Subject: TAPOL Statement on East Timor
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL) 2 February, 1999
STATEMENT ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING EAST TIMOR
The decision by the Indonesian Government announced in Jakarta on 27 January to let go
of East Timor when the newly-elected Supreme Legislative Assembly meets later this year if
the East Timorese reject its proposal of autonomy is a great victory for the people of
East Timor and their 23-long year struggle against the Indonesian occupation. For the
first time ever, Jakarta has publicly acknowledged that independence is an option for East
Timor and admitted that it no longer regards its integration of the former Portuguese
colony as immutable.
It reflects the fact that Indonesia under Habibie's transitional government regards
East Timor as an insuperable burden which can only continue to haunt the country on the
world stage and further exacerbate Indonesia's grave economic crisis. This is a great
victory for the persistent and courageous struggle of the people of East Timor, for the
mature leadership of the resistance movement under Xanana Gusmao, and for the tireless
efforts of its diplomatic front led by Jose Ramos-Horta.
At the same time, Jakarta has arranged for Xanana Gusmao to be transferred from
Cipinang Prison to a residence 200 metres from the prison, placing him under house arrest,
making it easier for him to receive visitors and delegations. By so doing, the government
has acknowledged that Xanana must be allowed to play a full and active part in seeking a
just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable solution to the question of East Timor
by peaceful means.
These developments also signify that the Indonesian government now recognises that East
Timor should best be handled by the United Nations and Portugal.
However, the Habibie Government has failed to explain how it proposes to establish
whether the people of East Timor accept or reject its autonomy proposal and has only
complicated matters for itself by continuing to insist that it will not contemplate the
holding of a referendum.
The announcement, coming at a time when tripartite discussions are underway between
Indonesia and Portugal under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, has compelled the
UN to seek urgent clarifications from Jakarta about its intentions. The forthcoming
Foreign Ministers meeting scheduled for April this year has now been brought forward and
is likely to be held early in February, reflecting the urgency which the UN now attaches
to the question of East Timor and its wish to take the matter forward quickly. Now that
Jakarta has publicly said that it will abide by the views of the people of East Timor, the
question of setting in place the mechanism for this to occur becomes even more pressing.
Wittingly or not, the Indonesian government has forced the issue of East Timor onto the
world's agenda as never before and has made it a major topic of discussion in Indonesian
itself. Already several opposition leaders, notably Abdurrachman Wahid who chairs the mass
based Nahdatul Ulama and Amien Rais of the PAN party have expressed support for a
referendum in East Timor.
Meanwhile, the situation in East Timor is very serious. Para-militaries formed by the
Indonesian army of occupation, many of whom have recently been equipped with firearms, are
spreading havoc in the territory. Up to twenty people are thought to have been killed by
these gangs since the beginning of the year and thousands of villagers have fled their
homes as a reign of terror grips parts of the country. It is clear that certain elements
are bent on causing a rift within the community between those in favour of a referendum
and those who want East Timor to remain part of Indonesia. If these gangs are allowed to
continue with their operations, it could seriously jeopardise developments at this
critical moment and promote the idea that the people of East Timor are not ready for
independence, and even that a move in that direction could plunge the country into civil
war.
It is essential for the international community to take immediate action to call for
the disbandment of these para-militaries, not only to protect the lives and safety of the
long-suffering East Timorese but also to safeguard the situation at a critical time in the
struggle of the people of East Timor for self-determination and independence.
The following steps now need to be taken:
1. The British Government and all member-states of the European Union should urge the
Indonesian Government to enter into direct negotiations with the leader of the East
Timorese resistance, Xanana Gusmao, and Bishop Belo, as the only way to securing a
peaceful transition to independence for East Timor. 2. The British Government and all
member-states of the EU should call for the disarming and disbandment of the
para-militaries and for a substantial and immediate reduction in the number of troops in
occupied East Timor. 3. The British Government and all member-states of the EU should call
on the UN as a matter of urgency to dispatch a monitoring force to East Timor to oversee
the disbandment of the para-militaries, the reduction of troops and to protect the
population against human rights abuses.
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign 111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey
CR7 8HW, UK Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322 email: tapol@gn.apc.org Campaigning to
expose human rights violations in Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh
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