Happy Holidays!

We are talking a break and will be checking our e-mail less often. We wish everyone happy holidays and a fulfilling and peace-filled New Year! May the peoples of Timor-Leste, West Papua, and Indonesia find the peace, prosperity and justice they so deserve.

Thank you for your interest and support our work for justice and human rights. We look forward to working with you in the coming year.

We hope you will support the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) by including us in your end of year giving. You can safely donate by credit card and read a message from Noam Chomsky about why you should join him in supporting us here: http://bit.ly/noam_etan

If you haven't done so, we hope you will sign ETAN's petition calling for an end to 50 years of official silence concerning  U.S. complicity in Indonesian mass violence and  murder. Please sign and share http://chn.ge/1v50Edj

Thank you
John M. Miller, National Coordinator, ETAN

P.S. Use this link, if you want to sign up for ETAN's listservs on Timor-Leste, West Papua or Indonesia:  https://fs20.formsite.com/jmm555/form2/index.html

Read an important message about ETAN from Noam Chomsky

Read an Important message about ETAN
from Noam Chomsky

Thank you for your support. 

Thank you for your support. 

 

A message about ETAN from Noam Chomsky

Donate to ETAN today!
Together We Can Make a Difference

How to Donate to ETAN: Donate safely by credit card below, or mail your donation to us. To support ETAN's political advocacy work, write a check made out to ETAN. For ETAN's educational efforts, U.S. tax-deductible donations of over $50 can be made out to A.J. Muste Memorial Institute/ETAN. Please mail contributions to:ETAN, PO Box 21873, Brooklyn, NY 11202-1873

Thank you for your support.

_____________________________________________

A special message for you from Noam Chomsky

Dear all:

.

I have admired and supported ETAN from the very beginning. In fact, I was the organization’s first donor. I still believe that contribution was one of the best investments I have ever made for political and social change. I write to you today to urge you to join me in making such an investment.

I know you agree that the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network continues to play an important and vital role in promoting human rights and justice for the peoples of Indonesia, Timor-Leste and West Papua. I know you also believe, as I do, that thanks to ETAN's and your efforts, East Timor became the independent nation of Timor-Leste more than a decade ago.

ETAN successfully worked to shift U.S. policy from provider of a blank check to the brutal Indonesian military to a supporter of East Timor's right to self-determination.

But trouble continues in West Papua, and ETAN is there to tackle it. As it did so effectively for the East Timorese people, ETAN is working to change U.S. policy to support the rights of West Papuans.

ETAN actively monitors ongoing threats to human rights, defending activists in Indonesia, West Papua and Timor-Leste. ETAN continues to press for justice on behalf of the victims of U.S.-backed policies that had such devastating impacts on the people of Timor-Leste, and that continue to have similarly devastating effects on the people of West Papua and Indonesia. And finally, ETAN continues to call for key U.S. figures -- like Henry Kissinger -- to be brought to justice for their roles in backing genocide and crimes against humanity.

I consider the shameful crimes committed against the people of West Papua to be a major scandal, one that those in the West have much to answer for. As I told the Jakarta Postlast March, "What happened in East Timor was because the U.S. and its allies supported it for 25 years. West Papua is the same. As long as the U.S. … and [other] Western powers support atrocities, they are carried out with impunity, just like their own atrocities are."

ETAN understands this. Among its advocacy and educational efforts, ETAN:

·    is campaigning for unconditional freedom for West Papuan political prisoners;

·    is advocating to let the sunshine in by opening access to the region to journalists and other international observers;

·    has highlighted the role of the U.S. mining giant Freeport McMoRan;

·    regularly responds to the all-too-frequent reports of human rights violations in West Papua;

·    continues to oppose (as it has done from the start) U.S. support for Indonesia's security forces that repress West Papuans; and

·    closely monitors events in West Papua, including publication of the well-regarded monthly West Papua Report with the West Papua Advocacy Team.

Support ETAN. Donate today!

But ETAN can only continue this hard-hitting advocacy with your support. Please donate today. Much remains to be done.

ETAN is on the forefront of efforts to hold both Indonesian and U.S. officials accountable for human rights violations.

