corruption, ations through diplomatic channels children, has already paid $6000 (in Timorese in Australia have repeated­ and appears to accept that nothing bribes, air-fares Dili-Jakarta, and ly called on the Australian Govern­ more can be done. accommodation in Jakarta) to bring ment to send an Immigration team· On the matter of bribery, for 28 example, Mr Macphee the current Indonesian c1t1ze ns J whence they ICRC itself would not intervene. Minister for lmm1grat1on has said : have made t heir way to Australi a. The reply added, however, that since "I am aware of a/legations which These people, 1n one se nse , have Portugal had no diplomatic links have been made in this regard and been the lucky ones. For the major­ with Indonesia ICRC would try to this matter has been raised with the ity of t hose affect ed - perhaps act as an intermediary with Indo­ Indonesian authorities. I understand especially the 20 wives whose hus­ nesia for those applicants who might that it has been investigated, but you bands are still in Timor - the future be accepted by Portugal. This has will appreciate that effective action looks bleak indeed . been done, and it would appear has to eliminate this problem can only be It may well be their only hope some chance of success. Some light ta ken by the Indonesian authorities". for reunion is the direct and strong has been thrown on ICRC's puzzling (Jan 3, 1980) intervention of an influential third reluctance to offer the same service A similar attitude of acquiescence party - for example the United to the family reunion program be­ is expressed by the Foreign Minister, Nations, or the International Red tween Timar and Australia by the Mr Peacock, in his reply to a request Cross, or a less pusillanimous Aust­ Secretary-General of Australian Red to send an immigration team to Dili: ralian Government. What chance is Cross, Mr Leon Stubbings. He report­ " this possibility has been raised in there of this? ed on January 10, 1980 after discus­ discussion with the Indonesians but sions with ICRC during a visit to . .. there has been no substantive United Nations Timor that the ICRC is at present reaction - the question of entry to not involved in the family reunion East Timor is, of course, one for the program "as the issue is considered Indonesian authorities to decide". The Timorese have called on the too political". Given the present (March 20, 1980) This means, in UN to intervene several times. The state of the program and the fact effect, that the Austral ian Govern­ UN in fact passed a resolution on that the ICRC operation in East ment accepts it can do nothing for November 21 , 1979 as follows: Timar has been extended for another those on the agreed list until they "The General Assembly requests six months, it may well be time for present themselves at the Australian the United Nations Children s Fund the ICRC to revise its position and Embassy in Jakarta. and the office of the United Nations seek to broaden its program inside High Commissioner for Refugees East Timor to include some more of (UNHCR) to render, within their The situation now its traditional works, including respective fields of competence, all family reunions. possible assistance to the people of The Timorese in Australia now East Timor, particularly the children The Australian Government generally believe that the Indonesian and those seeking· to leave for an­ authorities have decided to shut the other country for purposes of family door on any further departures reunion .. " (emphasis added) The As one would expect, the Aust­ from Timor - that is , not to honour writer is not aware of any activity to ralian Government defends its record their side of the 'in principle agree­ date on the part of these two bodies on family reunions. It argues in its ment' any longer. The Australian in response to this request. official statements and correspon­ Government denies this. In reply to a dence that it has done "everything question in the Senate on April 1, possible in the most difficult cir­ 1980 Senator Carrick said: "The International Red Cross cumstances" (Macphee) to reunite program is continuing, although Timorese families. It points to its slowly. Four Timorese on the agreed The agreement drawn up be­ record of admitting 1800 refugees list have arrived in Australia in the tween the International Red Cross from Timor in mid-1975, paying for last six weeks. Eight others are cur­ (ICRC) and the Indonesian Red their initial settlement, and providing rently in Jakarta awaiting issue of Indonesian exit permits". The impl1cat1on in this reply that The Timorese in Australia now generally believe that the Indo­ the figures supplied show the nesian authorities have decided to shut the door on any further program has not ended is fallac­ ious. It does not address the crucial departures from Timar - that is, not to honour their side of the 'in question of whether people are at principle agreement' any longer. this point allowed to leave East Timor. Nor does it allow that the only way out of Jakarta for these Cross on June 19, 1979 covering welfare assistance. It claims that its people at the moment is by subter­ their current joint operation in East efforts have oeen responsible for the fuge. Timorese who have negotiated Timor refers only to a food and med­ admission of another 400 people the first leg of the long journey from ical relief operation. N6 mention is from East Timor since then. The Dili to Jakarta and been issued there made of the other traditional ICRC Timorese are sternly reminded by thEI with visas to enter Australia by the works, one of which is family re­ Minister for Immigration that "Aust: Australian embassy are being denied unions. ICRC's attention was drawn ralia's ability to absorb new settlers exit permits by the Indonesian auth­ to the problem of family reunions in is not unlimited" (a position the orities - a fact which the Australian a document directed to them in Nort hern Territory Administration Government has elsewhere acknow­ September 1979 by Action for World with its new drive to populate the ledged. Those who arrived here Development. The Director of Oper­ North clearly rejects). The Timorese recently have got around this only by ations in Geneva replied on October are even chastised for their alleged forging Indonesian passports and 5, 1979 that Australia should tackle "criticism (in the press) . . . of efforts travell ing on them to Singapore this problem with Indonesia through being made by the Australian author­ (which does not require vi sas of diplomatic channels, implying that ities to help them, their relatives and 29 countrym. e ~.,, " (M acphee) . No account but reports of continued figh ting This 1s reflected on the practica l 1s taken of Austral ia's wartime debt suggest 1t could be a long t ime. It is plane by the attitudes of lmmigr ­ to the Timorese , the ho rrors inflicted probable that t he slow release of at ,io n officials in Ca nberra who con­ on them d uri ng recent times, and the family members and intermittent sider their role is a limited one; that special obligations Australia has to cut-offs of the program are also being they are merely the mechanics in the them as a neighbour. used to guarantee the co-operation of exercise and that real power lies with Both Mr Peacock and Mr Macphee the people involved both inside and the Department o f Foreign Affa irs do concede, however, that "the pro­ outside Timar. Certainly Timorese in which has set the parameters and gram has not proceeded as quickly Australia are reluctant to criticise controls the negotiations accord ing as we would have liked". Indonesia for fear of jeopardising the to the constraints of foreign policy . program or bringing harm to a rel a­ These dictate that Australia's trading, Indonesian obstructions tive inside Timor. Australian Govern­ political and defence relations with ment officials reinforce this attitude Indonesia are the priority and that by repeatedly warning Timorese not nothing must be done to erode this The principal responsibility for to criticise or engage in public act­ relationship. It follows then that the slow pace of t he program and its ivity. In this sense the Timorese in Australia will remain low-key on present stalemate rests with the Timor are hostages (or to use the family reunions and attempt to see Indonesian Government and, in part­ icular, its military. They would like, of course, to repair their bad image by repatriating Timorese from Aust­ ... less than 50 per cent of those eligible have come from Timor. ralia to Timor, but as there are no In addition the program now appears to have broken down, and applicants this is not possible. Australian officials are privately admitting it may never be complet­ Australian Foreign Affairs offici­ ed. That is a failure in anybody's book and no cause for self­ als give three reasons for Indonesia's congratulation on the part of the Australian Government. reluctance to allow departures from Timor. One, they are concerned that the exodus of a big number of people would reflect badly on their Timorese term 'political prisoners') that others, including the Timorese, administration; two, they fear that for their detention is being used to do likewise. It will continue to work new arrivals from Timor will talk extract concessions out of and exer­ quietly behind the scenes for the about their experiences since the cise control over other Timorese. reunion program because it is in its Indonesian invasion adding to anti­ domestic political interest to do so. Indonesian reluctance to allow an New procedures will be diplomatical­ Indonesian sentiment in Australia; Australian immigration team to and three, they do not wish to add ly suggested to the Indonesian return to Timor appears to stem bureaucracy for their consideration; to the growing expatriate commun­ from two factors. They fear that the Mr Peacock will discreetly raise the ity of Timorese in Australia who, prolonged presence of such a team matter with Dr Mochtar from time to they fear, may eventually engage in would attract mass applications to time; it will be mentioned during anti-Indonesian activity similar to the leave. There have been many reports routine talks with the Indonesian Moluccans in Holland. now that some 15,000-18,000 ambassador in Canberra; even an Australian officials say they have Timorese filled the streets of Dili extra-low . profile attempt at back­ continually tried to calm Indonesian last year asking to leave when it be­ door negotiations courtesy of a pri­ apprehensions about Timorese 'story­ came known that ICRC was prepar­ vate citizen will be tried. But nothing telling' and hypothetical political act­ ed to act on behalf of Portuguese remotely akin to Australia's public ivity by pointing out there is no nationals. The Indonesians wish to statements and activity on behalf of evidence to support their fears and avoid such a demonstration of dissi­ the US hostages in Teheran can be that in fact they have more to lose dence before officials of a Govern­ expected. For as a senior official in by reneging on their undertaking to ment whom they wish to convince the Immigration Department, L.W.B. reunite families for this will only about the normality of life in East Engledow, has put it recently: "there generate greater antipathy. Privately, Timor. Secondly, the Indonesians is little more we can do without risk­ however, these officials are far from seem not to fully trust the Australian ing a deterioration 1n our relations optimistic about the completion of Government on Timor. For example,

1 with that country" (Indonesia). the reunion program. They believe Mr Norman Hoffmann, the Canberra that some of those on the agreed list official who led the only -immigr­ There have been five years to test the effectiveness of this approach. In who have lived through the Indo­ ation team so far to have visited that time less than 50 per cent of nesian invasion and been eye-witnes­ Timor, reported that during his brief those el igible have come from Timor. ses to particular events or who have stay in December 1978 he had the In addition the program now appears been members of UDT or Fretilin feeling the Indonesians did not to have broken down. And Austral­ may never be reunited with their believe he was an Immigration ian officials are privately admitting families in Australia. official. It is plausible that the Indonesian it may never be completed. That is a method employed to date of allow­ failure in anybody's book and 110 ing Timorese to leave only in ones Good relations with Indonesia cause for self-congratulation on the and twos is intended to enable them the priority part of the Australian Government. to buy time until greater control has If the Australian Government is not been established in Timor and out­ The Australian Government's re­ prepared to concede this and do side visitors can be more freely ad­ action to Indonesian manoeuvres on more who is left to safeguard the mitted to offset refugee criticisms. family reunions is governed above all human rights and futures of the How long this will be is not known; by foreign policy considerations. separated Timorese families? O 30 \ ' ) .; \ '\

TINA, KIM, JULIA, CLEON/CE: CHILDREN WITHOUT PARENTS. The International Year of the Child did nothing for them. Children Without Parents

