PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA

111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Tel +44 (0)20 8771 2904 Fax +44 (0)20 8653 0322
Email tapol@gn.apc.org Website http://www.tapol.org

< NEWS & STATEMENTS

The following was sent as a joint letter by TAPOL, CAFOD, CIIR and Down to Earth

[Also see press release 25 September 2000.]

Rt Hon Clare Short MP
Secretary of State for International Development
94 Victoria Street
London SW1E 5JL

25 September 2000

Dear Secretary of State,

West Timor

In view of the current emergency situation in West Timor, we are writing to urge DFID to support a postponement of the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) meeting scheduled for October until the Indonesian Government ends the violence in the territory and ensures the safe repatriation of the East Timorese refugees who wish to return home.

The evacuation of all international aid and humanitarian workers following the murder on 6 September of three UNHCR staff has left the 100,000 or so refugees at the mercy of the pro-Indonesian militias who are free to maintain their reign of terror with impunity. West Timor is now close to anarchy with a virtual absence of law and order. The Indonesian Government has consistently failed to stop the violence and to disarm and disband the militias. It has also failed in its responsibility to end violence and restore order in other volatile areas such as Aceh, West Papua and the Malukus.

Action, not just words, is now essential. There have already been calls for the British Government to impose an embargo on arms sales and military co-operation and to press for an international tribunal to try those responsible for crimes against humanity in East and West Timor. We now believe the international community must also make economic assistance to Indonesia conditional upon an end to the violence. It was the threat of economic sanctions against President Habibie' government last year which led to the eventual restoration of order and security in East Timor. The appalling human rights situation in West Timor is now akin to that which prevailed in East Timor last year.

We welcome World Bank President James Wolfensohn's recent letter to President Wahid in which he called for the ending of the violence in West Timor, the resumption of humanitarian activities, and the safe return home of East Timorese refugees by the time of the CGI meeting. We also welcome US Defense Secretary's William Cohen's warning that the failure of Indonesia to resolve the militia violence and dismantle the militias could threaten economic aid.

In a statement issued on 13 September, East Timor's CNRT called for the postponement of the CGI meeting. We urge the British Government to support that call and agree to a postponement of the meeting until such time as the Indonesian Government has:

a) disarmed and disbanded all the militia groups in West Timor and removed the militias from the refugee camps;

b) restored law and order in the territory, carried out an independent investigation into the recent violence, and arrested and brought to trial those suspected of being involved;

c) secured the unimpeded access of the UNHCR and other relief agencies to the refugees; and

d) acted in accordance with its international obligations to ensure the safe repatriation of all East Timorese refugees who wish to return home.

We also urge you to demand action along these lines during your forthcoming visit to Indonesia in October.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely etc.,

News & Statements archive

top