TAKE ACTION on the 20th Anniversary of Timor-Leste’s Historic Referendum on Independence

I [want] those who commit[ed] crime against humanity in East Timor from 1975 to 1999 should face the consequences in international tribunal. I support any effort bring justice for victims. Special Indonesian military leader which is until now freely exercise their power in Indonesian government like General Wiranto, Prabowo Subianto and Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and many other Indonesian military leaders.
-Thomas, Lospalos, Timor-Leste

Take Action
on the 20^th Anniversary of Timor-Leste’s Historic Referendum on Independence

Timor still needs our solidarity.

Twenty years ago, on August 30, 1999, the Timorese people overwhelmingly declared their wish for independence in a U.N.-organized vote, despite widespread Indonesian intimidation and violence, The Indonesian military responded with a scorched earth campaign which hundreds dead, hundreds of thousands displaced and the country in ruins.

While the U.S. and other governments gave the green light and key military, economic and diplomatic support to the genocidal occupation, solidarity activists successfully challenged these policies. Inspired and led by the incredible courage, determination and actions of the Timorese people, international solidarity for Timor-Leste grew.

In May 2002, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste regained its independence. Much has happened during the past 20 years. Recently, Australia and Timor-Leste agreed on maritime boundaries, an important step in defining Timorese sovereignty. Chega!, the report of the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR), called for justice and accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including by the U.S., UK, Australia and others who backed Indonesia.

While Timor-Leste faces many challenges, it stands as an example of democracy and tolerance to many of its neighboring nations. It is one of the most oil-dependent nations in the world, but local organizations are demanding a sustainable, diversified economic future. Timorese feminist and LGBTQ movements continue to grow. Progress is slowed by a lack of justice for survivors and continued impunity for perpetrators of mass violence.

It is never too late for justice! It is never too late to end impunity! During this anniversary period ETAN emphasizes the need for accountability.

ETAN needs your support. The end of the northern summer is especially hard on ETAN’s finances and we have added expenses for this 20^th anniversary. We need to raise $3000 in the next few weeks and $8500 in the next 60 days -- please donate today. Thank you.
Donate here

What You Can Do

Sign and share ETAN’s petition calling on governments including of the United States, Australia, Great Britain, and Indonesia to implement Chega!’s recommendations), including the call for an accountability for those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. If you have already signed, please don’t sign again, but encourage others to do so.

Respond, share, like
Respond to media coverage - or the lack of it. Write letters to the editor and comments to articles online; include a call for need for justice with a link to the petition. If you were present for the referendum, please include something about your experience. Call-in to talk radio. Write an op-ed, Facebook or blog post, or other extended analysis or reminiscence. Share it on ETAN’s east-timor listserv, on Twitter (@etan009) and the hashtags #justicefortimor #TimorLeste. (With West Papua in the news, comparisons to Timor-Leste’s successful act of self-determination will especially resonate.)

Sample tweets:
20 years ago, the people of #TimorLeste bravely voted for independence. But impunity prevails for the crimes committed during #Indonesia’s genocidal occupation. Sign @etan009 petition. http ://bit.ly/justice4timor #justicefortimor [https://twitter.com/etan009/status/1164691810888933382]

Support #justice and accountability for #TimorLeste. End impunity for #genocide, massive #humanrights violations, #crimesagainsthumanity Please sign East Timor and Indonesia Action Network @ETAN009 petition today: http://bit.ly/justice4timor #justicefortimor [https://twitter.com/etan009/status/1164695844966346752]

During its 24-year occupation supported w military, political aid from USA, Australia, UK, ASEAN nations, others, #Indonesia state committed #warcrimes #crimesagainsthumanity taking 100,000+ #TimorLeste lives. Sign @etan009 petition http://bit.ly/justice4timor #justicefortimor [https://twitter.com/etan009/status/1164696703573925895]

We will be posting more during the coming weeks, so follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Please like and share, or write your own.

NSA Briefing Book
The US-based National Security Archive has released a briefing book of declassified U.S. government documents on Timor-Leste in 1999. Read the release here or on Twitter @bradleyrsimpson / @NSArchive

Attend, organize events
Events related to the anniversary are taking place in Madison, WI, northern California. A Solidarity Festival has been organized in Dili, Timor-Leste. ETAN Coordinator John M. Miller is among the speakers. An event is also being organized for New York in late September or early October.

· Details on the Madison events can be found here: http://www.aideasttimor.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/events/571985919872613/
· Free events take place August 29 at the Monterey Peace Center in Seaside, CA, and on Aug 30 at the Resource Center for Nonviolence in Santa Cruz. More information here.
· Info on the international solidarity events in Dili is here. For info on government events see the Government Web Portal

Stay Tuned!
Check ETAN’s website, Twitter (@etan009), Facebook page and Instagram for updates and posts to like and share. As always more detailed news and analysis from a wide range of sources are posted to our long-running East-Timor listserv https://lists.riseup.net/www/arc/east-timor (To subscribe go to this form.)