There are some 50-60 Timorese minors in Australia who younger brothers and sisters. He was in Dili at the time are classified as 'isolated or unattached children'. They of the evacuation where he had been sent to attend fled to Australia in the confusion of mid-1975 leaving Chinese primary school. His parents lived in Manatuto. their parents behind in Timar. They are now cared for by Kim claims to have nominated his parents late in other Timorese around Australia. An Education Depart­ 1975. The Immigration Department, however, has no ment consultant has commented that despite this care, record of this nomination and states that his first nom­ however, "loss of loved ones by death and/or separation ination is dated November 1976. He has written several has been the greatest trauma and is a constant source of letters to immigration officials and the Minister pleading continuing anxiety as the possibility of family reunion for his parents to be allowed to come. These and other becomes more remote". News about the situation in East representations have all been turned down. One letter of Timar and the irregularity and brevity of letters from reply read as follows: relatives only add to this anxiety. "Normal Immigration Policy permits the entry of working age parents provided that the sponsoring son or Their parents are not on the agreed list of 625. daughter has been in Australia for at least three years and Apart from the few who, in 1975-76, were issued with that: Letters of Authority to enter Australia, or promises there­ of, the only hope of reunion for most of them is to return (a) where the parents have three children at least one is to East Timar. Understandably neither parents nor child­ in Australia; ren want this. Because of the suffering in Timar their (b) where the parents have four or five children at least plea is for reunion in Australia. two are in Australia; and Australian Government policy does not permit (c) where the parents have more than five children at minors to sponsor immigrants (though the waiving of this least three must be in Australia. policy in 1975-76 clearly implies there is nothing immut­ able about it). Nor will the Immigration Department offer ... Although you have been in Australia for more than a second chance to those children who in the confusion three years your application cannot be accepted because of 1975 failed to nominate their parents. Further some your parents have five children and only one of the five, who did nominate in 1975-76 were denied 'promissory vourself, is in Australia". (30.8.79) letters' because the Department mistakenly assumed that It seems they could come if they had only two other their absence from home at the time of their evacuation children besides Kim ... from Timar meant they had been 'adopted out'. Kim's parents are now in Jakarta. They arrived there Kim Teng, for example, was 11 years old when he in June 1979, nine months ago, on the first stage of an arrived in Australia as a refugee in September 1975, attempt to get to Australia. The Australian Government accompanied by an aunt with whom he now lives. The continues to refuse to admit them. Meanwhile the pres­ aunt learned later her husband had been killed during the sure on Kim continues to grow, perhaps, some adult Indonesian invasion. Kim left behind his parents and four Timorese fear, until breaking point. O 31 Timorese Refugees In Portugal

A COMMUNITY IN MOURNING

by Jill Jolliffe in Portugal and Pat Walsh

ACFOA and a number of its member agencies have taken an active interest in the plight of the Timorese refugees now in Portugal virtually since the time of their arrival there late in 1976. It was at the initiative of the NGO's that Mr Jim Dunn visited the camps there January 5-23, 1977. His report on that visit did much to publicise their situation in Australia. ACR made $20,000 available in 1977 to help meet the expenses of the refugees' immigration procefures, health assistance and child welfare. Action for World Development has compiled and circulated reports. A!1d ACFOA has called on the Australian Government on a number of occasions to classify this small group as refugees and admit them to Australia on humanitarian grounds. The following account traces the origins, movements and problems of these forgotten refugees from the time of their dis­ placement in 1975 to the present day, and reiterates their case for admission to Australia.

The two majority parties of the escape routes by sea and air were cut West Timor allowed the defeated day, UDT and Fretilin, fought a off, Indonesian Timar provided the UDT troops access to Indonesian short, sharp civil war in East Timor only sanctuary. UDT elements in par­ Timoi' only on condition that they in August/September 1975. Many ticular expected Indonesia would signed a petition to President thousands of civilians - men, women shelter them because it was anti· Suharto appealing for integration and children, sought refuge from this Fretilin. Furthermore they expected with Indonesia - a course they conflict by moving first to the east· their stay in Indonesian Timar would reluctantly took. Within 48 hours ern border area of East Timor then be brief as there was a feeling that they were disarmed and stripped of across into Indonesian Timor as the Portugal would re-assert its authority any personal items of value. Other­ fighting moved in that direction. At and enble them to return. They were wise the refugees were generally well the conclusion of this war in Sept­ to be disappointed on both counts. treated and provided with facilities ember 1975 they were joined by Portugal did not restore its admin­ and abundant food supplies (though several hundred defeated UDT istration and F retilin ran the terri· refugees allege there was significant troops, bringing the total number of tory as its de facto government. And misappropriation of food supplies by refugees in Indonesian Timar to an the initial welcome extended to the Indonesian officials who sold it to estimated 20,000. Some stayed in refugees by the Indonesians soon local Ind onesians and poorly fed the border zone but the majority as­ turned cold when the refugees refus­ Indonesian troops). This was the sit­ sembled in camps set up by the ed to co-operate with Indonesia's uation from September 1975 to Indonesian authorities at Atambua. plans for 'integration' - plans that March 1976. became all too ominous and explicit with the Indonesian invasion of East Twelve months in Timar three months after the refuge­ Hard times at Atambua Indonesian Timar es' arrival in West Timar. This refusal to co-operate cost the refugees dearly Early in the civil war, the RAAF as the following account of their In March 1976, however, the at· and two Portu_guese vessels had fer­ time in West Timar demonstrates. titude of the Indonesian authorities ried some 2500 refugees to Darwin. to the refugees took an abrupt But as the civil war ran its course and The Indonesian authorities in change for the worst. This was pre- 32 c1p1tated by the refusal of the vast evacuation after rece1v1 ng a hand· The priests request to stay behind majority ot the refugees to take part carried letter forwarded by the to continue their work was turned in a pro-Indonesia rally before Adam refugees in May 1976 in which they down with the warning that their Mal ik, then Indonesian Foreign Min­ appealed to him for help as Portu­ safety could not be guaranteed if ister, carrying Indonesian flags and gal's acting representative (Portugal they remained behind. 700 Portugu­ requesting integration. The refugees broke off diplomatic relations with ese passports were also issued at that were told that since East Timor was Indonesia after the 1975 invasion). time for close relatives of the refu- now part of Indonesia they were no longer 'refugees' and as such not en­ titled to special assistance. Six months of grinding hardship follow­ Their 12 month experience has persuaded them that all Atambua ed, so severe that a leading refugee and Dili could offer them and their families was continued suffer­ from those times now in Australia ing and insecurity. Attempts to get to Australia had failed. did not hesitate to call it a 'holo­ Portugal offered the only realistic, though they hoped temporary, caust' for his people. Food supplies alternative. were reduced, then completely cut off. To buy food, people had to sell belongings and carry out hard labour in ricefields and on construction jobs. The small returns these realised The Portuguese Government inter­ gees to be flown to Portugal. Most of were not enough to buy adequate vened initially to secure the release these people were in Dili, and have food. Many died. There were few of 23 Portuguese soldiers who were not been allowed to leave. Most of medical facilities and the hospital imprisoned in Atambua by the Indo­ those who either chose not to leave, was not available to the refugees. nesians after being brought there as or were not allowed to, eventually They were usually asked to pay from prisoners by the ·uDT forces . They returned to East Timor in one way their meagre funds for services such were used as a political bargaining or another. as injections. The Catholic Bishop of point by both the Portuguese and the Those who did go to Portugal Atambua and some of the Indonesian Indonesian Governments. The Indo­ did not want to leave their country. Timorese sympathised with their suf­ nesian Government agreed to sanc­ But their 12 month experience had fering and helped but the military tion the evacuation of the refugees persuaded them that all Atambua was 'omnipotent' and alone had after General Morais-e-Silva argued and Dili could offer them and their effective authority. Camps were that they too weFe Portuguese citi­ families was continued suffering and supervised by armed guards and the zens and should be extended the insecurity. Attempts to get to Aust­ Timorese were not allowed to move same rights as the Portuguese soldiers. ralia had failed. Portugal offered the freely. This contributed to the gen­ The agreement, however, did not only realistic, though they hoped eral atmosphere of powerlessness as prevent the Indonesian authorities . temporary, alternative. And so they it was very difficult to hold meetings from circulating rumours <>rnongst went into exile 20,000 miles from or make contact with the outside the refugees that if they applied for Timar and Australia, gratefully, but world. Efforts to contact Australia to evacuation they would be killed. nevertheless under duress as refugees. arrange for immigration there failed. In fact two days before the Dutch Their detention continued long after Ambassador visited Atambua to final­ The situation in Portugal today conditions in Dili and other centres ise the evacuation arrangements, in East Timor were said to be secure. 7000 Timorese were forced to move At the end of March the priests at back into East Timor denying them Today, five years after civi I war Atambua were told by the Indones­ the opportunity to go to Portugal. and then invasion caused them to ian authoritie.s their Bishop in Dili They reportedly suffered badly in flee their homeland, most of Portu­ wished to see them. No such request the harsh conditions at Batugade gal's 1600 East Timorese still live in had been made but their three-week their destination in East Timar. refugee camps on the outskirts of visit to Dili, where they were horrifi­ Of the estimated 5000 who, Lisbon. The ref1,1gees are scattered ed by what they saw and heard of despite intimidation, asked to go to over eight different centres, all run the Indonesian invasion, was a turn­ Portugal, only those who happened by Portuguese Red Cross. The main ing point in their search for security. to be at Atambua between June and concentration is at Balteiro camp, They returned to Atambua convinc­ October 1976 were permitted to 200 kms from Lisbon, where several ed there was no future for their leave. This included a small number hundred Timorese live alongside people under Indonesia, either in of Timorese and Chinese (approxi­ refugees from Angola and Mozam­ West Timor or in Indonesian-control­ mately 25) who had paid bribes to bique. The Red Cross provides free led East Timar. travel from Dili to Atambua after the food and housing for the unemploy­ Indonesian invasion. This group of ed, and has recently built new houses 1400 (the exact figure was 1392 Escape to Portugal within the camp for those who have according to the Commissariat for work and can pay rent - a minority. Evacuees of the UNHCR) travelled to The rest live in shanty houses. A Nevertheless the refugees claim Portugal in several contingents during river polluted by refuse from the they would not have been allowed to September-October. Some were camp runs nearby. leave Indonesian Timor were it not transported direct to Lisbon by the for the intervention of the Portugu­ Portuguese airforce. Others went by Most of them have no future - at ese Commission led by General boat from Atapupu to Kupang, took least not in Portugal which rates as Morais-e-Silva and the Netherlands planes to Bali, and were then taken one of Europe's poorest countries. Embassy in Jakarta. The Dutch to Lisbon by Garuda Indonesian air­ Inflation and unemployment are Ambassador agreed to assist in their ways. rampant, the cost of living high. 33 The Quinta do Balteiro camp illustrates the primitive conditions in which 1600 Timorese refugees are living in Portugal.

