10 Years after Timor's Independence, Where Is the Justice?

10 Years after Timor's Independence, Where Is the Justice? Contact: John M. Miller,  john @ etan.org May 16, 2012 - The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) congratulated the people of Timor-Leste as they prepared to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the restoration of their country's independence on May 20. "This important milestone is the result of the persistent struggle and great suffering of the people of Timor-Leste," said ETAN's National Coordinator John M. Miller. "ETAN is proud to have played our part in supporting Timor's self-determination and now independence." "The nation faces many challenges. With independence, its people are in a position to decide its future rather then have Indonesia impose its will on them," he added. Timor's independence was prevented for nearly 25 years by the U.S. and other governments' support for Indonesia's illegal invasion and occupation. Yet, no senior officials of any country have been held accountable for the horrific human right violations and war crimes that took place.   Human rights violators from elsewhere have been prosecuted, often long after their crimes were committed. But Indonesia and others continue to obstruct holding accountable those who facilitated and carried out crimes during the occupation. "The U.S., other governments and the United Nations must commit themselves to achieve justice for the victims and their families." said Miller. "ETAN will not rest until justice is done." "Human rights violators from elsewhere have been prosecuted, often long after their crimes were committed. But Indonesia and others continue to obstruct holding accountable those who facilitated and carried out crimes during the occupation," he added. “Ongoing impunity for the systematic Indonesian military and police crimes prevents the people of Timor-Leste and Indonesia from consolidating their democracies and moving on with their lives. While Timor-Leste is now independent, its people will not be able to overcome their tragic past without justice for what was done to them and their families,” said Miller. Neither Congress nor the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama have responded to the recommendations of Timor-Leste's Commission for Truth, Reception and Reconciliation, although many of them are directly addressed to the U.S. and other governments. These include the Commission's call for an international tribunal to try perpetrators of crimes against humanity during the Indonesian occupation, reparations from Indonesia and other countries that supported the occupation, and restrictions on foreign assistance to the Indonesian military. "The U.S. and others should press President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to immediately release all information that can help identify and locate those who were disappeared during the occupation,” said Miller. The recent conviction of former Liberian President Charles Taylor for his support of rights violators in Sierra Leone should sound a note of caution for members of the Obama and former US administrations. This ruling provides a precedent for prosecuting those who arm, train and politically support those who commit the worst abuses, even if they do not directly organize or carry them out. "The Obama administration should restrict U.S. military assistance to Indonesia until the Indonesian generals and political leaders who organized and directed numerous crimes against humanity during the 24-years of illegal occupation are credibly tried," Miller added. Instead, the Obama administration is considering the sale of deadly Apache attack helicopters to the Indonesian military. Background As detailed in declassified documents released by the National Security Archive and elsewhere, on December 6, 1975, then-U.S. President Ford and Secretary of State Kissinger gave Indonesian dictator Suharto a green light to invade East Timor, which his military did the next day. The U.S. supplied 90 percent of the weapons used during the invasion. From Ford to President Clinton, successive U.S. administrations consistently backed Indonesia's occupation, providing Jakarta diplomatic cover and billions of dollars in weaponry, military training, and economic assistance.  During more than two decades of occupation of Timor-Leste, Indonesian soldiers committed serious crimes with impunity, taking as many as 184,000 Timorese lives and torturing, raping and displacing countless others. Timor-Leste became independent in 2002. Timor-Leste's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation researched and documented the nation's experiences during the occupation. The Commission's comprehensive 2,500-page report recommended establishment of an international criminal tribunal and also advocated that countries (including the U.S.) which backed the occupation and corporations which sold weapons to Indonesia during that period should pay reparations to victims. The Commission urged the international community not to support Indonesia's military until it was thoroughly reformed and respectful of human rights. Last year, ANTI (Timor-Leste National Alliance for an International Tribunal) demanded that the United Nations Security Council "cut the chain of impunity in Timor-Leste and other countries by establishing a credible International Tribunal in order to judge the principal perpetrators of serious crimes and crimes against humanity in Timor-Leste during the Indonesian occupation." The UN-supported serious crimes process filed a number of indictments of a number of Indonesian officials and East Timorese militia leaders for crimes against humanity committed during the referendum on independence in 1999. ETAN was formed in reaction to the 1991 Santa Cruz massacre, when hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were gunned down by Indonesian troops carrying U.S.-supplied weapons. On May 20, ETAN members will be honored by the Timorese government with the Laran Luak medal for its contribution to the liberation of Timor-Leste. The U.S.-based organization, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last December 10, advocates for democracy, justice and human rights for Timor-Leste and Indonesia. For more information see ETAN's web site: http://www.etan.org.

see alsoHuman Rights, Accountability & Justice page ETAN at 20: Reflections and Reminiscences

Trying Kissinger, the Charles Taylor Precedent

Reed Brody of Human Rights Watch writing in The Nation magazine argues that the recent conviction of the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor, provides an important precedent for bringing the Henry Kissinger and other officials to justice.

