Last night I received an email from Emma Leslie, a friend recently returned from a stint in Cambodia.

She wrote seeking help for the people of East Timor.

Emma went to East Timor in October 1997 for the Christian Conference of Asia Youth Committee. At that time she was deeply disturbed by Australia's role over two decades in the annexation of East Timor. And she was upset at the realisation that Australian officialdom had so easily forgotten that 40,000 East Timorese died to protect our shores during World War Two. (I'm not sure that's relevant when considering someone's human rights and humanitarian needs, but nevertheless ...)

She was also aware this kind of violence goes on around the world day by day. Africa experiences it hour by hour. "But somehow tonight East Timor which lies so close to our shores, which looks to us for help, which protected our soldiers from the Japanese surely demands that we stand up and pay attention to this atrocity.

"This is not a moment to ask why, or who, or when will it end: I feel so strongly that this is the moment for us to intervene - that we should call our leaders to stand for justice and for peace.

"Tonight I ask you to join with me and other friends around Australia and the world to send a simple e-mail calling for peace keeping troops to be sent to East Timor as soon as possible."

Emma asks:
..... light a candle in that ancient act of solidarity with those who are suffering out of sight
..... pray for calm, for peace, for justice
..... send an e-mail in support!

On Saturday, 4th September, Uniting Church President, the Rev. John Mavor, sent an urgent fax to the Prime Minister. In that fax he pleaded that the Australian Government put strong pressure on Indonesia to honour its responsibility to provide security for all people in East Timor. If Indonesia continues to fail in this important role, then the international community must step in and provide the necessary security.

Yesterday (6/9/1999) John Barr, the Uniting Church's Indonesia Area Secretary, reported that on Sunday morning at 2 am the house where our observers, Joy Balazo and John Dunn were sleeping was attacked with gun fire. Joy and John took refuge in the Australian Consulate nearby. They were able to get on a flight out of Dili in the afternoon.

John Barr said: "Reports indicate that Dili is in chaos with people being rounded up and slaughtered. I have unofficial reports that the homes of some leaders of the Protestant Church in East Timor (our partner church) have been burned. It is not clear if any of them have been killed."

"The East Timorese are being terrorised and killed by militia backed up and supported by the Indonesian military ... Please pray for East Timor. Pray that the Australian Government will exercise some leadership and compassion on this critical issue."