Some 500,000 'returnees' who fled who have not lost friends or relativ­ receiving adequate relief aid, to to Portugal from Angola, .Mozam­ es under the Indonesian occupation. issu ing press releases about the war in bique and Guinea-Bissau when in­ Some letters simply list deaths and Timor. dependence came to these former dates. A person interviewed recent­ The Commission also subsidises colonies, have placed added strains ly, from a coffee-growing village in Lisbon's only Timorese restaurant, a on the. depressed Portuguese econ­ the central mountain district, receiv­ wholly refugee venture launched on a omy and because of their better job ed a letter from friends telling her loan from Caritas, but which has qualifications they often outbid the she was the last surviving member of since run into misfortune, including Timorese for scarce jobs. her family. Huddling with thousands a large robbery from the premises, of others in the dark coffee plant­ and is threatened with closure for Afflicted by the suffering of their ations - in fear of the Indonesian lack of financial backing. The Com­ families in Indonesian-occupied army, but out of reach of food sup­ mission gives high priority to sup­ Timor, and living in impoverished plies - the whole family had died of porting young people to stay in social conditions with only bleak starvation. school - community leaders regard prospects ahead of them in Portugal, education as an important weapon in they are sustained by two things: the Life in the refugee camps the struggle to survive. All hope, hope that the Australian Govern­ despite the ravages of the country ment will allow them to live and under the Indonesian occupation, work in Australia, and a highly­ In this context, the task of keep­ they will one day return to an in­ developed community structure ing alive the spirit of this mourning dependent East Timor. They have a which keeps traditional values alive community is a full-time one. The and ensures every refugee is cared Timorese Refugee Commission perspective of training the youth for future national leadership. There is for. (CRTP) operates from Balteiro camp concern about the breakdown of traditional values. Many young people are unemployed, and finding Afflicted by the suffering of their families in Indonesian-occupied it difficult to cope with an urbanised Timor, and living in impoverished social conditions with only society drastically different from bleak prospects ahead of them in Portugal, they are sustained by their own. The Timorese are a crime­ two things: the hope that the Australian Government will allow free community, but family prob­ them to live and work in Australia, and a highly-developed com­ lems are increasing - pregnant daughters and runaway children are a munity structure ... new problem. In some cases tribal courts still judge family disputes, but for young people traditional values Most East Timorese receive regu­ under the leadership of Father are less meaningful today. lar news of the war in Timor, from Apolonario Gutteres. Its tasks range Although most refugees agree that family letters (usually censored, but from repairing family quarrels, find­ life in Lisbon is privileged compared some escape the censor) and from ing work for the many unemployed, to the ordeal of their families in East the regular stream of new arrivals organising traditional festivals, ensur­ Timor, their hopes for the future do who have bribed their way out of ing that the most needy refugees not focus on Portugal in economic or East Timor. There are few people (usually single parent families) are cultural terms. The Timorese do not 34 Timorese refugees' plea to be admitted to Australia

Eastern Timor, for the people of that beautiful land, is today a lost Paradise. Peace, rest, tranquility belong to the past. War, hatred and uncertainty have deprived our lovely homeland of all the necessities of life . Now it is a deserted island, abandoned, isolated, solitary. Now, when jet planes, telecommunication and technological power have eliminated distance and isolation. So, today the people of Timor are doing all in their power, by every means at their disposal to immigrate because the land of their birth is no longer their Paradise. Invoking the humanitarian principles of Pancasila which the Republic of Indonesia scrupulously adopts as a norm of life, we ask her to respect the life and physical integrity of our brothers as well as the will of those who wish to immigrate. As for those who are now in Australia we can only offer them our congratulations for having settled down so well in the community of that blessed land while we express our sincere gratitude to the Australians for the friendly welcome and generous hospitality given to our brothers. This generosity has extended even as far as the Timor refugees in Portugal by means of the substantial donation sent to the Service of Catholic IV'igration and destined in a special way to pay the expenses of the immigration _erocedures, health assistance and child welfare. As for the 1,600 Timor people now resident in Portugal, no one can count on security for the future. All live at the expense of the Portuguese Government. With half a million coming from the ex-Overseas Colonies the Government is just powerless to cope with the problem of unemployment. For this reason we, about a year ago, appealed to the Australian Government to open their door to us. Our first appeal was made by means of a letter published by the illustrious journalist Cameron Forbes in "THE AGE" of November 1976 and again through the honoured members of the Australian Govern­ ment who visited us and recalled the happy comradeship and spirit of solidarity shown by our people during the Second World War. Our desired goal is AUSTRALIA which shelters the greatest community of Timor people now exiled from their native land. It is our preference among many nations not only because of its geographical affinities but especially because of the exemplary treatment afforded to our brethren already settled down there. These we hope and pray will take care of new arrivals and, in a short time, from their own experience guide and direct them towards a perfect integration. We lament to have to say that of the 1,600 petitions for immigration to Australia, up to today, only a little more than 200 persons who happen to have relations there, were granted. This number constitutes 1 /8 of the total. Considering that 7 /8 of the refugees do not have the requisites necessary for immigration we now appeal directly to the Christian Families of Australia to take the responsibility with AUSTRALIAN 1"'1MIGRATION for the entrance of Timorese families. The Timor family is profoundly christian and united. There are families who need to educate their children and all desire to reconstruct their way of life. This will only be possible if they are economically independent. This ambition can only be realised through immigration to Australia. So, we leave this our appeal to the consideration of the Christian Families of Australia and we thank in anticipation all those among the thousands of Christian families in whose generous hearts this appeal will find an echo.

(Signed) Father Francisco Maria Fernandes PRESIDENT OF THE COIV!MISSION OF TIMOR REFUGEES IN PORTUGAL 25 March, 1978.

regard Portuguese culture as their This was their wish even in Atambua establishing contact with friends own. It is alien and far removed from but circumstances then left them no and relatives when access to the what they have known. They think choice but to go to Portugal. territory is eventually permitted of themselves as Timorese and only Their reasons for wanting to come by Indonesia. Timar is only 350 as Portuguese in the technical sense. to Australia can be summarised as miles from Darwin, a short plane follows: trip. 5) a sense of comradeship and feel­ Let us come to Australia 1) reunion with families and friends ing that we owe them something - many have relatives among the because of collaboration in the 3000 or so Timorese already in Second World War against Japan. The over-riding ambition of, most Australia and of course value the To quote Fr Francisco Fernandes, of them is to come to Australia to extended family very highly . Chairman of the Refugees in join the Timorese here who now 2) better prospects for employment Portugal, speaking in May 1978: form the biggest community of and a new life - they know Timorese outside East Timor. This "It is natural to want to go Timorese are well-accepted and has been their aspiration from the there. Not just because it is close to can find factory work easily here. beginning. The journalist Cameron Timor ... but because we have been Forbes reported in November 1976: 3) Australia's geographic and clima­ friends and neighbours in the past. " In tent after tent people who are tic affinity to Timar. During the war against the Japanese, askep simply what they wanted to do 4) A general wish to live not very far we helped Australia, especially in the say, simply, 'go to Australia'". from Timor with a view to re- fighting. Thousands of Timorese 35 died. Now we are in a difficult situ· daughters and brothers or sisters Alberto, for example, although a ation and we are asking for Australia of Australian residents or appli· white-collar worker all his life first in to help us". cants where special circumstances Dili and now in Lisbon, last year did are evident. They will be exempt· a bricklayer's course to try and quat~ ed from the normal occupational ify himself for Australia. He is still Australian Government criteria provided they are able awaiting acceptance. Rejection on response otherwise to meet the remaining this basis, however, would not seem migrant requirements; or to take into account the fact that un­ c) applicants able to meet the nor­ employment amongst the Timorese What has been the Australian mal personal and occupational already in Australia is virtually non· Government's response to this case criteria. existent, despite the state of the for admission? The normal health and character labour market, and the fact that few To date the Government has re­ requirements must be met and visas Timorese with good qualifications jected the Timorese argument for will be granted only to persons have managed to find employment special consideration. intending permanent settlement in here consistent with their skills and According to an Australian Gov­ Australia". previous experience. ernment "Green Paper" on immigr­ It should be noted that section b) ation and refugee policy, "Australia of this quotation which permits the recognises that people can be in a The Lypinto family have four sponsorship of brothers/sisters and refugee-type situation and merit children of their own, and cus­ adult sons/daughters or applicants sympathetic consideration although tody of two teenage children where special circumstances are their status has not been officially orphaned by the war. Mr evident, represents a relaxation of recognised by the UNHCR (Chap. 5, Lypinto is diabetic and cannot the normal criteria. This relaxation page 39, emphasis added). It has not, work, and each winter seems was terminated in February 1979 however, extended this "sympathetic colder than the last in their because the Immigration Depart­ consideration" to the Timorese or ac· poorly-heated hut. He receives ment considered it had "fulfilled its a pension of around $70 a cepted that it has an obligation to purpose". them as refugees. Along with the UN, month, and his wife does To date about 500 out of the and Portugal itself, Australia does embroidery to supplement original 1400 who came from West not classify them as refugees, ·pre­ their income. The eight of Timar in 1976 have been settled in ferring instead the term "quasi· them live in a hut ten by seven Australia on the basis of these cri­ metres divided into four refugees" or "evacuees". Under the teria. UN charter on refugees, a person can­ rooms. They have no running Other refugees have moved out of water and the electricity sup­ not be a refugee in his or her own the camp after finding work or gone country. Thus the Timorese - who ply from the main camp gen­ as emigrant workers to other parts of erator often fails. Mr and Mrs are legally Portuguese citizens - can­ Europe. Refugee numbers rose back not be refugees in Portugal, although Lypinto have many cousins in to the original 1976 total last year Australia, but this does not by any human standard they are with the arrival of around 65G clearly refugees and their experience alter their situation - in Aust­ Timorese-Chinese who paid bribes to ralia's eyes they are neither testifies to this. They certainly think Indonesian officials to be allowed of themselves as such. refugees nor eligible to enter leave Timar. Some of these new ar­ Australia as ordinary immi­ Second, the Australian Govern· rivals are eligible for Australia be­ grants. r:nent has applied selective criteria cause they have family here, and are admitting only those with immediate merely waiting for applications to be The Australian Government has family in Australia or professional processed. rejected the Timorese case for ad­ job qualifications. The former Min­ There still remains, however, a mission to Australia. It has chosen ister for Immigration and Ethnic hard core of several hundred East to ignore the reality of their refugee Affairs, Michael MacKellar, explained Timorese who want to come to Aust­ status and the claims that Timorese it as follows in a letter of 26.4.1977: ralia but are not eligible. have on us by reason of our historical and geographical links. It has opted to do things by the book. The largest community of East In view of the conditions under which they now live and the Timorese outside Timar is now locat· relatively small numbers involved, it is high time all these unfor­ ed in Australia and so it is under­ tunate people were offe,red the chance to immigrate to Australia. standable that the majority of the Timorese in Portugal should wish to come here. In view of their long­ standing aspirations which they have clung to with little encouragement, "I have decided that admission The immigration dice are loaded and the terrible reality of their of East Timorese in Portugal may be against the Timorese being accept­ refugee experience from 1975 until approved if they are: ed as ordinary immigrants. Coming today, and in view of the conditions a) nominated immediate family from underdeveloped East Timor, under which they now live and the members of Australian residents, very few have the skil'ls or qualifi­ relatively small numbers involved it i.e. spouses, dependent children, cations generaHy sought after in is high time all these unfortuna~e parents and fiance(e)s,· modern, industrial Australia. Some people were offered the chance to b) nominated non-dependent sons or are attempting to acquire these skills. immigrate. O 36 Australian Military Aid To Indonesia