"In April a United Nations–backed special tribunal in The Hague convicted Taylor of “aiding and abetting” the rebels in neighboring Sierra Leone as they committed horrific abuses against civilians. The rebels’ crimes, which included their signature atrocity of cutting off victims’ arms and legs, as well as forcing children to execute their parents, were among the most heartless I have ever investigated.

"The verdict marked the first time since the post–World War II Nuremberg trials that a former head of state has been convicted by an international tribunal of war crimes and crimes against humanity. What may be of more lasting significance, however, is that Taylor was not convicted for oppressing his own people—though he did that as well—but for his material support to abusive forces in another country. In that respect, the decision speaks not just to tinpot dictators but to leaders of countries who fight proxy wars by knowingly giving client states or rebel allies the means to commit atrocities. 

As Reed writes: "very same legal reasoning could apply to those in Washington, Moscow or elsewhere who provide military assistance to abusive forces half a world away. Take, for example, the case of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and East Timor."

Kissinger gave the green light with then-President Ford for Indonesia's 1975 invasion of East Timor. He then worked to make sure - as did his successors and many other U.S. officials - that the flow of weapons and training continued to flow to the Indonesia military, ignoring its abuses and human rights violations.

Long before Taylor's conviction ETAN and others had been pressing to hold Kissinger accountable for his role  in multiple crimes against humanity in Timor, Vietnam, Chile and elsewhere. These efforts must continue.

May 30, 2011, New York City protest against Kissinger appearance at 92nd Street Y .

Volunteer Co-coordinator of ETAN Solidarity Observer Project Sought

CO-COORDINATOR, ETAN SOLIDARITY OBSERVER PROJECT

The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) seeks a fluent Tetum and English speaker and experienced organizer with knowledge of and/or experience working in Timor-Leste and in international advocacy, to help prepare and coordinate, its Solidarity Observer Project for the 2012 Parliamentary Election in Timor-Leste -- a grassroots-based, all-volunteer effort.

The volunteer will share with the existing Co-coordinator the tasks of:

*  Developing relationships with Timorese NGOs for cooperation around the Observer Project

*  Assisting communications with appropriate Timorese electoral and government bodies and UN agencies

*  Assisting with administration, logistics and infrastructure of the project: for example, establishing and running an office, preparing to receive, house,  and deploy volunteer observers

*  Helping plan orientation/training for volunteer observers

*  Helping plan, coordinate and oversee daily activities of the observers

*  Working with a Coordinating Team of more experienced or longer-term volunteer observers

The volunteer will share with the existing Co-coordinator the tasks of:

*  Developing relationships with Timorese NGOs for cooperation around the Observer Project

*  Assisting communications with appropriate Timorese electoral and government bodies and UN agencies

*  Assisting with administration, logistics and infrastructure of the project, e.g., establishing and running an office, preparing to receive, house,  and deploy volunteer observers

*  Helping plan orientation/training for volunteer observers

*  Helping plan, coordinate and oversee daily activities of the observers

*  Working with a Coordinating Team of more experienced or longer-term volunteer observers

This volunteer position is available immediately, is based in Dili, and runs until approximately the end of July 2012 (end date is flexible).

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume/c.v. to etanobserver@ gmail.com.

Questions? Contact in Timor-Leste: Elice Higginbotham,  etanobserver@ gmail.com
Mobile phone: 744-9793

Outside of Timor-Leste: Pam Sexton, pamelabeth.sexton@ gmail.com, Phone: +1-831-724-8051

* * *

ETAN is a U.S.-based grassroots organization working in solidarity with the peoples of Timor-Leste and Indonesia. ETAN provides information about, and ways to help, East Timor-Leste, which was invaded and subjugated by U.S. ally Indonesia in 1975. Timor-Leste chose independence in August 1999 and was soon destroyed by the Indonesian military. Timor-Leste finally became independent on May 20, 2002. ETAN educates, organizes, and advocates for justice for historic and ongoing crimes against humanity, war crimes, and human rights violations in Timor-Leste and Indonesia. ETAN supports democratic reconstruction of Timor-Leste. ETAN supports restrictions on military assistance to Indonesia in order to support democracy and justice in both countries. Website: www.etan.org

Observing Timor's Parliamentary Election

UPDATE: The President has announced that the Parliamentary election will take place on Saturday, July 7

Join, support ETAN observers

Dear Friends,

ETAN will be observing the Timor-Leste's coming parliamentary election in Timor-Leste. We hope you will join and support us.

