Monday 6th, September, 1999

Statement by Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET)

Recent but unconfirmed reports from East Timor -- because the majority of international journalists have now been forced to flee -- continue to detail an ongoing and systematic campaign of terror and intimation by the pro-integration militia backed by the Indonesian armed forces.

Over the last two days, as many as 170 are believed to have been murdered by pro-Jakarta militia -- in some cases directly supported or carried out by the Indonesian military. Numerous reports have detailed militia attacks on churches, the red cross, the house of Bishop Belo and the UNAMET compound where East Timorese people are seeking refuge. Other reports have described decapitated heads of the militias victims being staked alongside Dili's streets.

ASIET calls on all supporters of democracy to mobilise to call on the Australian government insist that the United Nations authorise the immediate dispatch of Australian troops to East Timor.

These troops must act immediately to stop the bloodbath by disarming of the pro-Jakarta militia gangs. It is essential that they also oversee the withdrawal of all Indonesian military and police personnel from East Timor who are actively supporting the pro-Jakarta militia.

All East Timorese national liberation forces have called for immediate UN-authorised military intervention in East Timor to stop this bloodbath.

The United Nations Security Council on September 6 -- which convinced an emergency meeting today -- has again refused to send an international military force to East Timor. Instead they are to send a "delegation" to Jakarta to again "urge" the Habibie regime to end the violence in East Timor. To date such calls have had little or no effect on the ongoing carnage.

Without such a force authorised by the UN, the Australian government should act unilaterally and send its armed forces into East Timor to end the terror campaign.

The argument that the UN cannot authorise such a force without the Indonesian government's approval is absurd as the UN has never recognised Indonesia's claim of sovereignty over East Timor. In the August 30 ballot the overwhelming majority of East Timorese -- in the face of a massive campaign of intimidation -- clearly expressed their rejection of Jakarta's offer of autonomy and chose independence from Indonesia.

Prime Minister Howard and Foreign Minister Downer have echoed this argument -- that Australia cannot intervene directly without Jakarta's consent. This position is just a continuation of the policy that Australian governments -- both Labor and Liberal -- have pursued since Indonesia invaded in 1975.

All Australian ties with the Indonesian military must be ended immediately, including military aid (which totalled some seven million last year) and ongoing joint training with the Indonesian armed forces.

Stop the bloodbath in East Timor!
Disarm the pro-Jakarta terror gangs!
Indonesian troops/police out now!
UN/Australian troops into East Timor NOW!
Break all military ties with Indonesia!
Recognise the independence of East Timor!

Emergency actions
=================

ASIET is calling on all supporters of freedom for East Timor to take action to pressure the Indonesian government to remove its armed forces from East Timor, disarm the militias and free Xanana Gusmao.

Join the actions to demand that the Australian government cut military ties with Indonesia, withdraw recognition of Indonesia's occupation of East Timor, send material, not military, aid and grant asylum to all those who seek it.

Adelaide
Saturday, Sept 11, 12-2pm
Cnr of Rundle Mall and Gawler Place
Ph 8231 6982

Brisbane
Friday, Sept 10, 5pm
Defence Force Recruiting Centre,
Edward Street, City
Ph 3254 0565

Canberra
Wednesday, Sept 8, 12.30pm
Garema Place, Civic
Ph 6247 2424

Hobart
Wednesday, Sept 8, 1pm
Outside Lazenbys, Tasmania University - Sandy Bay campus
Ph 6234 6397

Lismore
Friday, Sept 10, 10am
Magellan Street

Melbourne
Friday, Sept 10, 4-6pm
Bourke Street Mall, City
Ph 9329 1320

Newcastle Thursday, Sept 2, noon
Shortland Union Building, Newcastle University
Ph 4926 5328

Perth
Saturday, Sept 11, 2pm
Wesley Church
Corner of Hay and William Streets, City
Ph 9227 7367

Parramatta
Thursday, Sept 9, 5-7pm
Parramatta Mall (outside Town Hall)
Ph 9635 8449

Sydney
Saturday, Sept 11, 11am
Fountain, Hyde Park North, City
Ph 9690 1320 or 9690 1230

Wollongong
Wednesday, Sept 8, 12.30pm
University of Wollongong
Duckpond Lawn
Ph 4226 2010

**********************************************************
Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET)
PO Box 458, Broadway NSW 2007 Australia
Phone: 61-(0)2-96901230
Fax  : 61-(0)2-96901381
Email: asiet@peg.apc.org
WWW  : http://www.peg.apc.org/~asiet
**********************************************************

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh

25 years - and still going strong
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++