by Richard Tanter

The Australian Government recently announced that it will expand its military assistance programme to Indonesia, currently running at about $7 million a year, with an additional gift of six Nomad Searchmaster reconnaissance and surveil­ lance aircraft worth a total of $10 million. The aircraft, which follow 12 other Nomads either given or sold to Indo­ nesia by Australia in recent years, are intended for use in countering smuggling and illegal fishing, and to this end have been fitted with sophisticated electronics equipment and all weather radar. The reconnaissance and surveillance capacities of the aircraft are potential­ ly of more direct military significance to the Indonesian navy and airforce. A most important part of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor has been a highly successful physical and information blockade of the territory, which has prevent­ ed the outside world from ascertaining the truth of conflicting claims about the on-going war there, and has also prevented aid and church organisations from sending much needed food and medical supplies. The Nomad aircraft and other parts of the Australian military aid programmes such as patrol boats boosted the Indonesian capacity to maintain such a blockade, whether or not they were actually used in East Timor itself. The provision of military aid to a neighbouring country is one of the most direct expressions of alliance and shared goals to be found in international society. Indonesia receives large amounts of military aid from the United States and Australia, and spends lc:~ge amounts of its foreign exchange on arms pur­ chases. The Australian military aid, while small in relation to the total Indo­ nesian military expenditure, is a palpable symbol of our Government's support for the uses to which Indonesia's military capacity is put.

Since 1974, Indonesia has been a government-sponsored bid to the largest recipient of Australian Maritime Patrol Project support De Havilland sales it was military aid after Papua-Niugini and claimed that "the new surveillance the 1978-79 estimated expenditure version of the Nomad, known as the was $6,900,000. The largest single item in the Searchmaster and costing $900,000, The expanded, regular programme current Indonesian programme is the is better equipped with radar than to Indonesia was established, in a Maritime Patrol project involving the any plane in the RAAF. It is fitted rather ad hoc way with the 1972 provision of Nomad aircraft, 16m. with a Canadian-built Litton LSR-2 offer by the McMahon Government De Havilland patrol boats, refurbish­ ground and sea surveillance radar of 16 ex-RAAF Avon Sabre fighter ed ex-RAN Attack Class patrol which can pick up objects over a aircraft. In succeeding years the pro­ boats and an RAN advisory team. radius of 100 nautical miles." (Week· gramme underwent rationalisation This project typifies the nature and end Australian June 17-18, 1!F8l and has now taken on the common difficulties of the aid relationship pattern built around a number of in policy terms. Ex -RAN Attack Class patrol boats core projects which continue for Since 1973 12 l\lomad aircraft of 146 ton displacement have been several years. Such projects currently have been donated or sold to the refitted and handed over to the include a maritime patrol project (air­ Indonesian naval forces (and the In donesian Navy in recent years. De craft, patrol boats and advisors), a recent announcement will take the Ha villand Carpenteria 16m. patrol joint topographical and geological total to 18). Manufactured by the boats complete the equipment mapping project, provision of field Government Aircraft Factory, the provided in this programme. The communications equipment and heli­ Nomad N22B Searchmaster was spec­ patrol boats (at least the 16m. craft) copters, a long-standing co-operative ially developed for reconnaissance are handed over without armament, military research programme, joint and surveillance work to Indonesian but are readily fitted out with a exercises and training facilities. In requirements. The electronic survei l­ variety of weapons. addition a regular intelligence ex­ lance equipment provided other than The stated intention of this pro­ change programme operates. weather radar is not known, but after ject is to provide the Indonesian 37 Navy with tacil 1t1es 10 combat inter­ the mountainous territory of West Oueenscliff Australian Staff College, national and domestic inter-island lrian, and the encirclement and an· the Canungra School of Military smuggl ing. Undoubtedly this goal has nihilation tactics used by the in­ Intelligence, flying and ground crew been enhanced, but more im port­ vasion forces in East Timar. training, and others. antly, the naval and air surveillance The training of foreign personnel capacity thus provided by this Aust­ Sabre Aircraft is a key part of all military assistance ralian equipment has very substan­ programmes and is a long-standing tially added to the ability of the part of Australia's programme with In 1973, 16 ex-RAAF Avon Sabre Indonesian armed forces to carry out Indonesia. But in recent years, bitter fighters were handed over to the its invasion of East Timar and to criticism has been mounted against Indonesian Air Force, and since that maintain an active counter-insur­ such programmes. gency campaign in West lrian. time Australian training and support A crucial (and continuing) part of staff have remained at lswahyudi In the first instance, the Indo­ the Indonesian strategy in the in­ Air Base in Java . (The Defence nesian Government has given no vasion of East Timar was the establ­ Report, 1975 stated that the RAAF assurances that those of its service­ ishment and maintenance of a Sabre Advisory Unit was disbanded men who have trained in Australia, blockade around the whole island of in February 1975, (p.12) but large or who have been trained by Aust­ Timor, to prevent the movement of amounts of money continue to be ralian advisory teams in Indonesia, news and information, medical and spent on this project.) The costs of will not be used in the invasion of military supplies, food or people into this advisory team have been sur­ East Timar, or in counter-insurgency East Timar except under Indonesian prisingly high. In some ways, this operations in West lrian, or in in­ control. The Indonesian air and naval project is a legacy of the early phase cursions on the territory of Papua­ surveillance capacity together with of the defence co-operation program­ Niugin i. Indeed, the Indonesian Gov­ ernment could not give such assur­ the Indonesian Government's refusal me in which political expediency ances, since these trainees would to guarantee non-combatant status to outweighed technical rationality, in later rejoin their units, and in the barges loaded with medical supplies which surplus and obsolete equip­ "normal" course of events, be sent from Australian church and aid ment was commonly supplied. with them to East Timar on tours of groups, led to the Australian Govern­ These aircraft have not seen com­ duty there. In fact, it is more likely ment's refusal to allow the barges to bat service in Indonesia, and have that Australian trained personnel sail. been of limited use to the recipients. would be involved in the war, since Although the Australian Govern­ However, the aircraft have undoub­ they would have been selected for ment has received assurances that tedly been a stepping stone for train­ training on the basis of their future Australian-supplied war material will ing and planning purposes in the leadership prospects, and hence not be used in operations in East recent expansion of the Indonesian Timor, there have been no opportun­ Air Force with more modern equip­ would more than likely be placed with the rather small part of the ities to verify this claim. Moreover, ment. as a number of observers have point­ Indonesian military which is actually ed out, the militarily significant capable of difficult combat oper­ Field Communication Project consequence of the Australian co­ ations of the type required in East operation is that the new surveillance Timar rather than the normal and and interception equipment increases This project commenced in 1972 sedate activities of village control by the overall archipelagic military capa­ with a grant of 500 field trans­ surveillance in Java and elsewhere. city of the Indonesian armed forces, ceivers; indeed between 1972 and This aspect of Australia's defence and releases equipment supplied by 1975 1,261 field transceivers were co-operation programme with Indo­ other sources for use in the East turned over. The current stage of the nesia undoubtedly constitutes a Timar war. project has provided decentralised powerful indirect form of support Sioux Helicopters repair facilities for field rad,io trans­ for Indonesia's aggression against ceivers. Clearly, this project contri­ foreign countries in the region. Similar considerations apply to butes to the capacity of Indonesian the transfer of Sioux helicopters, military forces in their operation in Claims were made in 1974 that worth an estimated $2 million in West lrian and East Timar. the training of Indonesian officers in 1978c79. Presumably formerly in ser­ intelligence work included training vice with Australian forces, these in hostile interrogation. aircraft increase the mobility of Training programmes The commanding officer at the Indonesian armed forces. This pro­ Woodside, S.A .. Army Intelligence ject is linked to the simultaneous Since 1971, at least 890 Indo­ Centre in May 1974 confirmed that expansion of Indonesia's helicopter nesian servicemen have received a number of Indonesians had been forces in other directions. In recent training in a wide variety of courses, and were continuing to be trained in years Bell helicopters have been in Australian military establishments. interrogation techniques, and the ordered or purchased from the USA, Although small-scale officer training Minis:er representing the Minister of and licensed production of two commenced in 1962 no specific Defence in the Senate confirmed the European military helicopters has appropriation was made until 1972. essence of the claim in July 1974. been commenced: the Messerschmit­ The actual numbers have fluctuat­ The courses have now been trans­ Bohm-Bolkow MBB 105 and the ed a great deal, but in the past two ferred to the Army School of Mili­ larger Aerospatiale Puma. years, proposed expenditure has set­ tary Intelligence at Canungra. The The development of more mobile tled at $150,000. Courses attended courses symbolise the Australian military force is considered a neces­ in the past have included full-length Government's willingness to co­ sity given the tactical requirements Duntroon officer training, staff operate with representatives of a of counter-insurgency operations in courses for senior officers at the government who utilise an unknown 38 array of advanced and basic torture techniques against c1t1zens of their own country and others, as part of the day to day functioning of the military's role in that country. Wit­ nesses amongst Timorese refugees reaching Australia and Portugal have reliably reported that Indonesian Army inteUigence officers have fre ­ quently tortured East Ti morese civilians in the course of hostile interrogations in Timor.