Civil society organizations in Timor-Leste have invited ETAN to support an election process which is transparent, free and fair. Based on our two decades of experience, we have been asked to facilitate an international delegation of trained, non-partisan observers to witness and report on the parliamentary election: its preparation, campaigns, voting, and counting through the announcement and aftermath of the results. We will focus on more than just the mechanics of the vote. Too often, democracy is narrowly equated with elections. We are acting in solidarity with the people of Timor-Leste to strengthen the breadth of its democracy. 

President Jose Ramos-Horta welcomed ETAN's initiative writing "The presence of ETAN and its allies will be invaluable," adding:

"It is... essential for ETAN to use its skills and experience to send trained, sensitive non-partisan observers for our 2012 national elections, which will build and strengthen our young democracy... ETAN's commitment, solidarity and experience are unparalleled."

In 1999, ETAN played a key role in organizing the largest international observer delegation to Timor's historic independence referendum. ETAN has been present at every Timor-Leste election since. In 2007, ETAN was critical to the formation and leadership of the Solidarity Observer Mission for East Timor (SOMET), a grassroots project of five international NGOs and six non-partisan groups in Timor-Leste which brought together international and Timorese observers for the country's first national election. 

The exact date for the parliamentary election will not be announced until after a new President is elected, it is likely to be during the last week in June or in early July.

We are writing to urge you consider joining ETAN's Solidarity Observer Project as a volunteer observer. If you can't come, we urge you to support this and other important ETAN projects with a donation. (Make a donation via Paypal here or go to http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm for how to make a U.S. tax-deductible donation or details on how to donate by mail.)

We need observers before election day to observe the preparations and campaign period. The bulk of observers are needed for the weeks immediately preceding and following the voting. Depending upon the actual election date, that period could extend into mid to late July. An ongoing team will do follow-up reporting, evaluation, and closing of the project during July-August. ETAN will help find housing for volunteers coming from outside Timor-Leste, but we are asking our observers to cover their own expenses, including international travel, visas, food, and a contribution toward the housing cost.

To apply to be an ETAN Observer, please send us a note of your interest to etanobserver@gmail.com; then download and return the Application Questionnaire: Word file, PDF file. Please read it thoroughly before completing it; it includes estimated costs of participation and other requirements. Please use additional pages as necessary to complete the Application Questionnaire, and return it to etanobserver@gmail.com by Monday, APRIL 30, 2012.

You can find the Code of Conduct for project participant and other important forms at http://etan.org/news/2012/observer2012.htm. Please note that, by returning the Application Questionnaire, you are affirming your intent, should you be accepted by the project to sign and agree to the Code of Conduct and the Release of Liability, and that you understand that you will be asked either to bring these signed documents with you when you come to Timor-Leste, or will sign them in the presence of project staff upon your arrival; and to bring with you to Timor-Leste the signed Medical Release form.

We are in urgent need of funds to cover this project's costs and make it a success. Please make a contribution today! If you have ideas about potential funding sources? please share them with us!

Please contact us, if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your support!

In solidarity,

John M. Miller, National Coordinator
Elice Higginbotham, Solidarity Observer Project Coordinator
East Timor and Indonesia Action Network

Make a donation via Paypal here

----

How to Donate 

You can donate safely by credit card through ETAN's website: http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm Or you can mail your donation. To support ETAN's political advocacy work, write a check made out to "ETAN." For ETAN's educational efforts, 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.

Thank you for your support!

West Papua Report April 2012 - repressing dissent, oppose U.S. copter sale, soldiers not services

Read the April 2012 West Papua Report here 


Summary: 
An Indonesian court has sentenced five senior Papuans to three years imprisonment following their conviction on "treason" charges. They fell victim to the same undemocratic law employed against more than 90 Papuans and Malukans for their peaceful dissent in recent years. The five were charged for their central role in the October 16-19, 2011 "Third Papuan National Congress," a peaceful assertion of Papuans' right to self-determination that came under brutal assault by Indonesian security forces. In a statement, WPAT calls for an end to that law which was developed during Dutch colonial times, was employed by the dictator Suharto, and now has no place in a democratic Indonesia. 

Banners at protest in Jayapura. West Papua Media

Thousands of Papuans took to the streets in West Papua and elsewhere on the occasion of the visit to Indonesia of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. The largely peaceful demonstrations called for a special referendum to at last allow Papuans a genuine act of self-determination. 


More than 90 international organizations have called on the U.S. Congress to block sale of Apache helicopters. They would significantly expand the capacity of Indonesian security forces to conduct "sweep operations" that have devastated rural Papuan villagers. 


A recent book and a commentary by a Papuan legislator have underscored the Indonesian governments persistent failure to bring essential services to rural Papuans. WPAT observes that for many rural Papuans the face of the Indonesian government is not that of a teacher, doctor or nurse but rather, that of a solider, policeman or intelligence agent.
 
Back issues of West Papua Report