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ETAN at 20


Rob Wesley-Smith, Australia  

Hi ETAN and etan friends and others

Congrats on 20 years of important and key activism on issues initially to do with all things East Timor, and since 2005 including other Indonesian abuses in particular in West Papua.

As someone who lives on the southern edge of the Timor Sea, and therefore was a keen long term supporter of East Timor's human rights, I wish:

a. computers and email had been invented earlier

b. ETAN had been around to show us how to utilise email as a super-effective activism tool.

  But ETAN did much more than allow all of us around the world to read. It represented effective advocacy for East Timor at the UN and elsewhere. That in itself was a major role, something many of us simply could not do.

Fortunately it came 20 years ago, and I got to know the names John M Miller, and Charlie Scheiner. I met Charlie long before John, though I had numerous dealings with John. Even in the early days I marvelled at the dedication and application required and supplied to keep the etan network going, and still do.

There were times when the volume of postings was unbelievable, like late 1999 at around 200/day, and these days as I get older I can't believe I coped. If pushed, secretly I might have to admit to a few odd thou unread emails waiting to be dealt with. If I get as old as Noam Chomsky, and borrowing a small fraction of his diligence and brilliance, I might one day sort them out.

But ETAN did much more than allow all of us around the world to read. It represented effective advocacy for East Timor at the UN and elsewhere. That in itself was a major role, something many of us simply could not do.

If I thought that East Timor independence might see John and Charlie's energy flag, I was wrong. Charlie has been living in Dili to make a massive impact to a new and inexperienced country and government. Without Charlie and Lao Hamutuk (LH), where would be a clear voice of reason be coming from? John's ongoing role would be less known to those who don't read email and etan news, (which of course is most of East Timor), but it is as constant and worthy and comprehensive.

I know ETAN is not just Charlie and John, and I have met many other dedicated worthies, and there are many others I haven't yet had the privilege and pleasure, so this ode to ETAN is to include all.

Another aspect is I understand that ETAN was started to keep a weather eye on the UN and foreign groups, but as East Timor becomes more independent the need is more to keep a weather eye on East Timorese Government bodies, both organisations and personnel. I note some increasing tendencies this way. Charlie and LH did warn about the dangers of temptation to new big sources of cash, with 'resource curse' to be avoided. May ETAN and LH with aware East Timorese keep going and keep an eye on resource curse dangers etc at least until these disappear. Deep breaths, people, and good luck.

Wes
Rob Wesley-Smith Darwin NT Australia
 

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