Survey and Mapping project

Since 1970, Australian Army, Air Force, and Navy have co-operat­ ed with Indonesian c1vil1an and military units in a series of large and complex topographical mapping and surveying projects commencing in Kalimantan, extending to South Sumatra and trom 1976 to the pre­ sent in West lrian. The importance of the Austral­ ian contribution of advanced tech­ nology to the West lrian project is clear. Traditional methods of survey­ ing would have been quite inade­ quate for the extremely difficult terrains of West lrian. The nominal aim of the West lrian topographical survey, together with a parallel civil aid geological and gravity survey (to be conducted over a period at 10 years at an estimated aerial photography in extremely military authorities, has two, inter­ cost of $6.2 million), is to enhance rugged, unfamiliar and hostile terri­ related goals. In the context of West "planning for national development". tory. Papuan society, the form of econom­ In a strict sense th is is true: the two Hence there can be little surprise ic development proposed (and impos­ surveys will make possible the pene­ that West Papuan guerilla fighters ed) by Jakarta, for which the two tration of remote areas by govern­ have claimed that the Australian pro­ surveys are necessary, is in itself the ment administrators, business enter­ ject is providing direct military prime cause for the opposition, prises and so forth. They will also assistance to the central govern­ sometimes in military form, which greatly assist in the location and ment's ability to bomb and strafe the mapping will assist the author­ exploitation of mineral deposits. villages, their populations and crops. ities to attempt to destroy. Only Yet it is important to understand Spokesmen for the OPM threatened in the most short-sighted of policy that the goal of "national develop­ the Australian military personnel and considerations is the mapping "en­ ment" is not an agreed goal in West equipment involved, and subsequent­ tirely peaceable". lrian. Indeed, one authority has ly claimed responsibility for the shown that the Free Papua Move­ c;rash of an RAAF helicopter in ment (OPM) has its roots in wide­ which one person was killed. The Research and Development spread village-based opposition to the Prime Minister in response claimed particular form of economic develop­ that the mapping project was "en­ ment which is being imposed by the A small but C0'1tinuing item of tirely peaceable". In fact, this central (in fact, largely Javanese) expenditure that has received sur­ technically true answer may be be­ Indonesian government authorities prisingly Iittle public consideration side the point, since more detailed on the reluctant West lrianese (Nonie is an apparently long-standing pro­ and accurate information has establ­ Sharp The Rule of the Sword, 1977). gramme of co-operation between the ished that Indonesian Air Force air­ The two surveys will provide in­ Indonesian and Australian military craft have attacked villages in areas dispensable tools for the activities research and development sections. where Australian personnel had of Indonesian armed forces in their According to the Defence Report, previously worked. persisting and bitter campaign to 1974 this dates back to 1974. break the broad-based power of the Beyond the question of the pol­ Indonesian State Radio, however, OPM. Only the Australian high tech­ itical desirability of co-operation in claims it began in 1970 and has given nology surveying facilities will give such savage repression of Indonesia's this statement of its purpose: the result Indonesian counter-insur­ own citizens, it is important to "Since 1970, Indonesia and Aust­ gency operations require: accurate understand that the project, certain­ ralia have co-operated in defence and detailed maps and precision ly in the eyes of the Indonesian research and development mainly in 39 upgrading the skills of . . . personnel Korean Tacoma-class patrol boats and air exercises have been conduct· in finding rockets which are suitable using Aerospat1ale Exocet missiles, ed with Indonesia. Although early in for the Indonesian armed forces". and the US Northrop F -S E Tiger 11 1977 Indonesia declined an Aust· This was reported in the context and British Aerospace Hawk HS ral ian invitation for naval exercises of proposals by Indonesia and Singa­ 1182 ground attack aircraft. because of differences in views about pore to utilise expertise from the This Australian project constitutes the Indian Ocean, in November that Weapons Research Establishment to direct encouragement to this regional year the exercise Southern Cross 11 assist missile development. Little is tendency to expand the number and was held in the Coral Sea with two known about past and continuing sophistication of weapons. Indonesian destroyer escorts, three aspects of this project, but it is Australian large ships, a submarine , particularly important given lndo· Joint exercises patrol craft and RAAF aircraft. At nesia's purchase of weapons using least one other exercise has been extremely sophisticated missiles: Since 1972, at least six joint naval held since that time. 0

Some ACFOA Recommendations on Australian Military Aid

1. Military aid policy should be seen in terms of overall foreign policy which should be directed at the peaceful encouragement of change towards more equitable distribution of resources, less political repression and denial of human rights and a lowering of the rate of military expansion in the area.

2. Some criteria which should govern the allocation of military aid by Australia are: • the external defence needs of the recipient country; • the risk of increased militarisation of the economy, administrative apparatus and foreign policy of the recipient country; • the human rights record of the recipient country.

3. Military aid projects should be separated out from civil aid programmes and subjected to the above criteria.

4. The link between military aid and Australian domestic prod1.1ction should be prevented.

5. The Government should work to reduce the level of armaments to the region and outlaw the use of inhumane weapons.

(From the ACFOA submission to the Harnes enq uiry on Australia 's relations with the Third World , Nov. 1978).

EAST TIMOR our nearest neighbour In• need

The East Timor Relief Appeal is working for three concerns: 1) to bring relief to the suffering of East Timor, 2) to reunite separated families, and 3) to assist Timorese refugees in Portugal. The Appeal is sponsored by Australian Catholic Relief, Australian Council of Churches, Austcare, Commun­ ity Aid Abroad, Freedom from Hunger Campaign, Save the Children Fund, and St Vincent de Paul. Donations may be sent to East Timar Relief Appeal, GPO Box 9900 in any capital city.

40 An Indonesian Perspective On East Timor

Abdurrahman Wahid visited Melbourne in March and was interviewed by Mark Raper seeking his views on East Timor. Wahid was born in Jombang in 1940, educated in a pesantren (Islamic live-in educational institution) and then in Cairo and Bagdad. He is the Director of Pesantren Ciganjur near Jakarta, first secretary of the Executive Board of Nahdatul Ulama and a columnist of Kompas and Tempo. He has emerged in recent years as a leading Muslim intellectual concerned with development issues and is courageously critical of the Indonesian government on many points.

Pak Wahid, as an Indonesian, how do you look at the issue take .: critical stand on a number of issues within Indo­ of East Timor? nesia. What are the ways in which you are able, within Generally in regard to East Timar, I feel we should Indonesia, to speak to an issue like this one? now try to find solutions to problems rather than just That's impossible now because the articles I write on concentrating on what the problems are. Firstly it is very Timar are returned to me by all of the mass media even important that our accounts of East Timar be accurate. 'Tempo', and believe me, I wrote hundreds of just Recently I received a publication from India which said arti~les appealing that we should hear the other case, the other that the war in East Timar is still continuing. Now we side. Secondly, I think that to criticise the government in know that the issue has been resolved militarily yet some this context is useless. The important thing is to propose groups still talk about resistance as if to imply that this is more constructive actions. So that is why that kind of still in question. The army now has control. There have unobjective use of the media, as in the report from India, indeed been great sacrifices and losses by the people there is detrimental to us, it just does not help. At the same and there is resentment by East Timorese of the Indo­ time as that Indian report came, the Intelligence ap­ nesian army, but it is not useful to speak as if it is not proached me with a summary of their report. Since they now resolved. The second problem is, how to accommo­ knew I was critical, they presumed I agreed with that line, date those who don't agree with Indonesia, and this is our they had written it down summarised on a piece of paper problem. It's about this problem that we must really work and showed it to me. They said, 'Do you still agree with towarc;ts finding solutions. And this is not your problem, this position, yes or no?' You see they do not understand it is ours. The task is social integration in East Timar, we criticism, they do not understand that I tried to find a have to try. With the military power there some of the middle way, not just to criticise. people have fled, some stay. Some have given into what­ ever resettlement program will now be made. Well, how Now the approach that I would like to follow is a will the Indonesians accommodate to their need, their cultural one. How can we promote the cultural identity of spirit and their identity? While the fact is that the Indo­ the East Timorese person? That is important and it is nesian army is there and it is declared an Indonesian political. It should be done through the development of province, East Timar has problems that are at least not the East Timorese language and through the traditions of less than those of the immediate surrounding islands and t~e people so that they can still maintain something East regions. T1morese and not be engulfed by the lndonesianisation. Then in the future there would still be the possibility of So much has happened over the last five years and a rever­ them to decide for themselves what they want because sal of this you say, certainly any immediate reversal is now, as things are, decision-making is not in their hands highly improbable. Yet people like you have been abl~ to but we must look to the future. ' 41 . You see in Australia you have Greek people living i'n Melbourne and they are still Greek. That is the meaning of integration. In Indonesia therse people can still be, in culture and language, East Timorese, though their nation­ ality can be Indonesian.

The role of the schools then is very important? Yes it must be an educational program according to East Timorese needs, not according to Indonesian needs. I am afraid that the bringing of television programs to Timor now and the opening up of a television station is to go in the opposite direction. I fear for this program of nationalising East Timor, so we should run a program of defending, of fostering and of counter-balancing.

Is there an attempt to spread Islam in East Timor? I heard that there was a fear of that. Well I don't think so. There is one fundamentalist group that may have about 10 to 12 students but it is something that they are doing, not only in East Timar but everywhere; they have a missionary attitude. The resur­ gence of Islamic activity though is more in Kupang in West Timar. They had a conference on Islamic education there last year.

Whi.le we may acknowledge that East Timor is now claim· ed to be a province of Indonesia and that a greater respon­ l 11 /!fl sibility therefore lies on Indonesian people to see that this integration is not done .in a way that damages the culture of the people or their right of choice, do you have any advice for us ·in Australia? Is there a role that we can play? Yes I thin k there are important things that you can do. You can aid the East Timorese to set up their own pro­ grams because Jakarta will not provide that. From Jakarta they will come with books in Indonesian language, the national language, written by non-Timorese, they will not account enough for Timorese culture, but you can assist them. You can assist by publishing books for them and help open up schools there and promote cultural activit­ ies as well. This is the main thing to be done.