Despite some progress, the legacy of U.S.-backed dictator Suharto remains. Indonesia's new defense minister, retired General Ryamizard Ryacudu, has a history of excusing rights violations by his soldiers, threatening human rights critics, and asserting the military's right to meddle in civilian affairs. ETAN's widely-cited criticism of his appointment have put Indonesia’s newly elected President on notice we will be watching what he does, not just what he says on human rights.

ETAN has launched a campaign calling for the U.S. to declassify and release all it knows about Indonesia's Rwanda-style 1965 massacres in Indonesia—that the CIA itself concluded were "one of the worst mass murders of the 20th century"—and to acknowledge the U.S. role in the crimes. If you haven't yet done so, please sign ETAN's petition demanding the release of the records and acknowledgment of the U.S. role.

And ETAN remains a world-class source of information, but that cannot continue without your support. Please give generously so ETAN’s unique work can continue.

ETAN's e-mail lists, website, and twitter feed are praised as irreplaceable sources of information and analysis. More than 3400 journalists, policy makers, activists and students ­subscribe to ETAN’s long-running east-timor email listserv, to stay informed about news and analysis about Timor-Leste. Many of you rely on this and ETAN's similar services on Indonesia and West Papua.

Clearly, ETAN’s work remains essential. But it can only do that work with the active and generous support of people like you, who believe in human rights, justice and accountability for the peoples of Timor-Leste, West Papua, and Indonesia.

Your support is crucial. Thank you for joining me in giving generously.
Sincerely,

 /s/

Noam Chomsky

P.S. Please consider becoming an ETAN Sustainer by making a monthly donation by credit card. Help put ETAN on a firmer financial footing, see information here.

February 2014 West Papua Report

Read here

CONTENTS

This edition's PERSPECTIVE examines the decision of the Melanesian states, minus Vanuatu, to endorse Jakarta's control of West Papua and to forego criticism of its repression there. In UPDATE the report describes continued "sweeping operations" in the Puncak Jaya region, Papuan criticism of the Melanesian Spearhead Group's visit to Indonesia, Jakarta's linking of "Special Autonomy Plus" to repression, and testimony about human rights in West Papua before the European Parliament. In CHRONICLE, we report planning for another plantation project in West Papua along the lines of Merauke Integrated Fuel and Energy Estate (MIFEE). A prominent Papuan criticized both the substance and process of "Special Autonomy Plus" planning. Human Rights Watch, in its annual report, notes the continued trampling of rights in West Papua. Noted analyst and activist Noam Chomsky says conditions in West Papua amount to genocide. A report in the Guardian describes a travesty of justice in the prosecution of six Papuans for peaceful dissent.

Demonstrators greet MSG delegation in Jayapura

Help keep ETAN strong ­ Please give to our end of year fundraising drive today!

John M. Miller
East Timor and Indonesia Action Network

December 2012

ETAN's John M. Miller and Charles Scheiner (right) receive Order of Timor from President Taur Matan Ruak (center).

Dear Friends,

I had the privilege of attending last May’s official ceremony in Dili on the tenth anniversary of Timor-Leste’s hard won restoration of independence. Timor-Leste inaugurated its newly-elected President as fireworks exploded in celebration.

Two days later, I was honored to accept on ETAN's behalf the Order of Timor-Leste -- the nation's highest honor. Timor-Leste's just-inaugurated President Taur Matan Ruak presented the award to ETAN (and to ETAN co-founder Charles Scheiner for his individual efforts) as the nation's thanks for our work in support of the country's liberation. I am proud of the part we played in the Timorese struggle for independence and since. We could not have done it without your steadfast support.

The medal now has pride of place in ETAN's Brooklyn, NY office, reminding us of all that we have accomplished over the years. The honor also reminds us of how much many East Timorese relied on our support. During my visit, people repeatedly told me of their faith and confidence that ETAN will continue to provide support and solidarity for their fledgling nation.

I am writing to urge you to give generously so that ETAN can continue to support human rights, justice and accountability, democracy, and an equitable and sustainable future for Timor-Leste. Our work is only possible with your support.

ETAN began as the East Timor Action Network soon after the 1991 Santa Cruz massacre when Indonesian troops -- firing their U.S.-supplied weapons -- killed peaceful demonstrators. Hundreds of young Timorese were murdered, and the eyewitness accounts from that day inspired us to action. ETAN's relentless grassroots pressure persuaded the U.S. Congress to end taxpayer-funded training for Indonesian soldiers in the United States and eventually changed U.S. policy from support of Indonesia's illegal occupation to support for Timor's right to self-determination.

