For Immediate
Release
Contact:
John M. Miller, 718-5967668; mobile: 917-690-4391
May 17, 2003
East Timor Action Network Urges Gifts
of Justice and Fairness on Country's First Birthday
With the
approach of the first anniversary of East Timor's independence,
the East Timor Action Network (ETAN) today called on the U.S. government
to
actively support an international tribunal for East Timor. ETAN also urged
the Australian government to honor the resource rights of the new nation
by
promptly and fairly negotiating maritime boundaries between the two
countries. East Timor will celebrate one year of independence on Tuesday,
May 20.
"Genuine
justice for decades of atrocities and the unquestioned ability to
develop its own natural resources would be two of the best birthday gifts
for the people of East Timor. These issues are at the heart of
international law and national sovereignty," said John M. Miller,
spokesperson for ETAN.
"Neither
the courts in Indonesia nor those in East Timor are able to try
the quarter-century of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Indonesia
lacks the political will to hold high-ranking officials accountable, while
most suspects remain out of the East Timorese court's reach," said
Miller.
"This lack of accountability for past atrocities seriously hampers
nation-building and is destabilizing both East Timor and Indonesia."
Indonesia's
ad hoc human rights court on East Timor has been widely
criticized for falsely portraying the Indonesian military's devastation
of
East Timor as the result of civil war, among many other serious flaws.
The
court has so far acquitted 11 of 14 Indonesian defendants. The verdicts
in
the last two cases before the ad hoc court are expected shortly. The joint
UN/East Timor Serious Crimes Unit and Special Panel court are unable to
try
the more than two-thirds of indicted suspects currently residing in
Indonesia, including former Indonesian Defense Minister General Wiranto.
East Timorese
Prime Minister Alkatiri recently told the Asia Times, "Crimes
against humanity must be judged ... and the international community has
primary responsibility... We cannot just ignore crimes against humanity,
which are the gravest of crimes, yet take petty thieves to court. It would
be a travesty of justice."
"Oil
revenues are desperately needed for schools, clinics and roads in East
Timor. Australia should give East Timor back its own resources on the
new
nation's first birthday," said ETAN field organizer Diane Farsetta.
"If
prevailing law were followed, most of the petroleum resources under debate
would fall within East Timorese waters. International pressure is needed
in
order to prevent Australia from strong-arming East Timor into receiving
less than its fair share." The new country is the poorest in Asia;
unemployment is estimated at 70 percent and more than 40 percent of the
population lives on less than 55 cents a day.
Negotiations
surrounding East Timor's maritime boundaries with Australia
are vitally important to the new country's economic development. Oil and
natural gas deposits worth tens of billions of dollars lie between the
two
countries, under the Timor Sea. In March 2002, Australia unilaterally
withdrew from the International Court of Justice and the International
Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, the mechanisms normally employed to resolve
such territorial disputes. Australia is currently receiving revenues from
disputed oil and gas fields under an interim agreement; it is widely known
East Timor signed the agreement under protest.
ETAN also
called attention to the U.S. role during the illegal Indonesian
military occupation of East Timor, which lasted from 1975 to 1999. "We
urge
President Bush to expeditiously release the U.S. government documents
requested by East Timor's Commission for Reception, Truth and
Reconciliation," said Miller. "A full accounting of the United
States'
knowledge and actions during Indonesia's brutal occupation is essential
if
future crimes are to be prevented. These documents would be another great
birthday gift for East Timor and would also be a step towards U.S.
accountability for the military and political support it gave Indonesia
during the occupation."
In a January
24, 2003 letter, the commission asked for U.S. documents on
significant events and egregious human rights abuses that took place
throughout Indonesia's occupation.
ETAN supports
human dignity for the people of East Timor by advocating for
democracy, economic justice and human rights, including women's rights.
Since 1999, ETAN has joined with East Timorese civil society to urge the
UN
Security Council and Secretary-General Kofi Annan to establish an
international tribunal.