But we have no access at all. You can work through national organisations there. Of course the army will be suspicious at first but they must allow you to do that, otherwise it will be cultural geno­ cide. I am confident in this opinion. It does not apply to East Timar only but it applies to Aceh, it applies also to the people of West lrian and what's important in those places is that there are Muslims, but they are nonetheless cornered and they are being forced to submit, whereas in East Timor there is the Church and you can assist the Church to protect the culture of the people. If the Church feels it's dangerous to go alone I will be glad if they want to work together because this is a national concern, it is the concern of every Indonesian. My own society, a human rights society, would be glad to do something to assist in this. We have already tried to make some first steps by collecting information about East Timor. This wiU be the coming of age for Indonesians: when we can solve problems Hke this one of the Timorese people in a satisfactory way. It applies also to those animistic people and alienated communities who are scat­ tered around within the outer islands. The government tries to force them all to follow the path of modernis­ ation, but within Indonesia we have the responsibility to look to their rights. 0 42 The East Timor Issue Today

An Interview with Jim Dunn, by Brendan C'Dwyer

The Indonesian occupation of East Timor has meant demonstrably only massive trauma and suffering for Australia's tiny near neighbour. Nevertheless, according to a recent statement by the Australian Foreign Minister, efforts to achieve the right of self-determination for the East Timorese are "pointless ... (and) incapable of practical implementation for the real benefit of the Timorese people". The follow­ ing interview shows that a significant number of governments, human rights organisations, concerned individuals and, most importantly, the Timorese themselves, believe just the contrary - that far from being a "sterile political debate" it is precisely the exercise of their right to self-determination which holds the key to the happiness and peace of the Timorese people. Jim Dunn was Australia's consul in East Timor, 1962-1964. He re-visited the territory in 1975 and has written and spoken extensively on the subject.

Jim Dunn, what is the situation in East Timor today? ness and hostility of the Timorese towards the Indo­ Well of course not much information is coming into nesians. the Australian press about the situation right now and the Timorese are obviously facing greater difficulty in getting What do you know about the nature of the Indonesian information out. But I've had some information from administration and army control? letters received by Timorese in Australia and from Portu­ The overall military command, the Nusatenggara gal, where there seems to be more activity and interest in the subject at this time. And from these it seems the mili­ Command, is conducted from Bali, under Brigadier­ tary struggle is continuing and, although I've been rather General Kalbuadi. Timor itself is divided into some 13 sceptical and guarded in the past towards reports about military districts. I don't know how many troops are there the military resistance, it seems there's a fairly extensive but there has been one hard report of two battalions near the town of Laga on the north-east coast, a place I amount of fighting in the eastern part of the territory be­ know fairly well. To have two battalions in that one tween say Venilale and Tutuala in that central mountain particular area which does not have much merit otherwise area. There are also persistent reports that fighting is - it's away from the main centres - suggests there are continuing elsewhere. One report suggests there's fighting considerable military establishments around the country­ going on all over East Timor but I find this hard to accept side. There have also been reports in the last six months even allowing for Indonesian inefficiency and the bitter· of continuing air activity, but exactly where it's taking place and whether there's bombing or machine-gunning etc. we don't know.

There could be several thousand Timorese hiding But these are indications that there is still a good deal of away, very bitter, but nevertheless committed resistance. enough and armed well enough to create an Yes. It is also interesting to note that there was an environment of insecurity in many parts of the article in the Age a few days ago from the Observer territory ... correspondent in Jakarta who said there are about 300 armed resisters left. I don't know where the author got the information but what is interesting about it is that 43 operating in East Timor, the actual foreign presence is not only tiny but in some cases quite occasional. I under­ stand that one American CRS official is allowed make occasional visits but there is no non-Indonesian permanent CRS presence there. Even in the case of ICRC only one foreign official, a doctor, has been there all along, but only one - the rest stationed there are Indonesians. One limitation in this situation is that the Indonesian Red Cross is controlled by the army. So not much inform­ ation is coming out that way and in any case the ICRC is very careful not to become a source of information about political matters.

You've followed the situation very closely in the past few years and the situation has been one of immense dis­ location of the people. What would you think the situ­ ation is now, what would the standard of living be, what sort of problems would the people be facing? The way I see it from reports coming out is that the Indonesians, partly for security reasons and partly because of the dislocation, have herded the bulk of the Timorese into a number of resettlement centres based on the. 'strategic hamlet' concept. In these centres, again for security reasons, they're not really free to leave or come that was the figure Mario Carrascalao gave the US and go. And of course it's convenient from a distribution Congressional Sub-Committee in March 1977 and we well of medical and food supplies point of view to have them know there was very intense fighting after that. This kind in these centres - though, incidentally, these supplies of figure is very difficult to assess but maybe there is a seem to be still far from adequate. What this has done to hard core of 300 and perhaps beyond that there could be the people is that, based on the few pieces of information several thousand Timorese hiding away, very bitter, but that have come out, it has absolutely destroyed the nevertheless committed enough and armed well enough to create an environment of insecurity in many parts of the territory. . . . the actual food production in East Timor We have had disturbing reports only recently from remains at an all-time low simply because the re­ Amnesty International that a number of the Fretilin settlement centres don't provide the essential leadership have been executed. community basis for agriculture. It has just Yes. I'm awaiting that report. It's a statement rather disrupted it. than a report and it refers to a letter written to President Suharto by Amnesty. The statement says it seems 22 Fretilin leaders were executed after they had surrendered on the terms of the amnesty announced by President economy, even made it worse than it was before simply Suharto. because people have been taken away from their tradition­ al farming areas. Whereas before they were farming in When was that? the interior and under the Fretilin organisation, if we can In 1977 - they surrendered and were executed some believe people like Father do Rego, they really had some time later. The statement also refers to a number of prison structure going and farming would indeed have been camps. It's not the first one this year. There've been fairly effective in providing a basic food supply if they several reports of prison camps. Henry Kamm of the New hadn't been under constant pressure from Indonesian York Times referred to four prison camps and as we know military forces. I think the actual food production in East last year Father do Rego, the Portuguese priest who left Timor remains at an all-time low simply because the re­ Timor in 1979, referred to a number of prison camps. settlement centres don't provide the essential community I think the Amnesty statement speaks of one in particular village basis for agriculture. It has just disrupted it. The at Comarco which is just to the west of Dili. They also other impression one gains is that the population is largely speak of several hundred Timorese detained for political terribly demoralised as one would expect - so many reasons. people have been killed, the occupying Indonesian author­ ities still tend to be rough and brutal, though not nearly as bad as they were, but there's no way that the Timorese So most of the information you are relying on is coming feel other than prisoners in their own country. I think in from relatives of people in Timar, through letters sent to these circumstances the actual food producing economy them in Portugal or Australia. has fallen to an all-time low. The money-producing crops Yes, most comes from relatives via perhaps foreigners like coffee appear to have been taken over, at least in­ who are fortunate enough to make an occasional visit directly, by the Indonesian military. There are a couple of and take a letter out with them. I don't know how often areas where attempts are being made to stimulate agri­ this is happening but certainly some are coming out that culture such as in the Maliana district but once again it way and of course Indonesian church sources are another seems this development is largely under Indonesian source. I must make the point that although the Inter­ control. The Timorese don't see it as being of particular national Red Cross and US Catholic Relief Services are benefit to them other than to produce some food. 44 It seems then there is a very real subjection of the people or fo ur articles last year, showing US complici ty with by the Indonesian authorities who are very much in Indo nesia's move to seize East Timar. And this does control. worry a lot of people in the US, who are concerned that the Administrati on is overdoing the Afghanistan issue in One gets that impression even though there have been stark contrast to the role it played in East Timar when it attempts by some Indonesians to open it up and to win not only did nothing to stop Indonesia go ing in o r to urge the hearts and minds of the Timorese. The fact is, how­ withdrawal but really - and this is where there has been ever, they've tended to concentrate on the town areas and continuity between the Ford and Carter administrations - on simply supplying food and medicine to the Timorese. has act ually d iscouraged other countries from taking an It's very interesting the way this whole situation has been active interest in what has happened in East Timar and presented internationally. Though in a sense it has natural­ has persistently downplayed the seriousness of the human­ ly gone that way, in many cases it has been deliberately channelled in such a way that the Timar problem, and I itarian situation and of course has suggested that the think many officials in the US and Australia have said Timorese have died because of the civil war and not this, is now only a matter of medical relief and food and because of t he Indonesian invasion and such like . this deliberately ignores the very important psychological factors about which nobody wants to talk and about What kind of