Subject: STATEMENT BY TIMORESE STUDENTS OCCUPYING
DPRD IN DILI
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 13:01:13 GMT
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)The following is a slightly abbrieviated and hastily-done
translated of a statement issued by East Timorese students who are now occupying the
building of the regional assembly, the DPRD, in Dili. The students entered the building at
8 am local time and are still occupying the building:
STATEMENT AND POLITICAL DEMANDS BY THE STUDENTS SOLIDARITY COUNCIL OF EAST TIMOR IN
RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION WHICH HAS DEVELOPED RECENTLY IN EAST TIMOR
We are deeply concerned at the events in Weberek, Alas, Uato-Carabau, Fatuberliu, Same,
Baucau, Atabae and Ossu which are in violation of the Dare Communique. We believe that
these tragic events have deliberately been created by certain groups anxious to maintain
the status quo which has meant the sacrifice of East Timorese lives.
We express our profound condolences to the families of those bereaved.
We strongly condemn the brutal and inhuman actions of members of ABRI in pursuit of
their military/political strategy to intimidate, arrest, torture, rape and murder East
Timorese people.
We condemn the lack of seriousness on the part of the Habibie transitional government
in reaching a solution to the question of East timor by for instance claiming to have
withdrawn troops while in fact bringing in more troops and re-arming the para militaries
composed of East Timorese.
Condemn the attitude of the regional government and ABRI which have allowed the
conflict to intensify without taking preventive and proactive measures to safeguard and
protect the people, especially those living in the above regions.
We regret that attitude of some East Timorese who do not have the political will to
resolve the question of East Timor on the international stage.
DEMANDS
We demand that the regional government and ABRI take the following action:
1. ABRI forces and the para militaries should refrain from taking offensive-repressive
measures which can only bring disaster for the people of East Timor.
2. To halt all violence against the civilian population in East Timorese generally and
especially in Manufahi, Bobonaro, Baucau, Liquica and Viqueque which have already resulted
in many casualties.
3. To press for open dialogue between the region government and political organisations
in East Timor to seek a peaceful solution which would avoid the continuance of prolonged
conflict in East Timor.
4. Establish the basis for a new dialogue as a continuation of the Dare Reconciliation
Dialogue, and pave the way for the presence of the UN to supervise and arbitrate this
dialogue.
5. Call for dialogue at all levels of the political structures in East Timor to create
a democratic atmosphere which will facilitate a resolution of the East Timor question.
We also call on the Indonesian Government:
1. To repeal Law No 7, 1976 on the integration of East Timor into the Republic.
2. To withdraw Indonesian troops from East Timor because the Indonesia military
presence is only proof of the illegal occupation of the territory of East Timor.
3. To immediately release all East Timorese political prisoners, in particular Xanana
Gusmao, in the context of finding a peaceful solution to the question of East Timor.
4. To stop giving weapons to East Timorese because this only reinforces the policy of
divide and rule.
5. Demand that the Indonesian govrnment and in particular ambitious generalsa should
accept responsibility for the thousands of victims among ABRI forces only to serve their
territorial ambitions, using the war in East Timor as a means of seeking financial
benefits and promotions for senior ABRI officers.
6. That the bereaved families and orphans of Indonesian officers killed in action, also
including the East Timorese should charge in court these ambitious and opportunist
generals.
III. Calls on the United Nations:
1. To immediately place peace-keeping forces in East Timore to monitor the repressive
actions of the Indonesian military there.
2. To immediately open a human rights office in East Timor to monitor human rights
violations by the Indonesian military and conduct investigations about abuses perpetrated
by the Indonesian military during their occupation of East Timor.
3. To establish a special UN office on the question of East Timor to respond to all the
political demands of the developing situation in East Timor.
4. To call on the Indonesian government to withdraw all its troops, to do so
transparently and to complete the withdrawal within six months from now.
IV. To call on the international community:
1. To stop all military support to the Indonesian government because this only fosters
the arrogance of the Indonesian military which is ultimately expressed in actions to
attack the people of East Timor.
2. To end all financial and economic assistance to the Indonesian government until such
time as the question of East Timor is properly resolved.
3. To urge the Indonesian government to remove all obstacles preventing
non-governmental organisations from gaining access to East Timor.
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign 111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey
CR7 8HW, UK Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322 email: tapol@gn.apc.org Campaigning to
expose human rights violations in Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh
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