Dear ETAN Compainheros

I would like to add my congratulations to all ETAN activists on the occasion of your 20th anniversary and also to reaffirm our solidarity with you.

As an activist in one of the Australian solidarity groups, I know about the great contribution of ETAN to the existence of the RDTL today. I am a member of the Australia East Timor Friendship Association of South Australia Inc (AETFA), which was originally, the Campaign for an Independent East Timor, South Australia Inc (CIET).

On 28 May this year, our group celebrated its 36th anniversary with about 80 young people from TL who are undergoing secondary and tertiary education in Adelaide. It was a very joyous occasion to celebrate both our anniversary with the 9th anniversary of an independent Timor-Leste.

The international awareness of the Timor issue which was achieved by the East Timor solidarity groups, I believe, was also a factor in the minds of leading Indonesian decision makers, when, after the Asian economic meltdown and the fall of the dictator Suharto, they were forced to allow a plebiscite for independence.

Noam Chomksy, in his message, has stressed the importance of the work of ETAN and the other solidarity groups around the world as a contributing factor to East Timor's victory over Indonesia and the gaining of its independence.

During the late 1990s, Charles Scheiner introduced two submissions that we made to the UN to appeal for it to make greater efforts for the East Timorese. During the celebrations for independence in Dili in 2002, some of our members were fortunate enough to meet him at the Xanana Resource Centre at a function for solidarity groups and thank him.

However, we can take nothing away from the tenacity and the courage of the members of FRETILIN, FALINTIL and RENETIL who fought against overwhelming odds in their struggle against the TNI.

It was crucial that there were people actively promoting independence for Timor and demanding the withdrawal of the TNI. This helped the progressive forces within the UN to prevent it from ratifying the illegal Indonesian occupation and to demand that the TNI withdraw. I believe that it is a great tragedy that in the case of West Papua, the UN ratified the phoney Act of Free Choice in that country in 1969. As a result, these people have suffered the brutality of the TNI for even longer than the East Timorese.

The international awareness of the Timor issue which was achieved by the East Timor solidarity groups, I believe, was also a factor in the minds of leading Indonesian decision makers, when, after the Asian economic meltdown and the fall of the dictator Suharto, they were forced to allow a plebiscite for independence. Their hands were forced when they were confronted with a national economy that was in a dreadful state because of the huge amounts being spent on the TNI to supress people in East Timor, West Papua, Acheh and parts of Indonesia itself together with the massive corruption that had been allowed by the dictatorship.

I also agree with Noam that now there is an independent Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, we need to continue our strong advocacy for the pursuit of justice and compensation for the victims of the TNI barbarity throughout its occupation. Several Australian governments were complicit in supporting the TNI's illegal occupation because of their unquestioning support of US administrations. In addition, of course, the Howard government forced an unfair agreement on the fledgeling RDTL government on how the oil and gas resources in the Timor Sea should be shared. With such a small population, the RDTL is not in a good position to push these issues with the current Indonesian and Australian governments.

We have made demands that the Australian government refuse to continue aiding and arming the TNI while the Indonesian government does nothing to bring the war criminals in its ranks to justice, does nothing about compensating the victims of the TNI and refuses to withdraw from West Papua. Further, we have lobbied a number of Australian politicians to also to call on the UN to instigate an international ban on all aid to the TNI until these conditions are met. We also cooperate with the Australia West Papua Association on these issues.

The Australian politicians we have approached always use the excuse that the RDTL government is not making these demands.

This is the reason why we have to continue the important advocacy role as well as raising money to support projects to assist Timor Leste to rebuild and redevelop.

We hope to continue our working together on these important campaigns with you.

Congratulations and thank you for all the valuable work you have done over the past 20 years to contribute to peace, social justice and human rights in East Timor and the Asia Pacific region.

The major terrorist organisation preventing this in our region is the TNI and both of our governments support it while espousing their promotion of human rights.

In closing, I should mention that progressive people in Adelaide were excited to have Noam come to Adelaide to deliver the annual Edward Said Memorial Lecture organised by the University of Adelaide and the Australian Friends of Palestine Association on 5 November. The numbers attending were so great that the organisers had to hire the Adelaide Town Hall which can accommodate over 1000 people. Even the premier of South Australia was in attendance. Noam was also in Australia to receive the Sydney Peace Prize, which so many believe was thoroughly deserved because of his great work to promote peace, justice and human rights.

Warm regards

Viva Timor Leste!

Viva Papua Barat!

Viva Solidaridad International!

Andrew (Andy) Alcock

Information Officer

Australia East Timor Friendship Association (SA) Inc