impact is this heightened interest in the which there has been no serious investigation. media having on Congress? Some congressmen have had a long-standing concern What do you mean by psychological factors? - Donald Fraser, for example, though he is no longer in How the Timorese feel about their situation, how Congress. Tom Harkin and a number of others have been looking at Indonesia's human rights record and of course they feel about the Indonesians, what they see about their future, and of course what is being done to really rehabili­ East Timor came into focus in that context. Many of these people feel the US has been very inconsistent in the tate the economy of East Timar and to establish a work­ able political structure. human rights area. It was after all President Carter who made human rights a central component of US foreign policy. But as they see it, it is just not good enough to be However, the situation seems not to be forgotten if one is constantly hammering the Russians and ignoring such to judge by the newspaper reporting in the United States serious abuses as East Timor. There have been a couple of at the moment. Congressional Hearings at which people like Professor Ben I am quite impressed with this reporting in the US on Anderson of Cornell University - a leading American East Timar. It has been much greater than in Australia specialist on Indonesian affairs, very strongly criticised the and in fact many of the reports in the Australian press Indonesians over East Timar. There have been a number have come from American sources. American interest has of Hearings at which other people have given testimony. been stimulated by a number of factors. One is the reports The International League of Human Rights a very impor­ coming out, particularly the Peter Rodgers report, but tant organisation - not only in the US but internationally also other reports of the grim famine situation in East - only recently took up the East Timor affair and it has Timor last year between August and November, that sub­ now made three important contributions, one in the UN sequently led to some Congressional interest in the General Assembly, and two in the Congressional Hearings problem. In January 1980 there was a visit to Timar by a drawing attention to the serious situation in East Timar. US Delegation of the sub-committee on International As a result of these contributions and the New York Organisations - practically no attention was given to this Times reports of Henry Kamm and James Markham (the visit in Australia, yet the delegation on its return did make New York Times man in Portugal) Congressional interest some quite positive recommendations. It didn't go into certainly heightened in late February and March. In March an important event took place which received to my knowledge no publicity in this country. Some 18 Americ­ The US has been very inconsistent in the human an Congressmen sent a petition to President Carter urging rights area. It was, after all, President Carter who the President to review US policy towards Indonesia over East Timar. These Congressmen also circulated a very made human rights a central component of US strong resolution - and if you bear in mind that the foreign policy ... it is just not good enough to be Americans have tacitly accepted the de facto situation in constantly hammering the Russians and ignoring East Timor for some time - this actually called for the such serious abuses as East Timar. Indonesians to permit an act of free self-determination in East Timar. 'I think it was a major step. The resolution also called for more relief. Very specifically this shows the politics of it but it spoke of the obvious need for how the Australian press has weakened on the subject be­ greater humanitarian relief and, what is really important, cause to my knowledge this wasn't reported. The resol­ of the need for a greater foreign presence on the ground ution drew attention to the fact that the Indonesians to keep an eye on the distribution of relief from foreign were obstructing the emigration of those Timorese who sources and to assess the needs. The other factor has been wanted to leave the country. I don't know where that the Afghanistan issue which has been a major issue in the Resolution has gone but I'm fairly certain at least 50 US. It has made some people look at what happened in Congressmen have signed it. East Timar - almost in some ways at the extreme of the spectrum. Here is an economically weak and strategically That is in really striking contrast to the level of activity in unimportant country which has been raped, as they would Australia. see it, in a manner similar to Afghanistan, and where the It is indeed. There was a stat ement by t he Minister loss of life in per capita terms is more serious. But even representing the Foreign Minister in the Senate, Senator more seriously to the Americans information has been Carrick, on April 23 which set down very clearly that coming out, and remember that Jack Anderson ran three Australia saw no advantage in any further discussion of 45 the humanitarian situation in East Timar. He referred to it the hope is a pretty forlorn one for the Timorese unless as a sterile debate. But certainly in the US a number of something happens within Indonesia itself and that's organisations have raised it and where the American something we can't predict. There have been several shifts administration is vulnerable is that it has been pressing recently. Not a great deal is known about political think­ very strongly the situation in the Soviet Union and in ing in key areas of the military leadership in Jakarta. It particular the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan. is possible there could be change. But what it would mean It is very difficult not to draw a para.lie.I between that for East Timar it's hard to say. While the armed struggle intervention and the intervention of the Indonesians in continues there will be some attention. For myself I have East Timar. Equally the reports of the atrocities and brutalities in East Timar are at least as soundly based as those coming out of Afghanistan which are almost eagerly welcomed. Within the Government there's a tendency to look at the question of self-determination in very Is there any concern being expressed in Third World crude terms ... If there's no (military) struggle countries, the non-aligned bloc for example? it does not mean that the human rights situation The African countries still strongly support the has changed. But in practice there tends to be a Tirnorese and you may recall another resolution was focus on military resistance. passed at the UN last November - with 62 votes for and strong support from Africa and Latin America as well. Where there is an interesting possibility of shift as I see it is in the Russian position because of her involvement in Afghanistan and because of the very careful Soviet policy always had an anxiety about this, that is if the armed to try and keep in with the Indonesians. Last year some­ struggle finishes then the world will forget about it and thing very curious occurred in the UN. Although the even in Australia, particularly within the Government, Russians voted for the resolution in support of East there is a tendency to look at the question of self- determ­ Timor's self-determination, Eastern European countries ination in those very crude terms. It's a bit like saying that did not - they abstained. It might well be that the Soviet once the Germans had actuaUy suppressed all resistance Union because of its intervention in Afghanistan will in the Netherlands they could have called it part of Great­ see some advantage in shifting its position but of course er Germany. If there's no struggle, it does not mean that this could cause other shifts in other directions. China has the human rights situation has changed. But in practice also weakened its support for Fretilin as such but of there tends to be a focus on military resistance. course that is something that might well be distinct from supporting the right of self-determination for East Timar. Well at this very late stage what should Australian Another interesting change has taken place in Government policy be? What kind of action should Portugal. Although there was a swing last year to a con­ Australia take? servative administration the new government appears to I'd s1ill like to see Australia become more involved in have committed itself to greater activity on East Timar actions relating to the humanitarian situation and not just and earlier this year a four-man commission was set up to the question of providing food and medicine. It's quite co-ordinate efforts on East Timar between the two obvious that as it is a neighbouring territory the question centres of government in Portugal, the Revolutionary of whether the Timorese have been able to exercise their Council and the Government itself. Recently there was a right to self-determination is a basically important one to suggestion that the Portuguese might be moving towards us. The fact still remains that our sincerity, our integrity recognising East Timar as part of Indonesia. This was in these sorts of issues, on which we've taken a strong very strongly denied by one of the leading members of stand in the United Nations for many years under Labor the Council who said there was no question of Portugal and Liberal Governments, is really tested in a situation even contemplating accepting East Timar as part of Indo­ like that of East Timar. So far of course our record has nesia at this stage. But they are planning to have some sort been a pretty grim one. Might I add there has been inter­ of contacts which is understandable and obviously neces­ national activity in some other areas and one area of inter­ sary from a humanitarian point of view. Nevertheless est is the lnterparliamentary Union. East Timar has been Portugal could be more active and I think Portugal is a discussed there during the past 12 months on at least two key country - its a much more respected country in the occasions and there have been two resolutions reaffirming world now than it was before 1974 - and Portugal's stand the right to self-determination of the Timorese, in a sense will have quite a strong effect in Latin America, in African reflecting the spirit of the UN General Assembly resol­ countries and in Western Europe. utions. It's interesting to note that at the last one the Soviet Delegation abstained as far as I can make out, which maybe indicates the change i was talking about Do you think any of this activity is likely to have any earlier. impact on .Indonesian policy? Is there any likelihood of change within Indonesia? This debate then will continue in the parliaments of the I have this fear that external pressure will not have world? much effect unless the US and the Netherlands have a Yes, this is a reminder that it's in the Parliaments that drastic change of heart and pressure comes from the this sort of basic issue of human rights will continue to be major contributors to the aid consortium (the Inter­ discussed for a long time. Certainly in the Australian Governmental Group on Indonesia). Unfortunately Parliament, there's no doubt in my mind that the East Afghanistan has taken some of the attention away from Timar issue will continue to be raised vigorously from tie East Timar, although in some Western countries in a time to time by representatives on !:10th sides of the curious way it has brought East Timar back because to House. 0 keep the balance they want to look at that one. Probably 46 East Timor: a multi- media survey 1975-1980

