Presented by Vanessa Ramos

The International Platform of Jurists for East Timor, a non-governmental organization of jurists, with its Secretariat in the Netherlands, firmly believes that this Committee has to implement the decolonization of East Timor pursuant to the Declaration for the Concession of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Resolution 1514(XV) immediately: it has been almost 23 years of occupation. A referendum should take place immediately under the close supervision of the United Nations free from any coercion, intimidation or threats.

We totally reject statements by Indonesia calling for so-called "special status" and demand that the government of Indonesia clearly recognize the right of East Timor to self-determination without pre-conditions and play of words. We extend our thanks and solidarity to all those Indonesians, that under threat of incarceration, have spoken on behalf of the East Timorese.

We believe that the Peace Plan proposed by the National Council of Maubere Resistance is a fair and reasonable proposal to achieve self- determination and a long lasting peace. A decolonization process has to necessarily involve a Working Group of the United Nations and its specialized agencies to prepare the foundation for the exercise of the right to self determination, human rights specialists and the establishment of a human rights commission. We believe that in order for a process to have credibility, the representatives of the people of East Timor must have full and equal participation in all phases of negotiations, in particular the leaders of the East Timorese resistance. Therefore, we recommend that the conversations under the auspices of the Secretary General between Portugal and Indonesia include the legitimate representatives of the people of East Timor. We further call upon the regime of Indonesia to release the leader of the East Timorese resistance, Xanana Gusmao and all other political prisoners in order to prepare the path for peace.

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