Subject: APCET Council Statement
Date: Mon, 07 Sep 1998 17:01:24 +0800
From: Initiatives for International Dialogue <iiddvo@skyinet.net>APCET COUNCIL
STATEMENT 31 August 1998 Jakarta, Indonesia
The Council of the Asia-Pacific Coalition for East Timor (APCET) has just met in
Jakarta in the last two days. This is an historical event as holding peaceful, productive
meetings or assemblies such as this was not possible under the dictatorship of Soeharto.
The winds of democratic change have begun to sweep through the immense repression in
this great nation. We salute the Indonesian people for their long, unceasing, brave and
lonely struggle in ousting Soeharto as a first step to this democratic change.
This APCET Council Meeting has come amidst the fall of Soeharto whose dictatorship ran
roughshod over the entire archipelago for 32 years, who colonised other nations such as
East Timor and who bullied his neighbors through the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) into complying with his ruthless policies. Ironically this APCET Council
Meeting also comes at the heels of the 53rd anniversary of Indonesia’s independence
won valiantly from the Dutch by the same Indonesian people who consequently endured
Soeharto’s authoritarian rule.
Since 1994, APCET has been committed to seeking a just and peaceful means to end the
violent occupation in East Timor. It has been working for the self-determination of this
tiny and valiant nation, and maintains that the time is overdue for Indonesia to
unconditionally withdraw from the territory and respect the right of the East Timorese to
self-determination.
The new regime in Jakarta has publicly committed to "build a just, open and
democratic society", however APCET reminds the current Indonesian administration that
East Timor had been illegally invaded and annexed by Indonesia since 1975. The last 23
years has seen rape and reproductive sterilisation of Timorese women, as well as
massacres, torture, secret and arbitrary political detentions of Timorese civilians by the
Indonesian military.
In the context of this reminder APCET would like to respond to specific policy
proposals made by the Habibie administration on East Timor since the 21st May 1998. APCET
responses are as follows:
1. On the proposal made by President B.J. Habibie to release the leader of the Timorese
resistance Xanana Gusmao in return for international recognition of Indonesia’s
sovereignty of East Timor, APCET supports the response from Xanana Gusmao on this
proposal, which is to reject it. APCET will not support the annihilation of the process of
accountability for human rights abuses that have and continue to occur in East Timor, in
exchange for the release of the leader of the Timorese people, as has been reiterated by
the Timorese resistance movement.
2. On the much publicised withdrawal of troops from East Timor in the recent months,
APCET wishes to emphasise that in relation to the actual numbers of troops currently
operating within East Timor, this withdrawal is merely a charade for the consumption of
the international community and media.
3. On the proposal made by President Habibie to make East Timor an “autonomous
region”: APCET, in supporting the East Timorese in their struggle for
self-determination, see this move as prolonging the problem. As articulated by xanana
Gusmao, we reject the autonomy as a final solution to the problem of East Timor.
APCET calls on the Indonesian government to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release the East Timorese leader Xanana Gusmao to
take his rightful position leading the East Timor participation in the talks and
negotiations on the future of East Timor under UN auspices.
2. To release all other East Timorese and Indonesian political prisoners.
3. To immidiately withdraw all Indonesian troops from East Timor and disband all
paramilitary forces.
4. To hold a referendum in East Timor on the freedom for East Timor as was and
continues to be demanded by the people of East Timor as the necessary process of
self-determination.
We believe the Indonesian people resonate with this call. The people of Indonesia have
for too long been deceived by their government about the real situation in East Timor and
their own country. Having fought against colonialism and tyranny in their own land, the
Indonesian people will never accept this same situation in another. Particularly if their
own soldiers are used to further the fascist and colonial ambitions of corrupt and brutal
leaders.
Evn as we support and salute Indonesia’s pro-democracy movement. we re-affirm the
certitude that East Timor's freedom will be won by the East Timorese people themselves, as
Indonesia's total reformation and democracy will also be realised by the Indonesian
themselves. There is no other way. The only route to real democracy, reform, freedom and
genuine independence is through the path of justice.
APCET thanks our Indonesian hosts for making our meeting very productive and
challenging.
APCET re-affirms its commitment to resolutely work for the self-determination of East
Timor.
APCET is committed to accompany the Indonesian people in its own continuing quest for
genuine democracy, reform and progress.
APCET is looking forward to holding its next unencumbered meeting in a free East Timor.
31 August 1998 Jakarta, Indonesia
-- Initiatives for International Dialogue 27-D Galaxy Street GSIS Heights, Davao City
8000 Philippines Telefax: (63)(82) 299-2052 Tel: (63)(82) 299-2574 to 75 Web:
http://www.dvo.skyinet.net/~iiddvo or http://www.iid.home.ml.org
IID is also maintaining the following sites:
- Mindanao-Palawan Peoples Network on BIMP-EAGA (MPPN): http://www.skyinet.net/~iiddvo/mppn or http://www.mppn.home.ml.org
- Asia-Pacific Coalition for East Timor (APCET): http://www.skyinet.net/~iiddvo/apcet
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