ETAN is "A voice of reason, criticizing the administration's reluctance to address ongoing human rights violations and escalating oppression in West Papua and against religious minorities throughout Indonesia." -- Noam Chomsky

East Timor is now the independent Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and we remain committed to supporting its people in pursuing justice not only for the victims of the Santa Cruz massacre, but for all the victims of the U.S.-backed Indonesian invasion and occupation. We continue to highlight the complicity of U.S. government officials in the oppression of the people of Timor-Leste, West Papua, and elsewhere in the Indonesian archipelago, including the still-active Henry Kissinger, who gave a green light to the invasion of Timor-Leste.

Just last month, a now-high ranking State Department official recalled her time as a human rights officer in Washington more than a decade ago. She described ETAN as “punching above its weight” in revealing ongoing Pentagon training of Indonesian soldiers, leading Congress and the State Department to cancel the program. She said that she often uses ETAN as an example of effective citizen action, and that our work in the 1990s has had lasting, worldwide impact in curtailing U.S. training for armies which violate human rights.

In 2005, we changed our name to the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network to emphasize our support for human rights and democracy in Indonesia, where U.S. engagement with the military and police has encouraged them to resist accountability. In the past year, the U.S.-created and trained Detachment 88 has been engaged in a number of rights violations in West Papua and elsewhere. ETAN continues to oppose the administration’s efforts to re-engage with the Indonesian military’s notorious Kopassus special forces and plans to sell Indonesia’s deadly Apache attack helicopters.

2012 commemoration of Santa Cruz massacre, Dili. Photo by Manuela Leong Pereira via Facebook.

We continue to work with the West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT), helping to produce the respected monthly West Papua Report. We work with WPAT and others in supporting human rights and peaceful solutions in the region.

Noam Chomsky has called us "a voice of reason, criticizing the administration's reluctance to address ongoing human rights violations and escalating oppression in West Papua and against religious minorities throughout Indonesia."

Our information sharing and networking provide vital links among activists and others around the world. Our long-running east-timor@riseup.net email list keeps an expanding list of more than 3000 direct subscribers – including journalists, policy makers, East Timorese officials, activists and students -- informed with news and analysis of events affecting Timor-Leste and on solidarity around the globe.

One list subscriber recently thanked us for "the excellent work you have been doing these last years in keeping all people interested in Timor-Leste's present and future duly informed. Your objectivity and professionalism, providing an essential space for everybody to express itself freely has been a great contribution to consolidate Timor-Leste's emerging democracy. It is an example of how to give voice to the civil society and others at relatively low costs, an example that many other countries should follow."

ETAN works with advocacy and human rights organizations in Timor-Leste, West Papua, Indonesia and elsewhere, because together we are stronger.

This past year, we placed international volunteers with local groups in Dili, to assist their monitoring of national elections in Timor-Leste.  

As we continue our crucial work, we face a number of challenges. ETAN has never been very large or well-funded. We have become skilled at doing a lot with relatively limited human and financial resources. However, we have lost opportunities and with your help we could be doing more.

Many in Timor-Leste and Indonesia continue to expect a lot from ETAN. I know, because I often receive their requests for information and pleas for action. With your help, we can better respond to their requests and needs. We have many ideas for possible projects, but we need your help to gather the necessary resources to implement them.

I hope you will support ETAN. Please give generously now to help strengthen ETAN as we meet the challenges of the coming years. Thank you!

A luta continua,

John M. Miller
National Coordinator, ETAN

P.S. Please consider becoming an ETAN sustainer by making a monthly donation by credit card. Help put ETAN on a firmer financial footing: information here. 

How to Donate to ETAN

You can donate safely by credit card through ETAN's website below (http://etan.org/etan/2012-13appeal.htm#online). Or you can mail your donation. To support ETAN's political advocacy work, write a check made out to ETAN. For ETANs educational efforts, U.S. tax-deductible donations of over $50 can be made out to A.J. Muste Memorial Institute/ETAN. Please mail your donations to: East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN), PO Box 21873, Brooklyn, NY 11202-1873.