This select list of material on East Timor has been prepar­ ed by W. Tully of the Australian National Library, Can­ berra. It is not exhaustive. The most comprehensive listing published to date (containing some 2500 entries) is SHERLOCK, Kevin A Bibliography of Timor, including East and West Timor and the Island of Roti (Can­ A. MONOGRAPHS AND PAMPHLETS berra, ANU 1980).

ACTION FOR WORLD DEVELOPMENT East Timor: INDONESIA Department of Foreign Affairs Decolonis­ Refugees and Family Reunion ( 1978). Attempts and ation in East Timor (Jakarta March 1977). Presents failures to reunite Timorese families 1975-78 (avail­ the official Indonesian viewpoint on the invasion of able TIS). East Timor. Critically reviewed in Timor Information ANDERSON, Prof. Benedict Human Rights in Indonesia Service 24 (April 1978). and in East Timor (New York, Feb. 1980). Text of INDONESIA Department of Information Newspaper submission to US Congressional Sub-Committee on Articles on East Timor (Jakarta 1977 ). Three Indo­ Asian and Pacific Affairs. (Available TIS). nesian journalists' impressions of East Timor in July BLACHER, Tamara Resettlement of Unattached Refugee 1976. English. Critically reviewed in East Timor Children in Victoria, 1975-79: Placement Alternatives Report 4 (May 1978). Includes report on special problems of Timorese JOLLIFFE, Jill East Timor: Nationalism and Colonialism children separated from parents. (Available TIS) (Queensland Uni. Press 1978). The first substantial ARAUJO, Abilio Timorese Elites. Transl. J.M. Alberto English language book on the events in East Timor up (Canberra, 1975). A study of the revolutionary role to December 1975. Ms Jolliffe visited Timor twice in of the East Timorese leadership. 1975. Appended to the text are APODETI, FRETIL­ IN and UDT party programmes and statements. BORJA DA COSTA, Francisco Revolutionary Poems in the Struggle Against Colonialism: Timorese National JONES, Elaine East Timor (1976). Brief backgrounder on Verse. Edited Jill Jolliffe, transl. James Fox and Mary Timorese culture prepared by Victorian Education Ireland. (Sydney, Wild & Woolley, 1976) [lepartment consultant to assist teachers dealing with CHOMSKY, Noam East Timor and the Western Demo­ Timorese students. Available TIS. cracies (May 1979). Available TIS. KOHEN, Arnold and John Taylor An Act of Genocide: CHOMSKY, Noam and Edward S. Herman The Washing­ Indonesia's Invasion of East Timor (London, Ta pol ton Connection and Third World Fascism (Vol. 1 . 1979). A survey of events inside East Timor and of The Political Economy of Human Rights) Boston, international reactions to them, 1975-1979. Available South End Press, 1979. pp. 129-204 deal with East TIS. Timor. METZNER, Joachim K. Man and Environment in Eastern ACFOA Aid and East Timor (Canberra July 1979). Avail­ Timor: a geoecological analysis of the Baucau­ able TIS. Viqueque area as a possible basis for regional plan­ ning (ANU Development Studies Centre, Canberra DUNN, J.S. East Timor - from Portuguese Colonialism 1977) to Indonesian Incorporation Legislative Research Service, Parliamentary Library (Canberra Sept. 1977). NICHTERLEIN, Sue The Struggle for East Timor (Part I Mr Dunn was Australian Consul in Dili 1962-64 and 1978; Part II 1979). Part I tel Is the story of East revisited Timor in 1975. Available TIS. Timor from 1974-1975; Part 2 brings it to the end of 1976 based on US, Australian and Indonesian press --- Notes on the Current Situation in East Timor reports. Available TIS. (1977)'. Available TIS. -- -, East Timor: Notes on the Humanitarian Situation NICOL, Bill Timor: The Stillborn Nation (Melbourne (Sept. 1979). Available TIS. Vista, 1978). The author visited Timor. Sees the Portuguese Armed Forces Movement as central to the FRANKE, Richard East Timor: the Hidden-War (New rise of Fretilin. York 1976) SOEKANTO (compiler) lntegrasi: Kebulatan Takad FRENEY, Denis Timor: Freedom caught between the Rakyat Timor Timur (Jakarta 1976). A glossy Indo­ Powers (Nottingham, Spokesman Books, 1975) nesian apologia for the integration of ET. Critically FR ETI LIN Department of External Relations East Timor: reviewed by George Miller in Asian Studies Associ­ Indonesia's Vietnam (Maputo 1977). ation of Australia Review March/April 1978. HI LL, Helen The Timor Story (Timor Information Ser­ SUTER, Dr Keith West lrian, East Timor and Indonesia vice, Melbourne 1976). The above three pamphlets (London Sept 1979). Report No. 42 of the London­ are basic introductions to the crisis in East Timor based Minority Rights Group written by the Human from the anti-Indonesian point of view. Rights officer of the UN Association of Australia. 47 B. PERIODICALS ARNDT, H.W. Timor: Vendetta Against Indonesia Ouad · rant, Dec. 1979. (1) Fretilin solidarity gr oups - - - Reprinted with amendments as The Propaganda EAST TIMOR NEWS published by the East Timor News War over East Timor, The Bulletin, Dec 18, 1979. Agency, 4th Floor, 232 Castlereagh St, Sydney 2000. Available TIS. EAST TIMOR AND PACIFIC REPORT (formerly East CULLEN, Paul A. Australia's Policy on Timor (Pacific Timor Report) published by CIET (ACT), PO Box Defence Reporter, Sydney, October 1977). Major­ 514, Manuka ACT 2603. General Cullen, President of the UN Association of TIMOR INFORMATION SERVICE (TIS) , 1st Floor, 183 Australia and Chairman of Austcare sees Australia Gertrude St, Fitzroy 3065. TIS also runs a Subscript· as 'appeasing' Indonesia and warns against the logic ion Service which provides on request full articles, of this for Australia's future security. speeches and documents pertaining to Timor. DI RDJASUSANTO, A A visit to East Timor (Social Survey, Melbourne Feb. 1980). An Indonesian Jesuit (2) Official publications priest's visit to ET mid-1979 re aid and religious a. Indonesian needs of the people. INDONESIAN EMBASSY NEWSLETTER published by DUNN, J.S. The Timor Affair in International Perspec­ Embassy of Indonesia Information Service, 8 Darwin tive (World Review, Old, October 1978). Ave , Yarralumla ACT 2600. DUNN, J.S. The Case Against Indonesia, The Bulletin, Jan 15, 1980. The author's reply to H.W. Arndt. b. Australian PARLIAMENTARY HANSARD published by Austral· HILL, Helen Australia and Portuguese Timar: between ian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. Since Principles and Pragmatism, pp. 336-357 of The First 1974 there has been a considerable amount of time 1000 Days of Labour Vol. 1, compiled by Roger devoted in the House of Representatives and Senate Scott and Jim Richardson (Canberra College of to East Timar in questions, debate, and ministerial Advanced Education, Canberra 1975) statements. Includes useful material from other sourc· es also. -- --, The Timorese Betrayal (Dissent, Melbourne No. 35/36 1977) deals with Australian betrayal of c. United Nations Timar, not the reverse as the title suggests. Decolonisation published by the Department of Political Affairs, Trusteeship and Decolonisation (New York). HOADLEY, J.S. East Timor: civil war -causes and con­ Number 7 (Aug 1977) is a special issue on East Timer sequences (Southeast Asian Affairs, Singapore 1976). succinctly gathering together UN data on all aspects HOADLEY, J.S. Indonesia's annexation of East Timor: of ET from 1950 to the present. political, administrative and developmental initiatives UN Monthly Chronicle (New York). Issues with material (Southeast Asian Affairs, Sing~pore 1977). Views of on EastTimorarev. 13no.1(Jan1976); v.13no. 5 a New Zealand academic who appears to accept the (May 1976); v. 14 no. 1 (Jan 1977); v. 14 no . 11 Indonesian presence as inevitable and sees conflict (Dec 1977). arising between East Timorese and Indonesian admin· istrators in the East Timorese Government. d. United States KOHEN, Arnold S. The cruel case of Indonesia (Nation, US Congressional Record (Washington DC) . New York, no. 18 Nov. 1977). Condemns US support Human Rights in East Timar and the question of the use of Indonesia and calls for a more principled stand by of US equipment by the Indonesian Armed Forces. the Carter administration on human rights for the Congressional Sub-Committee on Asian and Pacific Timorese. Affairs hearings. 95th Congress, First Session, 23 KROEF, Justus M. van der Indonesia and East Timor: March 1977. the politics of phased annexation (Solidarity, Manila, Human Rights in East Timor. Sub-Committee hearings. Sept/Dec 1976). Sees Indonesia's perception of ET 95th Congress, First session, 28 June, 19 July 1977. as regional threat as decisive factor in decision to invade. Famine Relief in East Timor. Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs hearings. 96th Congress, first session, MORR IS, C Transcript of ABC radio interview 6 April 4 December 1979. Available TIS. 1977. Morris is a 2/2 Company Australian commando Human Rights in Indonesia and East Timor. Sub-Commit· who served in Timar from Sept 1942 to Jan 1943. tee hearings. 96th Congress, first session, 6 Feb. Available TIS. 1980. Available TIS. RANCK, S. No changes overnight (New Guinea and Aust· ralia, the Pacific and South East Asia, vol. 1 O May I C. PERIODICAL ARTICLES June 1975). Ranck, a social geographer at Macquarie BUTLER' Eric D. What is happening in East Timor University, succinctly sketches the land, its popul­ (Intelligence Survey, Melbourne, v. 26 no . 2 Feb. ation, politics, education and culture based on a 1976). The leader of the League of Rights, although number of field trips to the interior of Timar in critical of the Fraser Government's ET policy, argues 1974·5 and interviews with members of the fledgling that an Indonesian-controlled island is preferable to Timorese political parties. a 'Cuba on our doorstep', SUTER, Keith D. The conquest of East Timar (Contem­ CHOMSKY, Noam The plight of East Timor (Australian porary Review, London, March 1978). Self-i nterest Quarterly, v. 51, no. 1, March 1979). Statement to rather than principle determines the fate of small the UN General Assembly Nov. 1978. countries. 48 TANTER, Richard The military situation in East Timar Jolliffe - is stored in the National Library 's Oral (Dissent, Melbourne May 1977). History Project, Canberra. VIVIANI, Nancy Australians and the Timar Issue (Aust­ Tapes and transcripts of ABC Lateline and Broadband ralian Outlook, Vol. 30, No . 2, 1976) radio programmes on East Timar are held (in part) by the National Library Oral History Project. Mark WADDINGHAM, John Timar: Indonesian Power over Aarons, compere of these programmes, also has some Humanitarian Aid (Arena, 53, 1979). unbroadcast tapes on East Timor (ABC, GPO Box 487. Sydney 2001). WHITEHALL, John The Timar Tragedy Ch.1-2, Free A tape of a Timar Forum held in Canberra on 18 March Market 1979. Ch.3 , Free Market 1980. 1976 with H. Arndt, Greg Clark, Jim Dunn, Jill YOUTH, John Independence or death: the struggle in Jolliffe, Ernest Utrecht, John Whitehall and East Timar (Black Liberator, London, v.2 no.4 Chris Santos participating, is held by Joan Ansell, 1975-6). Places -the ET struggle within the wider Be Endeavour Gardens, 4 Launceston St, Lyons, 2605 context of the black resistance to oppression . Fretilin Radio Maubere broadcast tapes are held by Timor Information Service Melbourne and East Timor News, D. MAPS Sydney . Tapes of interviews with Jim Dunn, Chris Santos, Adelina Kevin Sherlock (compiler of A Bibliography of Timar . . . ) Tilman and others are held by Brisbane Media Resource has compiled a 20-page gazetteer of place names with designations, administrative districts and longitudes/ Centre, GPO Box 2366, Brisbane 4001. latitudes. Roneoed, 1977 imprint. Available author. A black and white map based on an earlier Portuguese G. FILM AND THEATRE production and to the scale of 1 :500,000 is available EAST TIMOR: ONE MAN'S VIEW - half hour TV film from the Australia East Timar Association 33 Smith made in East Timor by Richard Carleton in 1977. St, Fitzroy Vic. 3065. Screened on ABC TDT 7.30pm 21 Oct. 1977. COMMUNITY IN MOURNING - ten minute TV film E. _MVSIC ·~ made in Portugal in 1980 depicting plight ofTimor­ ARAUJO, Abilio and Estanislau Silva 45 RPM disc. ese refugees stranded there. Screened on ABC Week­ Side one: Foho Ramelau (Mt Ramelau), side 2: end Magazine 16 March 1980. Kdadalak (Streams). Accompanied by sheet with words of songs in Tetum and English. Available CIET, ISLE OF FEAR, ISLE OF HOPE - 23 minute 16 mm col­ 4th Floor, 232 Castlereagh St, Sydney 2000. our film made in 1975 from footage shot in Timor before the invasion. Includes last message from Aust­ HYMNS AND SONGS OF THE REVOLUTION OF ralian newsman Greg Shackleton. Available AET A, MAUBERE PEOPLE. 33-1/3 RPM disc. Jointly pro­ 33 Smith St, Fitzroy 3065. duced in Portugal by Fretilin and Angin Timur. Eight songs. Translation into English on cover. Available KDADALAK (FOR THE CHILDREN OF TIMOR): as above . a music-voice-montage production by Martin Wesley­ Smith and Penney Tweedie. Has been shown in LIU TINAN A TVS HAT . .. (After Four Hundred years Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Japan . . . . ). 33-1 /3 RPM disc. Fretilin production. Eleven songs. Produced in Portugal. Available as above. A video-cassette of S. Ranck's slides/lecture re his field 1 work and interviews in Timor in 1974-5 is available LORO SA E: lnfantil E Misto. 45 RPM disc. Timorese at the Australian National University's Instructional songs and instrumental pieces produced by Timorese Resources Unit, Canberra. refugees in Portugal. (Cassette available TIS). An 8 mm 50 min. film of the Australian Commandos LORO DA 'E (Rising Sun(. 45 RPM disc. Four Timorese return to East fimor in 1973 is held by the National folk songs sung by Timorese refugee children in Library Film Division, Canberra. Portugal and produced by Portuguese Red Cross. (Cassette available TIS). MEN OFT/MOR, a 40 min. film made in 1944 by Damian Parer. Deals with the Australian Commandos SIMPSON, Tony and friends The Song of timor and in ET during World War 11 is held at the Australian Which Side are You on Australia? Words and music. War Memorial Library, Canberra. Available Australia East Timor Association, 33 Smith St, Fitzroy 3065. H. RESOURCE KIT The National Library Oral History Project has a reel of Timorese music recorded on location by Jill Jolliffe in EAST TIMOR KIT: a satchel of key articles on ET pro­ October 1975. duced by Timor Information Service , Melbourne.

F. SPOKEN VVORD I. THESES A speech made by Xavier do Amaral ( 17 Sept 1975), HILL, Helen Fretilin: the origins, ideologies and strate­ an interview with Rogerio Lobato and a Fretilin gies of a nationalist movement in East Timar. (MA soldier - recorded by Jill Jolliffe in ET - are stored Thesis, Monash University, May 1978). in the National Library Music and Sound Recordings section, Canberra. RANCK, Stephen. Recent Rural-Urban Immigration to Dili, Portuguese Timar - a focus on the use of House­ A tape of the proclamation of the Democratic Republic of hold, Kinship and social networks. MA Thesis, Mac- East Timar on 29 Nov 1975 by Xavier do Amaral, quarie University, Adelaide. 0 Nicolau and Rogerio Lobato - recorded by Jill 49 , "" "<$/' %; ':';-, ~

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COMMUNiTY IUD f,fJROAD 156 CEORGE STREET, FITZROY. 3035